Week 2: The basic flight controls

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 1

Week 2: The basic flight controls

Lesson goals

• At the end of the lesson, you will understand the basic flight controls for drones or UAVs and be familiar with the main principles of drone flight.
• Learn the different types of controllers
• Text structure - sequence
• Learn about the present continuous and conjunctions
• Rehearse the present simple

Exercise 2 - Answers

Present simple form

Present simple usage

Present simple form

Fill in the gap:
The sun _____ in the east.

1. rising
2. rises
3. rose
4. rise

Fill in the gap: We usually _____ our homework in the evening.

1. do
2. did
3. done
4. doing

Fill in the gap: He _____ a lot of books.

1. reading
2. read
3. to read
4. reads

Fill in the gap: They _____ football every weekend.

1. played
2. play
3. plays
4. playing

Fill in the gap: She _____ to school every day.

1. goes
2. went
3. go
4. going

The basic drone flight controls

The flight controller is the brain of the drone or UAV (Quadcopter). This is a small computer board with various sensors which understand the movement of the craft.

It consists of the following components:

1. the transmitter, 
2. receiver, 
3. flight controller,  
4. motors
5. gyroscope
6. Accelerometer, 
7. Barometer 
8. Magnetometer

Transmitter

The transmitter is the handheld device used by the drone pilot to control the drone's flight. It sends signals to the receiver.

Receiver

The receiver is a device installed in the drone that receives signals from the transmitter and sends them to the flight controller.

Flight Controller

The flight controller is the brain of the drone. It processes the signals from the receiver and sends commands to the motors.

Gyroscope, barometer, accelerometer and magnetometer

Gyroscope:

Function: Gyroscopes are sensors that measure the rate of rotation or angular velocity of the drone around its various axes (roll, pitch, and yaw).

Purpose: Gyroscopes help maintain the drone's stability and orientation. They provide crucial data to the flight controller to make real-time adjustments, ensuring that the drone remains level and under control during flight.

Magnetometer:

Function: Magnetometers, also known as compass sensors, detect the Earth's magnetic field and measure the drone's orientation with respect to the Earth's magnetic poles.

Purpose: Magnetometers aid in determining the drone's heading or direction. They help the drone maintain its course and prevent unwanted changes in orientation, especially when GPS signals may be weak or unavailable.

gyroscope, barometer, accelerometer and magnetometer

Accelerometer:

Function: Accelerometers measure the acceleration or change in velocity of the drone along its three axes (X, Y, and Z).

Purpose: Accelerometers provide information about the drone's linear motion. They help the flight controller adjust motor speeds to maintain a stable hover, prevent excessive acceleration, and enable features like altitude hold and stabilization.

Barometer:

Function: Barometers measure atmospheric pressure changes as the drone ascends or descends in altitude.

Purpose: Barometers are crucial for altitude control. They enable the drone to maintain a specific altitude above ground level (AGL) by comparing the atmospheric pressure at its current altitude with a reference pressure (usually at ground level). This is vital for functions like GPS altitude hold and accurate altitude measurements during flight.

How many types of drone flight controls exist?

1. 12
2. 6
3. 2
4. 13

The basic drone flight controls

1. Basic Flight Controllers: Starting with the fundamentals, basic flight controllers are often found in entry-level or toy-grade drones. They offer essential stability and control features, enabling beginners to familiarize themselves with drone flight.
   
2. Integrated Flight Controllers: More advanced drones come equipped with integrated flight controllers, which combine the flight control unit with other essential components, such as the ESCs (Electronic Speed Controllers) and gyroscope. These controllers provide improved flight performance and stability.
   
3. Autonomous Flight Controllers: Autonomous flight controllers take drone operations to the next level. They incorporate advanced features like GPS navigation, waypoint planning, and autonomous flight modes. These controllers enable drones to perform automated tasks, such as mapping, surveying, or capturing cinematic shots.

The basic drone flight controls

1. Racing Flight Controllers: Designed specifically for drone racing enthusiasts, racing flight controllers prioritize speed and agility. They offer low-latency communication, high update rates, and customization options for optimal performance during competitive races.
2. Fixed-Wing Flight Controllers: While most drones are multirotors, fixed-wing drones have their own unique flight controllers. These controllers are tailored to the flight characteristics of fixed-wing aircraft, enabling long-range flights, efficient cruising, and stable gliding.
3. Open-Source Flight Controllers: Open-source flight controllers have gained significant popularity among the drone community. Examples include the ArduPilot and Betaflight platforms, which offer flexibility, customization, and community-driven development for enthusiasts and developers to contribute and enhance the flight control systems.

Which flight controllers offer flexibility and customization?

1. Autonomous Flight Controllers
2. Integrated Flight Controllers
3. Basic Flight Controllers
4. Open-Source Flight Controllers

What are racing flight controllers designed for?

1. Beginners to familiarize themselves with drone flight
2. Drone racing enthusiasts
3. Advanced drone operations with GPS navigation
4. Long-range flights, efficient cruising, and stable gliding

What do autonomous flight controllers enable drones to do?

1. Prioritize speed and agility for racing drones
2. Improve flight performance and stability
3. Perform automated tasks like mapping or surveying
4. Familiarize beginners with drone flight

Which type of flight controllers provide improved flight performance and stability?

1. Autonomous Flight Controllers
2. Integrated Flight Controllers
3. Basic Flight Controllers
4. Racing Flight Controllers

What are basic flight controllers used for?

1. Combine flight control unit with other components
2. Incorporate advanced features like GPS navigation
3. Enable long-range flights and stable gliding
4. Offer stability and control features for beginners

Interactive Activity: Lift, Thrust, and Control

In groups, discuss and explain the concepts of lift, thrust, and control in drone flight. Present your findings to the class.

What is the concept of control in drone flight?

1. The color of a drone
2. The ability to maneuver a drone
3. The size of a drone
4. The distance a drone can fly

What is the concept of thrust in drone flight?

1. The altitude at which a drone flies
2. The weight of a drone
3. The force that propels a drone forward
4. The stability of a drone

What is the concept of lift in drone flight?

1. The control mechanism of a drone
2. The power source of a drone
3. The speed at which a drone moves
4. The force that allows a drone to rise

Each group share your findings

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.