An operating system for drones created by students of Russian technical universities has come close to being included in the state registry. As CNews found out, on July 16, Dronkam company submitted an application to the Ministry of Digital Development for the registration of an OS for copter-type UAVs, capable of performing missions without satellite navigation and controlled by voice.

All the “smart” stuffing lives right on board – on an Orange Pi single-board computer the size of a credit card. The Rockchip RK3588S processor with a built-in neural processor handles computer vision, SLAM mapping, and a large language model, allowing the operator to give commands to the drone in natural language. The system can take off and land by coordinates, recognize ArUco markers, build indoor maps using lidars, and do without GPS, which is critically important when operating in signal jamming conditions.

Experts interviewed by CNews called GPS-independence a mandatory requirement not only for defense but also for civilian scenarios – from industrial facility inspections to urban air logistics. The developers themselves expect that their OS will unify the control interface and reduce operator training costs by 90%. Inclusion in the registry will open access to government contracts and tax benefits, turning a student startup from Bauman Moscow State Technical University into a full-fledged player in the autonomous drone market.