Dronecode Adds New Members to Collaborate on Open Source Drone Projects

A popular nonprofit organization that works on establishing a common, open source platform for UAVs, Dronecode has been making headlines due to the vast amount of interest it is generating. The platform just recently announced several nonprofit and commercial entities that have joined its ranks to push drone research to the next level.

The new silver members include Erle Robotics, Arsov RC Technology, Event 38 Unmanned Systems, Team Black Sheep, Walkera and Parrot. The list of new sponsors includes Open Source Robotics Foundation, OpenRelief, The Autonomous Systems, Uplift Aeronautics, Control, Team Tiltrotor, and Optimization Laboratory (ASCO) at Johns Hopkins.

Dronecode was formed in 2014 and it syncs existing open source drone projects on its main platform which is managed by The Linux Foundation. Currently there are 6 initiatives being overseen by the foundation and there are 28 members in Dronecode. More than 1,200 developers are working on various projects for the nonprofit to enhance and improve consumer and commercial drone projects.

Due to the platform’s popularity, the UAV industry is seeing rapid progress in various sectors such as obstacle avoidance, vision processing, and situational and environmental awareness. Even though it’s still in its infancy phase, the commercial drone market is estimated to reach around $1.27 billion by 2020. Besides just commercial usage, Dronecode backers are encouraging the use of drones for ecological, humanitarian aid, agriculture, parcel delivery, and logistics purposes.

According to Amanda McPhearson, CMO at the Linux Foundation,“We’re thrilled to welcome today’s new members and sponsors so soon after forming Dronecode as a neutral, transparent initiative for advancing UVA technology. Their participation affirms the collaborative development model, enabling more parties to provide resources and support to the already vibrant drone community. From improving wildlife protection and search and rescue, to 3-D mapping and precision farming, drones can change our world for both goodwill and economic gains.”