# BostromLabs / AeroTune Credits and Technical References

AeroTune is an independent BostromLabs / BostromDev project created by Christopher Bostrom. The project code, UI, scoring structure, tune-change workflow, parser wiring, and conservative recommendation format are BostromLabs implementation work unless a file states otherwise.

This page exists so the project is honest about the outside tools and tuning references that make the workflow possible.

## Core project credit

- **BostromLabs / AeroTune** — created and maintained by Christopher Bostrom / BostromDev.
- **AeroTune role** — upload FPV Blackbox logs, prepare CSV data, inspect parser/converter reports, and generate conservative percentage-based tuning deltas.
- **Important limit** — AeroTune does not claim to be Betaflight, Blackbox Explorer, or a replacement for pilot judgment. It is a tuning assistant that interprets log evidence conservatively.

## Raw Blackbox conversion credit

AeroTune raw `.BBL`, `.BFL`, and `.TXT` support depends on the external Betaflight **blackbox-tools** project when that tool is installed or built on the host machine.

- Project: Betaflight `blackbox-tools`
- Tool used: `blackbox_decode`
- Repository: https://github.com/betaflight/blackbox-tools
- License shown by upstream project: GPL-3.0
- Upstream credit shown by the decoder/help text: Nicholas Sherlock / Betaflight Blackbox flight log decoder

AeroTune does **not** rewrite or replace `blackbox_decode`. The app calls the external executable, receives the decoded CSV output, then applies AeroTune parser and tuning-analysis logic to that CSV.

For Render deployment, use this build command so the external tool is downloaded and compiled during deploy:

```bash
bash scripts/render_build.sh
```

For local macOS/Linux setup, use:

```bash
bash scripts/install_blackbox_decode.sh
```

CSV uploads do not need `blackbox_decode`.

## Betaflight and Blackbox references

AeroTune tuning guidance is informed by official Betaflight documentation and Blackbox tooling behavior, especially:

- Betaflight PID Tuning Guide: https://betaflight.com/docs/wiki/guides/current/PID-Tuning-Guide
- Betaflight Blackbox logging and usage: https://betaflight.com/docs/wiki/guides/current/Black-Box-logging-and-usage
- Betaflight Blackbox Explorer: https://blackbox.betaflight.com/
- Betaflight Blackbox Explorer source: https://github.com/betaflight/blackbox-log-viewer

Examples of high-level tuning ideas that are informed by those references:

- Bounceback/overshoot can indicate damping problems and may call for D-term changes on the affected axis.
- Attitude movement under load can indicate I-term or anti-gravity-related issues.
- Propwash and disturbed-air recovery should not be treated the same as clean stick-tracking delay.
- High-throttle-only oscillation should be handled carefully and may be a throttle-specific/filter/TPA-style problem rather than a simple global PID increase.
- Motor heat, rough sound, high-frequency noise, and mechanical vibration should stop aggressive D-term increases until the physical/filtering issue is understood.

AeroTune converts those ideas into conservative percentage deltas and safety warnings. It intentionally avoids pretending to know perfect final PID numbers from one log.

## Community tuning knowledge

Some practical tuning concepts are also consistent with common FPV community education and field practice: compare before/after flights, use clean repeatable test flights, do not tune around damaged hardware, treat motor heat seriously, and keep changes small enough to test safely.

Where community knowledge overlaps with official Betaflight docs, AeroTune favors the official documentation and its own conservative safety caps.

## Software libraries used by the app

The Python backend uses common open-source libraries listed in `requirements.txt`, including FastAPI, Uvicorn, NumPy, Pandas, and python-multipart. Those projects are separate open-source dependencies and are not owned by BostromLabs.

## Non-affiliation notice

BostromLabs / AeroTune is independent. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Betaflight, Blackbox Explorer, Nicholas Sherlock, or any third-party library/project referenced here.

## Licensing note

AeroTune source, UI, analyzer logic, docs, and BostromLabs branding remain governed by this repository's `LICENSE` and `NOTICE` files. External tools and libraries remain governed by their own licenses.