docs: release notes for v1.16

Signed-off-by: Ramon Roche <mrpollo@gmail.com>
2026-05-21 00:47:35 +08:00 · 2025-05-01 12:20:41 -07:00
parent 77894b7c83
commit 05b018c185
4 changed files with 135 additions and 4 deletions
@@ -845,6 +845,7 @@
  - [Licenses](contribute/licenses.md)
 - [Releases](releases/index.md)
  - [main (alpha)](releases/main.md)
+  - [1.16 (rc)](releases/1.16.md)
  - [1.15 (stable)](releases/1.15.md)
  - [1.14](releases/1.14.md)
  - [1.13](releases/1.13.md)
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@
      - [AirMind MindPX](/flight_controller/mindpx.md)
      - [AirMind MindRacer](/flight_controller/mindracer.md)
      - [ARK Electronics ARKV6X](/flight_controller/ark_v6x.md)
-      - [ARK FPV Flight Controller](/flight_controller/ark_fpv.md) 
+      - [ARK FPV Flight Controller](/flight_controller/ark_fpv.md)
      - [ARK Pi6X Flow Flight Controller](/flight_controller/ark_pi6x.md)
      - [CUAV X7](/flight_controller/cuav_x7.md)
      - [CUAV Nora](/flight_controller/cuav_nora.md)
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@
    - [GNSS (GPS)](/gps_compass/index.md)
      - [ARK GPS (CAN)](/dronecan/ark_gps.md)
      - [ARK SAM GPS](/gps_compass/ark_sam_gps.md)
-      - [ARK TESEO GPS](/dronecan/ark_teseo_gps.md) 
+      - [ARK TESEO GPS](/dronecan/ark_teseo_gps.md)
      - [CUAV NEO 3 GPS](/gps_compass/gps_cuav_neo_3.md)
      - [CUAV NEO 3 Pro GPS (CAN)](/gps_compass/gps_cuav_neo_3pro.md)
      - [CUAV NEO 3X GPS (CAN)](/gps_compass/gps_cuav_neo_3x.md)
@@ -837,7 +837,8 @@
  - [Licenses](/contribute/licenses.md)
 - [Releases](/releases/index.md)
  - [main (alpha)](/releases/main.md)
+  - [1.16 (rc)](/releases/1.16.md)
  - [1.15 (stable)](/releases/1.15.md)
  - [1.14](/releases/1.14.md)
  - [1.13](/releases/1.13.md)
-  - [1.12](/releases/1.12.md)
+  - [1.12](/releases/1.12.md)
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+# PX4-Autopilot Main Release Notes
+
+<Badge type="danger" text="Alpha" />
+
+This document covers all changes in PX4 `v1.16.0` since the previous stable release ([PX v1.15.0](../releases/1.15.md)).
+
+::: warning
+These notes include only changes merged in 2023 and later—no commits from before 2023 are listed.
+:::
+
+## Read Before Upgrading
+
+Please continue reading for [upgrade instructions](#upgrade-guide).
+
+## Major Changes
+
+- **Rover support rework**
+  - New dedicated firmware build for rovers (airframe IDs 50000–52000)
+  - Separate modules for Ackermann, differential and mecanum rovers, each with manual, acro, stabilized, position and auto modes
+  - Shared pure-pursuit guidance library for all rover modules
+  - Legacy rover position control module deprecated in favor of the new modules
+
+## Upgrade Guide
+
+## Other changes
+
+### Hardware Support
+
+- Added rover-specific firmware build (`50000–52000`) for Ackermann, differential and mecanum rovers
+
+
+### Common
+
+- [Battery level estimation improvements](../config/battery.md). ([PX4-Autopilot#23205](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23205)).
+  - [Voltage-based estimation with load compensation](../config/battery.md#voltage-based-estimation-with-load-compensation) now uses a real-time estimate of the internal resistance of the battery to compensate voltage drops under load (with increased current), providing a better capacity estimate than with the raw measured voltage.
+  - Thrust-based load compensation has been removed (along with the `BATn_V_LOAD_DROP` parameters, where `n` is the battery number).
+- The [Position (GNSS) loss failsafe](../config/safety.md#position-gnss-loss-failsafe) configurable delay (`COM_POS_FS_DELAY`) has been removed.
+  The failsafe will now trigger 1 second after position has been lost. ([PX4-Autopilot#24063](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/24063)).
+- [Log Encryption](../dev_log/log_encryption.md) now generates an encrypted log that contains the public-key-encrypted symmetric key that can be used to decrypt it, instead of putting the key into a separate file.
+  This makes log decryption much easier, as there is no need to download or identify a separate key file.
