Pretrained Models and Tools in Drone AI:

  • YOLOv5/YOLOv8 – Real-time object detection from onboard cameras.
  • DeepSORT – Object tracking across frames.
  • ORB-SLAM or VINS-Fusion – Visual SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) for positioning and navigation.
  • Pixhawk / PX4 – Open-source flight control systems with AI support.
  • OpenCV + TensorFlow/PyTorch – For custom vision and learning pipelines.

Edge AI and Hardware Platforms:

AI models are typically deployed on edge computing platforms onboard the drone, such as:

  • NVIDIA Jetson (Nano, Xavier, Orin) – Popular for real-time deep learning inference
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon Flight
  • Raspberry Pi (for lightweight models)