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Vì bạn đang tìm kiếm để có được các máy bay không người lái UAV. Loạt hướng dẫn này được thiết kế để giúp bạn hiểu được lĩnh vực đang nổi lên của UAV và hướng dẫn bạn qua quy trình tự xây dựng UAV sử dụng các phụ kiện có sẵn. Thuật ngữ và các định nghĩa sử dụng ở đây nhằm cung cấp cho bạn, người đọc một sự hiểu biết của mỗi thuật ngữ không phải là định nghĩa từ điển. Mặc dù một vài từ có thể có nhiều nghĩa, định nghĩa được sử dụng trong văn bản của UAVDrone
Cách thức chế tạo Máy bay không người lái (Drone/UAV) Bài 1: Thuật ngữ How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 1: Terminology Posted on October 29, 2014 by Coleman Benson & filed under How to Make a UAV / Drone How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 1: Terminology How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 2: The Platform How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 3: Propulsion How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 4: Choose a flight controller How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 5: Assembly How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 6: Get it all working together How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 7: FPV & Long-range Vì bạn tìm kiếm để có máy bay không người lái UAV Loạt hướng dẫn thiết kế để giúp bạn hiểu lĩnh vực lên UAV hướng dẫn bạn qua quy trình tự xây dựng UAV sử dụng phụ kiện có sẵn Thuật ngữ định nghĩa sử dụng nhằm cung cấp cho bạn, người đọc hiểu biết thuật ngữ định nghĩa từ điển Mặc dù vài từ có nhiều nghĩa, định nghĩa sử dụng văn UAV/Drone So you’re looking to get into drones and UAVs? This tutorial series is designed to help you understand the emerging field of UAVs and guide you through the process of building your own UAV using off-the shelf parts The terminology and definitions used here are intended to give you, the reader an understanding of each term rather than a dictionary definition Although many words may have multiple meanings, the definition is used in the context of UAVs / Drones Thuật ngữ / Terminology Các kiểu UAV / Types ARF "Hầu sẵn sàng để bay": UAV kèm lắp ráp với gần tất phần cần thiết để bay Các thành phần điều khiển tiếp nhận không bao gồm “Almost Ready to Fly“: a UAV which comes assembled with almost all parts necessary to fly Components like the controller and receiver may not be included “ Ghép nối bay”: UAV lắp ráp đầy đủ bao gồm nhận Bạn cần chọn truyền phát tương thích “ghép” với nhận/thu BNF DIY “Bind and Fly“: the UAV comes fully assembled and includes a receiver You only need to choose a compatible transmitter and “bind” it to the receiver “Tự làm”, sử dụng với nghĩa “làm theo ý khách hàng” Điều thường liên quan đến việc sử dụng phận từ nhiều nhà cung cấp khác tạo sửa đổi phận Drone “Do It Yourself“, which is now commonly used to mean “custom” This normally involves using parts from a variety of different suppliers and creating or modifying parts Từ đồng nghĩa với UAV Thuật ngữ “drone” dường sử dụng thông dụng quân đội, “UAV” sử dụng thông dụng cho sở thích sử dụng This is synonymous with UAV The term “drone” seems to be more common for military use whereas “UAV” is more common for hobby use Một UAV có sáu mô tơ / cánh quạt Hexacopter A UAV which has six motors / propellers Nghĩa máy bay có nhiều rô to Multirotor “Multirotor” simply means an aircraft with multiple rotors Một UAV có mô tơ / cánh quạt Octocopter A UAV which has eight motors / propellers Một UAV có mô tơ / cánh quạt cánh tay hỗ trợ Các cấu hình thông thường có dạng dấu “+” (phía trước UAV đối diện cánh tay) có khung dấu “X” (phía trước máy bay đối diện hai cánh tay) Quadcopter A UAV which has four motors / propellers and four support arms Configurations are normally “+” (the front of the UAV faces one of the arms) or “X” (the front of the aircraft faces between two arms) "Sẵn sàng để bay": UAV mà kèm việc lắp ráp hoàn chỉnh với tất phận cần thiết Đơn giản cần sạc pin bay! RTF “Ready To Fly“: a UAV which comes fully assembled with all necessary parts Simply charge the battery and fly! “Kích cỡ” thông thường đưa dạng mm (vd 450mm) đại diện cho điểm lớn khoảng cách điểm hai động UAV Kích thước xác định "loại" UAV (micro, mini vv) Size (mm) “Size” is normally provided in millimeters (ex 450mm) and represents the greatest point to point distance between two motors on a UAV Size can also determine the “class” of UAV (micro, mini etc) Một UAV kiểu “gián điệp” (thông thường bốn sáu) kiểu nơi cánh tay hỗ trợ không đối xứng hai trục nhìn từ phía Spyder Tricopter A “Spyder” type UAV (normally quad or hex) is one where the supporting arms are not symmetric in bot haxes when looked at from the top Một kiểu UAV mà có mô tơ / cánh quạt, thường sử dụng cánh tay hỗ trợ A UAV which has three motors / propellers, and usually three support arms “Phương tiện không không người lái” (của vài kiểu) UAV “Unmanned Aerial Vehicle” (of any kind) Một UAV có bốn cánh tay, phía sau hai cánh tay góc dạng chữ “V” V-Tail A UAV which has four arms, of which the rear two are at an angle to form a ‘V’ X4 hay X8 UAV cấu hình với cánh tay hỗ trợ; Cấu hình X4 có mô tơ cuối cánh, X8 có hai mô tơ cánh tay (một mặt trên, mặt lại phía dưới) X4 / X8 X4 and X8 are UAV configurations with four support arms; X4 configurations have one motor at the end of each arm, whereas X8 have two motors per arm (one facing up, the other facing down) Y3 Y6 cấu hình UAV với cánh tay hỗ trợ; Y3 cấu hình có mô tơ cuối cánh tay, Y6 có hai mô tơ cánh tay (một mặt trên, mặt lại phía dưới) Y3 / Y6 Y3 and Y6 are UAV configurations with three support arms; Y3 configurations have one motor at the end of each arm, whereas Y6 have two motors per arm (one facing up, the other facing down) Bốn cánh tay / Quadcopter Đuôi chữ V/V-Tail Khung cánh tay / Octocopter Frame Cơ học / Mechanics “Tâm trọng lực” điểm máy bay khối lượng cân phân phối tất mặt CG “Center of Gravity“; this is the point on the aircraft where there is equal weight distributed on all sides Một "ống kẹp" thiết bị thường sử dụng ống tròn để kết nối với thiết bị khác (chẳng hạn động gắn kết thân UAV) Clamp A “tube clamp” is a device