N7 Autopilot | Support Arudpilot & PX4, Accelerates Industrial UGV/USV Development

2025-09.01

Compared to closed-source systems, open-source flight controllers offer superior controllability and compatibility, enabling rapid product development while avoiding vendor lock-in. Leading protocols like Ardupilot and PX4 benefit from active global developer communities, extensive tutorials/plugins, and proven applications across UAVs, UGVs, and USVs – significantly reducing development costs and iteration timelines.

In early 2025, SIYI TECH collaborated with client teams to explore novel implementations of the N7 open-source ecosystem flight controller in marine and terrestrial robotics, pioneering efficient development pathways for industrial UGVs.

Industrial UGV Control Challenges: Limited Options vs. Complex Scenarios

While UAV flight controllers are mature, UGV controllers face critical gaps:

1. Precision Control on Rugged Terrain: Agricultural/inspection UGVs operating on slopes, muddy paths, and obstacle-rich environments demand higher control accuracy and responsiveness to prevent trajectory deviation.

2. System Stability & Safety: Stronger ground-level interference requires robust anti-jamming capabilities to prevent freezes/crashes.

3. Multifunctional Expansion: Diverse scenarios (e.g., agricultural spraying, harvesting, inspection) necessitate controllers with rich I/O interfaces.

4. Limited Ecosystem: Fewer controller/software options exist versus UAVs. Closed-source solutions often lack flexibility for rapid development and upgrades.

Case Study: Open-Source Migration for Tracked Inspection UGV

A simulated development integrated five core components:

• Tracked inspection UGV chassis ×1

• SIYI UniRC 7 Handheld Ground Station + Air Unit

• GPS module

• N7 Open-Source Ecosystem Flight Controller

• A8mini Gimbal Camera (4K/6x zoom)

Integration Process (<5 minutes):

1. Download N7 Ardupilot Firmware Package from SIYI website

2. Install "Rover" firmware via Mission Planner (MP) ground station

3. Perform accelerometer/compass calibration (Note: Full-vehicle rotation recommended for magnetic interference mitigation)

4. Configure remote control buttons

Field operators then control the UGV through the intuitive UniGCS interface with smartphone-like simplicity.

Key Advantage: Leveraging mature UAV flight control ecosystems reduces UGV/USV development cycles by ≈60%. Drone-grade controllers offer richer interfaces (supporting IR cameras, LiDAR, flow sensors), battle-tested algorithms, and multi-IMU redundancy for enhanced stability.

N7 Technical Specifications: Powering Reliable Performance

• Processors: STM32H743IIK6 (480MHz, 2MB flash, 1MB RAM) + STM32F103 coprocessor

• DSP/FPU: Dual-precision floating-point unit

• Redundancy: Dual IMUs + dual magnetometers (GPS module & onboard)

• Extreme Environment: Heated IMU maintains operation at -20°C

Centimeter-Accuracy Control with RTK

Paired with SIYI’s RTK positioning module and F9P RTK base station, the N7 achieves cm-level accuracy – critical for precision agriculture and inspection tasks. Example implementation:

Using Ardupilot's Rover firmware, developers customize pesticide spraying logic via MAVLink protocol while integrating multispectral cameras for crop analysis. RTK-enabled waypoint navigation automates high-accuracy operations.

Autonomous Mission Planning

The N7 supports automated route planning. Operators define waypoints on maps for single-click mission execution/return, maximizing coverage area and operational efficiency.

UniGCS: Intuitive Control Redefined

Unlike scarce UGV/USV control software, UniGCS delivers:

• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Unified control for UAVs/UGVs/USVs

• User-Centric UI: Smartphone-inspired interface with one-touch functions:

• AI tracking/following

• Visible/IR split-screen

• Laser rangefinder

• Custom geofencing

• Scenario-Specific Features: Thermal imaging, pseudo-color modes, gimbal recentering

Industry Impact: Deployed for over 1 year, the N7 controller now expands beyond UAVs into next-generation marine and terrestrial robotics – a core enabler within SIYI’s Hybrid Open Ecosystem™ for accelerated innovation.