Dronecode is making a big splash at FOSDEM 2026! FOSDEM is one of the largest gatherings of free and open source software developers in the world, drawing over 8,000 attendees to Brussels each year. It’s completely free to attend, no registration required, just show up. The event runs January 31 – February 1, 2026 at the ULB Solbosch campus. With 65+ developer rooms, hundreds of talks, and project stands everywhere, it’s two days of nonstop open source. If you’ve never been, it’s worth the trip.
Plus, Dronecode will be there early to kickstart the festivities with our first international meetup of the year! Whether you’re a PX4 veteran or just curious about open source aerial robotics, here’s everything happening and how to get involved.
Pre-FOSDEM: PX4 Community Meetup in Leuven
Friday, January 30 | De Hoorn Bar & Resto, Leuven
Before the FOSDEM crowds descend on Brussels, join us for a half-day technical meetup in nearby Leuven, sponsored by Septentrio. This is our first European meetup of the year, and it’s shaping up to be a solid opportunity to connect with the PX4 community.
What’s on the agenda:
- PX4 project updates and roadmap discussion
- GNSS jamming and spoofing: threats and mitigation strategies (Septentrio)
- PX4-Septentrio integration deep dive
- Live demos: jamming detection, autopilot setups, ROS integration
- Community feedback session: what do you want from PX4 and GNSS suppliers?
Logistics:
- About 15 min walk from Leuven train station (20 min by train from Brussels)
- Parking available at Parking Vaartkom (Engels Plein)
- Food and drinks provided
- Post-event social at the on-site brewery or downtown Leuven
Register: https://luma.com/sw0ae3c1
FOSDEM Stand: Dronecode + Zephyr
We’re sharing a stand with the Zephyr Project at FOSDEM this year. Stop by to see live demos, products running on PX4 and Zephyr, and connect with project developers. We’ll have hardware on display, can answer questions about getting started with PX4, and are happy to talk about anything from Pixhawk standards to ROS 2 integration.
The stand will be staffed both days of the conference (Saturday January 31 and Sunday February 1). The exact building & location will be announced closer to the event.
Volunteers Needed: We’re looking for stand staff volunteers to help out during the conference. We’re working on providing PX4/Dronecode shirts for volunteers. If you’re interested, apply here: https://forms.gle/gsYCpcTEKxnAdcjc8
Robotics and Simulation Devroom Talk
Saturday, January 31 | 14:55 – 15:20 | Room UB2.147
“Precision Landing with PX4 and ROS 2 using Aruco Markers” Ramon Roche and Beniamino Pozzan
Many ROS developers know PX4 exists but never get the chance to actually poke at it. This talk gives you that chance.
We walk through a complete precision landing pipeline using PX4, ROS 2, OpenCV, Aruco markers, and Gazebo, built the same way we teach it in our hands-on workshops. You’ll see:
- The pieces of PX4 architecture that matter to you as a ROS developer
- How the PX4 ROS 2 interface works, including the PX4 ROS 2 Library by Auterion
- Simulation with Gazebo and OpenCV-based Aruco detection
- A precision landing controller with PI velocity control
- Frame transformations from camera optical frame to body frame to world frame
The goal is practical: by the end, you’ll understand how to take a tag pose from OpenCV and use it to land a drone on a target.
Full devroom schedule: https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/track/robotics-and-simulation/
The Robotics and Simulation devroom runs all day Saturday with talks on Gazebo, ROS 2 Rust client libraries, PlotJuggler, iceoryx2, and plenty more. Worth blocking out the day if robotics is your thing.
Linux Foundation FOSDEM Reception
Saturday, January 31 | 18:00 – 21:00 CET | Au Bassin, Quai Au Briques 74, Brussels
The Linux Foundation is hosting their annual FOSDEM reception. A good chance to connect with folks from across the LF project ecosystem in a more relaxed setting.
Register: https://linuxfoundation.regfox.com/the-linux-foundation-fosdem-reception
Spread the Word
If you’re speaking at FOSDEM or attending the Robotics devroom, the devroom organizers have speaker graphics available: https://github.com/robotics-devroom/robotics-devroom.github.io/tree/main/events/fosdem26/speaker-graphics
Summary: Key Dates and Links
| Event | Date | Link |
| PX4 Community Meetup (Leuven) | Fri Jan 30 | Register |
| FOSDEM 2026 | Sat-Sun Jan 31 – Feb 1 | fosdem.org/2026 |
| Precision Landing Talk | Sat Jan 31, 14:55 | Schedule |
| LF Reception | Sat Jan 31, 18:00-21:00 | Register |
| Dronecode + Zephyr Stand | Sat-Sun Jan 31 – Feb 1 | At the venue |
See you in Belgium!