normally used on a round tube in order to connect it to another device (such as a motor mount or a UAV’s body) Connectors Để cắm rút dây điện, kết nối sử dụng hai đầu dây Kết nối chung cho pin Deans & XT60, kết nối với điều khiển bay cảm biến khoảng cách 0,1 " In order to plug and unplug wires, connectors are used at the ends of wires Common connectors for batteries are Deans & XT60, while connectors for the flight controller and sensors are 0.1″ spaced Các phụ kiện cao su đúc sử dụng để giảm thiểu rung động truyền tới UAV Dampeners These are molded rubber parts used to minimize vibration transmitted throughout a UAV Khung giống “bộ xương” máy bay giữ tất phần phụ kiện với Các khung đơn giản có mô tơ kết nối tới cánh tay nhôm cánh ép đùn nhẹ khác sau kết nối đến tâm máy bay Frame The frame is like the “skeleton” of the aircraft and holds all of the parts together Simple frames have motors connected to aluminum or other lightweight extrusions (“arm”) which then connect to a central body Đây vật liệu thông thường sử dụng thay sợi bon để tạo khung UAV cứng nhẹ, tốn G10 Landing Gear This is a material commonly used instead of carbon fiber to make a UAV’s frame since it is very rigid and lightweight, but significantly less expensive Bộ bánh đáp nhiều rô to thông thường bánh bạn tìm thấy máy bay – để bảo vệ từ chuyển động mặt đất giảm khối lượng tổng thể Multirotor landing gear normally does not have wheels as you might find on an airplane – this is to prevent it from moving when on the ground and reduce overall weight “Đi ốt phát sáng” Các ốt sử dụng để tạo quan sát UAV, chủ yếu vào ban đêm điều kiện ánh sáng yếu LED Prop Guards Retract “Light Emitting Diode“ These are used to make the UAV visible, primarily at night or low lighting conditions “Bảo vệ cánh quạt” Là vật liệu bao quanh cánh quạt để ngăn chặn cánh quạt từ liên lạc với đối tượng khác Chúng thực tính an toàn cách để giảm thiểu thiệt hại cho UAV “Propeller guards” are material which curround a propeller to prevent the propeller from contacting other objects They are implemented as a safety feature and a way to minimize damage to the UAV "Có thể thu vào" thường dùng để hạ cánh có hai vị trí: để hạ cánh cất cánh, mặt khác, có tác dụng chiếm không gian để cải thiện tầm nhìn, suốt chuyến bay “Retractable” normally refers to landing gear which has two positions: one for landing and takeoff, and another, which takes up less room or improves visibility, during flight Lớp vỏ - Đây từ chuyên môn mỹ thuật / chức che sử dụng để nâng cao sức bền với yếu tố cải thiện khí động học Một số UAV sản xuất có lớp vỏ nhựa đóng vai trò "khung" Shell This is an aesthetic / functional cover used to improve resistance to the elements and sometimes improve aerodynamics Some production UAVs only have a plastic shell which also acts as the “frame” Bộ giảm rung động Càng đáp đất đơn giản Lớp vỏ UAV Anti-Vibration Dampener Simple Landing Gear UAV Shell Đẩy, động đẩy / Propulsion “Mạch xả pin” điều chỉnh điện áp xây dựng vào ESC cung cấp điện áp quy định 5V DC cho thiết bị điện tử mà cần BEC “Battery Eliminator Circuit“: a voltage regulator built into the ESC which can provide regulated 5V DC power to any electronics which need it Cánh quạt bề mặt khí động học tạo lực nâng Một cánh quạt thường có 2-4 lắp cố định gấp Blades Propeller blades are the aerodynamic surface which generates lift A propeller normally has two to four blades which can be fixed or folding CW chiều xoay theo kim đồng hồ CCW chiều xoay ngược chiều kim đồng hồ Trên máy bay đa rotor, bạn thường sử dụng cặp cánh quạt quay ngược luân phiên CW / CCW ESC CW indicates Clockwise rotation and CCW indicates CounterClockwise rotation On a multi-rotor aircraft, you would normally use pairs of counter-rotating propellers “Bộ điều khiển tốc độ điện tử” thiết bị kết nối tới pin, mô tơ điều khiển bay điều khiển tốc độ mô tơ quay “Electronic Speed Controller” is the device which connects to the battery, motor and flight controller and controls the speed at which the motor rotates “Polime Li thi um” loại pin thông dụng sử dugnj máy bay không người lái Drone UAV khối lượng nhẹ (so với dung lượng lưu trữ) tốc độ nạp dòng cao Có loại pin Lithium- thị trường (LiFe, LiMn, LiOn,…) LiPo “Lithium Polymer” is the most common battery used in drones and UAVs because of its light weight (versus storage capacity) and high current discharge rates There are other types of Lithium-based batteries available on the market as well (LiFe, LiMn, LiOn etc) Động sử dụng để xoay cánh quạt; UAV loại nhỏ, động “chổi quét” thường sử dụng nhiều nhất, đối UAV lớn hơn, động "không chổi than" phổ biến nhiều Motor The motor is what is used to rotate the propellers; in small UAVs, a brushed motor is most often used, whereas for larger UAVs, a “brushless” motor is much more common Một “ Bo mạch in” phần sợi thủy tinh phẳng với nhiều thành phần hàn vào Nhiều sản phẩm điện tử có PCB PCB A “Printed Circuit Board” is the flat fiberglass part with many components soldered to it Many electronic products have a PCB Để cấp điện cho nhiều thiết bị khác sử dụng UAV, pin phải phân chia, nơi mà phân phối điện (bảng cáp) đến Nó có điểm đấu âm dương pin cung cấp nhiều điểm đấu đầu cuối khác / kết nối mà thiết bị khác (hoạt động điện áp) nhận nguồn điện PowerDistribution Phân phối nguồn In order to power so many different devices used in a UAV, the battery must be split, which is where the Power Distribution (board or cable) comes into play It takes the single positive and negative terminals of the battery and provides many different terminals / connection points to which other devices (operating at the same voltage) can receive power Các cánh quạt cung cấp lực đẩy tương tự cánh sử dụng máy bay máy bay trực thăng Propeller The propellers are what provides the thrust and are more similar to those used in airplanes rather than on helicopters Một thiết bị dùng để kết nối cánh quạt với động Prop Adapter A device used to connect the propeller to the motor Một loại hub gắn động bạn thay chuyển đổi cánh quạt Trong kiện vụ tai nạn, phần trình bảo vệ cánh quạt bị nỗ lực để cứu cánh quạt Prop Saver A type of hub which mounts on top of your motor and