Erle Robotics, Canonical and the Open Source Robotics Foundation (OSRF) have partnered to bring an "app store" for drones that will use the Robot Operative System (ROS) as its core framework for robotic application development.
We are inspired to support entrepreneurs and inventors focused on life-changing projects. From scientific breakthroughs by autonomous robotic explorers to everyday miracles like home safety and energy efficiency, our world is being transformed by smart machines that can see, hear, move, communicate and sense in unprecedented ways.
Mark Shuttleworth, Founder of Ubuntu and Canonical
Ubuntu Core enables our new app store for open robots. That creates a market for innovation and competition in smart robotics, with apps and updates delivered straight from developers to a new class of open, intelligent robots powered by open platforms and open protocols
Brian Gerkey, CEO of the Open Source Robotics Foundation
Through our Linux autopilot Erle-brain that runs APM, we are happy to introduce Erle-Copter as the first Ubuntu Core powered drone. A Linux copter that will support the new Snappy Ubuntu Core which will keep our drones secure and upgraded automatically.
We are delighted to reveal the Erle-Copter as the world's first Ubuntu Core powered drone that will stay secure automatically and can be upgraded with additional capabilities from the app store. An open platform attracts innovators and experts to collaborate and compete, we are excited to lead the way with open drones for education, research and invention.
Victor Mayoral Vilches, CTO of Erle Robotics
Everyone agrees that developing robotic applications is a difficult task. Brian (CEO of the OSRF) introduced ROS as the LAMP stack for Robotics.
In a few years ROS has changed the robotics field. It has unified Universities and industries around the world, enhanced collaboration, sharing of algorithms and reuse of code. A task that traditionally could take months can be developed within days using ROS. We are true believers of this framework and its possibilities for the future of robotics thereby adopting it as an SDK for an "app store" seems the right choice for us.
We welcome this opportunity to bring a new wave of Linux experts to the drone landscape and keep working to make reliable, Linux-based autopilots.
Comments
@Jonathan,
Yes, we recently shipped the first units.
As we runed out of stock we've pushed the second batch a month away.
Hopefully they'll come soon. Every comment is welcome and helps us improve.
Cheers
@Victor: In your store first it was supposed to ship Erle-copters in January and now it is set to February.
Have you shipped already any?
Where could we find out reviews?