2 layers68 × 86 mm
2 layers91.5 × 78 mm
Pi Fly
PashMohandes/Pi-Fly7Significant improvement to OBAL (Open Board Autopilot Linux)
- Size
- 91.5 × 78 mm
- Copper layers
- 2
- Thickness
- 1.6 mm
- Parts
- 30
- Nets
- 62
- Pads
- 158
- Tracks, vias
- 408, 15
- Pours
- 1
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 8.0 (file 20240108)
- Created
- 18 Feb 2025
- Updated
- 6 Apr 2025
Overview
Pi Fly is an open-source printed circuit board by PashMohandes, from the PashMohandes/Pi-Fly repository on GitHub, published under the GPL-3.0 licence. It is a 2-layer board of 91.5 × 78 mm with 30 parts on 62 nets, routed with 408 tracks and 15 vias.
It is built around the PCA9685PW, ADS1115 and ULN2003A, with the IRLML6344, PN2222A and SS12D07VG4 among its other parts. Its parts include 11 resistors, 6 ICs, 4 connectors, 3 diodes and 2 transistors.
Main components
6
PCA9685PW
TSSOP-28-40℃~+85℃ 100kHz~1MHz 16 2.3V~5.5V 25mA 5.5V Built-in PWM TSSOP-28 LED Drivers ROHSNXP SemiconductorsLED DriversADS1115
UncategorisedTexas Instruments
ULN2003A
SOP-16-40℃~+85℃ 0.93mA 100uA 15pF 20uA 30V 50V Seven channels SOP-16 Darlington Transistor Arrays ROHSUMWDarlington Transistor Arrays
IRLML6344
SOT-23-55℃~+150℃ 1 N-channel 1.1V 1.3W 29mΩ@4.5V 30V 46pF 5A 6.8nC@4.5V 650pF SOT-23 MOSFETs ROHSGuangdong HottechMOSFETs
PN2222A
TO-92-3-55℃~+150℃ 1 NPN 1A 300MHz 300mV 40V 625mW NPN TO-92-3 Bipolar (BJT) ROHSNTE ElectronicsBipolar (BJT)
SS12D07VG4
插件-5P,8.7x4.4mm4.4mm 8.7mm 8.7mm Black PC Pin Rectangular Columnar SPDT Through Hole 插件-5P,8.7x4.4mm Slide Switches ROHSHanElectricitySlide Switches
README
README.mdWelcome to the Pi-Fly Wiki
Welcome to the official Pi-Fly github page! 🚀
Pi-Fly is a next-generation automation platform designed to streamline and simplify the configuration of Raspberry Pi-based systems for Ardupilot, Pi Camera, and more. This platform takes advantage of modern Linux capabilities and offers an easy-to-use Python script to automatically configure your system for optimal performance.
Whether you're a developer, hobbyist, or a drone enthusiast, Pi-Fly is designed to help you easily set up and run your systems with minimal effort. Our goal is to provide you with the tools you need to succeed in your projects, whether it's automating flight controllers, working with IMUs, or streaming live video from your Pi Camera.
Why Pi-Fly?
- 64-bit Architecture 🏎️ - Faster and more efficient than previous versions.
- Automated Setup ⚙️ - No manual kernel tweaking; everything is configured via script.
- Multi-Sensor Support 📡 - Works with multiple IMUs, GPS modules, and ADCs.
- AI & Computer Vision Ready 🤖 - With the powerful Raspberry Pi 4, the Pi Camera Module 3 can be leveraged for AI-based applications such as object detection, autonomous navigation, and real-time video analysis.
- Affordable & Open-Source 💡 - A high-performance alternative to expensive, proprietary flight controllers.
Feel free to explore the various setup guides, troubleshooting tips, and features that Pi-Fly offers. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to reach out—we're here to help you make the most of your experience with Pi-Fly!
Check out the Pi-Fly Wiki for all the details.
Note : The board/project is not limited to Ardupilot. It can be used with any other flight controller such as PX4, INAV, Betaflight, your own flight controler,...etc Note: : The initial name of the project was OBAL_V2, the name was changed to Pi-Fly due to some political issues with the owner of initial OBAL !!
Happy building! 🚁✨
OBAL vs Pi-Fly vs Navio2 - Comparison
🚀 Overview
This table outlines the significant improvements made from the initial OBAL to Pi-Fly and compares it with the Navio2 flight controller system.