replaces the prop adapter In he event of a crash, a part of the prop saver is lost in an attempt to save the propeller Một servo loại thiết bị truyền động cung cấp tín hiệu đúng, di chuyển đến vị trí góc cụ thể Servo A servo is a type of actuator which, provided the right signal, can move to a specific angular position "Lực đẩy" lực lượng mà động cánh quạt cụ thể cung cấp (ở điện định) Thường đo kg (Kg) Pao (Lbs) Thrust The “thrust” is the force which a specific motor and propeller can provide (at a certain voltage) Usually measured in kilograms (Kg) or pounds (Lbs) Cánh quạt chiều kim đồng hồ Bo mạch phân phối nguồn Pin LiPo / LiPo Battery / Ngược chiều KĐH Power Distribution Board CW / CCW Propellers Điều khiển / Control Base / ground / Control Station Thay (hoặc bổ sung cho) kiểm soát giữ phát, trạm (thường trường hợp gắn vào chân máy) sử dụng để nhà / tích hợp thành phần cần thiết sử dụng để kiểm soát UAV Điều bao gồm phát, ăng-ten (e), thu video, hình, pin, máy tính thiết bị khác Instead of (or in addition to) a hand held transmitter, a station (normally in a case or mounted to a tripod) is used to house / integrate the necessary components used to control a UAV This can include the transmitter, antenna(e), video receiver, monitor, battery, computer and other devices Thuật ngữ "ghép cặp" đề cập đến cấu hình truyền phát cầm tay để giao tiếp với máy thu; máy phát kèm với tiếp nhận, nên thực nhà máy Binding The term “binding” refers to configuring a handheld transmitter so it can communicate with a receiver; if a transmitter came with a receiver, it should have been done at the factory Số lượng kênh truyền phát liên quan đến số tín hiệu riêng biệt gửi Channel Flight Controller The number of channels on a transmitter relates to the number of separate signals it can send Các "bộ điều khiển bay" thứ coi "bộ não" UAV xử lý tất liệu xử lý, tính toán tín hiệu Cốt lõi điều khiển chuyến bay thường lập trình "vi điều khiển" Bộ điều khiển chuyến bay có nhiều cảm biến bo, có gia tốc, quay hồi chuyển, khí áp kế, la bàn, GPS, vv Nếu điều khiển chuyến bay có khả điều khiển máy bay riêng (ví dụ để di chuyển đến tọa độ GPS cụ thể), coi "máy bay tự động" The “Flight Controller” is what would be considered the “brain” of a UAV and handles all of the data processing, calculations and signals The core of a flight controller is often a programmable “microcontroller” The flight controller may have multiple sensors onboard, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, compass, GPS etc If the flight controller has the ability to control the aircraft on its own (for example to navigate to specific GPS coordinates), it may be considered to be an “autopilot” Điều thường dùng để "Bộ dây an toàn", mà dây dẫn kết nối thu để điều khiển máy bay (và thiết bị khác) Harness This usually refers to the “Wiring Harness” which are the wires that connect the receiver to the flight controller (and sometimes other devices) "Tần số cao"; "Tần số cao" "Tần số Siêu cao" sóng vô tuyến Đơn vị Hz (Hertz) HF/ UHF / VHF “High Frequency“; “Very High Frequency” and “Ultra High Frequency” radio waves Units are in Hz (Hertz) Đây xử lý thông tin không dây nhận Receiver Sketch / Code This is what processes the information received wirelessly Đây chương trình tải lên điều khiển bay UAV (tương tự "quá trình xử lý, suy nghĩ") Transmitter / Radio This is the program which is uploaded to your UAV’s flight controller (similar to a “thought process”) Những "bộ truyền" tạo tín hiệu điều khiển không dây tới máy thu The “transmitter” is what generates the control signal(s) wirelessly to the receiver Bộ truyền phát / Bộ điều khiển bay / Transmitter Flight Controller Trạm sở / Base Station Các cảm biến / Định hướng / Sensors / Orientation Một cảm biến gia tốc đo gia tốc tuyến tính đến ba trục Bộ phận thông thường ký tự ‘g’ trọng lực Một cảm biến gia tốc cung cấp cho máy bay không người lái định hướng với liên quan đến mặt đất Accelerometer An accelerometer measures linear acceleration in one to three axes Units are normally in ‘g’ or gravity An accelerometer can provide your drone’s orientation with respect to ground Ăng-ten thực nhận gửi tín hiệu đến từ UAV (các tín hiệu tạo phát) Chúng bao gồm loạt loại khác bao gồm hướng (mạnh hướng) đa hướng Antenna Barometer / Pressure / Altimeter Antennas are what actually receive or send a signal to and from a UAV (the signal itself having been generated by a transmitter unit) They come in a variety of different types and include directional (strongest in one direction) and omnidirectional Một khí áp kế sử dụng để đưa phản hồi độ cao UAV Nó đo áp lực, kể từ thay đổi áp suất theo độ cao, máy bay bạn "biết" độ cao A Barometer is used to give feedback as to the altitude of the UAV It measures pressure, and since pressure changes with altitude, your aircraft can “know” its height Một la bàn từ trường cung cấp cho hướng la bàn bạn (Bắc / Nam / Đông / Tây) Compass A magnetic compass can provide your compass heading (north / south / east / west) Một ghi bay ghi giá trị cảm biến từ UAV bạn Tính tích hợp vào điều khiển máy bay Flight Recorder A flight recorder records sensor values from your UAV This feature can sometimes be integrated into the flight controller "Hệ thống định vị toàn cầu": vệ tinh quay quanh hành tinh gửi tín hiệu chọn ăng-ten GPS gửi đến xử lý thiết bị nhận GPS để cung cấp tọa độ địa lý GPS “Global Positioning System“: satellites orbiting the planet send out signals which are picked up by the GPS antenna and are sent to be processed by the GPS receiver to provide geographic coordinates Một quay hồi chuyển đo gia tốc góc ba trục Các đơn vị thường độ giây bình phương Gyroscope A gyroscope measures angular acceleration in one ot three axes Units are normally degrees per second squared "Bộ phận đo Quán tính" kết hợp gia tốc kế quay hồi chuyển IMU “Inertial Measurement Unit” combines an accerleometer and a gyroscope Trong robot chi phí thấp, từ kế dùng để cung cấp hướng la bàn Magenetometer In low cost robotics, a magnetometer is sometimes used to provide compass direction Pitch góc mũi đến đuôi liên quan đến mặt đất, hay nói cách khác, quay máy bay trục từ cánh đến cánh Pitch Pitch