AI-driven autonomous FPV drone development: for hobbyists

Turn any FPV drone into an intelligent, AI-powered UAV capable of autonomous flight and operation — even without GPS in non-GNSS environments. Whether you’re a hobbyist, a UAV developer, or a professional using drones in your daily work, this book will give you the knowledge and tools to bring autonomy to your drones. You’ll learn how to: Build FPV drones, rovers, and fixed-wing aircraft from scratch, including component selection, soldering, and PID tuning. Develop an autopilot system using Python 3, and understand the architecture behind autonomous flight. Integrate a Raspberry Pi as a companion computer for onboard AI, computer vision, and decision-making. Use OpenCV and YOLO to create computer vision models for object and target detection (recognition). Work with Betaflight and ArduPilot, and master communication protocols like MAVLink and MSP. Plan and execute reconnaissance missions using ArduPilot Mission Planner on fixed-wing planes. Simulate flights and test AI behavior (autopilot with target following) in Microsoft AirSim before real-world use. Design and build drones capable of delivering payloads or operating autonomously in non-GNSS environments. This book gives you a practical roadmap for transforming a standard FPV drone into a self-driving, mission-capable UAV. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a copter, a ground robotic platform like a rover, or even a fixed-wing plane — each concept and module is clearly explained and ready to integrate, ensuring smooth implementation for developers and enthusiasts alike. Written by Dmytro Sazonov, a former CTO, architect, and software engineer with over 20 years of experience in commercial software development, this book combines deep technical expertise with a hands-on approach to modern UAV autonomy. If you’ve been searching for a step-by-step guide to adding AI-driven autonomy to any FPV drone — this is the book for you. View Less