⚙️ Feature Comparison
| Feature | OBAL | Pi-Fly | Navio2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux Kernel | Bulleyes | Bookworm | Raspbian + ROS |
| Ardupilot | 32-bit | 64-bit | ? |
| Linux Configuration | Manual | Automatic via script | Manual |
| Rx Protocol | PPM/PWM | IBUS and SBUS | PPM and SBUS |
| Flight Controller | Prototype | Complete system | Complete system |
| IMU | GY-91 | GY-91, GY-912, ... + more | MPU9250, LSM9DS1 |
| Display | No | Yes | No |
| Power Module | No | Yes | Yes |
| License | Open source | Open source | Proprietary |
| Price | < $60 | < $60 | $199 |
| Link | here | here [blocked] | here |
⚠️ Cons with Initial OBAL:
- Uses analog Rx protocol (PPM) or (PWM), limiting flexibility.
- Limited to GY-91 IMU (only possible IMU).
- Safety switch is not well designed.
- No proper logic conversion (mix of 5V and 3.3V logical levels with Raspberry Pi).
- Uses an old Linux version, requiring recompilation to disable
CONFIG_STRICT_DEVMEM. - 32-bit Ardupilot applications limit performance.
[Donation] Your support is invaluable to this project!
Countless hours of hard work, prototyping, and investment in tools and materials have gone into making this project a reality. If you appreciate the effort and would like to contribute, your donation will help us continue developing and improving Pi-Fly.
Please consider donating for the project. There were tremendous effort added in this project. Many prototype boards were built and a lot of tools were purchased to make this project become true.
click image below to start donating :
Important
Use this project at your own risk.
Parts
30| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | LED | LED_THT:LED_D3.0mm | D1, D2, D3 |
| 3 | R_10k | Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal | R8, R10, R13 |
| 3 | R_1K | Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal | R3, R4, R5 |
| 3 | R_5k | Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal | R9, R11, R12 |
| 1 | 3v3_Regulator | myLib_Footprint:Regulator | J4 |
| 1 | ADS1115 | ADS1115:MODULE_ADS1115 | U2 |
| 1 | Buzzer | Buzzer_Beeper:Buzzer_12x9.5RM7.6 | BZ1 |
| 1 | GPS | myLib_Footprint:GPS_SH1.0 | U4 |
| 1 | IRLML6344 | Package_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-23 | Q2 |
| 1 | PCA9685 | PCA9685:MODULE_815 | U3 |
| 1 | PN2222A | Package_TO_SOT_THT:TO-92_Inline_Wide | Q3 |
| 1 | R10K | Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal | R2 |
| 1 | R50K | Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0207_L6.3mm_D2.5mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal | R1 |
| 1 | RASPBERRY_PI_4B_4GB | myLib_Footprint:RPI_4_Hat_B+ | U6 |
| 1 | RCInput | myLib_Footprint:RCInput_xBUS | J6 |
| 1 | SS12D07VG4 | SS12D07VG4:SW_SS12D07VG4 | S1 |
| 1 | SSD1306 | myLib_Footprint:SSD1306 | Display1 |
| 1 | SW_SPDT_321 | myLib_Footprint:xBUS_Selector | SW1 |
| 1 | UBEC | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J7 |
| 1 | ULN2003A | Package_DIP:DIP-16_W7.62mm_LongPads | U5 |
| 1 | power_module | myLib_Footprint:power_module | J1 |
| 1 | ~ | myLib_Footprint:GY-912 | U1 |
Similar boards
- 2 layers200 × 100 mm
Smart home
vishal007-hacker/smart-home
ESP32-based smart home controller for switching 4 independent 230V AC loads, with per-channel current and voltage sensing, manual override buttons, status LEDs, and an I²C LCD display.
76 parts - 2 layers94 × 79 mm
- 2 layers213.4 × 88.7 mm
Esp32 pelco board
abzman/pelco-kbd300a-replacement-controller
replacement board and code for this joystick and keyboard
93 parts2 - 2 layers123.2 × 50.2 mm
I2c l298p
abzman/modular-i2c-board-set
boards designed to be used together to create a modular control system
133 parts1Unlicense - 2 layers
- 2 layers99.6 × 54.1 mm
- 4 layers85 × 56 mm
Questions
How big is the Pi Fly PCB?
It measures 91.5 × 78 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.
What parts does the Pi Fly use?
30 parts, built around the PCA9685PW, ADS1115, ULN2003A and IRLML6344. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.
Where can I download the Pi Fly KiCad files?
From the PashMohandes/Pi-Fly repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is PCB/PCB.kicad_pcb and its schematic PCB/PCB.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the Pi Fly design in my own project?
Its repository publishes it under the GPL-3.0 licence: you may reuse it on that licence's terms (keep the author's notice, and for a copyleft licence share your changes alike).