Holybro Pixhawk 6X Pro

The Holybro Pixhawk 6X Pro (China) is the industrial variant of the Pixhawk 6X and is meant for heavy multicopters. Like the 6X it follows the FMUv6X standard and plugs into a baseboard as a module.

The processor is an STM32H753 (Cortex-M7, 480 MHz), with an STM32F103 handling the outputs. The three IMUs are of different types: an ADIS16470, an IIM-42652 and an ICM-45686. The ADIS16470 is an industrial-grade MEMS module and the IIM-42652 comes from TDK's industrial line; the type mix spreads the risk of a common sensor fault. The two barometers sit on separate buses, so a bus fault does not disable both. Ethernet, Telem1 and GPS2 are listed as interfaces; the further ports depend on the baseboard. PX4 and ArduPilot are supported. The input voltage is 6 V at most (USB 4.75 to 5.25 V, servo rail 0 to 36 V). The module measures 38.8 × 31.8 × 30.1 mm and weighs 50 g.

The NDAA rules exclude flight controllers from Chinese manufacturers from US federal contracts. In the EU the finished drone determines the class; heavy platforms above 25 kg take-off mass belong in the specific category.

When selecting, note the greater height of 30.1 mm compared with the standard 6X, and the higher mass. Damping of the industrial IMU matters, because vibration remains one of the most frequent causes of attitude errors even with high-grade sensors. The Pixhawk bus is detached only rarely; after every modification all sensors are calibrated and the firmware is brought to the state Holybro recommends.