apx-gcs

System Architecture

Overview

The APX Ground Control Software (GCS) is a modular, cross-platform application designed for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) command and control. Built on Qt6 with C++ and QML, it provides a flexible framework for UAV operations with extensible plugin architecture.

High-Level Components

Core Modules

• ApxCore: Provides fundamental data structures and communication protocols
• ApxData: Handles data management and storage operations
• ApxFw: Firmware-related functionality and updates
• ApxGcs: GCS-specific application logic and UI components

Application Structure

src/
├── main/              # Main application entry point
├── lib/               # Core libraries
│   ├── ApxCore/       # Core data model and communication
│   ├── ApxData/       # Data handling and storage
│   ├── ApxFw/         # Firmware management
│   └── ApxGcs/        # GCS application logic
└── Plugins/           # Extensible plugin system

Communication Architecture

Data Flow

1. Hardware Interface: Serial/USB communication with UAVs
2. Protocol Layer: Abstraction layer for different communication protocols
3. Data Model: Fact-based data structure (using Mandala pattern)
4. UI Layer: QML-based user interface components
5. Plugin System: Extensible functionality through plugins

Protocol Abstraction

The system supports multiple communication protocols through a plugin architecture:

• Serial communication
• TCP/IP connections
• NMEA protocol support
• Custom UAV protocols

Plugin System

The GCS uses a flexible plugin architecture that allows extending functionality without modifying core code:

Plugin Types

• Communication Plugins: Handle different connection types
• Data Processing Plugins: Process telemetry data
• UI Plugins: Extend user interface capabilities
• Mission Plugins: Handle mission planning and execution

Plugin Integration

Plugins are dynamically loaded at runtime, providing:

• Easy extension without recompilation
• Version compatibility handling
• Runtime plugin management

Data Model Architecture

The system uses a Fact-based data model pattern (Mandala) for consistent data handling:

Key Concepts

• Facts: Atomic data elements with type information
• Fact Trees: Hierarchical organization of facts
• Fact Properties: Metadata and validation rules
• Fact Events: Change notifications and callbacks

This architecture enables:

• Consistent data representation across components
• Easy data binding in UI layer
• Extensible data types
• Real-time data synchronization

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