is the angle of the nose to tail with respect to the ground, or in other words, the rotation of an aircraft about the axis from wing to wing Một linh kiện mà đo tốc độ không khí Pitot Tube Roll Yaw A device which measures air speed Xoay, Cuộn chuyển động quay máy bay dọc theo trục từ mũi đến đuôi Roll is the rotation of the aircraft along the axis from its nose to its tail Bay trệch chuyển động quay máy bay trục vuông góc (90 First Flight Regardless of any previous flight experience you might have, your first flight, especially with a custom multirotor, should try to be as “low key” as possible The objective of this first flight is to see that everything has been configured correctly and if there are any major issues Location: An open area, away from people and objects An empty soccer field, baseball field, running track etc are ideal There should be no wind at all Go through the pre-flight checklist Stand around feet away from the drone, with the front of the drone facing away from you Arm the motors Gently throttle up You’ll reach a point where the drone will look like it’s ready to take off There may be some ground effects which make the drone bounce a bit, but don’t worry Throttle up to get the drone just off the ground and get used to the controls – try to keep it within a certain radius and see how it reacts to your input Use small, incremental and smooth motions – nothing too sudden Throttle down to prevent crashing If your drone does not behave as expected (for example moving the pitch axis causes it to pitch but also roll left or right), something’s wrong, and you’ll need to investigate If the drone does behave as expected, your objective is to then hover around four to six feet off the ground in the same area Don’t get too wild too fast Football Field Baseball Field Additional Flights Now that you have worked out the glitches and are comfortable flying in a controlled environment, you can proceed with a second flight Since the drone is still not thoroughly tested, we suggest going over the full procedure for the first flight, which should be pretty quick Using smooth motions, become accustomed to the way the drone reacts to your inputs, keeping it at a safe distance Get used to piloting the UAV without the aid of FPV or too many sensors How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 7: FPV & Long-range Posted on March 23, 2016 by Coleman Benson & filed under How to Make a UAV / Drone How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 1: Terminology How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 2: The Frame How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 3: Propulsion How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 4: Flight Controller How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 5: Assembly How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 6: Get it all working together How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 7: FPV & Long-range Lessons to of this tutorial series involved the design considerations behind building a custom multirotor UAV / Drone Lesson however is entirely optional and describes the parts used in First Person View (FPV) applications, and long-range control This article is oriented more towards “in field” RC applications as opposed to indoor flight or areas where wall outlets could provide power Please take note that this article only covers a very small fraction of the information needed to properly understand an FPV / long range system and is intended primarily to make the reader more familiar with the concepts, terms, products and principles behind FPV and long-range drone operation Drone FPV Headset First Person View (FPV) One of the main driving forces behind multirotor’s skyrocketing popularity is the ability to get a completely different perspective (a “bird’s eye view”) of our planet and a sense of flight Although adding a camera to an RC airplane or helicopter is nothing new, the relative ease of control, low price and availability of multirotor drones has made it easy to buy or create a UAV with a camera First Person View (FPV) currently involves mounting a video camera to the drone which sends video in real time to the pilot or an assistant Note that there are complete or semi-complete FPV systems on the market which include all the products required for a complete FPV system and come with the peace of mind that all parts are compatible with one another Video Camera Almost any video camera which can be connected to a video transmitter can be used for FPV, though it’s important to consider weight since multirotor drones are constantly fighting gravity and not have the advantages of winged aircraft for added lift Video cameras come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, as well as video resolution, though very few are made specifically for multirotors at this time Because of these size, weight and power restrictions, most cameras used in multirotor FPV systems are adapted from “action cameras” as well as from video surveillance and security industry applications (hidden cameras for example) Most of these cameras have a composite video out and power input, or analog output and power input via a or pin connector (GND, PWR, analog video signal and optional audio) Larger cameras such as DSLRs or larger video cameras tend to be used by professionals, but because of their weight, the drone required tends to be quite large GoPro Hero Some video cameras can be powered directly from a 5V power source (useful since most flight controllers operate at 5V as well, being powered from a BEC), while others may require 12V, or even have their own built-in rechargeable battery The most popular camera currently used on multirotor drones is the GoPro This is because of their ruggedness, small size, high video / image quality, built-in battery, range of accessories, and availability worldwide GoPro cameras also have a USB output which can be used to transmit video, and many even have built-inWiFi for transmitting video over a short range Given GoPro’s success, many other manufacturers have created their own similar lines of sports / action cameras, and the