Preflight Checklist

Run through this checklist before any flight operation — simulation or real hardware.

Simulation (SITL)

1. PX4 SITL instances running (Ready for takeoff! in terminal)
2. Micro-XRCE-DDS Agent connected (docker logs micro_agent_service)
3. drone_core services registered (docker logs drone_core_node)
4. rosbridge server running on port 9090
5. Verify drone state: droneos --drone drone1 --get-state
6. Verify fleet: droneos --fleet-status

Real Hardware

1. Physical inspection — props secure, battery connected, no damage
2. RC transmitter on — verify manual control works before any autonomous flight
3. VPN connected on companion computer
4. Docker containers running on RPi: docker ps (ensure drone_core and micro_agent are up)
5. Verify system health via DroneOS — check the Web UI dashboard or run droneos --drone drone1 --get-state to confirm telemetry and sensor readiness
6. Know your failsafe — RC override is the only failsafe. If anything goes wrong, flip to manual.

Post-Flight

• Check battery levels
• Review any anomalies in telemetry
• Clear PX4 flight logs if disk space is a concern:

  rm -rf rootfs/*/log/  # SITL only — clears .ulg logs that eat disk