ModalAI has released VOXL Flight, the first open-development platform for autonomous drone navigation that fuses a companion computer with a PX4 flight controller on one printed circuit board (PCB).
VOXL Flight reduces cabling, cost, size and weight compared to using two independent boards, creating a plug-and-play solution drone manufacturers and makers can implement to get to market sooner and increase profitability. The platform is also compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020.
“After developers install and configure VOXL Flight, the drone can navigate autonomously indoors, outdoors and around obstacles,” said Chad Sweet, CEO, ModalAI. “VOXL Flight accelerates autonomy by reducing the most difficult parts of hardware and software design for autonomous systems – a true out-of-the-box solution.”
VOXL Flight is a computing and communication platform that utilizes the smartphone ecosystem to create a highly-integrated autonomous navigation system to fly drones beyond visual line of sight. It integrates the following technologies:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) for movement, such as Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), to orient the drone to its ever-changing surroundings and plan mission paths
- GPS Denied Flight capabilities keep drones safely in flight and navigating indoors and challenging outdoor environments
- AI perception facilitates obstacle avoidance with deep learning object recognition and integrated depth sensing
- Support for up to four image sensors for simultaneous 4k video capture, streaming and computer vision processing
Drones in Flight to Support Security, Defense, Industrial and Consumer Applications
Security and defense industries have long been the pioneers and supporters of drone innovation, providing safety solutions for soldiers and first responders. Effective January 3, 2020, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020 bars the Secretary of Defense from procuring unmanned aircraft systems, flight controllers, radios, data transmission devices, cameras, gimbals, ground control systems or operating software that are developed or manufactured in a covered foreign country.
The Drone Origin Security Enhancement Act, which is currently making its way through the U.S. regulatory process, requires that all drones used for security and defense applications by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) be made of components manufactured in the U.S.
Modal AI designs and manufactures all of its printed circuit board assemblies in Southern California, making VOXL Flight compliant with both federal acts. VOXL Flight is an outcome of ModalAI’s efforts with the Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit to provide the armed forces with state of the art technology for Group 1 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in the field.
In addition to security applications, ModalAI’s products are used commercially. Consumer applications include delivery of medical supplies, food and packages to both urban and remote locations. In industrial sectors, drones are ideal for agricultural, structural, warehouse and underground inspection to provide advantageous aerial views and to keep workers safe.
Enhanced Flight Control with Expandable Features
VOXL Flight utilizes the Qualcomm Flight Pro UAS technology, one of the industry’s fastest processors for camera, security and communications technologies for drones. The VOXL platform is compatible with open-source technologies, including Linux, PX4 and the Robot Operating System (ROS), creating a flexible software architecture for a large number of applications.
VOXL Flight is software compatible with VOXL and supports the following add-ons:
- LTE-based beyond visual line of sight capabilities to avoid obstacles and operate autonomously on the wireless network
- Digital Data Link (DDL) radio modem to support industrial applications operating on private networks
- Video encoding of 4k h.264 for MIPI, USB and HDMI camera payloads
About ModalAIModalAI accelerates autonomy by providing innovators with robot and drone perception and communications systems that are manufactured in the U.S.A. Based in San Diego, California, ModalAI spun out of Qualcomm in 2018 and leverages more than five years of prior research and development in the drone and robotic markets.
Source: Press Release