Flight Log Analysis and PIDs

In the previous chapter, we studied setting up a drone from end to end, configuring it, and flying it. This process can be quite tricky initially and require further research and practice, but once we are used to it, it can be a fun everyday activity. In this chapter, we will study the analysis of the performance of sensors and actuators of drones during a flight, along with Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) gains, and make the required changes for a better, smoother flight. Analyzing flight logs and understanding PID controllers are critical skills for beginners in the world of drone flight. After your first drone flight, log analysis and PID tuning become essential tools for improving your piloting skills and enhancing your drone’s performance. PID controllers are at the core of flight control systems (FCSs), responsible for maintaining the drone’s stability and responsiveness. Understanding PID principles and how to fine-tune these...

Technical requirements

Log analysis tools are different for flight controllers using open source firmware. It typically involves common software and hardware tools, regardless of the specific firmware. The skills required for log analysis are also similar across various open source flight control platforms. Here’s an overview of the requirements:

• Log analysis software: Many open source firmware solutions provide log analysis tools as part of their ecosystem, such as the following:
  • PX4: Flight Review (https://review.px4.io/), pyulog (https://github.com/PX4/pyulog).
  • ArduPilot: Mission Planner, APM Planner 2.0, MAVProxy, MAVExplorer, and others.
  • GCS: GCS software, such as Mission Planner, QGroundControl (QGC), APM Planner, or AeroGCS, is necessary to download, view, and analyze flight logs.
• Graphing and data analysis software: Additional tools for in-depth data analysis, visualization, and graphing can be beneficial. Tools such as Microsoft Excel, MATLAB, or Python with...

Introduction to flight logs and their applications

Drone flight logs are digital records that capture maximum information about a drone’s flights. They contain every detail, such as flight duration, GPS coordinates, altitude, battery status, and sensor readings. These logs are important as they provide a detailed history of a drone’s activities and help engineers diagnose issues, optimize flight parameters, and ensure safe operations. Being drone engineers, we can use these logs for data analysis, performance assessment, and predictive maintenance, which all contribute to enhanced drone reliability and efficiency. In essence, drone flight logs are indispensable tools for understanding, improving, and maintaining drone systems.

Drone logs are essential in solving and analyzing multiple factors that impact the performance of the drone and the performance of the system avionics assisting the drone to fly. Some common issues that can be identified through the analysis...

Working with GCS software on logs and their graphs

Flight logs are generated during the flight and stored in the internal storage and memory cards of the drone. In the following section, we will explore how to upload logs to a specific tool and access them using the QGC software and Flight Review.

Steps to download logs from the flight controller using QGC as the GCS

The latest build of QGC can be downloaded and installed from their official website. It’s open source GCS software useful for the setting up and configuration of drones for manual and mission flights. The QGC software is compatible with Linux, Windows, and Mac on a PC and is also compatible with iOS and Android devices. It supports flight stacks such as ArduPilot, PX4, or any other stack that communicates through MAVLink. The detailed steps to download and read the logs are as follows:

1. Connect your drone: Connect your drone to your computer using a USB cable or a telemetry module, ensuring it’...

Understanding PID controllers and their uses

PID control is a fundamental and widely used method in the world of drones, serving as the backbone of flight stabilization and control systems. Drones rely on PID controllers to maintain stable flight, precisely follow flight paths, and respond to pilot commands. This control algorithm dynamically adjusts the drone’s orientation and position by constantly measuring the error between the desired and actual states. In a nutshell, PIDs in drones play a pivotal role in ensuring smooth and controlled flight, making them an essential concept for both drone enthusiasts and professionals in the field.

PIDs are necessary for drones because they provide a mechanism for real-time adjustments to maintain stability, control orientation and position, respond to environmental factors, and ensure a smooth and safe flight. Here’s a detailed explanation of why PIDs are necessary for drones and their primary uses:

• Stabilization:

  Use...

Summary

So, in this chapter, we have learned a lot about the log analysis of drones, where they are stored, how they can be accessed, and how they can be interpreted. This is not just a one-day game; it requires an amount of experience and skills that will come over time to understand these log files’ graphs and derive a conclusion from them. We have also studied PIDs and their importance and role in the smooth flying of quadcopters. We have also seen different rate controllers, how to tune individual PID gains, and how they impact the performance of the flight. We have also gone through different kinds of graphs and logs and learned how to analyze them. By studying all this, we got to know the basics and started tuning, which will be helpful for us in further tuning and analysis and achieving a smooth flight.

In the next chapter, we will study how we can implant different payloads onto a drone and how can we configure them.