Flix: An Open-Source ESP32 Quadcopter You Can Build From Scratch in Under 2,000 Lines
blaizedsouza · x · 2026-09-18
Flix is an open-source ESP32-based quadcopter built from scratch for education and flight-control research — and it actually flies. The repo has 1.7k GitHub stars.
- Minimal firmware: under 2,000 lines of Arduino C++, a clean reference for attitude estimation, PID control, and embedded flight-stack architecture
- Cheap, generic parts: ESP32 Mini (S3/C3 compatible), 8520 coreless motors, MOSFET drivers, GY-91/MPU-6050 sensors, 3D-printable frame
- Modern comms: MAVLink over Wi-Fi or ESP-NOW; fly with a USB gamepad, smartphone, or standard RC transmitter
- Full tooling: wireless CLI, flight-log analysis, precise Gazebo simulation of the stock Arduino code, plus a Python SDK for scripted flights; an official PCB is in development
Great for embedded engineers, university robotics courses, or anyone wanting to build a drone themselves.
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