You're reading from Drone Development from Concept to Flight

Product type Book

Published in Apr 2024

Publisher Packt

ISBN-13 9781837633005

Pages 316 pages

Edition 1st Edition

Languages

Concepts

Robotics

Author (1):

Sumit Sharma

Table of Contents (19) Chapters

Preface

Part 1: Fundamentals of Flight Engineering

Chapter 1: Getting Started with UAV and Drone Engineering

Chapter 2: Understanding Flight Terminologies and the Physics of Motion

Chapter 3: Learning and Applying Basic Command and Control Interfaces

Chapter 4: Knowing UAV Systems, Sub-Systems, and Components

Part 2: System Conceptualization and Avionics Development

Chapter 5: The Application of Sensors and IMUs in Drones

Chapter 6: Introduction to Drone Firmware and Flight Stacks

Chapter 7: Introduction to Ground Control Station Software

Chapter 8: Understanding Flight Modes and Mission Planning

Part 3: Configuration, Calibrations, Flying, and Log Analysis

Chapter 9: Drone Assembly, Configuration, and Tuning

Chapter 10: Flight Log Analysis and PIDs

Chapter 11: Application-Based Drone Development

Chapter 12: Developing a Custom Survey Drone

References

Index

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Drone Assembly, Configuration, and Tuning

In this chapter, we’ll cover multiple aspects of a drone in terms of its hardware. Previously, we studied the theory behind how a drone hovers and moves in the air. We also studied the different components that are required when assembling a drone and the software that is required to fly and configure one. In this chapter, we’ll dive into the fundamental aspects of drone assembly and configuration, offering insights into the intricate components that make up a drone, the tools required for building one, and the software and firmware adjustments necessary to optimize its performance. From selecting the right frame, motors, and flight controllers to calibrating sensors and setting up remote controls, this guide will provide you with the knowledge and guidance needed to embark on your drone-building journey before its maiden flight.

This chapter will help us to understand the end-to-end process of assembling a drone and making...

Technical requirements

Building and flying a drone requires a combination of technical skills and software knowledge. We studied these skills and components in the previous chapters and they will help you here. Let’s take a closer look:

Technical understanding of components:

Knowledge of drone components: You need to understand the various components of a drone, including its frame, motors, electronic speed controllers (ESCs), flight controller, battery, and sensors
Understanding of power systems: You need to be familiar with Lithium-Polymer (LiPo) batteries, including their voltage and capacity, and how to calculate power requirements for your drone
Understanding of propellers: You need to know how to choose the right propellers based on your motor specifications and intended use

Electronics and wiring skills:

Soldering: You must be proficient in soldering to connect wires, components, and connectors securely
Circuit understanding: You...

Components and tools required to build a drone

To begin the process of assembling a drone, we must focus on gathering the essential components we will need. These include the drone’s frame, motors, ESCs, propellers, flight controller, battery, and transmitter/receiver. Before we dive into the intricate assembly steps, having these components at hand is the crucial first step. So, let’s have a look at the complete list of the materials that are required for assembling the drone.

In this section, we will study the different tools and components that are required to assemble a drone. We will only focus on how to assemble the different components as we have already studied the various sensors, physics, and dynamics of the drone.

The complete list of build materials and tools, along with the bill of materials (BOM) of the drone, are provided in the following tables:

Tools:

Assembling the components of a drone

In this section, we will learn how to assemble the various components of the drone. To do this, we will mount them all with fasteners.

There is always an assembly manual that’s given by the manufacturer to assemble the drone’s frame. Let’s look at assembling the frame of the famous Quadcopter Tarot X4:

Figure 9.1: Tarot airframe

Airframe assembly

Assembling the frame of a drone is a crucial step in building an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Proper assembly ensures structural integrity and stability during flight. Considering the aforementioned Tarot X4 airframe, this section will provide a precautionary guide you can follow while assembling the airframe to verify its correctness.

Assembling the drone’s frame

Considering the famous beginner DIY build for the Tarot X4, we will start by assembling the critical components as per the manufacturer’s assembly guide. The guide...

Setting up and configuring avionics

The avionics configuration of a drone refers to the suite of electronic systems and components that are responsible for its navigation, control, and communication. This critical aspect of drone design typically includes GPS receivers for accurate positioning, flight controllers for stabilization and control, telemetry systems for data transmission, sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes for flight data acquisition, and often advanced features such as obstacle avoidance sensors and cameras for autonomous navigation and data capture. Avionics play a vital role in ensuring safe and precise flight operations, making them an integral part of modern drone technology.

Firmware flashing

Flashing firmware to a flight controller using Aero Ground Control Station (AeroGCS) for a quadcopter is a crucial process to ensure that your flight controller has the latest software and features. Here’s a general guide on how to flash firmware using...

Understanding calibration and failsafes

Sensor calibrations are required and are a crucial step in pre-flight preparation. This enables the various sensors, such as the IMU, barometer, and magnetometer, to fetch the initial values for the heading, height, and other data points that are crucial for flight.

Calibrating sensors

Calibrating various sensors and components in a drone is essential to ensure accurate and stable flight performance. The specific calibrations required may vary based on your drone’s hardware and flight controller, but here are some common calibrations and how to perform them using AeroGCS:

Accelerometer calibration:

Purpose: To ensure the accurate measurement of acceleration, which is essential for stabilization and attitude control.

How to do it:

Connect your drone to AeroGCS.
Navigate to the accelerometer calibration menu in AeroGCS.
Follow the onscreen instructions, which typically involve placing the drone at various orientations...

Setting up a maiden flight

With everything set up, we can start setting up the drone’s maiden flight. Note that you must be extra careful during the first flight and observe the drone’s behavior. Make sure you follow the safety guidelines for yourself and the people around you. It’s always recommended to do the maiden flight in an open area so that fewer people are around. Make sure that the drone is away from potential buildings, structures, and populations. The safety of the public is important and we should be responsible pilots.

Setting up flight modes, a return-to-land (RTL) switch, and joystick controls on your transmitter for flying a drone requires proper transmitter configuration. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up these functions:

Identify the transmitter controls: Familiarize yourself with the control switches and channels on your transmitter. Typically, you’ll have switches, buttons, and control sticks (joysticks)...

Summary

In this chapter, you learned about drone assembly and gained some practical experience in doing this so that you have a deeper understanding of drone technology. You gained hands-on insights into the intricate components and systems that make UAVs function effectively. This knowledge can be invaluable for drone enthusiasts, hobbyists, and professionals alike. Apart from the educational aspect, mastering drone assembly enables users to develop their UAVs to specific needs and preferences, potentially leading to enhanced performance and versatility.

In the next chapter, we’ll consider another aspect of drone assembly and how it can be more tailor-made.

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Published in: Apr 2024 Publisher: Packt ISBN-13: 9781837633005

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Authors (1)

Sumit Sharma

Sumit Sharma has rich experience in Unmanned systems with specialization in Drones architecture development and testing for different applications. He is experienced in Drone Mechanics, Avionics, Design and manufacturing. In his early career, he was involved in the development and testing of the first approved agriculture drone and later getting it approved by the DGCA. Along with this, he has contributed to the development of a Survey drone for Aerial Surveys. He was also involved in the development of high speed and long range surveillance drones for defence tenders. Sumit has been involved in early agriculture spraying pilot projects and was a part of Aerial Spraying on the Locust which hit Rajasthan in 2020.

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