Jack Crossfire
Feb 26, 2007, 10:01 PM
So far, have found sourcecode for only one program that contains enough information to hover a helicopter. It was written in 2003 and is on autopilot.sourceforge.net. It's hard to believe no-one has reproduced this and released the source code in 4 years.
There are many companies selling complete packages with binary software for helicopters or complete packages with sourcecode for fixed wings only. Paparazzi has source code for fixed wings but for helicopters seems to be strictly a social network.
One explanation is the problem is too hard. People are getting the equipment and after 3 months of escalating difficulty, are giving up.
Another explanation is people are implementing it but finding it's too valuable to give away for free, so they start a business.
Finally there's the export restriction. It was illegal a long time ago to export anything that could give a foreign military an advantage, but that's gotten blurred as more Americans are looking elsewhere for income.
There are many companies selling complete packages with binary software for helicopters or complete packages with sourcecode for fixed wings only. Paparazzi has source code for fixed wings but for helicopters seems to be strictly a social network.
One explanation is the problem is too hard. People are getting the equipment and after 3 months of escalating difficulty, are giving up.
Another explanation is people are implementing it but finding it's too valuable to give away for free, so they start a business.
Finally there's the export restriction. It was illegal a long time ago to export anything that could give a foreign military an advantage, but that's gotten blurred as more Americans are looking elsewhere for income.