Helping Clients Build Amazing Unmanned Systems
Drones From Scratch operates as an agile engineering services group that enables clients to solve complex unmanned systems challenges. The practice delivers tailored engineering, prototype development, and small-scale production runs, providing the technical documentation and transition assistance required to move designs successfully into full production.
Drones From Scratch delivers custom software solutions for unmanned systems, covering everything from low-level microcontrollers to cloud-connected user interfaces.
Developing robust firmware utilizing embedded Linux and microcontrollers, with native support for standard unmanned vehicle protocols and microservices including MAVLink, ArduPilot, PX4, and ROS.
Tailoring QGroundControl to support custom vehicle functions, gimbal controls, branding, and safety features, alongside building custom ground stations powered by internal batteries with solar-charging capability.
Optimizing streaming latency over multicast networks using Gstreamer and FFMpeg-based pipelines, enabling multiple vehicle feeds, thermal overlays, digital zoom, and remote video distribution.
Implementing secure tactical communication solutions, including the UAS-Tool plugin and custom Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK) configurations.
Building responsive React and JavaScript web applications that integrate 3D mapping engines and cloud connectivity to display real-time vehicle telemetry and video streams in standard web browsers.
The engineering practice designs high-performance hardware, customized autopilots, and robust physical components tailored to unique aerial and ground vehicles.
Designing complex, vehicle-specific autopilot systems featuring embedded compute platforms that run ArduPilot and PX4, complete with integrated peripherals, power subsystems, and multi-band GNSS systems.
Creating high-speed digital circuits engineered to operate reliably and prevent electromagnetic interference in demanding environments.
Developing physical enclosures and mechanical assemblies integrated with custom electronics, utilizing CNC machining, additive manufacturing, and low-volume production techniques.
Transitioning designs from initial concepts to physical reality through in-house prototyping and managed low-volume production runs.
Providing full hardware prototyping and small production runs with structured transition assistance to scale up to full production with partner manufacturers.
The team provides secure, domestic engineering solutions tailored for high-security environments and government applications.
Offering secure prototyping and hardware manufacturing solutions executed entirely by United States citizens within the United States to meet strict NDAA compliance standards.
Defense · Intelligence & National Security · Public Safety · Robotics
Robotics
Designed and developed industrial autopilot systems compatible with ArduPilot or PX4. The project integrated a Jetson NX System-on-Module (SOM), an onboard NVMe SSD, and peripheral support for USB3, Ethernet, and MIPI interfaces.
Robotics
Engineered compact autopilot systems running PX4 or ArduPilot utilizing Raspberry Pi 4/5 compute modules. The systems prioritized minimal size, weight, and cost, and featured high-density connectors optimized for rapid assembly of FPV quadcopters.
Defense
Developed a custom Ground Control Station (GCS) integrating a Mobile Ad-hoc Network (MANET) radio, a Starlink terminal, and an RTK GPS base station. The rugged system is powered by an internal battery and supports solar recharging.
Defense
Designed an IP-rated handheld radio specifically for unmanned vehicle operations, featuring integration with Doodle or Microhard radios and Nett Warrior connectivity.