As a Blue UAS Framework manufacturer, ModalAI^® is committed to advancing the U.S. drone industry. In 2019, we partnered with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to produce VOXL Flight, the founding autopilot of the Blue UAS Framework program; a program that curates interoperable, NDAA-compliant UAS components and software that provides options for Government and industry partners. VOXL Flight enabled over 300+ partners, and was recognized by the RBR50 and BIG AI awards for being an open, enabling technology for drones. Now that the U.S. drone industry has grown to over 60 U.S. based drone manufacturers and is integrating utilitarian use cases in everyday life, we are pleased to introduce the next generation Blue UAS Framework autopilot, VOXL 2. 

VOXL 2 is the world’s smallest and most advanced autopilot built in the USA. At only 16 grams, VOXL 2 boasts more AI computing than any other autopilot on the market and offers four times the computing of the previous generation. VOXL 2 integrates a PX4 real-time flight controller with an 8-core CPU, a GPU and NPU that provide a combined 15 Tera Operations Per Second (TOPs), seven image sensors, and TDK IMUs and barometer. With support for Wi-Fi, 4G and 5G connectivity, VOXL 2 enables mission critical use cases with reliable connectivity and beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) navigation. This smaller-than-a-business-card and lighter-than-a-double-a-battery supercomputer autopilot will enable the next generation of smaller, smarter, and safer drones. 

Smaller Drones

VOXL 2 is the smallest, most advanced autopilot to date. At only 16 grams, VOXL 2 weighs less than the average double A battery. As part of the Blue sUAS 2.0 program, VOXL 2 condenses most required electronics into a single, credit-card sized PCB, making it SWAP-optimized to power the smallest drones.

Before VOXL 2, developers might take a “Frankenstein” approach to building a robot with individual PCB components which could negatively affect the size and weight of the robot. VOXL 2’s advanced onboard computing and SWAP-optimized design eliminates the time and complexity that comes with sourcing and synchronizing individual autonomy components together. 

Smarter Autonomy

VOXL 2 advances the latest Qualcomm Flight RB5 5G Platform. With the latest Qualcomm QRB5165 processor and an integrated PX4 flight controller on the DSP, VOXL 2 achieves powerful heterogeneous computing capabilities. The QRB5165 processor boasts an 8-core CPU up to 3.091GHz, 8GB LPDDR5, and 15 TOPs of AI performance. 

Powerful onboard computing paired with advanced imaging capabilities makes VOXL 2 the smartest Blue sUAS autopilot to date. VOXL 2’s seven concurrent image sensors, including MIPI, time of flight (TOF), stereo pair, and 8K30, enable advanced indoor and outdoor navigation including vision-based SLAM for AI and movement, GPS-denied navigation, obstacle detection and avoidance. 

Finally, VOXL SDK runs on VOXL 2. Developers can quickly bring their projects up to speed with VOXL 2’s open development platform. VOXL SDK offers support for popular open source applications, such as PX4, Linux Ubuntu 18.04, ROS 1, ROS 2, Open CV, Docker, and TensorFlow Lite. 

Safer Navigation

The core of safe autonomous navigation is an advanced communication and perception system that works simultaneously. VOXL 2’s seven concurrent image sensors combined with advanced computing from the QRB5165 deliver advanced computer vision mapping and navigation, ensuring accurate autonomous maneuvers based on real-time data. 

VOXL 2’s wide connectivity options also open a plethora of safer navigation-based use cases. With a 5G add-on board, VOXL 2 achieves low latency, high bandwidth data transfer that enhances mission critical navigation, including beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) to support safer, more reliable flight. 

VOXL 2 Available Now

Accelerate your autonomous drone project and get started with VOXL today! VOXL 2 is available for purchase now at https://modalai.com/voxl-2