Innovations Shine in New Orleans, a Great Week for Open Source Robotics
Two major communities come together, ROS + PX4, bringing together more than 1,000 members for a full week of open source robotics.
For the first time ever, the PX4 Developer Summit and ROSCon combined their annual conferences into one week since there is growing overlap between the development communities. It is taking place October 18th-23rd, 2023. The full week of open source robotics started with ROSCon and is ending with the PX4 Developers Summit October 21st-23rd. It is a hub of innovation, showcasing the latest open source robotics technology advancements, in land, sea, and air.
Several major announcements around new products and integrations will debut at the event. Plus, a drone light show featuring PX4-powered drones will take place on Saturday evening.
PX4 Autopilot v1.14
PX4 Autopilot v1.14 introduces native ROS 2 support, simplifying integration between the two major open source robotics platforms. The release also introduces an updated UI in QGroundControl that simplifies configuring actuators and matching hardware. Users can now easily tailor parameters for their specific drone setup. There are also new mixing capabilities and Gazebo simulation updates. The full announcement is here.
Drone Light Show on Saturday Night
500 UVify IFO drones running PX4 will light up the sky over New Orleans in a remarkable feat of technology that will stun onlookers. The show redefines the realm of entertainment and aerial displays. With its cutting-edge design and state-of-the-art LED lighting system, the IFO drone transforms the night sky into a canvas of dynamic, mesmerizing visuals. From large-scale outdoor events to intimate gatherings, this innovative drone offers a breathtaking spectacle of light and motion, meticulously choreographed to captivate audiences.
While stunning displays are fun, UVify also contributes back to the PX4 community by accumulating an unparalleled volume of data using PX4 technology to help improve the open source autopilot system for everyone.
PX4 Autonomy Kit by ModalAI
ModalAI is launching a dedicated PX4 Autonomy Developer Kit tailored to accelerate autonomous drone development. The ready-to-develop platform includes VOXL 2 onboard with a Sony IMX214 camera, 30-minute flight time, and PX4/ROS integration out of the box. The kit offers a ready-to-develop UAS for GPS-denied navigation and aerial AI development, ensuring high performance and seamless integration targeted for the PX4, ROS, and TensorFlow communities. It is pre-configured with SWAP-optimized sensors and payloads optimized for indoor and outdoor autonomous navigation with long-term support for Dronecode-hosted projects.
Developers will be able to harness the latest PX4 Autopilot changes, thanks to ModalAI’s commitment to supporting PX4 upstream, which means you can run the latest and greatest contributions, making it perfect as a fast prototyping developer kit bundled with the newest sensor suite. This integration promises sustainability for current projects and paves the way for future innovations.
In collaboration with the Dronecode Foundation, the Autonomy Kit provides a ready-to-develop platform that bridges the gap between PX4 and ROS, made for those looking to push the limits of autonomy and significantly improve their time to market.
"Easing the journey into aerial robotics development is one of the largest barriers to growing the ecosystem. Developers are constantly faced with many challenges while getting projects off the ground such as choosing components, determining software support, and dealing with the constantly evolving codebases. The field is ripe for vendors to target the ever-growing developer workforce in the drone industry," said Ramon Roche, General Manager of the Dronecode Foundation.
Read the full announcement here.
Auterion Skynode-X
Auterion has unveiled its latest Pixhawk FMUv6X-based flight controller, the Skynode X, representing a significant leap forward in drone intelligence and integration. Serving as a central processing hub, the Skynode X encapsulates advanced features that optimize drone performance, making it essential for professionals seeking enhanced data collection and precision in operations.
In addition to its impressive hardware specifications, Auterion's tailored software platform ensures seamless integration with Skynode X. This system benefits from built-in 4G/5G and Wi-Fi capabilities, facilitating continuous connectivity and streamlined operations. For those dedicated to pushing the boundaries of drone technology, Skynode X emerges as a crucial option.
You can learn more about the Skynode X here.
New TDK Sensor Board
During ROSCon, TDK announced a new Sensor Board. It is a game-changer for drone development because it integrates key sensors, processors, and actuators on a single board, making it an ideal platform for quick prototyping. The board supports Nvidia Jetson Orin and Raspberry Pi and features a 6-axis IMU, barometric pressure sensor, magnetometer, digital I²S microphones, temperature sensor, and ultrasonic Time of Flight (ToF) sensors. These features enhance a drone’s sensing capabilities. Read more about it here.
TDK’s IMI-20670 industrial-grade IMU is focused on extreme high accuracy/performance for the drone and robotics industries and is compatible with the new Sensor Board.
Additionally, TDK’s RoboKit1, a comprehensive robotics platform, now supports MicroROS. This development is significant as it allows for seamless integration with the ROS ecosystem, making it an ideal platform for quick prototyping and ROS development. MicroROS support enhances the capabilities of the RoboKit1, making it even more versatile for robotics developers.
About
PX4 is an open source flight control software for drones and other uncrewed vehicles. The project provides a flexible set of tools for drone developers to share technologies to create tailored solutions for drone applications. PX4 is hosted by Dronecode, a Linux Foundation non-profit.
You can join our community by becoming a Dronecode Foundation member and contributing to our projects.