Design and Development of a Modular Mission Control Board for Autonomous Systems

In recent years, the integration of open-source (OS) software into embedded systems has garnered great attention, especially in the field of autonomy. There is a growing demand for hardware that is not only versatile but also high-performing and low-cost in the realm of autonomous systems (ASs). Traditional closed systems can be restrictive for developers and researchers due to their limited customization options and high costs. OS software platforms provide a solution to this problem, allowing users to adapt the software to their needs and benefit from a wide community support. This study focuses on the hardware design and development of a mission control board that can run OS software such as ArduPilot and PX4. The main goal is to provide a flexible and cost-effective hardware platform for autonomous vehicle enthusiasts, researchers, and developers. This hardware platform will respond to the increasing demand for flexible and high-performance ASs. Thanks to its modular design, users can customize the board for specific applications such as mapping, delivery, and autonomous navigation. It offers the opportunity to benefit from extensive documentation, community support, and many features, especially thanks to its compatibility with OS ecosystems. The board development and testing stages were primarily carried out on aircraft. However, the ultimate goal is to expand the card to various ASs, such as unmanned ground vehicles and marine vessels, and increase its applicability in these areas. Preliminary tests demonstrate the effectiveness of the card effectiveness, stability, and ease of use in real-world scenarios.