Introducing the SU17 Research Edition Drone: A New Engine for Development and Exploration

The SU17 is equipped with intelligent path planning that can dynamically identify and avoid moving obstacles. It can rapidly adjust flight targets on the fly, reaching speeds of up to 2 m/s. This enables the drone to perform with outstanding agility and adaptability in complex, unfamiliar environments—greatly enhancing both task efficiency and precision.

2. Rapid 3D Environmental Mapping

During flight, the drone rapidly gathers spatial data to generate detailed 3D maps of its surroundings in real time. This capability provides essential spatial awareness and navigation support for a wide range of missions.

3. Quad-Vision SLAM

The onboard BSA-SLAM system combines a quad-vision camera setup with an IMU to deliver reliable visual-inertial odometry (VIO). This allows the drone to accurately localize itself by analyzing multiple visual perspectives and motion data, ensuring stable and dependable position tracking.

4. Simulation Support for Fast Deployment

Comprehensive simulation environments and demo routines are included to streamline testing and tuning. Developers can use these tools to refine code and parameters before real-world deployment, improving system stability and obstacle avoidance performance.

The drone’s development environment is based on ROS and an open-source Prometheus framework. It offers a wide array of APIs for secondary development, supporting access to system state data (e.g., position, battery, IMU) and control interfaces (e.g., velocity, orientation, attitude). Built-in safety checks ensure stable operation and reduce risk during testing by supporting automatic landing in the event of system anomalies.

A standardized software development kit (ASDK) simplifies access to sensors and core functions like SLAM and path planning. Developers can use the API to quickly integrate custom features and streamline development workflows.

The Prometheus ground control system provides a Qt-based interface for drone status monitoring, 3D data visualization, and convenient one-click operations such as hover, land, and position control. Customizable scripts and buttons further enhance operational flexibility.

The drone features an all-in-one hardware architecture that integrates the flight controller, image transmission, ESCs, power management, and onboard computer into a compact and robust structure, improving overall system stability.

Multiple expansion interfaces are available, including two serial ports, two Ethernet ports (one supporting PTP time synchronization), two Type-C ports, and both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. It also supports external sensors such as 3D LiDAR and UWB.

Precision hardware time synchronization ensures sub-30-microsecond alignment of the quad-camera system, with SDK support for synchronized access to image and IMU data.

A lightweight frame with quick-release protective guards enhances safety for both equipment and users in research environments.

Traditional drones face major challenges in indoor inspection tasks due to limited GPS access, unstable flight behavior, and poor adaptability to complex spatial environments.

The SU17 addresses these limitations with its combination of quad-vision VIO, LiDAR-based SLAM, and obstacle avoidance capabilities. It efficiently maps and localizes within indoor spaces, plans dynamic paths, and avoids obstacles in real time.

Key advantages include:

Solving the problem of indoor localization

Real-time dynamic path planning and obstacle avoidance

Creation of digital twin maps for waypoint navigation

High-efficiency execution of inspection and visual tasks

Visual recognition and guided landing capabilities