BayLibre open sources Copilot hardware to automate embedded software development workflows

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.