There are several open-source operating systems (OS) available for drones. Here are some of the most popular ones:
ArduPilot: ArduPilot is an open-source autopilot software suite that runs on a variety of hardware platforms, including drones. It includes a flight control system, GPS navigation, and other features such as mission planning and telemetry logging.
PX4: PX4 is an open-source autopilot software that supports a wide range of drones and other unmanned vehicles. It includes a real-time operating system (RTOS) and supports a variety of sensors and peripherals.
APM: APM (ArduPilot Mega) is a predecessor to ArduPilot and is still used by some drone enthusiasts. It includes a flight control system, GPS navigation, and other features similar to ArduPilot.
Paparazzi: Paparazzi is an open-source autopilot system designed for fixed-wing and rotary-wing drones. It includes a real-time operating system, flight control software, and a ground control station.
Dronecode: Dronecode is an open-source platform for drone software development that includes several projects, such as PX4 and MAVLink (Micro Air Vehicle Communication Protocol). It provides a standardized architecture for drone software and hardware integration.
Overall, these open-source OS options provide a flexible and customizable platform for drone development and experimentation, allowing users to modify and extend the software to fit their specific needs.
ArduPilot :
ArduPilot is an open-source autopilot software suite that runs on a variety of hardware platforms, including drones, planes, rovers, and boats. It was first released in 2007 and is currently one of the most popular open-source autopilot solutions for drones. ArduPilot includes a range of features for autonomous flight, such as GPS navigation, altitude and attitude control, and mission planning. It can be customized to fit a variety of applications, from aerial photography to search and rescue operations. ArduPilot supports a range of sensors, including GPS, accelerometers, gyros, and magnetometers, and can communicate with other devices using various protocols, including MAVLink, SBUS, and PPM. It also supports several types of remote control, including joystick and RC transmitter.
ArduPilot is compatible with a wide range of hardware, including the popular Pixhawk and Cube autopilot boards, as well as other custom hardware solutions. It is supported by a large community of developers and users, who contribute to its ongoing development and support.
Overall, ArduPilot provides a powerful and flexible autopilot solution for drones, with a range of features and capabilities suitable for both hobbyist and commercial use. Its open-source nature allows for customization and extension, making it a popular choice for drone enthusiasts and developers alike.
PX4:
PX4 is an open-source autopilot system for autonomous drones and other unmanned vehicles. It is designed to be flexible, reliable, and scalable, with a wide range of features for controlling and navigating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
PX4 is built on top of the NuttX real-time operating system, which provides a low-level hardware abstraction layer for the autopilot. It also includes a variety of modules for sensor fusion, state estimation, mission planning, and control.
One of the key benefits of PX4 is its support for a wide range of hardware platforms, including a variety of flight controllers and airframes. This allows developers to customize the system to meet the specific needs of their project.
PX4 is widely used in the drone industry, from small hobbyist projects to large-scale commercial applications. It is also used in academic research and has been adopted by several major companies in the industry.
APM:
APM (ArduPilot Mega) is an open-source autopilot system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other autonomous vehicles. It is designed to provide a flexible and customizable platform for controlling a wide range of unmanned vehicles, including drones, airplanes, and rovers.
APM is built on top of the Arduino platform and uses a variety of sensors and other components to provide real-time control and navigation for the vehicle. It includes a variety of modules for sensor fusion, state estimation, mission planning, and control, which can be configured and customized by developers to meet the specific needs of their project.
One of the key benefits of APM is its ease of use and accessibility. It has a large and active community of developers and users, who have created a wide range of resources and tutorials to help new users get started with the platform. It also supports a wide range of hardware platforms, including a variety of flight controllers and other components.
APM has been used in a variety of applications, from small hobbyist projects to large-scale commercial applications. It is widely used in the drone industry, and has also been adopted by several major companies in the industry. However, it has been largely superseded by the newer and more capable PX4 autopilot system.
Paparazzi :
Paparazzi is an open-source autopilot system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that is designed to provide a flexible and modular platform for controlling and navigating autonomous vehicles. It is similar to the APM and PX4 autopilot systems, but it has some unique features that set it apart.
One of the key features of Paparazzi is its support for a wide range of sensors and hardware platforms. This allows developers to customize the system to meet the specific needs of their project. It also includes a variety of modules for sensor fusion, state estimation, mission planning, and control.
Paparazzi is built on top of the NuttX real-time operating system, which provides a low-level hardware abstraction layer for the autopilot. It also includes a high-level scripting language called PPRZ, which allows developers to write custom scripts to control the vehicle and perform other tasks.
Another unique feature of Paparazzi is its support for cooperative multi-vehicle systems. This allows multiple UAVs to work together in a coordinated fashion to perform complex tasks, such as mapping an area or conducting search and rescue operations.
Paparazzi has been used in a variety of applications, from small hobbyist projects to large-scale commercial and research projects. It has a large and active community of developers and users who contribute to its ongoing development and support.
Dronecode:
Dronecode is an open-source platform for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that provides a complete ecosystem for building, testing, and deploying autonomous drone applications. It is designed to provide a standardized and modular platform for drone software development, and to facilitate collaboration and interoperability between different components and systems.
Dronecode is built on top of the PX4 autopilot system, which provides the core control and navigation functions for the drone. It also includes a variety of other components and modules, such as mission planning tools, communication protocols, and ground control software.
One of the key benefits of Dronecode is its support for a wide range of hardware platforms and components. This allows developers to easily build and test drone applications on a variety of different systems, and to easily switch between different hardware platforms as needed.
Another important feature of Dronecode is its focus on open standards and interoperability. It uses standard communication protocols and interfaces to ensure that different components and systems can work together seamlessly, and it encourages the development of open-source software and hardware solutions.
Dronecode has been used in a variety of applications, from small hobbyist projects to large-scale commercial and industrial applications. It is supported by a large and active community of developers and users who contribute to its ongoing development and support.