PX4 & Foxglove San Diego Meetup hosted by ModalAI
- Date
- 2026-04-30
- Location
- San Diego, CA, USA
- Host
- Dronecode Foundation
About this event
If you care about robotics, autonomy, drone software, or the tools that make complex systems easier to build and debug, this meetup is a strong reason to get in the room. The PX4 & Foxglove San Diego Meetup hosted by ModalAI brings together people who are actively working on flight stacks, visualization, autonomy workflows, and the practical realities of shipping real robotic systems. This is the kind of event where technical curiosity and community overlap in a useful way. You can expect thoughtful conversations, a chance to meet others working in similar spaces, and time to connect with people who understand the challenges of building reliable autonomous platforms in the real world. About the Event This meetup is centered on the PX4 and Foxglove communities, with ModalAI hosting in San Diego. That combination makes the event especially relevant for developers, robotics engineers, researchers, and operators who want to stay close to the tools and conversations shaping modern autonomous systems. PX4 is a major part of the open-source autonomy and drone ecosystem, while Foxglove is widely associated with making robotics data more understandable and actionable. Bringing those communities together creates a practical setting for discussing development workflows, testing, visualization, debugging, and how teams move from prototypes to dependable systems. Because this is a meetup rather than a formal conference, the format is likely to feel more accessible and conversational. You are not showing up for a packed day of polished keynotes and distance from the speakers; you are showing up to meet peers, exchange ideas, and have the kinds of discussions that often lead to better technical decisions, useful introductions, and future collaboration. Hosted locally in San Diego, the event also gives the regional robotics and drone community a focused place to gather in person. That matters if you want to build relationships beyond online forums, GitHub issues, and Slack threads. What to Expect Expect a mix of community connection, technical discussion, and informal networking. With tags like meetup, community, networking, social, and gathering, this event is positioned as a place to talk shop with people who share a serious interest in autonomy and robotics, while still keeping the atmosphere approachable. You can likely expect the event to include: Time to meet other attendees working with PX4, robotics software, drones, and related tools Conversations around development workflows, system visibility, and debugging in autonomous systems A chance to connect with people familiar with open-source ecosystems and real deployment constraints Informal discussion with community members, builders, and practitioners in the San Diego area Because the event is hosted by ModalAI, attendees should also expect the environment to be grounded in real-world robotics and autonomy work. That does not mean every conversation will be deeply specialized; it means the people in the room are likely to value practical insight, technical credibility, and lessons learned from actual systems. It is also reasonable to expect a social component rather than a rigid agenda-only experience. Some of the best parts of meetups like this happen between structured moments: quick introductions that turn into deeper conversations, a debugging story that sparks a new approach, or a casual exchange that helps you find the right collaborator, tool, or community contact. Why Attend If you are building or learning in robotics, autonomy, or drone software, in-person events can accelerate your progress in ways that online content cannot. You get context faster, you hear what people are actually struggling with, and you can ask follow-up questions in real time. This meetup is especially valuable if you want to understand how different parts of the robotics stack connect in practice. PX4 and Foxglove represent two important dimensions of that work: control and autonomy on one side, and system visibility and developer tooling on the other. Seeing those communities in one place can help you think more clearly about your own workflow. You should attend if you want to: Meet engineers, developers, and enthusiasts working on similar technical problems Learn how others approach testing, visualization, integration, and iteration Build stronger ties to the San Diego robotics and drone community Stay closer to open-source conversations that influence real systems Turn passive interest into active participation through in-person discussion There is also simple value in being around motivated people who care about the same domain. Whether you are deeply technical or still finding your place in the ecosystem, the event can help you sharpen your understanding of where the field is moving and where you might contribute. Practical Details This is an in-person event in San Diego, USA, so plan for face-to-face conversation rather than a remote or hybrid format. If you get more specific venue information from the organizer, it is worth reviewing it in advance so you can arrive smoothly and make the most of your time there. The meetup takes place on Thursday, April 30 at 1:00 PM PDT. Since it begins in the early afternoon, it is a good idea to plan your workday around it and leave room for conversations before, during, or after the core program. A few useful ways to prepare: Come ready to introduce what you work on or what you are hoping to learn If you use PX4, Foxglove, or related tools, think about the questions or challenges you would most like to discuss Be open to both technical and community-oriented conversation; both are part of the value here If networking matters to you, arrive on time so you can settle in and meet people early Above all, treat this as a high-signal local gathering for people interested in autonomy, robotics, and the software ecosystems around them. If that is your world, or the world you want to move into, this meetup is a smart place to spend your Thursday afternoon.
Who should attend
This is for you if you want to be around people actively building, debugging, researching, or exploring autonomy and robotics in a practical setting. - You work with **PX4**, drone software, flight control, autonomy stacks, or adjacent open-source robotics tools and want to meet others doing similar work. - You use or care about **robotics visualization, telemetry, debugging, or developer workflows** and want better insight into how teams make complex systems observable and manageable. - You are a **robotics engineer, software developer, researcher, student, or technical founder** looking to plug into the San Diego community in person. - You are building real systems and want conversations that go beyond theory, including integration challenges, testing realities, and lessons learned from actual deployments. - You are newer to the space but serious about learning, and you would benefit from meeting practitioners, asking questions, and hearing how the ecosystem fits together. - You value meetups that combine **technical substance with approachable networking**, where a useful introduction can be just as valuable as a formal session. If you want sharper perspective, stronger local connections, and more direct access to people in the PX4 and Foxglove orbit, you will likely feel at home here.