Welcome to the MAVSDK Drone Show (MDS) project—a cutting-edge platform for orchestrating PX4-based drone shows and intelligent swarm missions using MAVSDK. Our journey has taken us from simple offboard trajectory following to creating dynamic drone formations and advanced swarm behaviors. With every version, we're pushing the boundaries of drone programming and swarm control, aiming to make a significant impact in the drone programming universe.
The MDS project is an open-source initiative focused on enabling breathtaking drone shows and intelligent swarm missions. By leveraging the power of PX4, MAVSDK, and modern web technologies, we aim to provide a robust platform for drone enthusiasts, researchers, and industry professionals to explore, innovate, and contribute to the future of drone swarms.
Our project has evolved significantly over time. Here's a brief overview of our journey:
- Version 0.1: Introduced project implementation. Single drone csv trajectory following script.
- Version 0.2: Introduced multiple drones executing offset and delayed csv trajectory following.
- Version 0.3: Introduced enhanced drone show control and optimizations, including SkyBrush CSV processing and code optimizations.
- Version 0.4: Implemented advanced swarm control with the addition of
Coordinator.pyand improved telemetry and command handling. - Version 0.5: Stepped into real drone swarm capabilities with leader/follower missions and improved ground station data handling.
- Version 0.6: Enhanced complex leader/follower swarm control and introduced Docker-based SITL for efficient simulations.
- Version 0.7: Developed a React GUI for real-time swarm monitoring and automated the PX4 Docker environment startup and configuration.
- Version 0.8: Major GUI improvements, smarter drone swarm behaviors using Kalman Filter implementation, and Docker optimization for running SITLs in the cloud.
Each version has built upon the last, incorporating feedback, real-world testing, and technological advancements to push the project forward.
Release Date: November 2024
Version 2.0 marks a significant milestone in our project, incorporating extensive real-world testing and numerous enhancements to deliver a more robust and feature-rich platform.
- Enhanced React GUI: Our web-based dashboard has been significantly improved for better user experience and real-time swarm monitoring.
- Integrated Web Server: Transitioned to a Flask-based web server for more efficient communication.
- Eliminated UDP Dependencies: Streamlined network communication by removing UDP, enhancing reliability.
- Robust Drone Show Execution Script: Improved scripts for executing drone shows, ensuring smoother operations.
- Improved Command Handling: Enhanced mechanisms to handle commands, especially when previous commands are still in execution.
- Extensive Real-World Testing: The platform has undergone rigorous testing in real-world scenarios to validate performance and reliability.
- Docker-Based SITL Testing: Simplified the process of setting up Software-In-The-Loop (SITL) simulations using Docker.
Note: The swarm leader/follower functionality is currently under development and will be reintroduced in a future release.
Check out our detailed 100-Drone SITL Test in Clustered Cloud Servers | MDS Mavsdk Drone Show Version 2 video for a visual guide on setting up and running the simulation.
- Dynamic Drone Formations: Create and manage multiple dynamic shapes and orchestrate impressive drone shows.
- Advanced Swarm Intelligence: Develop intelligent swarm behaviors with multi-level leader/follower models.
- Web-Based Dashboard: Monitor and control your drone swarm in real-time through an intuitive React GUI.
- Automated Docker Environment: Quickly set up your SITL environment using Docker for efficient testing and development.
- Mission Configuration Tools: Visually create, manage, import, and export mission configurations and swarm files.
- SkyBrush Integration: Seamlessly convert SkyBrush CSV files into the MAVSDK Drone Show template.
- Robust Telemetry and Command Handling: Improved mechanisms to ensure each drone receives commands reliably.
To get started with the MAVSDK Drone Show project, please follow our comprehensive SITL demo with Docker Guide.
Documentation will be released... Implementing this project in the real world requires extensive knowledge and experience with drones, networking, and safety protocols. If you need assistance, please feel free to reach out.
We are committed to continuously improving the MAVSDK Drone Show project. Our roadmap includes:
- Reintroducing Swarm Leader/Follower Functionality: Enhancing swarm intelligence with improved leader/follower dynamics.
- Advanced Command Handling: Developing more robust command mechanisms to handle concurrent commands effectively.
- Performance Optimizations: Ongoing efforts to optimize performance, reliability, and security.
- Community Contributions: We welcome collaboration, suggestions, and contributions from the community to help drive this project forward.
We appreciate your interest in the MAVSDK Drone Show project. If you have any questions, suggestions, or need assistance, please feel free to contact us:
- Email: [email protected]
- LinkedIn: Alireza Ghaderi
We encourage contributions to the project. Please feel free to submit pull requests, report issues, or collaborate on new features.
Using offboard mode with real drones involves risks and should be approached with caution. Ensure you have the necessary expertise, understand safety implications, and consider failsafe scenarios before attempting to implement this project in real-world settings. Always prioritize safety and regulatory compliance.
- GitHub Repository: MAVSDK Drone Show
- SITL Test with Docker Guide: Setup Instructions
- YouTube Tutorials:
- MAVSDK Documentation: Official Docs
- PX4 Autopilot: Official Site
© 2024 Alireza Ghaderi
This documentation is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Feel free to reuse or modify according to the terms. Please attribute and link back to the original repository.