MeshCore Drone Updater is an automated firmware flashing service designed for nRF52-based MeshCore nodes in hard-to-reach locations (such as roofs) using a Raspberry Pi mounted on a drone.
🚀 Features
Autonomous Updates: Automatically detects nRF52 devices in DFU mode via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
Mapping Logic: Uses mapping files (dfu_mapping.txt and firmware_mapping.txt) to match discovered DFU BLE names to the correct firmware versions.
Firmware Overrides: Support for temporary overrides of the mapped firmwares.
🛠 Installation
The installation is designed to be straightforward for Raspberry Pi OS (and other Linux distributions):
git clone https://github.com/lucidnx/meshcore-drone-updater.git
cd meshcore-drone-updater
sudo ./install.sh
The script will install necessary dependencies, configure the Python environment, and set up the updater as a system service.
📂 Configuration & Mapping
The updater relies on two primary mapping files to determine which firmware to flash to which device:
dfu_mapping.txt: Maps device names to specific firmware files.
firmware_mapping.txt: Maps device names to specific firmware files.
Local Overrides
If you need to force a specific update without modifying mapping files, you can place files in the following directory (SD card boot partition for easy access using computer):
Path: /boot/firmware/drone-updater/
firmware.zip: Local firmware package.
dfu.zip: Local DFU package.
If these files exist, the updater will prioritize them over the automated mapping table.
After flash, these override files are removed.
🚁 Use Case: Drone-Based Maintenance
This tool is specifically optimized for "Drive-by" (or "Fly-by") updates:
A Raspberry Pi (running this service) is attached to a drone.
The drone flies within BLE range of a node (e.g., on a rooftop or tower).
The node is triggered into DFU mode.
The service detects the DFU name, matches it to the mapping, and flashes the new firmware automatically.
🔧 Technical Details
Uses the nrf_dfu_py library by @recrof for the DFU protocol implementation.
Runs as a systemd service, ensuring it starts on boot and logs activity for post-flight review.
🤝 Acknowledgments
recrof/nrf_dfu_py - The core BLE DFU script.
meshcore-dev/MeshCore - The mesh firmware ecosystem this tool primarily supports.
