Sky-Drones AIRLink

:::warning PX4 does not manufacture this (or any) autopilot. Contact the for hardware support or compliance issues. :::

stands for Artificial Intelligence & Remote Link. The unit includes a cutting-edge drone autopilot, AI mission computer and LTE/5Gs connectivity unit. AIRLink helps to reduce the time to market for new drone manufacturers from years and months down to weeks.

AIRLink has two computers and integrated LTE Module:

The flight control computer (autopilot) has a triple-redundant vibration-dampened and temperature-stabilized IMU.
The powerful AI mission computer enables advanced drone software features like computer vision and obstacle avoidance, digital HD video streaming, and payload data streaming.
LTE/5G and WiFi connectivity modules provide permanent broadband internet connection which is enabler for remote workflows.

Feature Highlights

Specifications

Sensors
- 3x Accelerometers, 3x Gyroscopes, 3x Magnetometers, 3x Pressure sensorss
- GNSS, Rangefinders, Lidars, Optical Flow, Cameras
- 3x-redundant IMU
- Vibration dampening
- Temperature stabilization
Flight Controller
- STM32F7, ARM Cortex M7 with FPU, 216 MHz, 2MB Flash, 512 kB RAM
- STM32F1, I/O co-processor
- Ethernet, 10/100 Mbps
- LAN with AI Mission Computer
- 8x UARTs: Telemetry 1, Telemetry 2 (AI Mission Computer), Telemetry 3, GPS 1, GPS 2, Extra UART, Serial Debug Console, IO
- 2x CAN: CAN1, CAN2
- USB with MAVLink
- Serial console for debugging
- RC Input, SBUS input, RSSI input, PPM input
- 16x PWM servo outputs (8 from IO, 8 from FMU)
- 3x I2C ports
- High-powered piezo buzzer driver
- High-power RGB LED
- Safety switch / LED option
AI Mission Computer
- 6-Core CPU: Dual-Core Cortex-A72 + Quad-Core Cortex-A53
- GPU Mali-T864, OpenGL ES1.1/2.0/3.0/3.1
- VPU with 4K VP8/9, 4K 10bits H265/H264 60fps Decoding
- Remote power control, software reset, power down, RTC Wake-Up, sleep mode
- RAM Dual-Channel 4GB LPDDR4
- 16GB eMMC
- MicroSD up to 256GB
- Ethernet 10/100/1000 Native Gigabit
- WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth
- USB 3.0 Type C
- 2x Video: 4-Lane MIPI CSI (FPV Camera) and 4-Lane MIPI CSI with HMDI Input (Payload Camera)
LTE/5G Connectivity Module
- Up to 600 Mbps bandwidth
- 5G sub-6 and mmWave, SA and NSA operations
- 4G Cat 20, up to 7xCA, 256-QAM DL/UL, 2xCA UL
- 4 x 4 MIMO for 4G and 5G (sub-6 bands)
- 3G HSPA+
- Approved by JRL/JTBL, FCC, PTCRB, RED, GCF
- Antenna, 4x4 MIMO
- Bands: Worldwide

Where to Buy

Purchase from the original Sky-Drones Store (worldwide shipping with 1-2 days order processing time):

AIRLink Enterprise Kit Accessories

AIRLink Enterprise arrives with everything needed to setup the autopilot system.

The standard set contains:

1x AIRLink Enterprise unit
1x FPV camera with CSI cable
1x WiFi antenna with MMCX connector
2x/4x LTE/5G antenna with MMCX connector
1x HDMI to mini HDMI cable1x set of cables (7 cables for all connectors)

Editions

There are AIRLink editions that offer different integration levels required by drone manufacturers: Enterprise and Core. AIRLink Enterprise is ideal for a quick start, evaluation and prototyping while Core is optimised for deep integration and mid-high volume manufacturing.

AIRLink Enterprise

SmartAP AIRLink's Enterprise edition is intended for prototyping and low to medium volume drone production. Quick and easy installation thanks to the dedicated mounting holes and integrated heatsink for power dissipation.

