About¶

Entry point for the libdrone Ghost platform. Ghost is the quiet, long-endurance variant of the libdrone family — the 10–12 inch platform named in the business roadmap as the 500g+ payload carrier for 2026–2027. It reuses the full electronics stack from Bandit/Core/Pro and introduces a new frame architecture: two-part carbon fibre plate arms, laser-cut from 2mm CF sheet, that clamp onto the existing 3mm CF rod system shared across the family.

libdrone Ghost¶

EU-origin · Open hardware · ArduPilot · Quiet long-endurance platform

What is the Ghost?¶

libdrone Ghost is a 12-inch, ArduPilot-based quadcopter designed for quiet, long-endurance autonomous operations. It is the fifth variant in the libdrone family, and the first to use a scaled-up CF plate arm architecture rather than printed arms.

The name reflects its design intent: low acoustic signature, extended loiter capability, and the ability to operate at altitude without announcing itself. In the awareness curriculum context, Ghost is what the threat actually sounds like from eighty metres — the platform Bandit teaches you to detect.

The Ghost is: - A long-endurance autonomous survey and monitoring platform (30–45 min hover) - A low-acoustic-signature platform suited to wildlife monitoring, environmental sensing, and civil preparedness observation - The reference hardware for the 500g+ payload interface roadmap item - 80% compatible with Bandit/Core/Pro electronics — only motors and battery change

The Ghost is not: - A replacement for libdrone Pro (different architecture, different mission) - A racing or FPV acrobatics platform - A weapon or dual-use system

Quick Specifications¶

What is Different from Bandit¶

Ghost shares the entire electronics stack with Bandit. Three things change:

Motors: T-Motor MN4108 480KV replaces P1804 3400KV. Larger stator, much lower KV, designed for 10–14 inch props at low RPM. This is the source of the acoustic advantage — tip speed drops dramatically.

Battery: 4S 6000mAh Li-Ion 18650 (DIY 4S2P pack) replaces 4S 850mAh LiPo. Connector upgrades from XT30 to XT60. Same 4S voltage — ESC and FC do not care.

Arms: Two-part CF plate sandwich replaces printed TPU arms. Identical 3mm rod capture geometry — same rods, same body face interface. A single DXF profile, cut twice per arm, four arms total. Motor mounts directly to the CF plates using the 4108 standard 32mm equilateral triangle bolt pattern.

Everything else — FC, ESC, ELRS, GPS, VTX, ArduPilot firmware, QGC missions, UART assignments — is identical to Bandit.

Getting Started¶

If you want to build the Ghost¶

1. Read the specification: LD_Ghost_-_Spec_v01.md
2. Order components from build/ghost_bom.csv
3. Cut CF arm plates from hardware/ghost_arm.dxf (2mm 3K CF sheet, 2 off per arm)
4. Print body parts per hardware/ STL files
5. Follow build/ghost_build_guide.md for assembly
6. Flash ArduPilot and load firmware/ghost_ardupilot.params
7. Complete calibration: build/ghost_calibration.md
8. Test with SITL before first flight: simulation/sitl_setup.md

If you want to measure the acoustic profile¶

Use Bandit Part B Exercise B2.1 (ear before eye) with Ghost as the subject instead of the Bandit. Record detection range at 20, 50, 100, and 200 metres AGL. Document the results — this data validates and extends the awareness curriculum with real measured numbers from a quiet platform.

If you want to fork the Ghost for payload work¶

1. Read CONTRIBUTING.md
2. The nose bay accepts payloads up to 300g (relaxed from Bandit's 100g limit)
3. Keep AUW below 1,600g for the existing motor/battery combination
4. Retain CERN OHL-S v2 licence and non-weaponisation declaration
5. The GX12-7 payload interface from Pro is a planned addition — see Section 15 of the spec for the roadmap

Repository Contents¶

platforms/Ghost/
├── README.md                          ← you are here
├── LD_Ghost_-_Spec_v01.md             ← platform specification
├── LD_Ghost_-_Prompt_v01.md           ← AI session context prompt
├── LD_Ghost_-_ShoppingList_v01.md     ← sourcing guide
├── LD_Ghost_-_Tree_v01.md             ← full directory tree
├── hardware/                          ← DXF + STL files
├── firmware/                          ← ArduPilot params
├── missions/                          ← QGroundControl plan files
├── build/                             ← assembly guide + calibration
├── simulation/                        ← SITL scripts
└── reference/                         ← FMEA + regulatory notes

Relationship to libdrone Platform Family¶

Shared SKUs with Bandit (order once for both): Matek H7A3-SLIM, Happymodel EP2 Nano, SpeedyBee BLS 50A, Foxeer Predator Nano, Foxeer Reaper Nano V2, Matek M8Q-5883, 3mm CF rods, M3 hardware.

Non-Weaponisation Declaration¶

libdrone Ghost hardware, firmware configurations, CAD files, and documentation must not be used, modified, or redistributed for any application involving: autonomous target identification, weapon delivery, loitering munition design, electronic warfare, or surveillance of individuals without their knowledge or consent.

This declaration does not affect legitimate civilian use cases including mapping, search and rescue, agricultural monitoring, environmental sensing, wildlife observation, and operator training and awareness education.

Community forks must retain this declaration in their top-level README.

Licence¶

CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 – Strongly Reciprocal (CERN OHL-S v2)

All documentation: CC BY-SA 4.0 All hardware design files: CERN OHL-S v2 All firmware configurations: CC0

EU Origin¶

Designed and developed in Czech Republic. Part of the libdrone open platform family. Legal entity: Estonia (OÜ — TBD).

"In CAD as in life: measure twice, extrude once." — libdrone V2.4.6

Revision History¶