DRONE TECHNOLOGY BASICS
MASTER THE SKIES, UNLEASH YOUR DRONE'S POTENTIAL
PRESENTED BY- NITIN PARMAR
BASIC
UNDERSTANDING
OF DRONES
Drones,
also
known
as
unmanned
aerial
vehicles
(UAVs), are aircraft that are
operated without a human pilot
on board. They are controlled
remotely by a pilot on the ground
or can be programmed to fly
autonomously using pre-defined
routes and instructions.
COMPONENTS
REQUIRED
• Frame
• BLDC Motor
• Radio Transmitter and
Receiver
• Propellers
• GPS
• ESC (Electronic Speed
• Sensors
Controllers)
• Camera/Gimble
• Flight Controllers
• Onboard Computers
• Batteries
• LEDs
FRAME
The frame is the basic structure that holds all
the components together. It provides stability
and protection to the internal components.
TYPES
BLDC Motors
•
Drones typically have four or more motors,
each connected to a propeller. The motors
generate the necessary thrust to lift and
maneuver the drone.
•
Motors work by converting electrical energy
into mechanical energy. This mechanical
energy is then used to spin the propellers,
which create thrust that lifts the drone into
the air.
PROPELLERS
•
Propellers are attached to the motors and
generate the airflow needed for lift. They
come in different sizes and configurations
depending on the drone's design and
purpose.
•
Propellers are airfoils that create thrust
when they spin. The shape of the propeller
blades is designed to create a difference in
air pressure between the top and bottom of
the propeller. This difference in air
pressure creates a force that pushes the
propeller forward.
TYPES
Electronic Speed
Controller (ESC)
•
ESCs are responsible for controlling the
speed and direction of each motor. They
do this by sending pulses of electricity to
the motors, which causes them to spin at
the desired speed and they also receive
signals from the flight controller and adjust
the power sent to the motors accordingly.
TYPES
FLIGHT CONTROLLER
A flight controller is a small computer that
is responsible for controlling the flight of a
drone. It receives data from the drone's
sensors, such as the accelerometer,
gyroscope, and compass, and uses this
data to calculate the drone's current
position and orientation. The flight
controller then uses this information to
send commands to the drone's motors,
which cause the drone to move in the
desired direction.
TYPES
KK 2.1.5 Controller
The KK 2.1.5 controller is a
popular flight control board for
small to mid-sized drones. It
features a simple interface with an
LCD screen for easy setup and
tuning. With its built-in gyroscope
and accelerometer, it provides
stable flight performance and
supports various flight modes.
Naza M Lite Controller
The Naza-M Lite flight controller is a popular
choice for multirotor drones. Developed by
DJI, it provides precise and stable flight
control for aerial platforms. The Naza-M Lite
features
a
compact
design,
built-in
gyroscope, and accelerometer for accurate
positioning and attitude control. It supports
various flight modes, including GPS-assisted
navigation, manual control, and auto-leveling.
With its user-friendly interface and robust
performance, the Naza-M Lite is suitable for
both hobbyists and professional drone pilots.
•
PIXHAWK CONTROLLER
The Pixhawk flight controller is a widely used
and highly regarded open-source autopilot
system for UAVs and drones. It offers
advanced flight control capabilities and
extensive
customization
options.
The
Pixhawk is equipped with a powerful
processor, multiple sensors (such as
gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer,
and barometer), and interfaces for GPS,
telemetry, and other peripherals. It supports
various flight modes, waypoint navigation,
and mission planning.
BATTERY
Drones are powered by rechargeable
batteries, usually Lithium Polymer
(LiPo) batteries. The battery supplies
electrical energy to the motors, flight
controller,
and
other
electronic
components.
Ex- 3s, 4s, 6s
RADIO TRANSMITTER
The RF drone transmitter is the
handheld controller that wirelessly sends
control signals to the drone. It uses radio
waves on a specific frequency to
communicate with the drone's receiver,
enabling the pilot to maneuver the drone
and execute commands for flight control
and other functions.
RECEIVER
The Flysky FS-iA6B RF 2.4GHz 6CH
receiver features PPM output and an
iBus port. It operates on the 2.4GHz
frequency, allowing for reliable and
responsive communication between
the transmitter and receiver. It offers 6
channels and supports PPM output,
making it compatible with a variety of
drone systems and flight controllers.
The iBus port enables additional
functionality and integration with
compatible devices
GPS
Drone GPS is a technology that allows
drones to determine their precise location
and navigate using signals from satellites.
It enables accurate positioning, waypoint
navigation, Return-to-Home functionality,
and geofencing. Integrated into flight
controllers, GPS enhances drone stability
and
autonomy,
supporting
various
applications
with
reliable
outdoor
positioning.
Camera
•
A drone camera is the imaging device
that captures photos or records videos
during flight. It allows drones to
capture aerial imagery for various
applications,
providing
unique
perspectives and visual data. The
camera's capabilities, stabilization,
and remote control enhance the
drone's imaging capabilities and
functionality.
Gimble
A drone gimbal is a mechanical stabilizer that
holds and controls the camera mounted on a
drone. It helps to keep the camera steady and
level during flight, minimizing unwanted
vibrations and movements. Gimbals typically use
motors and sensors to counteract drone
movements, providing smooth and stabilized
footage or images. The gimbal's primary purpose
is to ensure that the camera remains stable,
allowing for high-quality aerial photography,
videography, and other imaging applications.
