Drone Platform

Hardware for Fleet-Scale Drone Operations

Fleet operations demand hardware that balances capability with maintainability. Every component in this stack was chosen for production reliability, parts availability, and serviceability in the field.

Protocol: MAVLink

Drones in our fleet communicate using MAVLink (Micro Air Vehicle Link):

MAVLink provides:

• Standardized telemetry (position, attitude, battery, sensors)
• Command protocol (arm, takeoff, waypoints, RTL)
• Parameter management
• File transfer (logs, missions)

The Vehicle Gateway translates MAVLink messages to NATS subjects, enabling fleet-wide telemetry aggregation and command distribution.

Airframe

Holybro X500 V2 ARF

The Holybro X500 V2 provides an ideal platform for fleet deployment:

Why X500:

• Proven design — Thousands deployed worldwide, extensive community knowledge
• Parts availability — Arms, landing gear, and hardware readily available
• Maintenance-friendly — Modular construction, field-serviceable
• Payload flexibility — Sufficient capacity for dual companion computers plus sensors

The ARF (Almost Ready to Fly) kit includes frame, motors, ESCs, and propellers—reducing assembly variability across a large fleet.

Flight Controller

Pixhawk 6X

The Pixhawk 6X running PX4 v1.14 LTS handles all flight-critical functions:

Why Pixhawk 6X:

• Redundancy — Triple IMU, dual barometer for sensor voting
• PX4 LTS support — Long-term stability, security patches
• FMUv6X standard — Interchangeable with other compliant boards
• Vibration isolation — Built-in IMU dampening

The flight controller handles:

• Attitude estimation and control
• Position hold and navigation
• Failsafe behaviors (RTL, land, geofence)
• RC input processing
• MAVLink telemetry

Companion Computers

Fleet vehicles run dual companion computers with distinct responsibilities:

Raspberry Pi 4 / CM4 (Sensor Companion)

Handles lightweight sensor integration and data collection:

Responsibilities:

• Environmental sensor drivers (temperature, humidity, air quality)
• GPS/GNSS data logging
• Camera capture (non-AI workloads)
• MAVLink routing to Jetson
• Store-and-forward when Jetson is offline

NVIDIA Jetson (AI Companion)

Handles compute-intensive workloads:

Responsibilities:

• Computer vision (object detection, tracking)
• Visual-inertial odometry
• Path planning and obstacle avoidance
• Vehicle Gateway (NATS client)
• NATS leaf node

Fleet deployments typically use Jetson Orin Nano for cost-effective inference or Orin NX for demanding perception workloads.

Radio Systems

RC Control: ExpressLRS

ExpressLRS provides the pilot override link:

Why ExpressLRS:

• Open-source — No vendor lock-in, community-driven development
• Range — Reliable link for visual line-of-sight operations
• Low latency — Responsive manual control when needed
• Cost — Affordable receivers for fleet scale

Telemetry: SiK Radio

SiK 915 MHz radios provide ground station telemetry:

Role in Fleet:

• Backup telemetry when cellular unavailable
• Ground control station connectivity
• Local testing and debugging

For production fleet operations, telemetry primarily flows through the Jetson’s cellular connection to NATS. SiK radios serve as backup and for field diagnostics.

Power System

Battery: 4S LiPo

Fleet Considerations:

• Standardize on single battery configuration for logistics
• Use smart batteries with telemetry when available
• Implement battery rotation and health tracking
• Plan for 3:1 battery-to-vehicle ratio for continuous operations

Power Distribution

• PDB/PMS — Power management board for companion computers
• BEC — 5V regulated supply for Pi, servos
• Jetson power — Direct from battery through regulator (12V typical)

Connectivity

Cellular: 4G/5G + eSIM

Each Jetson connects via cellular modem:

eSIM Benefits:

• No physical SIM swapping across large fleet
• Remote carrier provisioning
• Carrier switching for coverage optimization
• Centralized subscription management

Safety Model

Drone-specific safety features are enforced at multiple levels:

See Safety Model for complete safety architecture.

Summary

Where to Buy

We don’t sell hardware—our partners do. Certified drone shops can supply complete kits with fleet infrastructure included.

For drone buyers: Purchase from a certified partner and get:

• Pre-configured hardware ready to connect
• Credentials for our managed infrastructure
• Local support from your shop

For drone shops: Join our partner program to offer fleet infrastructure with your hardware sales.

Related Documentation

• Supported Platforms — Overview of all vehicle types
• Ground Vehicles — Cars, trucks, and AGVs
• Vehicle Gateway — MAVLink-to-NATS bridge
• Safety Model — Failsafe architecture
• Software Stack — Operating systems and middleware