features, price and quality vary Note that if you want 3D video, you will need two cameras, and a video transmitter capable of sending two signals Gimbal A “gimbal” system comprises a mechanical frame, two or more motors (normally up to three for pan, tilt and roll), as well as sensors and electronics The camera is mounted in such a way that the motors not need to provide an angular force (torque) to keep the camera at a fixed angle (“balanced”) The axes in question allow the camera to be either panned, tilted or rolled A single axis system which does not have its own sensor might be considered more of a pan or tilt system The most popular design involves a two motor setup (normally BLDC motors specifically designed for use with gimbals) which controls the camera’s tilt and roll The camera therefore always faces the front of the drone, which also ensures the operator won’t be disoriented if the camera is facing one direction while the front of the UAV faces another A three axis gimbal adds panning (left and right) and is most useful in a two-operator setup, where one person flies the drone and the other can independently operate the camera In such a two-person configuration, there can also be a second (fixed) camera for the pilot There tends to be one of two kinds of gimbal systems: Brushless DC Gimbal Brushless DC (“BLDC”) motors offer fast response with minimal vibration, but require a separate (and specialized) brushless DC controller In order to automatically keep the camera level, an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) comprised of an accelerometer and a gyroscope is mounted somewhere around the camera (normally beneath the camera mount) so that the orientation of the camera (with respect to the ground) can be tracked The sensor readings are sent to a separate brushless DC controller board (often mounted just on top of the gimbal) which rotates the motors so the camera’s position stays in a specific orientation despite any movement of the drone This controller board includes an onboard microcontroller The gimbal’s brushless DCcontroller can often be connected directly to a channel on the receiver (as opposed to the flight controller) since its motion reacts to changes in the camera’s orientation rather than the UAV’s orientation and is therefore independent from the flight controller Note that because GoPro is the post popular action camera, most brushless DC gimbals are made to be used with one or more GoPro models (based on the GoPro’s size, center of mass, camera location etc) You will also notice that BLDC gimbals almost always have damping which minimizes vibration transmitted from the drone to the camera GoPro 2-Axis Damped Brushless Gimbal RC Servo Gimbal An RC servo-based gimbal tends to offer slower response time than brushless gimbals and because of RC servo technology, there is a bit of added vibration The upside is that servo-based systems are considerably less expensive than brushless systems, and the 3-pin RC servos can normally be connected directly to a flight controller; RC-based gimbal systems take advantage of the fact that the flight controller normally has a built-in IMU and as such it is the flight controller which determines if it is level with the ground and move the servos accordingly Video Transmitter Currently very few flight controllers (aside from those which are used on mass market commercial drones) have an integrated video transmitter, meaning a separate video transmitter is normally needed Video transmitters used for RC systems are currently popular since they are lightweight and small Other commercial video transmitters can be used, but some important considerations include connections for power (might need to be customized if the unit only accepts power from a barrel connector) as well as the input voltage; if a video unit operates at a voltage which you don’t have readily available on the UAV, you might need additional electronics such as a voltage regulator Non-RC video transmitter units rarely consider weight or size, and often have a protective (and sometimes unnecessarily heavy) protective case RC Video Transmitter + Antenna Video Transmitter Power Video transmitters are normally rated for a certain power output, but not assume that anyone can use any power rating available on the market Wireless frequencies and power are closely monitored & regulated and as such, we strongly suggest becoming familiar with your country’s wireless regulations The amateur radio operator’s association is a great place to start The power which a video transmitter consumes has a direct impact on its signals’ maximum range In north America, operating a wireless transmitter which consumes above a specific power (rated in Watts) requires that the operate have an amateur radio operator (HAM) license For example in Canada a long-range FPV operator normally needs to have passed at least the “Basic amateur radio operator qualification test” in order to operate at the power needed for long-range wireless applications 10.1 Amateur Radio Operator Certificate with Basic Qualification The holder of an Amateur Radio Operator Certificate with Basic Qualification is limited to a maximum transmitting power of: (a) where expressed as direct-current input power, 250 W to the anode or collector circuit of the transmitter stage that supplies radio frequency energy to the antenna; or (b) where expressed as radio frequency output power measured across an impedance-matched load, (i) 560 W peak envelope power for transmitters that produce any type of single sideband emission, or (ii) 190 W carrier power for transmitters that produce any other type of emission 10.2 Amateur Radio Operator Certificate with Advanced Qualification The holder of an Amateur Radio Operator Certificate with Advanced Qualification is limited to a maximum transmitting power of: (a) where expressed as direct-current input power, 1000 W to the anode or collector circuit of the transmitter stage that supplies radio frequency energy to the antenna; or (b) where expressed as radio frequency output power measured across an impedance-matched load, (i) 2,250 W peak envelope power for transmitters