X-PILOTLAB - BY Pinkish-Warrior

An educational drone programming platform for learning to control DJI/Ryze Tello drones through code. This project provides hands-on experience with UDP communication, command-line interfaces, and autonomous flight programming.

Based on the Tello.js SDK and designed for educational purposes.

📍 New to the project? Check out the Visual Roadmap for an interactive learning journey!

Prerequisites

• Node.js v8.11.1 or higher
• DJI/Ryze Tello drone
• WiFi connection to Tello drone network

Installation

npm install

Required packages: chalk, chance, csv-parser

Project Structure

X-PilotLab/
├── demos/             # Working demo implementations & tools
│   ├── xpilot-cli.js       # Interactive command-line interface demo
│   ├── xpilot-console.js   # Console control system demo
│   └── xpilot-mission.js   # Mission file interpreter & executor
├── challenges/        # Ranked learning challenges
│   ├── alpha/              # ⭐ Beginner - Basic commands & queries
│   │   ├── README.md
│   │   ├── challenge_alpha.js
│   │   └── missions/
│   │       └── xpilot-query.md
│   ├── beta/               # ⭐⭐ Intermediate - Rotation & patterns
│   │   ├── README.md
│   │   └── missions/
│   │       ├── xpilot-box.md
│   │       └── xpilot-vertical.md
│   └── charlie/            # ⭐⭐⭐ Advanced - Complex maneuvers
│       ├── README.md
│       └── missions/
│           └── xpilot-bounce.md
└── config.json        # Drone connection configuration

How It Works

Challenges are ranked learning paths (Alpha → Beta → Charlie) that teach drone programming progressively

Missions are flight patterns within each challenge level that use the commands you implement

Demos are working reference implementations and tools that execute missions and communicate with the drone

Navigation Guide

Start Here: Challenge Progression System

X-PilotLab uses a ranked progression system. Start with Alpha and advance through the levels:

🎯 Challenge Alpha - Beginner

Location: /challenges/alpha/

What you'll learn:

• UDP communication basics
• Drone status queries (battery, speed, time)
• Safe ground-based testing
• Basic movement commands

Mission: xpilot-query.md - Status queries without flight risk

Time to complete: 1-2 hours

Start Challenge Alpha →

---

🎯 Challenge Beta - Intermediate

Location: /challenges/beta/

Prerequisites: Complete Challenge Alpha

What you'll learn:

• Rotation commands (clockwise/counter-clockwise)
• Coordinated flight patterns
• Multi-command sequences
• Geometric patterns (squares, spirals)

Missions:

• xpilot-box.md - Square flight pattern with 90° turns
• xpilot-vertical.md - Vertical spiral movements

Time to complete: 2-4 hours

Start Challenge Beta →

---

🎯 Challenge Charlie - Advanced

Location: /challenges/charlie/

Prerequisites: Complete Challenges Alpha & Beta

What you'll learn:

• Full 360° rotations
• Multi-axis coordination
• Complex flight choreography
• Custom mission creation

Mission: xpilot-bounce.md - Bouncing pattern with full rotations

Time to complete: 4+ hours

Start Challenge Charlie →

---

Quick Start Path

1. Setup (15 min)

   npm install
   # Connect to Tello WiFi network

2. Alpha Challenge (1-2 hours)

   • Read /challenges/alpha/README.md
   • Implement basic commands in challenge_alpha.js
   • Run mission: xpilot-query.md

3. Beta Challenge (2-4 hours)

   • Read /challenges/beta/README.md
   • Add rotation commands
   • Execute missions: xpilot-box.md, xpilot-vertical.md

4. Charlie Challenge (4+ hours)

   • Read /challenges/charlie/README.md
   • Master complex patterns
   • Execute mission: xpilot-bounce.md
   • Create your own missions!

Usage

1. Interactive Command-Line Interface

node demos/xpilot-cli.js

Control the drone interactively with command history support (use up/down arrow keys to recall commands).

Available commands: command, takeoff, land, forward, back, left, right, up, down, cw (clockwise rotation), ccw (counter-clockwise rotation), and more.

2. Mission Executor

node demos/xpilot-mission.js

Run pre-programmed mission files from challenge folders. The interpreter uses async/await to send commands sequentially with built-in delays (approximately 5 seconds) to ensure the drone completes each maneuver before receiving the next command.

Navigate to a challenge folder and run:

cd challenges/beta
node ../../demos/xpilot-mission.js

When prompted, enter a mission filename from that challenge's missions/ folder (e.g., xpilot-box.md). You can run multiple missions without restarting the drone.

Safety Notes

• Always fly in a safe, open area
• Be careful in low ambient light conditions
• Monitor battery levels before flights
• Keep clear of obstacles and people
• Follow all local drone regulations

Configuration

Connection settings are stored in config.json:

• Default drone IP: 192.168.10.1
• Default port: 8889

Technical Details

This project uses:

• UDP sockets (dgram) for drone communication
• Async/await patterns for sequential command execution
• Command delay mapping to ensure proper flight execution
• Readline interface for interactive control with command history

Let's Have Fun

Experiment, learn, and enjoy programming autonomous drone flights

---

This project was developed with assistance from Claude by Anthropic.