Researcher at Delft University in the Netherlands have designed, built, and tested one of the smallest open-source autopilot for small unmanned aircraft, or micro air vehicles (MAVs). The new autopilot is called Lisa/S, weighs only 1.9 grams, and measures 2 cm by 2 cm. The researchers developed new software, Superbitrf, that keeps the autopilot connected to a ground station and a normal RC transmitter at the same time, making it possible to miniaturize the autopilot. Making the autopilot smaller and lighter allows a micro aerial vehicle to stay up in the air longer and carry heavier cameras and sensors, for example. The researchers have chosen to develop Lisa/s open-source to make it possible for users to test it and come up with suggestions for improvement. Lisa/S consists of software on the autopilot, which is open source autopilot paparazzi; hardware electronics will be sold starting in January 2014); onboard software paparazzi; and telemetry module superbitrf.
Source: www.tudelft.nl/en/current/latest-news/article/detail/tu-delft-onderzoekers-bouwen-de-kleinste-automatische-piloot-ter-wereld
