Differences between Veronte Autopilot 1x and 4x

The Veronte Autopilot range is a miniaturised avionics system for autonomous control of drones, UAVs, USVs or UGVs, developed in accordance with aviation standards DO178C / ED-12, DO254 and DO160.

There are two different models of Veronte autopilot: Autopilot 1x and Autopilot 4x.

On a functional level, we can say that both versions of autopilot are equivalent. Veronte Autopilot’s versatile control architecture, small size and robust hardware make it compatible with all types of vehicles, even with hybrid VTOL aircraft or highly complex vehicles. The flight control system allows defining fully autonomous, assisted manual, full manual or Fly-By-Camera control modes, easily adapting to the needs of each vehicle and operation and allowing the operator to take control of the vehicle at any time during the mission. As functionalities to be highlighted, Veronte Autopilot integrates all the necessary sensors for the vehicle control (high performance IMU, GNSS receivers, magnetometer…) as well as GNC algorithms and customised programmes. It is also worth mentioning that Veronte Autopilot installs 4G and LOS data transmission modules and is prepared to install DAA modules, such as a transponder or a Remote ID, both with IN & OUT functions.

Veronte Autopilot 1x vs 4x

The Veronte Autopilot 1x version of the flight control system is the smallest of the family, at only 190g it is designed for drones and small or single-use autonomous vehicles, such as target drones or loitering munitions. It features sensor redundancy (3x IMU, 3x Magnetometer, 2x Static pressure, 1x Pitot, 2x GNSS) and a dissimilar microprocessor dedicated to the FTS (Flight Termination System) function, which monitors the health of the system to activate a parachute or other flight termination system in case of failure or flight out of the vehicle’s envelope.

Veronte Autopilot 4x is the redundant version of Autopilot 1x. Designed for integration in critical systems, such as eVTOL, MALE, drones for operating in populated areas… it incorporates three complete Autopilot 1x cores and allows the connection of a fourth external core. This redundancy in Veronte Autopilot 4x is managed by a dissimilar arbitration system that has been designed so that, thanks to it, there is no single point of failure and customised voting strategies can be configured, being robust even to failures in the arbitrator. In addition to the three internal cores, the fourth external autopilot can be connected to the critical voting stage and can be configured as the main flight computer, so that Autopilot 4x acts as an FTS solution, or can be a dissimilar backup unit. In addition to this, it also has redundancy in both power and communications bus, isolating internal communications from external communications.

While Veronte Autopilot 1x is an autopilot with exceptional reliability and functionalities, Veronte Autopilot 4x is the option that Embention has designed adding robust redundancy for critical scenarios where additional reliability is required, such as in military applications or urban areas. In a scenario of constant change, the Veronte Autopilot family incorporates industry-established autopilots that seek perfection in autonomous control of drones, UAVs, USVs or UGVs.