Repolode
Submit
okalachev

okalachev/flix

Open-source ESP32-based quadcopter flight controller firmware and hardware design, built from general-purpose parts for education and research.

View on GitHubWebsite
Stars
2,320
Forks
347
Open issues
3
Last commit
19 days ago

What is it?

Flix (flight + X) is an open-source quadcopter built around an ESP32 microcontroller, with the flight control firmware written in Arduino-style C++ and kept small enough to read end to end. It is aimed at education and research, and it uses general-purpose components such as a GY-91 or ICM-20948 IMU board, brushed 8520 motors, and a Li-Po battery. Assembly instructions, a 3D-printed frame design, and wiring tables are provided.

The drone communicates over MAVLink, either via Wi-Fi or ESP-NOW, and can be controlled with a USB gamepad, an RC transmitter through an SBUS receiver, or a smartphone. A wireless command line interface supports inspection and log analysis. A Gazebo simulator runs the same Arduino code, and a Python library supports scripted and automatic flights.

The project also includes a flight control textbook that is still in development. Position control is listed as planned and in progress.

Key features

  • 01Flight firmware in Arduino C++ with under 2,000 lines of code.
  • 02Communicates via MAVLink over Wi-Fi or ESP-NOW.
  • 03Control through USB gamepad, RC transmitter, or smartphone.
  • 04Wireless command line interface for inspection and log analysis.
  • 05Gazebo simulation running the same firmware code.
  • 06Python library for scripting and automatic flights.

Use cases

  • Teaching flight control theory with a hands-on quadcopter project.
  • Research prototyping of control algorithms on low-cost hardware.
  • Testing firmware changes in Gazebo before flying a real drone.
  • Building a DIY quadcopter from general-purpose components.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Read the build and setup guide

  2. 2

    Follow the usage guide to build and flash the firmware

Things to know

  • Requires assembling custom hardware, including a 3D-printed frame, soldered MOSFET circuits and a specific motor and IMU.
  • The author warns it is not easy to assemble and set up and comes with no warranty.
  • No license is specified in the metadata, so reuse terms are unclear.
  • Position control is still in development and not yet available.

Topics

#esp32#quadcopter#flight-controller#drone#mavlink#control-theory#simulation#embedded#arduino#autopilot

FAQ

What is flix?
Open-source ESP32-based quadcopter flight controller firmware and hardware design, built from general-purpose parts for education and research. Flix (flight + X) is an open-source quadcopter built around an ESP32 microcontroller, with the flight control firmware written in Arduino-style C++ and kept small enough to read end to end. It is aimed at education and research, and it uses general-purpose components such as a GY-91 or ICM-20948 IMU board, brushed 8520 motors, and a Li-Po battery. Assembly instructions, a 3D-printed frame design, and wiring tables are provided.
Is flix free to use? What license does it have?
flix has no declared license. Its code is public, but without a license you have no explicit permission to reuse it; ask the author before relying on it.
Is flix still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to flix was on Sep 30, 2026.
What can I use flix for?
Teaching flight control theory with a hands-on quadcopter project. Research prototyping of control algorithms on low-cost hardware. Testing firmware changes in Gazebo before flying a real drone. Building a DIY quadcopter from general-purpose components.
How do I install flix?
Read the build and setup guide Follow the usage guide to build and flash the firmware
Where can I get flix?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/okalachev/flix

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

Related projects