UAV Autopilots

An autopilot is the computer that flies an unmanned aircraft. It reads sensors such as GPS, gyros and air data, then moves the control surfaces or motors to follow a flight plan. Makers sell it as a bare circuit board, a sealed box, or part of an onboard computer that also runs cameras and AI.

A few checks narrow the choice. Match the autopilot to the aircraft: multirotor, fixed wing, VTOL or helicopter, and its weight. Ask about redundancy, because large aircraft and crewed eVTOL projects often need two or three autopilots that vote on the answer. Ask what certification the maker has actually earned, not only which standards it designs to. Look at the ground control software, payload connections and support for open source firmware such as PX4 and ArduPilot. For government work, check export rules and NDAA compliance early.

UAV autopilot makers in the directory

We list 19 companies that make UAV autopilots or flight controllers. Eight are in the United States and two are in India, with others in Canada, Spain, Australia, the United Kingdom, Slovakia and China.

• MicroPilot: Canadian maker of UAV autopilots since 1994, with HORIZON mp ground control software.
• UAVOS: automatic control systems in three weight classes, from under 15 kg to 4,000 kg.
• Embention: Veronte autopilots in 1x, 4x and DRx versions for different levels of redundancy.
• ModalAI: VOXL 2 onboard computer with a PX4 and ArduPilot flight controller, made in the United States.
• 3D Robotics: open source autopilots, including the Control N1 and Control Zero, built in California.
• Auterion: Skynode X autopilot and mission computer with AuterionOS fleet software.
• Arkin Labs: AeroMind autopilots from Chennai, India, running ArduPilot and PX4.
• Sierra Aerospace: RTK GPS, autopilots and sensors for UAV makers in Bengaluru.
• Allocortech: flight controllers, flight termination and power electronics from Virginia.
• A-techSYN: Avionics Mini flight controller for UAVs from 20 kg to 150 kg.
• Holybro: Pixhawk flight controllers and other drone electronics sold online.
• UAV Navigation: VECTOR autopilots for fixed wing, helicopter and target drones, from Spain.
• Collins Aerospace: Piccolo autopilots, in the Elite and Nano versions.
• Lockheed Martin: Kestrel autopilot and Virtual Cockpit ground software.
• CubePilot: Cube Orange+ autopilot and carrier boards from Australia.
• CUAV: X25 and X7+ flight controllers with GNSS and RTK modules, from Guangzhou.
• Sky-Drones: AIRLink flight controller with an AI computer and 5G or LTE, from London.
• ARK Electronics: NDAA compliant flight controllers and Jetson carrier boards, made in the USA.
• Airvolute: DroneCore autopilots with Jetson or Hailo AI compute, from Slovakia.

Autopilots sit next to other drone and avionics companies. Browse drone companies, aircraft avionics and aerospace manufacturers, or read our guide to drone insurance if you plan to fly commercially.