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39 changes: 23 additions & 16 deletions README.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -1,11 +1,18 @@
# Pixhawk Hardware Designs

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[![FMUv1](https://img.shields.io/badge/FMUv1-Discontinued-pink?style=flat)](FMUv1/README.md) [![FMUv2](https://img.shields.io/badge/FMUv2-Pixhawk%201-skyblue?style=flat)](FMUv2/README.md) [![FMUv3](https://img.shields.io/badge/FMUv3-Pixhawk%202-brown?style=flat)](FMUv3_REV_D/README.md) [![FMUv4](https://img.shields.io/badge/FMUv4-Pixracer-gold?style=flat)](FMUv4/README.md) [![FMUv4X](https://img.shields.io/badge/FMUv4X-Pixhawk%203%20Pro-orange?style=flat)](#fmu_versions) [![FMUv5](https://img.shields.io/badge/FMUv5-Pixhawk%204-green?style=flat)](FMUv5/README.md) [![FMUv5X](https://img.shields.io/badge/FMUv5X-Pixhawk%205X-teal?style=flat)](#fmu-versions)
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I don't think this makes sense. Manufacturers might have discontinued the products, but we haven't discontinued the standards.

It's likely better if we skip this line.


</div>

[Pixhawk](http://pixhawk.org) is an independent open-hardware project that aims to provide "the gold standard" for readily-available, hiqh-quality and low-cost autopilot hardware designs for the academic, hobby and developer communities.
Pixhawk supports multiple flight stacks: PX4 ® and ArduPilot ®.

> **Note** Designs are provided for a number of components used in unmanned vehicles, including: Autopilots (Flight Management Units - FMUs), ESCs (electronic speed controllers), optical flow sensors, etc.
> [!NOTE]
> Designs are provided for a number of components used in unmanned vehicles, including: Autopilots (Flight Management Units - FMUs), ESCs (electronic speed controllers), optical flow sensors, etc.

## What are Open Hardware Designs?

Expand All @@ -18,21 +25,23 @@ In essence, this definition allows anyone to freely study, modify, distribute, m
Hardware designs delivered by the project are listed below.

<span id="fmu_designs"></span>

### FMU (Autopilot) Designs

Pixhawk FMU open designs include all information required to create an autopilot hardware product that is *firmware compatible* with other hardware created from the same design.
Manufacturers are encouraged to take the designs and create products that are best suited to a particular market or use case (e.g. for very small vehicles, or those that operate at environmental extremes).

> **Note** While a physical connector standard is not mandated, newer products generally follow the [Pixhawk Connector Standard](https://pixhawk.org/pixhawk-connector-standard/).

> [!NOTE]
> While a physical connector standard is not mandated, newer products generally follow the [Pixhawk Connector Standard](https://pixhawk.org/pixhawk-connector-standard/).

#### Design Specifications

Designs are *usually* specified in the form of *schematics* that show all included components (CPU, sensors, etc.), how they are connected, and their pin mappings.
They may also include a BOM (bill of materials).

> **Note** Not all designs deliver schematics.
A minimal design needs to contain enough information for manufacturers to create a compatible products; this can also be achieved using a precise pinout definition and information about connections of internal/external busses, etc.
> [!NOTE]
> Not all designs deliver schematics.
> A minimal design needs to contain enough information for manufacturers to create a compatible products; this can also be achieved using a precise pinout definition and information about connections of internal/external busses, etc.

#### Open Reference Hardware

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -60,9 +69,8 @@ FMUv4X | 2017 | Pixhawk 3 Pro | 168 MHz M4 | Slightly increased RAM. More serial
[FMUv5](FMUv5/README.md) | 2018 | Pixhawk 4 | 200 MHz M7 | New processor (F7). Much faster. More RAM. More CAN busses. Much more configurable.<br>> **Note** Minimum specification provided (pinout info, but no schematics).
FMUv5X | 2019 | Pixhawk 5X | 200 MHz M7 | Temp-calibrated, redundant sensors.


> **Note** Products based on Pixhawk designs are listed here: [PX4 User Guide > Pixhawk Series]( https://docs.px4.io/master/en/flight_controller/pixhawk_series.html#pixhawk-series).

> [!NOTE]
> Products based on Pixhawk designs are listed here: [PX4 User Guide > Pixhawk Series](https://docs.px4.io/main/en/flight_controller/pixhawk_series.html#pixhawk-series).

#### Derived FMU Products

Expand All @@ -84,7 +92,6 @@ Relevant products are listed below:
- [IMUv3_REV_C](IMUv3_REV_C)
- [PSMv3_REV_C](PSMv3_REV_C)

<span id="dev_call"></span>
## Dev Call

Pixhawk standards are developed in a weekly public developer call.
Expand All @@ -99,19 +106,19 @@ Pixhawk project schematics and reference designs are licensed under [CC BY-SA 3]

The license allows you to use, sell, share, modify and build on the files in almost any way you like - provided that you give credit/attribution, and that you share any changes that you make under the same open source license (see the [human readable version of the license](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) for a concise summary of the rights and obligations).

> **Note** Boards that are *derived directly* from Pixhawk schematic files (or reference boards) must be open sourced.
They can't be commercially licensed as proprietary products.
> [!NOTE]
> Boards that are *derived directly* from Pixhawk schematic files (or reference boards) must be open sourced.
> They can't be commercially licensed as proprietary products.

Manufacturers can create (compatible) *fully independent products* by first generating fresh schematic files that have the same pin mapping/components as the FMU designs.
Products that are based on independently created schematics are considered original works, and can be licensed as required.

<span id="trademarks"></span>
## Trademarks

The term *Pixhawk* is a trademark, and may not be used in product names without explicit permission from the trademark owner.

Typically this trademark is granted to the first board based on a particular FMU design and/or boards that use Pixhawk open reference hardware layouts.

> **Note** A "Pixhawk" is an autopilot that has been been given permission to use the Pixhawk trademark in its name.
While other boards are based on the "Pixhawk FMU Standard", the are not *strictly speaking* "Pixhawks".

> [!NOTE]
> A "Pixhawk" is an autopilot that has been been given permission to use the Pixhawk trademark in its name.
> While other boards are based on the "Pixhawk FMU Standard", the are not *strictly speaking* "Pixhawks".