that produce any type of single sideband emission, or (ii) 750 W carrier power for transmitters that produce any other type of emission If you don’t have any particular qualification, we strongly suggest keeping the video transmitter used to less than 200mW to avoid risking legal action (should your signal start to interfere with other wireless signals, the authorities may be contacted) The power rating is normally provided in the specifications of the video transmitter and certain video transmitters allow for user-selectable power (for example 200mW, 500mW, 1000mW or 2000mW) Power for the video transmitter is normally provided from the BEC from one of the ESCs which also powers the rest of the electronics If you suspect that all of the electronics consume more current than one BEC can provide, you can use a BEC from a second ESC to power the video transmitter We not suggest using a separate battery to power the video transmitter Video Transmitter Frequencies / Channels Most video transmitters operate using one of the following frequencies Note that since you will likely already be using a standard RC transmitter which operates at a certain frequency, it’s safest to choose a video transmitter which operates at a different frequency For example if your RC radio operates at 2.4Ghz, you should really only consider selecting a video transmitter which operates at 900MHz, 1.2GHz or 5.8GHz Frequency 900MHz (0.9GHz) o Lower frequency signal more easily penetrates walls and trees o DIY antennas are easy to make because low frequencies mean large antennas o Picture quality is not as good as 5.8GHz o May have a negative impact on GPS receivers o Considered “older” technology o All in all, best for medium range 1.2GHz (1.2 to 1.3Ghz) o Used for longer range FPV flights as it offers good distance o Many different antennas on the market o Frequency tends to be used by many other devices o Walls and obstructions have more effect than a lower frequency o Medium / longer range 2.4GHz (2.3 to 2.4GHz) o Used for long range FPV with few obstructions o One of the most widely used frequencies for wireless devices o Many accessories available (antennas, transmitters etc) o Should not be used around 2.4GHz RC transmitters or other devices which may cause interference o Can work with other frequencies, but will not be covered in this article 5.8GHz o Great for short range applications o Walls and other obstructions have a significant impact on the range o Antennas are small / compact o Better for FPV racing applications As you have undoubtedly seen, many common wireless devices operate at 2.4GHz (wireless routers, wireless phones, Bluetooth, garage door openers etc) This is largely because FCC(Federal Communications Commission) regulations determined that a band of frequencies around this range not need a license for operation; same for 900MHz, 1.2GHz & 5.8GHz (within a certain power range) The frequencies allocated are called the “Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM)” bands This means that any consumer can purchase a wireless device which operates at one of these frequencies without having to worry about regulations or guidelines More information regarding amateur radio frequency allocations can be found on Wikipedia Video Transmitter Connectors Video transmitters not all have the same connections so it’s important to know what connector is installed on your camera and see if it will be plug and play with the chosen video transmitter The most popular connectors are composite, mini / micro USB and 0.1″ connectors (analog) There are a number of adapters on the market, for example 0.1″ FPV Tx connector to mini USB for use with a GoPro camera, which makes using products with different connectors a bit easier Certain video transmitters also include audio input, though in most cases the noise from the rotors will tend to drown out any audio which you might hope to record Should you want audio, be sure to position the microphone as far away from the rotors as possible (quite a bit of testing will be needed to find an optimal location) and choose a receiver which is compatible Video Transmitter Antenna Video transmitter antennas used on UAVs tend to be either “duck” or short whip Duck antennas are the most widespread and have an advantage of being omnidirectional, compact, inexpensive and remain fixed in place during flight because of their small profile The choice of antenna needs to correspond to the frequency of the video transmitter Higher frequencies need smaller antennas, but the signals have more difficulty going through obstructions Lower frequencies are less affected by obstructions but the antennas are larger / longer A directional antenna is not used very often for video transmission since the UAV can essentially end up in any orientation in 3D space Ideally the antenna should be placed somewhere on the UAV which is free from other wireless signals or electrical interference Video Transmitter Video Receiver A video receiver tends to be quite a bit (physically) larger and heavier than a video transmitter because the receiver is often stationary (connected to a screen) while the transmitter needs to be mounted to the drone and as such needs to be small and lightweight In order to save space, certain LCD manufacturers have incorporated standard frequency wireless receivers into their displays Many FPV enthusiasts mount either a cloverleaf or pinwheel antenna to their FPV glasses so they can orient their head in the direction of the UAV to get maximum signal strength Certain manufacturers of FPV glasses have also continued this trend and include a wireless video receiver and antenna incorporated into or connected to their glasses Video Receiver It is evident that the frequency at which the video receiver operates must match that of the transmitter Certain models of receivers however offer a range of channels which can be selected (one at time), making them compatible with a variety of video transmitters The output of a video receiver tends to be either composite (most common) or HDMI What you connect the output to (video display) is up to you, and some options are described