ARK Electronics Pi6X Flow

The ARK Pi6X Flow is a carrier board from ARK Electronics in the USA that combines a flight controller of the ARKV6X class with a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 or 5 as companion computer. It is meant for mid-size multicopters that are to hold position without GNSS and handle image processing themselves.

The autopilot side runs an STM32H743 at 480 MHz and two IMUs of the same type, ICM-42688-P; that allows plausibility checks but offers no type diversity against a common sensor fault. A single barometer is fitted, and PX4 and ArduPilot both run. The PAW3902 optical flow sensor and the AFBR-S50 distance sensor deliver motion over ground and height above ground, which lets the position be held without GNSS, in halls for example. The autopilot side carries TELEM, RC, 8 PWM, GPS, CAN and microSD, the Pi side Ethernet, micro-HDMI, USB-C and two MIPI CSI. Input voltage is limited to 25.2 V (6S); the board measures 91.5 × 56 × 23 mm and weighs 41 g without CM4 and speed controller, 53 g with CM4.

ARK lists the product as Blue Framework listed, built in the USA and NDAA compliant, which counts for contracts with US authorities. In the EU the finished drone determines the class and duties such as Remote ID.

When selecting, the Compute Module belongs in the weight budget, and the 6S limit rules out higher cell counts without a voltage converter. The flow sensor needs a clean lens and textured ground with enough light, otherwise the position drifts. The Linux system on the Pi and the autopilot firmware are updated separately; connectors and flat camera cables are vibration-sensitive points.