#Drones

Robotics Primer September 3, 2026

ArduPilot Primer — State Estimation, Control, and Mission Design for an Autopilot

ArduPilot is an open-source autopilot that implements a vehicle's sensor fusion, attitude/position control, navigation missions, and failsafes. This article covers the differences between Copter, Plane, and Rover, plus EKF, PID, MAVLink, SITL, and real-vehicle safety testing, with diagrams.

Fundamentals · 5 min Sensors & Hardware September 2, 2026

How Batteries and BMS Work — Molicel, DJI, Samsung SDI

What determines a robot's or drone's range and safety isn't the motor or the sensor suite — it's the battery and its BMS (Battery Management System). From the electrochemistry of lithium-ion cells to cell balancing and protection circuits, we compare real specs from Molicel's high-discharge cells, DJI's intelligent flight batteries, and Samsung SDI's push into next-generation solid-state batteries — and look at what the Boeing 787 fire taught the industry about the limits of a BMS.

Fundamentals · 12 min