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MAVLink 2 ​

MAVLink 2 is a backward-compatible update to the MAVLink protocol that has been designed to bring more flexibility and security to MAVLink communication. MAVLink 2 bindings have been developed for C, C++11 and Python (see Supported Languages).

This topic provides links to the main new features in MAVLink 2 and how it is used.

Features ​

The key new features of MAVLink 2 are:

  • 24 bit message ID - Allows over 16 million unique message definitions in a dialect (MAVLink 1 was limited to 256)
  • Packet signing - Authenticate that messages were sent by trusted systems.
  • Message extensions - Add new fields to existing MAVLink message definitions without breaking binary compatibility for receivers that have not updated.
  • Empty-byte payload truncation - Empty (zero-filled) bytes at the end of the serialized payload must be removed before sending (All bytes were sent in MAVLink 1, regardless of content).
  • Compatibility Flags/Incompatibility Flags - Allow for backwards compatible evolution of the protocol by indicating frames that must be handled in a special/non-standard way (packets with compatibility flags can still be handled in the standard way, while packets with incompatibility flags must be dropped if the flage is not supported).

TIP

The MAVLink 2 design document provides additional background information about the changes.

Version Handshaking/Negotiation ​

MAVLink Versions explains the handshaking used to determine the supported MAVLink version of either end of the channel, and how to negotiate the version to use.

C Implementation ​

The MAVLink 2 C library is backwards compatible with MAVLink 1. Information on how to upgrade the library and work with MAVLink 1 is covered in Using C MAVLink Libraries (mavgen).