Holybro Pixhawk 6C

The Holybro Pixhawk 6C (China) is an autopilot of the Pixhawk FMUv6C class for mid-size multicopters. Unlike the modular variants it carries all connections in a single housing and needs no separate baseboard.

The processor is an STM32H743 (Cortex-M7, 480 MHz, 2 MB flash, 1 MB RAM), with an STM32F103 handling the outputs. Two IMUs, ICM-42688-P and BMI088, from different chip families allow plausibility checks; an MS5611 barometer measures altitude. PX4 is preinstalled and ArduPilot is also supported. Interfaces include Telem1, GPS2 and PWM outputs with switchable level (3.3 or 5 V); the full port list is in the Holybro documentation. The input voltage is 6 V at most (USB 4.75 to 5.25 V, servo rail 0 to 36 V). The unit measures 84.8 × 44 × 12.4 mm and weighs 34.6 g in the plastic housing; with the aluminium housing it is 59.3 g.

The NDAA rules exclude flight controllers from Chinese manufacturers from US federal contracts. In the EU the finished drone decides on class and duties; ArduPilot and PX4 include geofence functions.

When selecting, decide whether the lighter plastic or the heavier aluminium housing fits; the mass differs by almost 25 g. With only one barometer there is no fallback for altitude. Wear shows at the cable connectors and the mounting damping; after every modification the sensors are calibrated again.