Linux & ROS 2
Develop on the drone
Linux, Python, C++ and ROS 2 directly on the Raspberry Pi.
Educational drone kit · Raspberry Pi 5
PMAXI Developer Kit
A flying laboratory for robotics.
A 4-inch drone kit built around commercial hardware and the UAVPROG custom frame. Linux-based development, computer vision and sensor integration, with full support from UAVPROG Academy.
- 4″
- carbon frame for indoor and outdoor flight
- PX4 / AP
- PX4 and ArduPilot research flight stacks
- Pi 5
- companion computer with Ubuntu and ROS 2
- 10–15 min
- typical flight time on a 4S battery
Design for advanced learning
A flying laboratory for advanced robotics education
Connect sensors, develop your own applications, process real-world data and test your ideas directly in flight.
Computer vision
Dual camera system
Image processing, navigation, marker detection and vision projects with the onboard cameras.
Sensor processing
Your sensors, your logic
Connect external sensors, read live data and build your own processing and control logic.
Open for experimentation
Built to be modified
Customize the drone around your project and test ideas on a real flying platform.
Hardware
Every part chosen to be learned from
Reliable, repairable and ready for advanced robotics experiments.
Raspberry Pi 5 companion computer
Runs the Ubuntu-based PMAXI image with ROS 2. A compact robotics computer with real flight capability.
Autopilot PX4 · ArduPilot
Support for both major open-source autopilot ecosystems for mission planning, telemetry and flight-control experiments.
Optical flow
Stabilises flight where GPS is unavailable: classrooms, labs, gym floors and maker spaces.
Dual camera system
Vision input for autonomy, AI, marker detection and navigation, with 3D-printed camera mount parts.
Custom frame 4″ carbon
UAVPROG custom carbon frame with propeller guards, 1806 brushless motors and HQ Props 4025.
Battery 4S · XT30
4S LiPo with an XT30 connector for 10–15 minutes of typical flight time.
Radio & Wi-Fi
External radio receiver support with ELRS for low-latency manual control. Onboard Wi-Fi for SSH, ROS 2 networking and file deployment.
Expandable sensor interfaces
Connect external sensors, custom status hardware and experimental payloads to the Raspberry Pi GPIO header.
Inside PMAXI
Every layer, open to learn
Keep scrolling to take the platform’s PMAXI model apart: frame, flight controller, onboard computer, cameras, motors and power electronics.
Scroll to take it apart ↓
- Antenna and receiver · ELRS receiver and antenna mount
- Top frame and motors · 1806 brushless, HQ Props 4025
- Onboard computer + dual cameras · Ubuntu, ROS 2, Python and C++
- Flight controller · PX4 / ArduPilot
- Carbon frame · UAVPROG custom 4″ frame with guards
- Power electronics and battery mount · ESC, power supply, XT30 connector and battery mount
From assembly to autonomy
Build it. Code it. Fly it.
- Build the droneAssemble the kit with the online build guide and the included tools.
- Connect the sensorsWire cameras and external sensors to the expandable interfaces.
- Write the codePython, C++ and ROS 2 directly on the Raspberry Pi.
- Test in simulationCheck the mission in the UAVPROG simulator before it flies.
- Deploy to the real platformRun the same workflow on PMAXI in flight.
Expandable sensor interfaces
Swap the sensor. Change the mission.
Plug a new sensor into PMAXI, read live data on the Raspberry Pi and build your own processing and control logic.
Plug and read
Live data · example
Air quality
0
Software
Open by design
Not a closed toy. SSH into the Raspberry Pi, deploy packages, run ROS 2 nodes, stream telemetry and test autonomy logic.
Programming
Python + C++
Mission scripts, control logic, computer vision, data loggers and AI workflows.
Middleware
ROS 2
The messaging layer between sensors, onboard compute, autonomy software and the flight controller.
Autopilot
PX4 + ArduPilot
Flexibility across mission planning, telemetry, navigation and flight-control experiments.
Ground station
MAVLink Router + QGroundControl
Mission planning, parameter configuration, telemetry monitoring and flight status.
Operating system
PMAXI image
Ubuntu-based image with ROS packages and autopilot tooling, so every student starts from the same baseline.
