Developer Guide

This section provides technical documentation for developers who want to build DroneEngage from source, create custom plugins, or understand the internal architecture.

Overview

DroneEngage is built with a modular architecture:

• de_comm - Communication module (connects to cloud server)

• de_mavlink - MAVLink module (connects to flight controller)

• de_camera - Camera module (video streaming and recording)

• Plugins - Custom modules for GPIO, SDR, tracking, etc.

All modules communicate via the DataBus using UDP sockets, allowing them to run on the same device or distributed across multiple devices.

Building & Setup

• Building from Source

Raspberry Pi Deployment

• Camera Manager Wrapper - C++ wrapper for managing DroneEngage camera and tracking modules on Raspberry Pi

• Raspberry Pi Bookworm Scripts - Overview of helper scripts for managing DroneEngage services, networking, cameras, simulators, and maintenance on Raspberry Pi OS

Architecture

• Communication Protocol

• DataBus (Inter-Module Communication)

Extending DroneEngage

• Creating Custom Plugins

• Custom Plugin Development

• C++ Plugin Development

• Node.js Plugin Development

• Python Plugin Development

• SWARM Logic

• Communication Module Config

• MAVLink Module Config

Web Client Technicals

• Web Client Overview

• Authentication System

• Configuration Management

• Server Communication

• Site Configuration

• Unit Management

• WebRTC Video Streaming

• Mission Planning Base

Communication Module Technicals

• Communication Module Overview

• Andruav Authenticator

• Andruav Communication Server

• Andruav Facade

• Andruav Message Parser

• Configuration File Management

Server Technicals

• Server Technicals Overview

• Authentication Server Internals

• Communication Server Internals

• Authentication ↔ Communication Flow

• Mesh Communication Server Relay

MAVLink Module Technicals

• MAVLink Module Overview

• Flight Control Board Connection

• Configuration File System

• Rate Limiting Effects

• Joystick Channels Guided Mode

• RC Sub Actions

Source Code Repositories

• droneengage_communication - Main communication module

• droneengage_mavlink - MAVLink interface

• droneengage_camera - Camera streaming

• droneengage_databus - Plugin development library

• droneengage_webclient_react - Web client