+  ([PX4-Autopilot#24024](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/24024)).
+- The generic mission command timeout [MIS_COMMAND_TOUT](../advanced_config/parameter_reference.md#MIS_COMMAND_TOUT) parameter replaces the delivery-specific `MIS_PD_TO` parameter.
+  Mission commands that may take some time to complete, such as those for controlling gimbals, winches, and grippers, will progress to the next item when either feedback is received or the timeout expires.
+  This is often used to provide a minimum delay for hardware that does not provide completion feedback, so that it can reach the commanded state before the mission progresses.
+  ([PX4-Autopilot#23960](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23960)).
+- **[uORB]** Introduce a [version field](../middleware/uorb.md#message-versioning) for a subset of uORB messages ([PX4-Autopilot#23850](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23850))
+- [Compass calibration](../config/compass.md) disables internal compasses if an external compass is available.
+  This typically reduces false warnings due to magnetometer inconsistencies.
+  ([PX4-Autopilot#24316](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/24316)).
+
+### Control
+
+- Configurable multicopter orbit-mode yaw via `MC_ORBIT_YAW_MOD` ([#23358](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23358))
+- Collision prevention now works in manual (acceleration-based) flight mode (`MPC_POS_MODE`) ([#23507](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23507))
+
+
+### Estimation
+
+- Position-loss failsafe delay removed; triggers 1 s after loss (see Common)
+
+### Sensors
+
+- Compass calibration now disables internal compass when external unit present, reducing false warnings ([#24316](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/24316))
+
+### Simulation
+
+- [SIH]:
+  - The SIH on SITL [custom takeoff location](../sim_sih/index.md#set-custom-takeoff-location) in now set using the normal unscaled GPS position values, where previously the value needed to be multiplied by 1E7.
+    ([PX4-Autopilot#23363](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23363)).
+  - SIH now supports the standard VTOL airframe
+    ([PX4-Autopilot#24175](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/24175)).
+- [Gazebo]:
+  - Gazebo Harmonic LTS release replaces Gazebo Garden as the version supported by PX4.
+    The default installer scripts (used for CI) and documentation have been updated.
+    This is required because Garden end-of-life is Nov 2024.
+    ([PX4-Autopilot#23603](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23603))
+  - New vehicle model `x500_lidar_2d` — [x500 Quadrotor with 2D Lidar](../sim_gazebo_gz/vehicles.md#x500-quadrotor-with-2d-lidar). ([PX4-Autopilot#22418](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/22418), [PX4-gazebo-models#41](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-gazebo-models/pull/41)).
+  - New vehicle model `x500_lidar_front` — [X500 Quadrotor with 1D LIDAR (Front-facing)](../sim_gazebo_gz/vehicles.md#x500-quadrotor-with-1d-lidar-front-facing). ([PX4-Autopilot#23879](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23879), [PX4-gazebo-models#62](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-gazebo-models/pull/62/files)).
+  - New vehicle model `x500_lidar_down` — [X500 Quadrotor with 1D LIDAR (Down-facing)](../sim_gazebo_gz/vehicles.md#x500-quadrotor-with-1d-lidar-down-facing). ([PX4-Autopilot#23879](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23879), [PX4-gazebo-models#62](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-gazebo-models/pull/62/files)).
+  - New vehicle model `r1_rover` — [Aion Robotics R1 Rover](../sim_gazebo_gz/vehicles.md#differential-rover) ([PX4-Autopilot#22402](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/22402) and [PX4-gazebo-models#21](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-gazebo-models/pull/21)).
+  - New vehicle model `rover_ackermann` — [Ackermann Rover](../sim_gazebo_gz/vehicles.md#ackermann-rover) ([PX4-Autopilot#23383](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23383) and [PX4-gazebo-models#46](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-gazebo-models/pull/46)).
+  - New vehicle model `x500_gimbal` — [Quadrotor(x500) with gimbal (Front-facing) in Gazebo](../sim_gazebo_gz/vehicles.md#x500-quadrotor-with-gimbal-front-facing) ([PX4-Autopilot#23382](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23382) and [PX4-gazebo-models#47](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-gazebo-models/pull/47) and [PX4-gazebo-models#70](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-gazebo-models/pull/70)).
+  - New vehicle model `quadtailsitter` — [Quad Tailsitter VTOL](../sim_gazebo_gz/vehicles.md#quad-tailsitter-vtol) ([PX4-Autopilot#23943](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23943) and [PX4-gazebo-models#65](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-gazebo-models/pull/65)).
