## File: README.md

---

## About

PX4 is an open-source autopilot stack for drones and unmanned vehicles. It supports multirotors, fixed-wing, VTOL, rovers, and many more experimental platforms from racing quads to industrial survey aircraft. It runs on [NuttX](https://nuttx.apache.org/), Linux, and macOS. Licensed under [BSD 3-Clause](LICENSE).

## Why PX4

**Modular architecture.** PX4 is built around [uORB](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/middleware/uorb.html), a [DDS](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/middleware/uxrce_dds.html)-compatible publish/subscribe middleware. Modules are fully parallelized and thread safe. You can build custom configurations and trim what you don't need.

**Wide hardware support.** PX4 runs on a wide range of [autopilot boards](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/flight_controller/) and supports an extensive set of sensors, telemetry radios, and actuators through the [Pixhawk](https://pixhawk.org/) ecosystem.

**Developer friendly.** First-class support for [MAVLink](https://mavlink.io/) and [DDS / ROS 2](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/ros2/) integration. Comprehensive [SITL simulation](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/simulation/), hardware-in-the-loop testing, and [log analysis](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/log/flight_log_analysis.html) tools. An active developer community on [Discord](https://discord.gg/dronecode) and the [weekly dev call](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/contribute/).

**Vendor neutral governance.** PX4 is hosted under the [Dronecode Foundation](https://www.dronecode.org/), part of the Linux Foundation. Business-friendly BSD-3 license. No single vendor controls the roadmap.

## Supported Vehicles



| Multicopter | Fixed Wing | VTOL | Rover |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |



<sub>…and many more: helicopters, autogyros, airships, submarines, boats, and other experimental platforms. These frames have basic support but are not part of the regular flight-test program. See the [full airframe reference](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/airframes/airframe_reference.html).</sub>

## Try PX4

Run PX4 in simulation with a single command. No build tools, no dependencies beyond Docker:

```bash
docker run --rm -it -p 14550:14550/udp px4io/px4-sitl:latest
```

Open [QGroundControl](https://qgroundcontrol.com) and fly. See [PX4 Simulation Quickstart](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/simulation/px4_simulation_quickstart) for more options.

## Build from Source

```bash
git clone https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot.git --recursive
cd PX4-Autopilot
make px4_sitl
```

> [!NOTE]
> See the [Development Guide](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/development/development.html) for toolchain setup and build options.

## Documentation & Resources

| Resource | Description |
| --- | --- |
| [User Guide](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/) | Build, configure, and fly with PX4 |
| [Developer Guide](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/development/development.html) | Modify the flight stack, add peripherals, port to new hardware |
| [Airframe Reference](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/airframes/airframe_reference.html) | Full list of supported frames |
| [Autopilot Hardware](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/flight_controller/) | Compatible flight controllers |
| [Release Notes](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/releases/) | What's new in each release |
| [Contribution Guide](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/contribute/) | How to contribute to PX4 |

## Community

- **Weekly Dev Call** — open to all developers ([Dronecode calendar](https://www.dronecode.org/calendar/))
- **Discord** — [Join the Dronecode server](https://discord.gg/dronecode)
- **Discussion Forum** — [PX4 Discuss](https://discuss.px4.io/)
- **Maintainers** — see [`MAINTAINERS.md`](MAINTAINERS.md)
- **Contributor Stats** — [LFX Insights](https://insights.lfx.linuxfoundation.org/foundation/dronecode)

## Contributing

We welcome contributions of all kinds — bug reports, documentation, new features, and code reviews. Please read the [Contribution Guide](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/contribute/) to get started.

## Citation

If you use PX4 in academic work, please cite it. BibTeX:

```bibtex
@software{px4_autopilot,
  author    = {Meier, Lorenz and {The PX4 Contributors}},
  title     = {{PX4 Autopilot}},
  publisher = {Zenodo},
  doi       = {10.5281/zenodo.595432},
  url       = {https://px4.io}
}
```

The DOI above is a Zenodo concept DOI that always resolves to the latest release. For a version-pinned citation, see the [Zenodo record](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.595432) or our [`CITATION.cff`](CITATION.cff).

## Governance

The PX4 Autopilot project is hosted by the [Dronecode Foundation](https://www.dronecode.org/), a [Linux Foundation](https://www.linuxfoundation.org/) Collaborative Project. Dronecode holds all PX4 trademarks and serves as the project's legal guardian, ensuring vendor-neutral stewardship — no single company owns the name or controls the roadmap. The source code is licensed under the [BSD 3-Clause](LICENSE) license, so you are free to use, modify, and distribute it in your own projects.

---

## File: docs/index.md

---
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hero:
  name: "PX4"
  text: "Autopilot"
  tagline: Open-source flight stack for drones and autonomous vehicles. BSD-3 licensed. Vendor neutral.
  image: /px4-logo.svg
  actions:
    - theme: brand
      text: Read the docs
      link: /en/index.md
    - theme: alt
      text: Website
      link: https://px4.io/
    - theme: alt
      text: Source code on GitHub
      link: https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot

features:
  - title: Modular Architecture
    details: Built on uORB, a DDS-compatible publish/subscribe middleware. Every module runs as its own thread, fully parallelized and thread safe. Build custom configurations and strip out what you don't need.
  - title: Wide Hardware Support
    details: Supports Pixhawk-standard flight controllers and a growing range of boards beyond that standard. DroneCAN peripherals run PX4 firmware in CAN node mode. No vendor lock-in.
  - title: Developer Friendly
    details: First-class MAVLink and DDS/ROS 2 integration. Comprehensive SITL simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and log analysis tools. MAVSDK provides a high-level SDK/API for programmatic vehicle interaction.
  - title: Autonomy Ready
    details: Extensible architecture for advanced autonomy. External modes, offboard control, and DDS/ROS 2 interfaces provide the building blocks for computer vision, GPS-denied navigation, and custom flight behaviors.
  - title: Proven at Scale
    details: Millions of vehicles deployed worldwide across commercial, defense, and research applications. Continuous flight testing validates the codebase across multirotors, fixed-wing, VTOL, helicopters, rovers, and more.
  - title: Permissive License
    details: BSD 3-Clause. Use it, modify it, ship it in proprietary products. You only need to include the original copyright notice and license text.
  - title: Interoperability
    details: Part of a modular ecosystem. PX4 (autopilot), MAVLink (protocol), QGroundControl (ground station), Pixhawk (hardware standard), MAVSDK (SDK/API), and ROS 2 via DDS or Zenoh. All Dronecode projects, all open source.
  - title: Vendor Neutral Governance
    details: Hosted by the Dronecode Foundation under the Linux Foundation. No single company owns the name or controls the roadmap. Community-driven with a weekly open dev call.

search: false
footer: BSD 3-clause license
---

---

## File: docs/README.md

# PX4 User Guide

This repo contains the source code for the [PX4 User Guide](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/).

> [!NOTE]
> [Contributions](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/contribute/docs.html) and [Translations](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/contribute/translation.html) to this guide are very welcome!