# Making autonomous computer vision based drones? Need help with setting up flight controller? **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [August 1, 2019, 1:49pm UTC](https://discuss.px4.io/t/making-autonomous-computer-vision-based-drones-need-help-with-setting-up-flight-controller/12247 "2019-08-01T13:49:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![atmadeep](https://discuss.px4.io/user_avatar/discuss.px4.io/atmadeep/32/4330_2.png) [@atmadeep](https://discuss.px4.io/u/atmadeep)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 1:49pm UTC](https://discuss.px4.io/t/making-autonomous-computer-vision-based-drones-need-help-with-setting-up-flight-controller/12247/1 "2019-08-01T13:49:52Z")
Hi, So I want to make an autonomous drones with implementation on of some selected SLAM algorithms. I just want the drone to send me images and IMU values for sensor data merging (visual inertial methods). I want to use a pixhawk (the cheaper one) with a raspberry pi/ Asus tinkerBoard for this purpose. I have the following questions: 1. How to setup pixhawk (flashed with px4) with a companion computer? 2. [This page](https://docs.px4.io/v1.9.0/en/flight_controller/raspberry_pi_navio2.html) suggests using px4 firmware with a raspberry pi? Does that mean the raspberry pi will be working as a flight controller or I’ll need to connect a px4 based FC? 3. What is cheapest board you can suggest me to use for this project? I’ve tried my luck with APM 2.8 but that was a waste of money. ---
**Author:** ![dakejahl](https://discuss.px4.io/user_avatar/discuss.px4.io/dakejahl/32/20420_2.png) [@dakejahl](https://discuss.px4.io/u/dakejahl)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 7:49pm UTC](https://discuss.px4.io/t/making-autonomous-computer-vision-based-drones-need-help-with-setting-up-flight-controller/12247/2 "2019-08-01T19:49:49Z")
You might want to try plowing through the relevant documentation in the user guide [https://docs.px4.io/v1.9.0/en/getting\_started/index.html](https://docs.px4.io/v1.9.0/en/getting_started/index.html) as well as in the dev guide [https://dev.px4.io/master/en/index.html](https://dev.px4.io/master/en/index.html) For robotics/offboard applications, start here [https://dev.px4.io/v1.9.0/en/robotics/](https://dev.px4.io/v1.9.0/en/robotics/) and read all of the documentation, it might help you make a more informed choice. For flight controllers, take a look at the options here [https://docs.px4.io/master/en/flight\_controller/](https://docs.px4.io/master/en/flight_controller/) ---
**Author:** ![atmadeep](https://discuss.px4.io/user_avatar/discuss.px4.io/atmadeep/32/4330_2.png) [@atmadeep](https://discuss.px4.io/u/atmadeep)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2019, 2:23pm UTC](https://discuss.px4.io/t/making-autonomous-computer-vision-based-drones-need-help-with-setting-up-flight-controller/12247/3 "2019-12-03T14:23:05Z")
Thanks. I bought a Pixhawk 2.4.8. I also have an Nvidia Jetson nano which I want to use as a companion computer . I’m trying to connect it to Pixhawk via GPIO pins but there’s no communication. Can you please help me with this? ---
**Author:** ![Vibhu\_Tripathi](https://discuss.px4.io/user_avatar/discuss.px4.io/vibhu_tripathi/32/4089_2.png) [@Vibhu\_Tripathi](https://discuss.px4.io/u/Vibhu_Tripathi)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2019, 5:03pm UTC](https://discuss.px4.io/t/making-autonomous-computer-vision-based-drones-need-help-with-setting-up-flight-controller/12247/4 "2019-12-04T17:03:50Z")
Hi @atmadeep I assume this is due to the GPIO permissions. You need to run `sudo chmod 777 /dev/ttyTHS0` everytime in Jetson Nano to establish communication. I would recommend using FTDI USB To TTL Serial Converter Adapter.