The Autopilot Team develops the autonomy stack that allows aircraft to navigate and execute missions independently of human input. By designing flight control logic, mission planning systems, and real-time decision frameworks, the team transforms a multirotor platform into a fully autonomous vehicle capable of precise, repeatable operations.
Autopilot develops mission logic and flight behavior using Python-based pymavlink and ArduPilot code frameworks. Using Software-In-The-Loop (SITL) simulation, the team tests navigation routines, waypoint tracking, and fail-safes before deploying code to live aircraft. Simulation allows rapid iteration and reduces risk before field testing. This work includes tuning control loops, validating sensor fusion outputs, and ensuring reliable autonomy under dynamic conditions.
Beyond software, Autopilot manages the integration of primarily Pixhawk flight controllers, GPS modules, IMUs, telemetry systems, and onboard computing. Hardware and firmware configuration, wiring validation, and signal integrity checks are critical to stable performance. The team conducts bench testing, hardware-in-the-loop validation, and live flights to ensure safe and effective operation. Close coordination with Hardware, Imaging, and Airdrop ensures the full autonomy stack performs reliably in real-world environments
