In the world of professional UAVs, compatibility between hardware and software is a key criterion for integrators, manufacturers and end-users. At Drone Françaisour mission is to develop trusted technological building blocks, entirely designed and manufactured in France, to support national and European technological sovereignty in the defense, security and industrial sectors.
One of our flagship products, the Abell flight cardflight card, regularly raises a question among industry professionals: is it compatible with ArduPilot and Betaflight open-source firmware? The answer is yes. But beyond this simple statement, it's essential to understand the technical challenges and opportunities this represents.
What is a flight card?
The flight card (or FC, for Flight Controller) is the drone's brain. It receives data from the sensors (gyroscope, accelerometer, barometer, GPS, etc.), executes the stabilization algorithms, interprets the pilot's commands, and controls the motors via the ESCs (electronic speed controllers).
Choosing a flight card is not just a question of hardware compatibility. It's a strategic choice, directly influencing the drone's precision, reliability, safety and software flexibility.
Introducing the Abell card: a technological brick made in France
Developed by Drone Françaisthe Abell flight card is a concentrate of technological innovation. Designed for professional UAVs operating in complex environments(confined spaces, electronic warfare zones, mission-critical areas), it integrates the following elements:
- A high-performance STM32F7 (Cortex-M7) microcontroller .
- Modular architecture with standard connectors (UART, I²C, SPI).
- Full compatibility with BLHeli and DShot ESCs.
- Industrial-grade sensors (IMU, magnetometer, barometer).
- Enhanced tolerance to electromagnetic interference (shielding).
- Robust design to resist vibration and shock.
Manufactured in France in a controlled environment, the Abell card card is part of a clear commitment to offering a secure, sovereign alternative to products from Asia or the United States, which are often subject to export restrictions or software integrity risks.
Why use ArduPilot or Betaflight?
ArduPilot and Betaflight are two open-source firmwares that have each captured a large share of the market:
- ArduPilot is geared towards professional applications: autonomous drones, mapping missions, precision agriculture, industrial inspection. It supports a wide range of sensors, offers a high level of customization, and benefits from a mature ecosystem.
- The lighter Betaflight is initially designed for racing drones and applications where responsiveness and manual flight precision are paramount. Its ease of configuration and low latency make it ideal for small drones or demonstrators.
The fact that the Abell card card is compatible with these two firmwares opens up exciting prospects for professionals: freedom of choice, flexible integration, reduced development costs and interoperability with existing tools.
Abell & ArduPilot: a natural fit
ArduPilot is designed to support a wide range of flight boards based on STM32 microcontrollers. The Abell board, with its STM32F7, perfectly meetsArduPilot's hardware requirements, particularly in terms of memory, computing power and connectivity.
What ArduPilot and Abell can do for you
- Autonomous navigation with GPS
- Mission planning via Mission Planner or QGroundControl
- Advanced sensor management (Lidar, thermal camera, etc.)
- Lua scripting support to automate behaviors
- Long-range telemetry transmission (MAVLink)
The engineers at Drone Français have optimized the integration ofArduPilot on the Abell boardcard, with flight profiles tested in real-life environments and plug-and-play compatibility with ground stations used by armed forces and industry.
Abell & Betaflight: the agile option
Thanks to its open architecture and F7 processor, the Abell board board is also compatible with Betaflight. Installation is via the official configurator, with customized firmware developed in-house to ensure optimal operation.
Betaflight with Abell
- Ultra-precise manual flight in acro, angle or horizon mode
- PID fine-tuning for customized dynamic behavior
- Use of internal or external sensors (IMU, baro, GPS)
- Blackbox support for flight performance analysis
- Configurable real-time OSD for FPV
Betaflight is ideal for lightweight drones, flight prototypes, FPV observation drones and laboratory test missions.
A response to the challenges of technological sovereignty
In a geopolitical context where critical components are becoming levers of sovereignty, manufacturing a flight card in France is a powerful act. The Abellcard, developed and tested locally, enables :
- Complete mastery of the software and hardware chain
- No dependence on third countries
- Reduced risk of backdoors or intentional vulnerabilities
- A concrete response to government tenders requiring sovereign equipment
That's why this card will be presented to SOFINSas a strategic building block for surveillance, intervention and reconnaissance drones.
The Abell flight mapflight map, developed by Drone Françaisis fully compatible with ArduPilot and Betaflight, two major firmwares in the drone ecosystem. This dual compatibility enables professionals to choose the software solution best suited to their needs, while relying on a high-performance, sovereign flight card made in France.
In a sector where agility, security and innovation are imperative, the Abell card card represents a strategic turning point. Whether you're a manufacturer, an integrator or a defense contractor, you can now count on a French technology that's open, compatible and designed for the most demanding applications.