Drones & UAVs

Rugged, miniature networking modules designed for BlueUAS, Ardupilot, and drones. We bridge the gap between rapid prototyping and scaled production for advanced drones that need wired ethernet.

Escaping the "Integration Hell" of COTS Networking

Traditional industrial switches are not built for flight. They introduce three critical risks to UAV platforms:

  1. Excess Mass: Standard RJ45 jacks and steel enclosures destroy your weight budget. A typical industrial switch weighs 200g+. BotBlox modules weigh as little as 15g.

  2. Vibration Failure: Standard friction-fit ethernet cables back out under high-frequency rotor vibration.

  3. Power Complexity: Most switches require regulated 12V or 24V. BotBlox modules are designed for direct battery connection (wide input range), eliminating the need for heavy external BECs.

Purpose-Built for Aerial Autonomy

The "tiny standard" for Connectivity

BotBlox modules utilize Molex PicoClasp and Molex PicoBlade connectors to reduce size and improve vibration tolerance.

  • Plug-and-Play: Connect your companion computer (NVIDIA Jetson/Orin) to your flight controller without soldering custom harnesses.

  • Positive Locking: Connectors click into place, ensuring signal integrity even during high-G maneuvers or hard landings.

Extreme SWaP Optimization

Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) is our primary metric.

  • Dimensions: Footprints as small as 1 inch by 1 inch.

  • Weight: Unhoused boards starting at 8g; encased rugged units under 50g.

  • Efficiency: Low power consumption (<1.5W) to maximize flight time.

BlueUAS & NDAA Compliance

For defense and dual-use applications, supply chain security is paramount. BotBlox offers NDAA-compliant manufacturing options, suitable for integration into government programs and defense platforms.

Wired Ethernet Integration

BotBlox switches are the de-facto standard for IP-based drone architectures. Our hardware is validated for seamless operation with Ardupilot’s NET library, enabling high-speed MAVLink backbones.

Validated Hardware Setup

  • Flight Controller: CubePilot Cube Orange/Blue, Holybro Pixhawk 6X.

  • Companion Computer: NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX, Raspberry Pi CM4.

  • Peripherals: SIYI Optical Pods, Herelink Air Units.

    The BotBlox Advantage

    • SwitchBlox for Ardupilot features native JST-GH connectors, allowing you to use standard 4-pin JST-GH cables directly from the Cube Carrier board's Ethernet port to the switch, and out to your peripherals. No crimping custom RJ45-to-JST adapter cables required.

    • DroneNet for Ardupilot provides seamless CAN and Serial (USART/RS485) to Ethernet conversion, with a 5-port 10/100M Ethernet switch, all on one board. No complex external converters or translation boxes required to unify your drone's various telemetry buses and peripheral protocols.

    Application Spotlights

    ISR & Mapping (Payload Integration)

    High-bandwidth Gigabit throughput for LiDAR, Thermal, and 4K Optical sensors. Aggregate data from multiple payloads into a single stream for the Mission Computer.

    Tethered Systems (Power + Data)

    Support for high-voltage input allows BotBlox switches to tap directly into high-voltage tether power rails, simplifying down-line communication for persistent surveillance drones.

    Swarm Logistics (Mesh Networking)

    Ultra-compact modules allow for inter-module communication in swarm architectures, enabling coordinated flight paths and shared compute resources across the fleet.

    Product Portfolio:

    ArduPilot: SwitchBlox and DroneNet for ArduPilot -- Expand and easily convert between typical Drone protocols and an ethernet network .

    Basic Telemetry: SwitchBlox -- 10/100Mbps connectivity for basic housekeeping data and flight logs. Ultra-low cost and weight.

    HD Video & AI: GigaBlox Nano -- Gigabit speeds for NVIDIA Orin/Xavier integration, 4K video streaming, and LiDAR clouds.

    Harsh Environment: GigaBlox Rugged -- IP-rated or conformal coated options for maritime SAR (Search and Rescue) and all-weather industrial drones.

    Trust & Verification: Designed for Scale

    BotBlox supports you from the lab bench to the field. We offer volume pricing, custom cable harnessing, and OEM carrier board integration for customers scaling to 100+ units per year.