Simulation
sim.uavprog.com
Test code safely in the browser, then move to the physical drone with the same mission concepts.
Communication
How the layers talk
Raspberry Pi 5, autopilot, pilot radio, developer workstation, ground station and simulation in one robotics platform.
| Pilot ↔ Drone | ELRS radio link for low-latency manual control and pilot override. |
|---|---|
| Developer ↔ Raspberry Pi | Onboard Wi-Fi for SSH access, ROS 2 networking, file deployment and code iteration. |
| QGroundControl ↔ Autopilot | Mission planning, telemetry monitoring, parameter configuration and flight status. |
| ROS 2 ↔ Flight controller | Autonomy software talks to the flight stack through MAVLink and bridge layers. |
| Simulation ↔ Real flight | Concepts are tested in sim.uavprog.com before they fly. |
PMAXI in action
From the bench to the air
Assemble it in 3D, fly it in the simulator, then build the real kit. Photos and videos of the real PMAXI are on the way.
Video · coming soon
Virtual assembly
Every part of PMAXI goes into place in the 3D builder before students open the real kit.
Video · coming soon
Cargo over Summit City
In the simulator PMAXI carries a crate on its hook across the city.
Video · coming soon
Onboard camera
The same flight seen from the PMAXI camera.
3D builder
Assembled in 3D
The finished PMAXI on the 3D workbench.
Indoor and outdoor
Designed for GPS-denied learning spaces
Most educational flying happens indoors. Optical-flow positioning stabilises PMAXI when GPS is unavailable, so students can practise autonomy before moving to larger outdoor areas.
Works best onTextured surfaces with even lighting.
AvoidGlossy floors, direct sunlight, featureless surfaces and dark rooms.
IndoorsClassrooms, labs, gym floors and maker spaces.
OutdoorsLarger test areas for advanced flight activities.
In the box
What ships with the kit
PMAXI drone kitAirframe and hardware for assembly
ELRS receiverPilot link for remote control
4S batteryXT30 connector
Battery chargerClassroom-ready charging
microSD cardPrepared PMAXI software image
CameraVision input for autonomy and AI
Online build guideAssembly and first-flight workflow
ToolsEverything needed for kit setup
PropellersHQ Props 4025
3D-printed partsCamera parts, antenna holders, landing decks
Curriculum
Start in simulation, then fly the same idea
Autonomous UAV Engineering with PMAXI: a structured course from UAV foundations and safety to autonomous missions.
84academic hours
32lesson units
58 hhands-on practical training
69%of the course is practical
Schools
High-school STEM
Block-to-code, Python basics, sensor thinking and safe autonomy demonstrations.
Universities
University robotics
ROS 2, MAVLink, flight-control concepts, perception and autonomous mission design.
AI workflows
AI and computer vision
Object detection, tracking, AprilTag-style experiments and onboard inference.
Developer labs
R&D prototyping
A compact testbed for sensor integration, telemetry tooling and flight tests.
Specs
PMAXI specifications
Airframe & propulsion
- Frame
- 4-inch UAVPROG custom carbon frame with propeller guards
- Motors
- 1806 brushless
- Propellers
- HQ Props 4025
- Flight time
- 10–15 minutes typical
Compute & expansion
- Companion computer
- Raspberry Pi 5
- Cameras
- Dual camera system
- GPIO
- Expandable sensor interfaces
- Storage
- microSD card included
- Wireless
- Onboard Raspberry Pi Wi-Fi
Flight control
- Autopilot
- PX4 and ArduPilot
- Ground station
- QGroundControl compatible
- Communication
- MAVLink / routing layer
- Pilot link
- External radio receiver support, ELRS receiver included
- Indoor positioning
- Optical flow
Power
- Battery
- 4S LiPo
- Connector
- XT30
- Charger
- Included
Software stack
- Operating system
- Ubuntu-based PMAXI image
- Middleware
- ROS 2
- Programming
- Python and C++
- Platform
- UAVPROG Academy, simulator at sim.uavprog.com
Kit accessories
- Included
- Camera, ELRS receiver, build guide, tools, propellers, camera parts, antenna holders and landing decks
Order PMAXI or plan a lab
Tell us about your class or lab, and we will help you choose the kit, the platform licences and the curriculum.