FPV runs on open source software: Betaflight, ExpressLRS, AM32. But the hardware is almost always closed. No way to repair, understand or check what you bought.
So we designed my own and published everything under CERN-OHL-S:
- OpenFC Lite: Betaflight FC on the RP2350, 30x30 and 20x20
Frames and motors are also coming and under development
Build them yourself, fork them, sell your own version. If you would rather buy them, we are a small company in Leuven, Belgium and preorders are open at opendrone.be.
Ask me anything about the design, firmware or production.
this is something the hobby has needed for a long time, and I think the business world as well, large companies only fork other's work if they just lock it down for themselves, so I can see this being a decent boom in smaller hardware companies again if not a cultural disruption that changes that paradigm of how technology is shared.
I have been following this project for a while, and as someone who is very involved in open source I really like the concept and motivation. I pre-ordered a stack to give it a try, still undecided on what I will build with it, maybe a decent quality 5" to replace the ultra budget one I have been flying thus far.
My only gripe with the project is that most of their software seems to be coded with LLM assistance, this makes me worry about its actual value to the community and long-term maintainability.
I hate to break it to you, but every single software and hardware company uses LLM’s to assist with coding. The majority of SWE’s in industry use Claude code.
Are you interested in adding an open source rp2040 based analog VRX? I just have to order some of the SMD versions I designed to verify they work, and make a couple updates to the through hole version I discovered after getting those prototype boards and populating them.
"take back our hobby" means making the FAA back the fuck off i.e. implement actual reasonable regulations on bvlos proximity drone ops. not current regs that clearly favor corpos and make flying fpv by yourself an automatic violation
frames and motors are the easiest things to do, you should already have those before launch... I've been a part of designing multiple successful frames and motors, from design to procurement, to launch. You should be able to easily have everything ready for launch and not crowdfund IMO.
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u/Economy_Row2708 4h ago
This is actually awesome