AIRLink Core

SmartAP AIRLink's Core edition is intended for medium to high volume production and deep integration with customer's hardware. It weighs only 89 g and can be attached to a metal frame for optimum cooling.

Parameter

AIRLink Enterprise

AIRLink Core

Enclosure

Aluminum, with integrated heatsink and fan mounting option.

External heatsink or reasonable power dissipation should be provided by the design.

Dimensions

L103 x W61 x H37 mm

L100 x W57 x H22 mm

Weight

198 g

89 g

Ambient temperature

-40°C-..+50°C

Key Features

Easy to mount
FPV camera comes as standard

Interfaces

Left Side

Left side interfaces:
- Power input with voltage & current monitoring
- AI Mission Computer micro SD card
- Flight Controller micro SD card
- AI Mission Computer USB Type-C
- PPM input, SBUS output, RSSI monitor
POWER - JST GH SM10B-GHS-TB
Pin number
Pin name
Direction
Voltage
Function
1
12V
IN
+12V
Main power input
2
12V
IN
+12V
Main power input
3
12V
IN
+12V
Main power input
4
BAT_CURRENT
IN
+3.3V
Battery current monitoring
5
BAT_VOLTAGE
IN
+3.3V
Battery voltage monitoring
6
3V3
OUT
+3.3V
3.3V output
7
PWR_KEY
IN
+3.3V
Power key input
8
GND
Ground
9
GND
Ground
10
GND
Ground
CPU SD card - microSD
CPU USB - USB Type C
RC Connector - JST GH SM06B-GHS-TB
Pin number
Pin name
Direction
Voltage
Function
1
5V
OUT
+5V
5V output
2
PPM_IN
IN
+3.3V
PPM input
3
RSSI_IN
IN
+3.3V
RSSI input
4
FAN_OUT
OUT
+5V
Fan output
5
SBUS_OUT
OUT
+3.3V
SBUS output
FMU SD card - microSD

Right Side

Right side interfaces:
- Ethernet port with power output
- Telemetry port
- Second GPS port
- Spare I2C / UART port
- Flight controller USB Type-C
- Micro SIM Card
- HDMI input port (payload camera)
ETHERNET - JST GH SM08B-GHS-TB
Pin number
Pin name
Direction
Voltage
Function
1
5V
OUT
+5V
Radio module power supply
2
5V
OUT
+5V
Radio module power supply
3
ETH_TXP
OUT
+3.3V
Ethernet transmit positive
4
ETH_TXN
OUT
+3.3V
Ethernet transmit negative
5
ETH_RXP
IN
+3.3V
Ethernet receive positive
6
ETH_RXN
IN
+3.3V
Ethernet receive negative
7
GND
Ground
8
GND
Ground
TEL3 - JST GH SM06B-GHS-TB
Pin number
Pin name
Direction
Voltage
Function
1
5V
OUT
+5V
Power supply output
2
USART2_TX
OUT
+3.3V
Telemetry 3 TX
3
USART2_RX
IN
+3.3V
Telemetry 3 RX
4
USART2_CTS
IN
+3.3V
Telemetry 3 CTS
5
USART2_RTS
OUT
+3.3V
Telemetry 3 RTS
6
GND
Ground
I2C3 / UART4 - JST GH SM06B-GHS-TB
Pin number
Pin name
Direction
Voltage
Function
1
5V
OUT
+5V
Power supply output
2
USART4_TX
OUT
+3.3V
UART 4 TX
3
USART4_RX
IN
+3.3V
UART 4 RX
4
I2C3_SCL
I/O
+3.3V
I2C3 Clock
5
I2C3_SDA
I/O
+3.3V
I2C3 Data
6
GND
Ground
GPS2 - JST GH SM06B-GHS-TB
Pin number
Pin name
Direction
Voltage
Function
1
5V
OUT
+5V
Power supply output
2
USART8_TX
OUT
+3.3V
UART 8 TX
3
USART8_RX
IN
+3.3V
UART 8 RX
4
I2C2_SCL
I/O
+3.3V
I2C2 Clock
5
I2C2_SDA
I/O
+3.3V
I2C2 Data
6
GND
Ground
FMU USB - USB Type C
SIM Card - micro SIM
HDMI - mini HDMI