Onboard Computer
An onboard computer in drones is a specialized
system integrated into the aircraft. It processes
sensor data, performs flight control algorithms,
and enables autonomous capabilities. The
onboard
computer
also
manages
data
processing, payload control, communication with
ground stations, and facilitates customization and
development. It enhances drone performance,
enables advanced functionalities, and supports
complex tasks such as autonomous navigation
and real-time data analysis.
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR CONCERN
Types of
Drones
Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have revolutionized
various industries and continue to shape our future. From hobbyists to
professionals, drones offer diverse applications across various sectors. Let's
delve into the world of drones and explore the different types.
Multi rotor drones:
These are the most commonly used UAVs by professionals and hobbyists. They are widely used for aerial photography, aerial mapping,
and recreational sports. These types of UAVs are currently the cheapest option available on the market. They can be further classified
into different types based on the number of rotors on the UAV: tricopter (three rotors); quadrocopter (four rotors); hexacopter (six rotors);
and octocopter (eight rotors). Generally, the amount of the payload UAVs can carry increases with the number of rotors that the UAV has.
They have limited flight time and endurance compared to the other types of UAVs. The average flight time for multi-rotor UAVs ranges
from approximately 20–40 minutes.rones
Multi-Rotor
Drones
Qu&dcopter
Hex&copter
Octocopter
Payload Capacity: Typically up to 2-5 kg
Payload Capacity: Typically up to 5-10 kg
Payload Capacity: Typically up to 10-20
kg+
Fixed-Wing Drones:Resembling airplanes, these UAVs utilize aerodynamic lift for efficient, extended flight (1-2
hours).Payload capacity varies greatly depending on the specific model, ranging from a few kilograms for smaller models to
tens of kilograms for larger, more specialized aircraft.A disadvantage of these types of UAVs is that they usually need a lot
of space for takeoff and landing.
They are more complex to operate and expensive than multi-rotor drones, ideal for tasks like aerial mapping and
surveillance.
Hybrid
Drones
Description
Hybrid drones combine the features of multirotor and fixed-wing
drones. They typically have a fixed wing for long-distance flight
and multirotor propellers for maneuverability and vertical takeoff
and landing (VTOL) capabilities.
They h&ve & long flight time &nd c&n c&rry l&rger
p&ylo&ds.
Single Rotor
Drones
Description
Single rotor drones, sometimes called single-rotor helicopters,
use a single large rotor blade for lift and maneuverability. They
are known for their agility and ability to perform
complex aerial maneuvers.
He&vy p&ylo&ds, &gricultur&l spr&ying, m&pping.
Size
Length
Propeller diameter
Weight
Use
Very small drones
150mm (15cm, 6
51mm (2 inches) or
200 grams (0.2kg,
Military surveillance
inches) or less
less
0.44lbs) or less
Up to 300mm (12
76-152mm (3-6
200-1000 grams
Indoor
inches)
(0.44-2.2lbs)
equipment
Small drones
inches)
inspections
Recreation and
photography
Medium drones
300-1200mm (12 inches
– 4 feet)
150-640 mm (6-25
1-20kg (2.2-44
Professional
inches)
pounds)
applications
Amateur
photography
Large drones
120cm (4 feet) and up
64 cm (25 inches)
20kg (44 pounds)
Enemy
and up
and up
detection and
combat
capabilities
Civil
applications
such as drone
deliveries or
filmmaki
Color (Red, ≤reen, and Blue—R≤B3 Camera
Types
of Sensing
The RGB sensors
(color cameras) are commonly referred to as visual cameras. They are widely used in everyday devices such as cellphones,
Technologies
tablets, digital cameras, etc. These sensors measure the reflectance in red, green, and blue spectrum and provide the users with an image. When
UAVs equipped with sensors or cameras (RGB in this case) are flown over large areas, they collect thousands of images, which are then stitched
together using photogrammetry software to produce a map of the entire field. These maps can be used for several agricultural applications (e.g.,
to develop plant inventories, or to estimate plant leaf density and plant canopy volume)
Multispectral sensor
These sensors are an advanced version of RGB sensors. They provide data beyond what the human eye can see, which cannot be
captured by RGB sensors. They usually provide reflectance data from the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum in addition to the red, green, and
blue spectrums that are usually captured by the RGB sensors. These data can be used for the calculation of several vegetation indices
(VIs), including the most widely used VI, called normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). In agriculture, NDVI is measured on a
scale from 0 to 1, with 0 indicating a stressed plant and 1 indicating a healthy plant. NDVI is being widely used by researchers across the
world to identify plant stress, predict crop yield, etc. (Costa et al. 2020) (Ta
The Hyperspectral sensor are one of the most complex spectral sensing technologies in use for agricultural applications. Currently, it
is not as widely used as the other spectral sensors due to very high equipment cost, high payload capability requirement, and complex
operating procedures. Contrary to the RGB and multispectral sensors, hyperspectral sensors collect reflectance data in continuous
scans along a spectrum, usually ranging from 400–2400 nm. While multispectral sensors collect reflectance data over discrete broader
bands (e.g., 4–10 bands), hyperspectral sensors collect reflectance data from much narrower bands (e.g., 100–200 bands).
Unlike multispectral sensors with a few broad bands, hyperspectral sensors collect data from numerous narrow bands, providing
detailed spectral information useful for various applications.
Thermal Sensors measure the thermal energy emitted by an object at a wavelength corresponding to its surface temperature. They
can provide the users with the surface temperature of various objects (e.g., tree canopies) present in a field. Thermal cameras can
measure plant canopy temperature, which can be used to determine canopy water stress for precision irrigation applications . They
can also be used with machine learning to detect leaf wetness and fruit count on trees.
THANKYO
U