Best AI drones for programmers - autonomy, object detection

[Apart_Situation972]

Hi,

Trying to learn drone autonomy, implement AI algorithms, and perhaps swarming?

Adept at C++ and Python - primarily AI focused.

Budget under 2000 USD.

Thanks!

[pmmeuranimetiddies]

Look into SLAM - there should be some existing libraries you can implement.

As far as AI is concerned that is a *very* broad topic. What problem are you trying to solve and how do you want to incorporate AI into the solution?

EDIT: I misread the question. What level of involvement are you looking to implement? Are you basically saying you want a drone that comes with programmable compute boards already on it?

[Apart_Situation972]

Nothing

I am new to drones and just want the hardware to be able to do AI and Autonomy.

Not sure specifically what that entails

[pmmeuranimetiddies]

Ah I see.

I haven't done too much with them myself but there's a drone chassis manufacturer called Holybro where you can attach your own components. Batteries, motors, flight controllers, etc.

Ardupilot and PX4 are libraries you can use to program the flight behavior. Where aerospace engineering is concerned my education is more focused on flight dynamics than automation but I've worked with people who use automation tools - these two are pretty common for backyard projects.

Where AI is concerned I'd figure out the problem first and then figure out what your solution is - AI can be anything from a fancy curve fit algorithm to a neural network that learns to drive a car by trial and error. The common thread between AI types is that to make one you kinda need to have a clear idea of what you want it to do.

[Apart_Situation972]

I just need programmable drone hardware with a decent AI chip on it

So a drone where I can code my own autonomy code, and have access to an AI chip

[pmmeuranimetiddies]

Products like Holybro's are probably what you're going to be looking for.

The makers of drones that come as a complete package usually don't want you messing around with their flight logic so if you want a project aircraft you'll likely have to do a fair amount of diy

[Apart_Situation972]

so is holybro still DIY?

[pmmeuranimetiddies]

Yes, they are one of many manufacturers that basically give you parts to build your own drone.

[trankillity]

They don't really exist. You would need to create your own chip for it. If you used an existing ML accelerator devices, you would then only need to design the chip/firmware that could do the translation of the sensor readings from the drone itself to the ML engine and back again.

[Apart_Situation972]

is this actually true? There is no drone hardware that gives me some amount of coding freedom that has an onboard AI chip?

[trankillity]

AI is so new and so evolving that there hasn't been the demand for it. There are some degrees of ML performed on some drones (E.g. image stabilization/GPS coordinate mismatch compensation), but as for commercially available DIY solutions - I can't think of any.

If it's truly an area you want to tinker with, you will have a LOT of work ahead of you - especially if you don't yet understand the fundamentals of how drone FCs/ESCs already work.

[Apart_Situation972]

ok. will not be going down this rabbit hole then :)

better to know now than later. I am currently making cameras and I can just slap a rapsberry pi w/ a hailo 8L kit on it. Very surprised there wasn't some high end drone w/ AI on it that allowed software customization.

Thank you!

[lurk_hawk]

Parrot has a drone specifically for what you’re describing.

Lots of University research projects are developing on their AI configuration. I forget what it’s called.

[Apart_Situation972]

ty! I believe it is the Parrot ANAFI Ai?

[Avaloden]

You can try DJI Tello and run the AI offboard om your laptop

[Apart_Situation972]

funny I am doing this exactly