Review of operating systems used in unmanned aerial vehicles

Operating systems (OS) play a major role in the functionality and performance of unmanned aerial vehicles, serving as their central nervous system to manage various components and functions. This article provides a comprehensive overview of embedded operating systems (EOS), real-time operating systems (RTOS), and cloud operating systems (Cloud OS) intended for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In particular, from the perspective of practical use, both the strengths and weaknesses of the following operating systems were analyzed: PX4 Autopilot, ArduPilot, NuttX, Robot Operating System (ROS), FreeRTOS, MicroPython, and ChibiOS/RT. A general overview of the potential practical applications of Cloud OS is also presented. Therefore, one can gain insights into the criteria for selecting operating systems, as well as their strengths and limitations. It is important to understand that the role of an operating system in UAV development is crucial for optimizing performance, safety, and efficiency across various applications, from agricultural monitoring to security surveillance.