NVIDIA Jetson Drone: A Programmable Edge-AI UAV
The Flyby F-11 Series is a drone built around an NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX GPU that developers can fully program. Run machine learning onboard, in flight, and let it act on the flight controller in real time.
Full access to the Jetson Orin NX
- NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX 16 GB: 157 TOPS, or 314 TOPS with the dual Jetson configuration.
- 8-core ARM CPU with 16 GB of RAM.
- 500 GB or 1 TB of onboard solid-state storage.
- 18,000 mAh onboard Li-Ion battery capacity, plus 5 V, 12 V and VBATT power ports.
Everything talks to the GPU, and the GPU talks back
Every part of the F-11 is built around the Orin. USB 3.0 ports are wired directly into the GPU, Ethernet ports connect through a 1 Gb/s switch, and a publisher/subscriber message bus lets any service on the drone post messages and subscribe to topics.
Because the GPU is connected directly to the flight controller, the autonomy software you write can use in-flight analysis to control the aircraft in real time. This is what allowed Palantir to build an APNT capability on the platform.
An open software stack
- ArduPilot flight controller: open, free and modifiable.
- Standard MAVLink with no custom messaging, for plug-and-play with MAVLink systems.
- Docker-containerized services for easy deployment and updates.
- Flyby Nexus: upload an ONNX model and deploy it without re-flashing the Jetson.
- Flyby Payload SDK: integrate new sensors with a few lines of code.
Start with the developer quickstart or browse the SDK reference. Read the full story in Building Drones for Developers.
Hardware you can adapt
- XT-30 power ports, easy to modify and integrate.
- Payload data ports for sensors and custom hardware.
The F-11 is made in El Segundo, California, with NDAA-compliant options and is used for aerial mapping and research. See how it compares as a DJI alternative.
Frequently asked questions
Which NVIDIA Jetson does the F-11 use?
The F-11 Series uses an NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX 16 GB delivering 157 TOPS. A dual Jetson Orin NX configuration delivers 314 TOPS.
Can I run my own machine learning models?
Yes. Upload an ONNX model through Flyby Nexus and it is integrated into the live data streams and user experience without re-flashing the Jetson. You can also deploy your own Docker containers.
Is the flight controller open?
Yes. The F-11 runs ArduPilot and standard MAVLink without modification, and the GPU is connected directly to the flight controller.
Where can I find the developer documentation?
The quickstart is at docs.flybydev.com and the C++ SDK reference is available on this site.
Learn more about the F-11 Series
Products
Flyby F-11 SeriesSpecsDeveloper QuickstartDeveloper SDKNDAA-Compliant DronesDJI AlternativeAerial Mapping DronesNVIDIA Jetson DroneCompany
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