Dr. Andrew “Tridge” Tridgell, the Australian computer programmer, is considered a pioneer in the development of open-source software. He’s best known for co‑inventing the rsync algorithm, a powerful, delta‑based file synchronization method, and for his pivotal role in creating and developing Samba, the suite enabling seamless file and print sharing between Unix/Linux and Windows systems. As unmanned technology began to take shape, Tridge made a natural transition from traditional software engineering to drone technology by applying his deep expertise in systems programming and algorithm design to the emerging field of autonomous flight.

In 2011, Tridge began working with Chris Anderson and Jordi Muñoz of ArduPilot to create the open-source ground control system needed to complete the autopilot firmware for a wide range of unmanned vehicles. He has continued to work with ArduPilot to maintain the systems to this day. Taking what he learned working with Chris and Jordi, Tridge joined the volunteer drone team CanberraUAV. This team was formed in 2012 specifically to compete in the UAV Outback Challenge, an event held annually since 2007. The goal of the challenge is to accelerate the development of autonomous, low-cost drones for search-and-rescue missions in the Australian Outback.

CanberraUAV used the program that Tridge created for ArduPilot to control the drone they used during the challenge. CanberraUAV went on to win the UAV Outback Challenge in 2012 and 2014 with the help of Tridge. The relationship between Tridge, ArduPilot, and CanberraUAV became a symbiotic one that contributed to advancements in obstacle avoidance, VTOL (Vertical Take‑Off and Landing), and telemetry relays common in many current drone platforms.

Recently, Tridge began collaborating with CubePilot, a company that is similar to ArduPilot in that they both develop open-source autopilot systems and hardware for drones. This includes aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic drones. CubePilot’s flagship product is The Cube, a modular flight controller that serves as the brain for a drone. “The Cube is the definition of a stable autopilot-on-module standard,” CubePilot explains. “The carrier board ecosystem has been the backbone of the world’s commercial UAS industry, and we intend on keeping it that way.”

Working with CubePilot and the greater drone community, Tridge set out to develop a system that would overwrite the need for a drone’s rotors to operate as counter-rotating coaxial designs. This type of rotor system comes with inherent limitations, such as the need for dual motors on the same axis that rotate the rotors in opposing directions for lift. This requires an array of additional parts, which increases the overall weight of a drone and the cost of manufacturing it. Additionally, coaxial rotors limit design possibilities and require new developers to comply with legal patents before implementation.

Tridge found a way to bypass all of this by writing a program that would allow multiple rotors on the same arm to rotate in the same direction independently of each other without compromising torque and flight control. Tridge’s dual-motor-per-arm design opens up a wide range of design possibilities and removes any legal obstacles by enabling an open-source design principle. “This is a textbook example of innovation over litigation,” said a spokesperson from CubePilot. “Tridge’s work empowers developers, sidesteps outdated patents, and opens the door to new performance possibilities.”

Currently, Tridge’s design is being tested in Australia by Manna. A company focused on using drones as last-mile delivery vehicles, Manna was founded by Bobby Healy in 2018 out of Dublin, Ireland. Manna has pioneered the way drones can be integrated into urban airspace to make deliveries directly to customer homes. They have partnered with leading European retailers such as Tesco to bring goods to customers within an average of 3 minutes of an order being placed.

Manna has recently begun a delivery trial in Texas to expand their international reach. By incorporating Tridge’s dual-motor-per-arm design into its existing fleet of custom drones, Manna is once again showing their commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible with drone technology in a safely and efficiently. Tridge’s contributions to both open-source software and unmanned aerial systems underscore his unique ability to solve complex problems across disciplines. From revolutionizing file synchronization to reimagining drone design, his work continues to empower developers and reshape technological frontiers. As innovations like the dual-motor multicopter design move from concept to commercial use, Tridge’s legacy stands as a testament to the power of open collaboration, practical ingenuity, and a relentless pursuit of better solutions.

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