We’re thrilled to announce that BayLibre has open-sourced Copilot!
Don’t worry, this Copilot has nothing to do with Microsoft or AI; it won’t write your code, but it will take care of your Device Under Test (DUT)’s power, serial communication, and GPIOs like a champ.
Originally developed internally at BayLibre, it simplifies embedded system testing and development. By making it publicly available, we hope to empower the embedded community and foster collaboration around practical hardware-software tools.
What is Copilot
Copilot is an open-hardware solution that lets you control a DUT through a single USB connection. It combines power management, serial communication, and GPIO control in one compact board, reducing setup complexity and enabling more efficient development and testing workflows.
Key Features
Single USB Port Management
Control DUT power on/off and serial communication via one USB connection, eliminating extra cables and simplifying test setups.
GPIO Control
Access configurable GPIO pins for signaling, triggering, or controlling other hardware. Automate tests, control LEDs or switches, and integrate Copilot into custom hardware workflows.
Ready-to-Use
No additional software required ; drivers and utilities are provided as part of all standard Linux distributions.
Open Source USB Expansion Board
Need more USB ports? No worries, we have also developed and released an open source USB expansion board!
Use Cases
- Embedded system automation, testing and debugging
- Power sequencing for prototypes
- Serial communication with DUTs
- GPIO-driven automation for hardware testing
Why Open-Source
At BayLibre, we believe in open collaboration and shared innovation. By releasing Copilot under the MIT license, developers can:
- Contribute improvements – bug fixes, new features, or hardware extensions.
- Customize for specific workflows – adapt Copilot to your embedded projects.
- Share knowledge – learn from community enhancements and best practices.
Getting Started
You can access Copilot on GitHub: https://github.com/BayLibre/Copilot. The repository includes:
- Complete installation and usage documentation
- Hardware schematics and software examples
- Contribution guidelines
We welcome feedback, contributions, and questions from the community. Let’s make embedded development smoother, more reliable, and more fun together.