Dronecode Foundation's Remarkable Year in Open-Source Innovation
San Francisco, Friday, 7 February 2025.
In 2024, Dronecode Foundation expanded its community by 1,900 contributors, introduced the FMUv6X-RT standard, released PX4 v1.15, and emphasized Europe’s drone technology potential.
Record-Breaking Community Growth
The Dronecode Foundation has achieved unprecedented growth, with its ecosystem now encompassing 13,307 unique contributors and managing projects valued at an estimated $1 billion [1]. The foundation’s codebase has expanded to an impressive 59.72 million lines of code [1], demonstrating the robust nature of its open-source development model. This growth has been particularly notable with the addition of 1,900 new contributors in 2024, with significant participation from the United States, Switzerland, and Australia [1].
Technological Breakthroughs
A major milestone was reached with the introduction of the Pixhawk FMUv6X-RT standard on January 22, 2025 [3]. This advancement features the first NXP-based MCU implementation in the Pixhawk ecosystem, marking a significant leap in processing capabilities. The new standard incorporates the NXP IMX RT1176 processor, enhanced security features through the SE051 secure element, and advanced connectivity options including Ethernet interface for mission computer integration [3]. These improvements enable more sophisticated autonomous navigation capabilities, which were further enhanced by the release of PX4 v1.15 Stable and MAVSDK version 3.0.0 [1].
Strategic Industry Partnerships
The foundation’s influence continues to grow through strategic partnerships, as evidenced by RIIS LLC joining as a Silver Member in January 2025 [2]. This partnership brings valuable expertise in software development and drone technology implementation to the foundation. According to Ramon Roche, General Manager of the Dronecode Foundation, RIIS’s involvement strengthens the foundation’s ability to advance open-source technologies in the commercial drone sector [2]. The foundation maintains its vendor-neutral status while supporting multiple open-source aerial robotics projects that influence over a million drones globally [1].
Future Trajectory
The foundation’s achievements in 2024 have set a strong foundation for future innovations in drone technology. With its proven track record in developing and maintaining key projects like PX4, Pixhawk, MAVSDK, MAVLink, and QGroundControl [1], the Dronecode Foundation continues to shape the future of aerial robotics. The integration of advanced features in the FMUv6X-RT standard, such as triple redundancy with isolated sensor domains and comprehensive sensor suites [3], positions the foundation at the forefront of drone technology innovation as we move through 2025.