# Cleanflight

> open control software for UAVs

**Wikidata**: [Q108847043](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108847043)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cleanflight

## Summary
Cleanflight is an open-source firmware for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), released under the GNU General Public License. It was developed as a successor to MultiWii and is designed for low-level control of UAV hardware, particularly for STM32-based platforms.

## Key Facts
- **Open-source software**: Cleanflight is freely available under a permissive license, allowing users to modify and redistribute its source code.
- **Firmware for UAVs**: It provides low-level control for UAV hardware, enabling precise flight management.
- **Based on MultiWii**: Cleanflight was developed as an evolution of the earlier MultiWii software.
- **STM32 platform**: Designed to work with STM32 microcontrollers, a common choice in UAV development.
- **Developed by Dominic Clifton**: The primary developer, as listed in the project's contributor history.
- **GNU GPL license**: The software is distributed under the GNU General Public License.
- **Active development**: Released versions from 1.0.0 to 1.7.2 between 2014 and 2015.
- **IRC channel**: Users can discuss the project on the #cleanflight IRC channel on Freenode.
- **Social media presence**: Cleanflight has a Facebook page and YouTube playlist for community engagement.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Cleanflight used for?
A: Cleanflight is used as firmware for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), providing low-level control for flight stabilization and management.

### Q: Is Cleanflight open-source?
A: Yes, Cleanflight is open-source software released under the GNU General Public License, allowing users to modify and redistribute it.

### Q: What hardware does Cleanflight support?
A: Cleanflight is designed to work with STM32 microcontrollers, a common platform in UAV development.

### Q: Who developed Cleanflight?
A: Cleanflight was developed by Dominic Clifton, as indicated by the project's contributor history.

### Q: How can I contribute to Cleanflight?
A: You can contribute by joining the IRC channel (#cleanflight on Freenode) or accessing the source code repository on GitHub.

## Why It Matters
Cleanflight played a significant role in the open-source UAV firmware ecosystem by providing an alternative to MultiWii. Its development marked a progression in the field, offering improved features and compatibility with modern UAV hardware. By being open-source, it empowered the community to customize and enhance the software, fostering innovation in unmanned aerial systems. While its development has slowed since its peak in 2015, Cleanflight remains a notable example of how open-source collaboration can drive advancements in aerospace technology.

## Notable For
- **Successor to MultiWii**: Cleanflight was developed as an evolution of the earlier MultiWii software, addressing its limitations.
- **STM32 compatibility**: It was designed specifically for STM32 microcontrollers, a key platform in UAV development.
- **Community-driven development**: The project relied on community contributions, as evidenced by its IRC channel and GitHub repository.
- **Social media engagement**: Cleanflight maintained an active presence on platforms like Facebook and YouTube, engaging with its user base.
- **Open-source licensing**: Its use of the GNU GPL license ensured broad accessibility and modification rights for users.

## Body
### Overview
Cleanflight is an open-source firmware designed for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), released under the GNU General Public License. It was developed as a successor to MultiWii, addressing limitations in the earlier software. The project was created by Dominic Clifton and is hosted on GitHub, where users can access the source code and contribute to its development.

### Development and Releases
Cleanflight was first released in November 2014, with version 1.0.0. Subsequent versions were released at regular intervals throughout 2015, with the final version, 1.7.2, released in February 2015. The project's development slowed after this period, with no further releases recorded.

### Technical Specifications
Cleanflight is designed to work with STM32 microcontrollers, a common platform in UAV development. It provides low-level control for flight stabilization and management, making it suitable for a variety of UAV applications. The software is written in a programming language identified by the Wikidata identifier Q15777.

### Community and Support
Cleanflight has a dedicated IRC channel (#cleanflight on Freenode) for community discussion and support. The project also maintains a Facebook page and a YouTube playlist for sharing updates and engaging with users. These channels reflect the project's commitment to community involvement and knowledge sharing.

### Licensing and Accessibility
The software is distributed under the GNU General Public License, ensuring that it remains open-source and freely accessible. This license allows users to modify and redistribute the software, fostering innovation and collaboration within the UAV community.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
  "name": "Cleanflight",
  "description": "Open-source firmware for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) released under the GNU General Public License.",
  "url": "https://www.cleanflight.com/",
  "license": "https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html",
  "operatingSystem": "STM32",
  "applicationCategory": "Flight Control Software",
  "sameAs": ["https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight"],
  "additionalType": "Firmware"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/graphs/contributors)
2. [Release 1.0.0. 2014](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.0.0)
3. [Release 1.1.0. 2014](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.1.0)
4. [Release 1.2.0. 2014](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.2.0)
5. [Release 1.3.0. 2014](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.3.0)
6. [Release 1.4.0. 2015](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.4.0)
7. [Release 1.5.0. 2015](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.5.0)
8. [Release 1.6.0. 2015](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.6.0)
9. [Release 1.7.0. 2015](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.7.0)
10. [Release 1.7.1. 2015](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.7.1)
11. [Release 1.7.2. 2015](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.7.2)
12. [Release 1.8.0. 2015](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.8.0)
13. [Release 1.8.1. 2015](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.8.1)
14. [Release 1.9.0. 2015](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.9.0)
15. [Release 1.10.0. 2015](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.10.0)
16. [Release 1.11.0. 2015](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.11.0)
17. [Release 1.12.0. 2016](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.12.0)
18. [Release 1.12.1. 2016](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.12.1)
19. [Release 1.13.0. 2016](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.13.0)
20. [Release 1.14.0. 2016](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.14.0)
21. [Release 1.14.1. 2016](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.14.1)
22. [Release 1.14.2. 2016](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/v1.14.2)
23. [Release 2.0.0. 2017](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/CLFL_v2.0.0)
24. [Release 2.0.1. 2017](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/CLFL_v2.0.1)
25. [Release 2.0.2. 2017](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/CLFL_v2.0.2)
26. [Release 2.0.3. 2017](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/CLFL_v2.0.3)
27. [Release 2.0.4. 2017](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/CLFL_v2.0.4)
28. [Release 2.0.5. 2017](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/CLFL_v2.0.5)
29. [Release 2.1.0. 2017](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/CLFL_v2.1.0)
30. [Release 2.2.0. 2018](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/CLFL_v2.2.0)
31. [Release 2.3.1. 2018](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/CLFL_v2.3.1)
32. [Release 2.3.2. 2018](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/CLFL_v2.3.2)
33. [Release 2.4.0. 2018](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/CLFL_v2.4.0)
34. [Release 2.4.1. 2018](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/CLFL_v2.4.1)
35. [Release 2.5.0. 2019](https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight/releases/tag/CLFL_v2.5.0)