Implementation Guides
Your hardware is assembled. These guides take you from powered-on to mission-ready — one software layer at a time.
FC Firmware Flashing
Install ArduPilot, PX4, Betaflight, or iNav on your flight controller. Covers STM32 DFU mode, bootloaders, STM32CubeProgrammer, and board-specific steps for Orqa H7, Pixhawk, Matek, and more.
LiDAR SLAM — Parts to Autonomous Hover
Flash companion OS, install ROS, LiDAR drivers, FAST-LIO2, MAVROS FC bridge, first hover. Includes SLAM stack selector. Adapts to your hardware (Jetson/APB/RPi + any LiDAR).
Autonomy Datasets & Benchmarks
Filterable catalog of drone autonomy datasets — VIO/SLAM, CV detection, RF — each tagged with license class and a usability verdict. Pairs with the Handbook's Part 6 — Autonomy.
Mesh Radio Networking
Set up Doodle Labs, Silvus, or Microhard mesh radios for multi-vehicle MANET. IP config, bandwidth allocation, video/telemetry QoS, multi-hop relay, and GCS integration.
TAK / ATAK Integration
Connect your drone to TAK ecosystem. ATAK plugin setup, CoT message format, MAVROS→TAK bridge, video streaming to TAK server, multi-drone COP display.
OpenHD — Digital Video Link
Open-source wifibroadcast HD video + MAVLink. RTL8812AU on RPi Zero 2 or CM4. Range depends on antennas — stock 1–3km, high-gain + tracker 10–20km+.
AI / Computer Vision Payloads
Run YOLO, object tracking, and detection models on Jetson/VOXL2/APB. Camera→inference→FC targeting pipeline, OpenCV + ROS, NPU acceleration, edge deployment.
Drone Show & Swarm Coordination
Choreographed light shows, formation flying, and multi-drone swarm operations. MDS (MAVSDK Drone Show), leader-follower, SkyBrush, SITL simulation, time sync, and safety.
Counter-UAS Integration
RF detection, radar tracking, and defeat system integration. DroneShield, Dedrone, and DIY approaches. Sensor fusion for autonomous C-UAS response.
SLAM Stack Selector
Pick LiDAR + computer + firmware → get ranked SLAM stack recommendations with config files.
Swarm Stack Selector
Pick mission type + FC + fleet size → get ranked swarm software recommendations with key params.
Model Builder
Assemble builds from 3,000+ parts with compatibility checking.
Platform Database
200+ platforms with specs, compliance, funding, and production data.
Compliance Dashboard
Blue UAS, NDAA §848 (FY2020) + ASDA / FAR 52.240-1, ITAR, and country-of-origin for all 219 platforms.
§848 Spec Sheet Viewer
Cross-vendor index of manufacturer compliance PDFs. Freefly, Hylio, ORQA, ModalAI and more. The first free aggregator.
Compliance Matrix
§848 · §889 · §817 · ASDA · Blue UAS · Framework · TAA · FCC Covered List — side-by-side explainer.