STM32F405VGT7
Brand: ST
The STM32F405VGT7 belongs to ST's STM32F405 series — the silicon foundation of Pixhawk 1 (PX4FMUv2) and Pixhawk 2.4.x, the reference open-source drone autopilot platforms. Its Cortex-M4F core with hardware FPU enables fast single-precision math for ArduPilot's EKF2/EKF3 state estimators, PID control loops, and attitude quaternion computation. The 100-pin LQFP-100 package delivers 82 GPIO for complete autopilot I/O including multiple UARTs, SPI buses for IMUs, I²C for external sensors, CAN for UAVCAN/DroneCAN peripherals, and SDIO for high-speed onboard logging.
STM32F405 — the chip powering Pixhawk 1 and Pixhawk 2.4.x, the most widely deployed open-source drone autopilot hardware in the world.
Product Specifications
STM32F405VGT7 — ARM Cortex-M4F MCU for Pixhawk / PX4 / ArduPilot Drone Autopilots by STMicroelectronics
The STM32F405VGT7 is STMicroelectronics' high-performance 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4F microcontroller running at 168 MHz with 1 MB Flash and 192 KB (128 KB + 64 KB CCM) in a LQFP-100 (14×14 mm, 0.5 mm pitch). It is the legendary MCU behind the Pixhawk 1 and Pixhawk 2.4.x open-source drone autopilots — the reference hardware platforms for PX4 and ArduPilot firmware. With hardware single-precision FPU, ART Accelerator, dual CAN 2.0B, SDIO, and industrial temperature range (−40°C to +105°C), it remains the most proven silicon for professional multirotor, fixed-wing, and VTOL UAV platforms worldwide.
Part Number Decoded — Field by Field
| Field | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| STM32 | Product Family | STMicroelectronics 32-bit ARM-based MCU |
| F | Core Type | Foundation — high-performance series (ARM Cortex-M4F with FPU) |
| 405 | Sub-Family | 405 Performance Line — 168 MHz Cortex-M4F with FPU, dual CAN, SDIO. Powers Pixhawk 1 & 2.4.x |
| V | Pin Count | 100 pins (LQFP-100) |
| G | Flash Size | 1 MB |
| LQFP | Package | LQFP (Low-profile Quad Flat Package) |
| 7 | Temperature Range | −40°C to +105°C (extended) |
Quick Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | STMicroelectronics |
| Part Number | STM32F405VGT7 |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4F |
| Max Clock | 168 MHz |
| Flash | 1 MB |
| SRAM | 192 KB (128 KB + 64 KB CCM) |
| Package | LQFP-100 (14×14 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8V – 3.6V |
| Operating Temperature | −40°C to +105°C |
| GPIO | 82 |
| ADC | 3× 12-bit (16 channels) |
| DAC | 2× 12-bit |
| Timers | 12× 16-bit, 2× 32-bit, 2× watchdog, 1× SysTick |
| Communication | 4× USART, 2× UART, 3× SPI (37.5 Mbit/s), 3× I²C, 2× CAN 2.0B, 1× USB 2.0 OTG FS, 1× SDIO |
| DMA | 2× 8-channel (16 streams) |
| Debug | SWD + JTAG |
Product Overview
The STM32F405VGT7 belongs to ST's STM32F405 series — the silicon foundation of Pixhawk 1 (PX4FMUv2) and Pixhawk 2.4.x, the reference open-source drone autopilot platforms. Its Cortex-M4F core with hardware FPU enables fast single-precision math for ArduPilot's EKF2/EKF3 state estimators, PID control loops, and attitude quaternion computation. The 100-pin LQFP-100 package delivers 82 GPIO for complete autopilot I/O including multiple UARTs, SPI buses for IMUs, I²C for external sensors, CAN for UAVCAN/DroneCAN peripherals, and SDIO for high-speed onboard logging.
STM32F405 — the chip powering Pixhawk 1 and Pixhawk 2.4.x, the most widely deployed open-source drone autopilot hardware in the world.
Key Features & Benefits
168 MHz Cortex-M4F + Hardware FPU — ArduPilot EKF & PX4 Native
The Cortex-M4F core with single-precision hardware floating-point unit executes PID controllers, EKF2/EKF3 Kalman filters, and quaternion attitude estimation in native float with zero software emulation overhead. At 168 MHz with the ART Accelerator delivering zero-wait-state Flash execution, the F405 sustains IMU update rates up to 8 kHz on dual-redundant IMU configurations — the gold standard for professional drone autopilots.