+  - New vehicle model `tiltrotor` — [Tiltrotor VTOL](../sim_gazebo_gz/vehicles.md#tiltrotor-vtol) ([PX4-Autopilot#24028](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/24028) and [PX4-gazebo-models#66](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-gazebo-models/pull/66)).
+  - [Faster than Real-time Simulation](../simulation/index.md#simulation_speed) ([PX4-Autopilot#24421](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/24421), [PX4-Autopilot#23783](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23783))
+
+### uXRCE-DDS / ROS2
+
+- **[Feature]** <Badge type="warning" text="Experimental"/> [ROS 2 Message Translation Node](../ros2/px4_ros2_msg_translation_node.md) to translate PX4 messages from one definition version to another dynamically ([PX4-Autopilot#24113](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/24113))
+
+### MAVLink
+
+- TBD
+
+### Multi-Rotor
+
+- Allow system-default [multicopter orbit mode](../flight_modes_mc/orbit.md) yaw behaviour to be configured, using the parameter [MC_ORBIT_YAW_MOD](../advanced_config/parameter_reference.md#MC_ORBIT_YAW_MOD) ([PX4-Autopilot#23358](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23358))
+- Adapted the [Collision Prevention](../computer_vision/collision_prevention.md) implementation to work in the default manual flight mode (Acceleration Based) [MPC_POS_MODE](../advanced_config/parameter_reference.md#MPC_POS_MODE). ([PX4-Autopilot#23507](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23507)
+
+### VTOL
+
+- TBD
+
+### Fixed-wing
+
+- Improvement: Fixed-wing auto takeoff: enable setting takeoff flaps for hand/catapult launch. [PX4-Autopilot#23460](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23460)
+
+### Rover
+
+This release contains a major rework for the rover support in PX4:
+
+- Complete restructure of the [rover related documentation](../frames_rover/index.md).
+- New firmware build specifically for [rovers](../frames_rover/index.md#flashing-the-rover-build).
+- New module dedicated to [Ackermann rovers](../frames_rover/ackermann.md):
+  - The module currently supports [manual mode](../flight_modes_rover/ackermann.md#manual-mode), [acro mode](../flight_modes_rover/ackermann.md#acro-mode), [position mode](../flight_modes_rover/ackermann.md#position-mode) and [auto modes](../flight_modes_rover/ackermann.md#auto-modes).
+- New module dedicated to [differential rovers](../frames_rover/differential.md):
+  - The module currently supports [manual mode](../flight_modes_rover/differential.md#manual-mode), [acro mode](../flight_modes_rover/differential.md#acro-mode), [stabilized mode](../flight_modes_rover/differential.md#stabilized-mode), [position mode](../flight_modes_rover/differential.md#position-mode) and [auto modes](../flight_modes_rover/differential.md#auto-modes).
+- New module dedicated to [mecanum rovers](../frames_rover/mecanum.md):
+  - The module currently supports [manual mode](../flight_modes_rover/mecanum.md#manual-mode), [acro mode](../flight_modes_rover/mecanum.md#acro-mode), [stabilized mode](../flight_modes_rover/mecanum.md#stabilized-mode), [position mode](../flight_modes_rover/mecanum.md#position-mode) and [auto modes](../flight_modes_rover/mecanum.md#auto-modes).
+- Restructure of the [rover airframe](../airframes/airframe_reference.md#rover) numbering convention ([PX4-Autopilot#23506](https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/pull/23506)).
+  This also introduces several [new rover airframes](../airframes/airframe_reference.md#rover):
+  - Generic Differential Rover `50000`.
+  - Generic Ackermann Rover `51000`.
+  - Axial SCX10 2 Trail Honcho `51001`.
+  - Generic Mecanum Rover `52000`.
+- Library for the [pure pursuit guidance algorithm](../config_rover/differential.md#pure-pursuit-guidance-logic) that is shared by all the rover modules.
+- [Simulation](../frames_rover/index.md#simulation) for differential-steering and Ackermann rovers in gazebo (for release notes see `r1_rover` and `rover_ackermann` in [simulation](#simulation)).
+- Deprecation of the [rover position control](../frames_rover/rover_position_control.md) module: Note that the legacy rover module still exists but has been superseded by the new dedicated modules.
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@

 A list of PX4 release notes, they contain a list of the changes that went into each release, explaining the included features, bug fixes, deprecations and updates in detail.

- [main](../releases/main.md) (changes since v1.15)
+- [main](../releases/main.md) (changes since v1.16)
+- [v1.16](../releases/1.16.md)
 - [v1.15](../releases/1.15.md)
 - [v1.14](../releases/1.14.md)
 - [v1.13](../releases/1.13.md)