below Powering the receiver in field always involves using a battery which either outputs at the required operating voltage of the receiver, or a battery which is connected to a voltage regulator which provides the required voltage Note there are no “long range” video receivers since the range of the signal relies on the power of the transmitter Video Receiver Antenna Antennas used on video receivers can be omnidirectional (able to receive a signal from any direction) or directional The most common antennas you see on a video receiver include a duck antenna, cloverleaf / pinwheel or in rare cases directional (Yagi for example) A directional antenna is used only when the UAV will be flying within a specific direction in relation to the operator and the drone will always be “in front” of the antenna to ensure the signal is not lost Situations can include exploring a specific area (such as a field) or an area which is a distance away from the operator Yagi Antenna Video Display LCD Monitor When considering an LCD monitor, it is important to know the distinction between a desktop / computer LCD monitor or LCD TV and one that is intended to be portable A TV / computer monitor almost always has a power connector which is compatible with a standard computer power cable (taking A/C power directly), making it very difficult to use with a battery pack AnLCD / OLED display which is intended to be more portable often takes DC input and requires an external transformer in order to connect to the mains (A/C) The display size, refresh rate and quality of displays used for FPV applications vary, from small displays with grainy images which update a few times each second, to large displays which, when combined with the right video transmitter & receiver, display large HD images without any evident lag Keep in mind that whatever 2D display you select will need to be powered and mounted somewhere – either within a base station (described below) or using an FPV monitor mount connected to the RC transmitter One issue with monitors is glare, especially when used outdoors; this is why it is important to create (or in some cases purchase) a three-sided box around the monitor (top and sides) which is often removable (using Velcro) for easy transportation Transmitter LCD Display FPV Glasses 2D glasses are widely used in FPV because of their lower price, compatibility with a single video source (from a single video camera) and ease of use with an external battery pack Certain models include a video receiver, and kits are available with camera, video transmitter, FPV glasses (with built-in video receiver) and external battery, as well as both antennas The video quality offered by inexpensive FPV glasses can be quite low, so if budget is a factor, consider you might get a better overall experience with a larger LCD monitor for the same price as FPV glasses FPV Glasses Head Tracking Head tracking is essentially the same as motion tracking, but specifically measuring 3D orientation / angles as opposed to linear motion Head tracking sensors are made up of MEMSaccelerometer chips, gyroscopes or inertial measurement units (IMUs) The sensors are mounted (or built into) FPV / VR glasses and send data to a microcontroller to interpret the sensor data as angles, which then sends the data either via the RC remote system (for higher end models) or via a separate wireless transmission system Ideally the head tracking system you use is compatible with the transmitter, so the angles can be sent via the transmitter using two free RC channels Head Tracking (Occulus Rift) 3D / Virtual Reality Occulus Rift, Samsung Gear, Morpheus, Smartphone-based VR glasses and a variety of other 3D / VR head mounted displays are being adapted for use with drones Although these units are normally made for 3D computer / console games or as an alternative to a television, these devices are natively compatible with 3D and often have built-in head-tracking sensors and are becoming increasing attractive to the drone FPV community Oculus Rift 3D VR Glasses Smart Devices Smartphone, tablets or laptops can be used to display video in real time Their batteries are built-in and the units are lightweight The difficulty with using smart devices is that most receivers are not made to receive a video signal from a wireless video receiver (either hard wired or wirelessly) A laptop or tablet with an onboard or USB video capture card can take normal composite video A smartphone currently works best with video sent via WiFi (WiFi camera or composite / serial to WiFi adapter) Using a GoPro’s WiFi video signal and the GoPro app on a smartphone is one of the easiest ways to get set up for FPV, but note that the camera’s WiFi signal range is very limited Since smartphones are so widespread, and drones are all the rage, there are new products being released regularly by manufacturers which capitalize on these, so always your homework before deciding Galaxy Nexus Smartphone On Screen Display (OSD) An on screen display (OSD) allows the pilot to see various sensor data sent back from the drone One of the easier ways to include on-screen data is to use a camera with analog output and place an on-screen display board between the camera output and the video transmitter The OSD adapter board has inputs for various sensors and will overlay the data onto the video, so the pilot receives the video with the telemetry data already overlaid Long Range Considerations As you have seen, long-range operation relies primarily on the power of the transmitter (RC controller as well as video if applicable) Normally, RC transmitters include an RF system comprised of a joysticks and switches, electronics and an RF transmitter, and less expensive RC units this system is almost always a single unit Higher-end models often have the RF module changeable as a box located at the rear of the transmitter In North America, it is either a legal requirement that a UAV be kept within view of the pilot (personal use) However, laws are changing, so it’s best to consult them before attempting long-range drone operations Power UAV / Drone Your UAV / drone is comprised of many different