1 MB Flash + 192 KB (128 KB + 64 KB CCM) SRAM — Full ArduPilot/PX4 Stack
With 1 MB of embedded Flash and 192 KB (128 KB + 64 KB CCM) of SRAM, the STM32F405VGT7 comfortably runs the complete ArduPilot feature set — EKF3 state estimation, L1 navigation controller, terrain following, geofencing, MAVLink telemetry routing, onboard microSD logging, and Lua scripting. The 64 KB CCM (Core-Coupled Memory) provides deterministic zero-wait-state access for the real-time flight control loop.
Dual CAN 2.0B — UAVCAN/DroneCAN Peripheral Ecosystem
Two independent CAN 2.0B interfaces enable the UAVCAN/DroneCAN peripheral ecosystem: redundant GPS+compass (Here3/Here4), airspeed sensors, ESC telemetry nodes, and power modules — all on a single shared bus with hardware-level priority arbitration.
SDIO Interface — High-Speed Blackbox Logging
The native SDIO 4-bit interface connects directly to a microSD card slot without SPI bit-banging, enabling high-bandwidth blackbox logging at sensor-native rates — critical for post-flight PID tuning, vibration analysis via FFT, and incident forensics.
3× 12-bit ADC + 2× DAC — Analog Sensor & Actuator Pipeline
Three simultaneous-sampling 12-bit ADCs read battery voltage/current, analog RSSI, differential pressure airspeed sensors, and ultrasonic/sonar altimeters. Two 12-bit DACs provide analog control outputs for gimbal stabilization and OSD overlay circuits.
Advanced Timers — Multi-Rotor to Fixed-Wing PWM
Two 32-bit and twelve 16-bit timers with complementary outputs and programmable dead-time drive up to 8+ independent PWM channels for multirotor motors and fixed-wing servos. Supports Oneshot125, Oneshot42, Multishot, and DShot150/300/600 via hardware timer DMA bursts.
Target Applications
Pixhawk 1 & 2.4.x Drone Autopilots
The STM32F405VGT7 in an equivalent LQFP-100 package serves as the core flight management unit (FMU) processor for Pixhawk-class open-source autopilots. It runs PX4 and ArduPilot firmware on multirotor, fixed-wing, helicopter, and rover platforms — from consumer FPV drones to professional aerial surveying UAVs.
PX4 FMUv2/FMUv3 Hardware Designs
As a member of the F405 family, the STM32F405VGT7 is validated against the PX4 FMUv2 and FMUv3 hardware reference designs with NuttX RTOS. All PX4 drivers for IMU, barometer, magnetometer, GPS, and RC input are tested on this silicon, making it the lowest-risk choice for new open-source autopilot PCB designs.
Matek / Omnibus / Kakute Flight Controllers
Popular miniaturized F4 flight controller boards including Matek F405 series, Omnibus F4 Pro, Kakute F4 AIO, and Diatone Mamba F405 use this chip. They run Betaflight, iNav, and ArduPilot across platforms from 3″ micro quads to 2-meter fixed-wing mapping aircraft.
Professional Aerial Surveying & Inspection UAVs
For photogrammetry, LiDAR mapping, and thermal inspection, the F405's deterministic real-time performance ensures precise camera triggering, waypoint tracking, and geotagging synchronization — essential for generating orthomosaic maps and 3D point clouds.
Robotics & AGV Autopilots
ArduPilot Rover on F405-based boards provides autonomous navigation for agricultural robots, warehouse AGVs, and outdoor exploration platforms with encoder inputs, CAN motor controllers (ODrive, VESC), and ultrasonic sensors — all within a single-chip solution.