Front Side

Front side interfaces:
- Main GNSS and compass port
- Main telemetry port
- CSI camera input
- CAN 1
- CAN 2
TEL1 - JST GH SM06B-GHS-TB
Pin number
Pin name
Direction
Voltage
Function
1
5V
OUT
+5V
Power supply output
2
USART7_TX
OUT
+3.3V
Telemetry 1 TX
3
USART7_RX
IN
+3.3V
Telemetry 1 RX
4
USART7_CTS
IN
+3.3V
Telemetry 1 CTS
5
USART7_RTS
OUT
+3.3V
Telemetry 1 RTS
6
GND
Ground
GPS1 - JST GH SM10B-GHS-TB
Pin number
Pin name
Direction
Voltage
Function
1
5V
OUT
+5V
Power supply output
2
USART1_TX
OUT
+3.3V
GPS 1 TX
3
USART1_RX
IN
+3.3V
GPS 1 RX
4
I2C1_SCL
I/O
+3.3V
Mag 1 Clock
5
I2C1_SDA
I/O
+3.3V
Mag 1 Data
6
SAFETY_BTN
IN
+3.3V
Safety button
7
SAFETY_LED
OUT
+3.3V
Safety LED
8
+3V3
OUT
+3.3V
3.3V output
9
BUZZER
OUT
+5V
Buzzer output
10
GND
Ground
CAN1 - JST GH SM04B-GHS-TB
Pin number
Pin name
Direction
Voltage
Function
1
5V
OUT
+5V
Power supply output
2
CAN1_H
I/O
+5V
CAN 1 High (120Ω)
3
CAN1_L
I/O
+5V
CAN 1 Low (120Ω)
4
GND
Ground
CAN2 - JST GH SM04B-GHS-TB
Pin number
Pin name
Direction
Voltage
Function
1
5V
OUT
+5V
Power supply output
2
CAN2_H
I/O
+5V
CAN 2 High (120Ω)
3
CAN2_L
I/O
+5V
CAN 2 Low (120Ω)
4
GND
Ground
CAMERA - FPC 30 pin, 0.5mm pitch

Rear Side

Rear side interfaces:
- SBUS input
- 16 PWM output channels
- 2x LTE antenna sockets (MIMO)
- WiFi antenna socket (AP & Station modes)

Serial Mapping

AIRLink has a large number of internal and external serial ports:

Serial

UART

Function

Serial 0

USB

Console

Serial 1

UART 7

Telemetry 1

Serial 2

UART 5

Telemetry 2 (used internally with Mission Computer)

Serial 3

USART 1

GPS 1

Serial 4

UART 8

GPS 2

Serial 5

USART 3

Debug console (internal connector)

Serial 6

USART 2

Telemetry 3

Serial 7

UART 4

External UART

RC Input

RC input is configured on the SBUS pin and is connected to IO MCU via an inverter internally. For PPM receivers please use RC Connector PPM pin located on the left side of the unit.

Outputs

AIRLink has 16 PWM ouputs. Main outputs 1-8 and connected to IO MCU. AUX outputs 1-8 are connected to FMU.

Output

Timer

Channel

AUX 1

Timer 1

Channel 4

AUX 2

Timer 1

Channel 3

AUX 3

Timer 1

Channel 2

AUX 4

Timer 1

Channel 1

AUX 5

Timer 4

Channel 2

AUX 6

Timer 4

Channel 3

AUX 7

Timer 12

Channel 1

AUX 8

Timer 12

Channel 2

Building Firmware

:::tip Most users will not need to build this firmware! It is pre-built and automatically installed by QGroundControl when appropriate hardware is connected. :::