parts, each requiring specific voltages The most common electronics you will find on an FPV or long-range drone include: Motors: Most medium sized UAV motors tend to operate at either 11.1V or 14.8V Flight Controller, Receiver, GPS: These should ideally be powered by the BEC from one ESC Head tracking receiver: This would be powered by the BEC Servo-Based Gimbal: A servo-based gimbal system can be powered from one of the BECs in an ESC and operated at 5V BLDC Gimbal: Some BLDC gimbals can connect to the charge connector of the main battery, while others need specific voltage Check the specs of the model you purchase Camera: Cameras used for FPV flight tend to operate at 5V (from a BEC) or 12V (main battery) Most action cameras include their own built-in battery Video Transmitter: Most operate at 5V and can be powered by a BEC Additional electronics (lights, parachute etc): 5V We suggest that your UAV should ideally only have one main battery and you should considering using an 11.1V or 14.8V main battery on a medium sized custom drone If your ESCdoesn’t have a BEC, then you will need an external 5V voltage regulator to power the electronics, and be sure it can provide enough current for everything Operator While a normal drone operator only needs to worry about an RC transmitter, the operator of a complete FPV setup may end up having to carry larger batteries, a variety of equipment Handheld RC transmitter: Most RC transmitters have a AA battery option (4x AA or 8x AA), but for FPV, you might want to power the transmitter using an external battery pack Add-on RF transmitter: If you are not using the RF transmitter / receiver included with the remote, higher end models normally have power out to which this module can be hooked up Alternatively, you can power it by splitting the battery pack used for the handheld remote Head tracking transmitter: This unit can normally be powered at 5V Video receiver: Most require 12V, but often have a fairly wide voltage input range The receiver likely comes with a wall adapter which you will not use / need in the field Check the input voltage ranges to see if you can use one voltage to power both the transmitter and the receiver (7.4V or 12V for example) Video display: Be sure to select a portable LCD display which has a barrel connector input, allowing you to use a battery pack for input FPV glasses normally have a barrel connector input as well, but be sure to check The most common voltage for portable LCD displays is 12V, which might not be best for other devices Antenna pointer: An antenna pointer is described below This motorized device is often made up of RC servo motors, a microcontroller and additional sensors / electronics There are very few commercial systems for the hobby market so should you pursue designing and building such a system, you will need to work out the power setup Base Station As you can tell from the operator unit above, there is a lot of equipment the pilot needs to carry and power, which can be very cumbersome Base stations are often used to relieve the operator of this load / mess and can be made up of any number of different equipment and compartments listed below You can imagine that without a well-made base station, the spaghetti of wires linking all of these devices together can become an impeding factor when trying to get set up for a flight UAV Base Station A base station can include: Primary battery, perhaps used to power the LCD monitor and/or FPV glasses and possibly the video receiver Secondary battery for the transmitter and / or video receiver Mounting for the LCD monitor and/or space for FPV glasses Mounting for the video receiver Space for storing the RC transmitter Mounting for long-range antenna (or space for a portable directional antenna) Space for a charger for the main battery(ies) Space for replacement parts for the drone (propellers, motors, batteries, frame components) A “base station” is not necessarily a commercially produced product which can easily be used with any drone application but is rather something an amateur drone operator can design and build themselves Normally selecting a rugged carrying case (Pelican or Nanuk for example) is the start to building a great base station, though a backpack with a rigid frame can also be used / adapted Often a tripod is used to mount the antenna at a height above the ground Antenna Tracker An antenna tracker is an electromechanical device which tracks the drone’s position in 3D space using GPS coordinates, and knowing the GPS location of the tracker unit, keeps a directional antenna pointed at the drone Antenna trackers are normally used for long-range applications and not many commercial products exist on the market A tracker is made up of a GPS receiver, a compass (and sometimes an IMU), a microcontroller, a data receiver (to receive the drone’s GPS coordinates), one pan and one tilt motor, the mechanical frame, the directional antenna and a battery pack In order to reduce the effect ob obstructions, antenna tracker systems are raised off the ground using a tripod We hope you have enjoyed this series and welcome your feedback, questions and suggestions in the comments section below Have you built a custom UAV and want to show it off? Post it on the RobotShop Forum Are you looking to get feedback or advice on a custom build? Create a new topic under “Robots and Kits” on the RobotShop Forum ... 2015 by Coleman Benson & filed under How to Make a UAV / Drone How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 1: Terminology How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 2: The Frame How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson... How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 4: Choose a flight controller How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 5: Assembly How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 6: Get it all working together How to Make a. .. UAV – Lesson 2: The Frame How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 3: Propulsion How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 4: Flight controller How to Make a Drone / UAV – Lesson 5: Assembly How to Make a