F405 Series Variant Comparison
| Feature | STM32F405RGT6 | STM32F405VGT6 | STM32F405ZGT6 | STM32F405VGT7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | LQFP-64 | LQFP-100 | LQFP-144 | LQFP-100 |
| Pin Count | 64 | 100 | 144 | 100 |
| Flash | 1 MB | 1 MB | 1 MB | 1 MB |
| SRAM | 192 KB | 192 KB | 192 KB | 192 KB |
| GPIO | 51 | 82 | 114 | 82 |
| Temperature | −40°C to +85°C | −40°C to +85°C | −40°C to +85°C | −40°C to +105°C |
| Ethernet | No | No | No | No |
| FPU | Yes (Cortex-M4F) | Yes (Cortex-M4F) | Yes (Cortex-M4F) | Yes (Cortex-M4F) |
| Best For | Compact Pixhawk 1 | Pixhawk 2.4.x full I/O | Max GPIO Pixhawk | High-temp industrial UAV |
STM32F405VGT7 vs Competing Drone Autopilot MCUs
| Feature | STM32F405VGT7 (ST) | STM32F427VGT6 (ST) | STM32H743VIT6 (ST) | ATSAM3X8E (Microchip) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4F @ 168 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4F @ 180 MHz | ARM Cortex-M7F @ 480 MHz | ARM Cortex-M3 @ 84 MHz |
| Flash / SRAM | 1 MB / 192 KB (128 KB + 64 KB CCM) | 1 MB / 256 KB | 2 MB / 1 MB | 512 KB / 100 KB |
| FPU | Yes (SP) | Yes (SP) | Yes (DP+SP) | No |
| CAN Bus | 2× CAN 2.0B | 2× CAN 2.0B | 2× CAN-FD | 1× CAN |
| Pixhawk Target | FMUv2/FMUv3 | FMUv3/FMUv4 | FMUv5/FMUv6X | — |
| Availability | Excellent | Good | Good | Limited (NRND) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What Pixhawk hardware uses this chip?
The STM32F405VGT7 in a LQFP-100 package is used in Pixhawk-class autopilots. F405 silicon powers the Pixhawk 1, Pixhawk 2.4.x, and numerous third-party designs. The R-package (64-pin) is the original Pixhawk 1 MCU; V-package (100-pin) is used on full-featured 2.4.x boards; Z-package (144-pin) provides maximum GPIO for complex UAVs.
Can the STM32F405 run ArduPilot 4.5+ with EKF3?
Yes. The F405 with 1 MB Flash and 192 KB SRAM fully supports ArduPilot 4.5+ running EKF3. The hardware FPU handles 24-state EKF covariance propagation in single-precision float at full sensor rate. A typical Copter build uses 700–850 KB Flash and 110–140 KB SRAM.
What is CCM RAM and why does it matter for drone autopilots?
The 64 KB Core-Coupled Memory (CCM) is zero-wait-state SRAM tightly coupled to the Cortex-M4F core. In PX4/ArduPilot, the real-time flight control loop (sensor read → EKF → PID → mixer → PWM) is placed in CCM to guarantee deterministic timing regardless of DMA/telemetry/SDIO activity. This is critical for maintaining stable 400–800 Hz loop rates.
Is the STM32F405 still in active production (2026)?
Yes. The STM32F405 remains in full active production and is not NRND. It is a cornerstone of ST's high-performance MCU portfolio with sustained demand from drone, motor control, and medical device sectors. Q3 2026 lead times: 8–12 weeks.
What's the difference between F405 and F407?
The F407 adds an Ethernet 10/100 MAC and a DCMI camera interface. For pure drone autopilot use (where Ethernet and cameras are rarely needed on the FMU), the F405 is functionally equivalent and typically more available and cost-effective. Choose the F407 if your design needs IP-connected ground control or parallel camera input.
Ordering Information
| Orderable Part Number | Package | Packaging | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| STM32F405VGT7 | LQFP-100 (14×14 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) | Tray | −40°C to +105°C |
| STM32F405VGT7TR | LQFP-100 (14×14 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) | Tape & Reel | −40°C to +105°C |
Design Resources
Datasheet (DS8626): STM32F405xx/STM32F407xx — Complete datasheet with pin definitions, electrical characteristics, and mechanical drawings.
Reference Manual (RM0090): STM32F405/415, STM32F407/417, STM32F427/437 — Full register-level documentation for all peripherals.
Pixhawk FMUv2 Hardware: PX4 FMUv2 reference design schematics and BOM — the original open-source Pixhawk specification.
ArduPilot F4 Build Guide: Build instructions and bootloader flashing for ArduPilot on STM32F405-based flight controllers.
STM32CubeIDE / STM32CubeMX: Free ST development tools with graphical pinout/clock configuration and GCC toolchain.
Request a Quote
SUPERB Automation supplies genuine STMicroelectronics STM32F405VGT7 MCUs with full traceability and batch-level QA documentation. Whether you need a single tray for prototype drone autopilot builds or pallet-level volumes for Pixhawk-class production, we source through verified channels with competitive lead times. Contact us with your target quantity, delivery date, and any special packaging or marking requirements — we'll respond with a detailed quotation within 24 hours.