Course Plan Presentation

By
Varsha N
Assistant Professor
Acharya Institute of Technology

Course Title: Introduction to Drone Technologies

Course Code: BAE306A
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Semester: 3rdsemester
Year: 2025-26
Contact Hours/ week : L-T-P : 3:0:0
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 Course objectives: This course will enable students to
 Comprehend the basic evolution of Drones / UAV systems.
 Acquire the knowledge of basic aerodynamics, performance, stability and
control.
 Understand the propulsion, loads and structures.
 Understand Regulations and Certification aspects

Course outcome (Course Skill Set)

Dept of AE At the end of the course, the student will be able to :
1. Apply the basic concepts of UAV systems.
2. Explain the basic aerodynamics, performance, stability and control required for
UAV.
3. Select the propulsion system and materials for structures.
4. Understand Regulatory and Certification aspects
5. Understand basic flight with experimentation
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 Microcontroller

A microcontroller is a compact integrated circuit designed to govern a

specific operation in an embedded system. A typical microcontroller
includes a processor, memory and input/output (I/O) peripherals on a
single chip.

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 How does a microcontroller control the flight of a quadcopter?

The microcontroller processes input from sensors such as gyroscopes and

accelerometers to determine the orientation and stability of the quadcopter,
then adjusts the speed of each motor via ESCs to maintain balance and
control movement.
Microcontrollers are the "brains" of drones, acting as the flight controller to
process sensor data and control motors for stable flight. They read inputs from
sensors like gyroscopes, accelerometers, and GPS, run complex
algorithms to calculate adjustments, and then send commands to
the electronic speed controllers (ESCs) to change motor speed
via pulse width modulation (PWM) signals. This allows them to
Dept of AE maintain stability, navigate, and execute commands, making them
essential for both basic and advanced autonomous functions.
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 Which microcontroller is used in drones?
A flight controller uses microcontroller units (MCUs) to store firmware codes
and perform complex calculations. Currently, STM32 MCUs such as F4, F7,
and H7 are supported by Betaflight, while F1 and F3 are no longer
supported due to insufficient memory for the expanding firmware
requirements
Microcontrollers cannot function without a power supply. They have
no built-in battery, meaning they are powered with external sources. The
goal is to have an energy source that outputs the microcontroller's required
current and voltage.

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 A flight controller uses microcontroller units (MCUs) to store firmware codes and perform
complex calculations.

Currently, STM32 MCUs such as F4, F7, and H7 are supported by Betaflight, while F1 and F3
are no longer supported due to insufficient memory for the expanding firmware
requirements. Therefore, it’s important to pay attention to the memory available on different
processors – it’s just as important as speed, if not more. For instance, although the latest
Betaflight allows you to select which features to use and keep the code size small for
processors with less memory, in the long run, the slower F405 might actually have an
advantage over the faster F722 due to its larger memory capacity.
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 Microcontroller is embedded with different elements like CPU,
RAM, ROM etc.

RAM
RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Similar to a computer, RAM is used to
store data dynamically while the microcontroller is executing instructions. It is
a volatile memory, means when the power goes off all data is gone.
ROM or Program Memory
ROM stands for Read Only Memory. In old microcontrollers flash memory was
one time programmable that is why it is called ROM. But in latest
Dept of AE microcontrollers it is re-programmable, ie. EEPROM (Electrically Erasable
Programmable Read Only Memory). ROM is used to store the program or
instructions which needs to be executed.
CPU
CPU is analogous to processor in a computer, which basically consists of
Arithmetical and Logical Unit (ALU), Control Unit and Register Array. As the
name indicates ALU performs all arithmetic and logical operations on the
data received from input devices or memory. Register array consists of a
series of registers like accumulator (A), B, C, D etc. which acts as temporary
fast access memory locations for processing data. As the name indicates,
control unit controls the flow of instructions and data throughout the system.
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 Microprocessors

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 Microprocessors
A microprocessor is the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer on a single
integrated circuit (IC) that executes instructions to perform calculations and manage data. It
fetches, decodes, and executes program instructions, performs
arithmetic and logic operations, and handles input and output,
making it fundamental to modern electronics from smartphones to
supercomputers.
How it works
•Fetches instructions: It retrieves commands from memory.
•Decodes instructions: It determines what the command means.
•Executes instructions: It performs the required operation, such as an arithmetic or logic
calculation.
•Provides output: It produces a result based on the processing.
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Key components
•Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU): Performs arithmetic and logical operations.
•Control Unit: Manages and synchronizes the operations of the entire unit.
•Registers: Small, high-speed memory locations used to temporarily hold data and
instructions during processing
 sensors used in drones

Navigation and Control Sensors

•Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU): A core component that includes accelerometers and gyroscopes,
it measures the drone's orientation, acceleration, and angular velocity to maintain stability and
control.
•Barometer: Measures atmospheric pressure to calculate and maintain altitude.
•GPS Sensor: Uses satellites to determine the drone's precise geographic location.
•Magnetometer: Acts as a compass by measuring the Earth's magnetic field to help orient the drone.

Environmental and Situational Sensors

•LiDAR:
Dept of AE Uses pulses of laser light to measure distances, creating detailed 3D maps and assisting with navigation and
collision avoidance.
•Ultrasonic Sensors:
Emit sound waves to measure distance to objects, which is useful for close-range obstacle avoidance.
•Cameras:
Capture visual data. This can include standard RGB cameras for photography and videography, as well as
specialized cameras like thermal or multispectral sensors.
•Radar:
Uses radio waves to detect objects and measure their distance, a capability useful in various weather
conditions.
•Airspeed Sensor:
Measures the speed of air flowing over the drone to help it manage its flight path and stability.
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 Pre-flight checks in drones
Pre-flight checks for drones include preparing the drone and pilot, performing a
physical inspection, and conducting a systems check before takeoff. Key steps involve
ensuring fully charged batteries, updating firmware and apps, checking
propellers for damage, calibrating the compass, and confirming a strong
GPS lock. Additionally, always verify that your flying area is clear of
obstacles and that you have the necessary permissions to fly.

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 Flight planning in drones

Drone flight planning is the process of preparing for a drone's mission by defining its
route, altitude, speed, and camera actions to ensure a safe, efficient, and successful flight.
Key steps include conducting a risk assessment, selecting an appropriate
flight pattern, checking weather conditions, and using flight planning
software to automate the mission based on GPS waypoints and mission-
specific logic.

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 Transmitter and receiver in drone
A drone's transmitter (remote control) sends commands via radio signals to a receiver on the
drone. The receiver decodes these signals and sends them to the flight controller, which then
instructs the drone's motors and other components to perform actions like moving, taking off,
or landing. This system works over radio frequencies, with the transmitter
converting joystick and button inputs into digital signals and the receiver
decoding them for the drone's "brain" to act upon.

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 Transmitter (Remote Control)
•Function: The handheld remote control is the transmitter. It acts as the pilot's interface
to control the drone.
•Process: When you move the joysticks or press buttons, the transmitter converts
these physical inputs into a radio signal.

frequencies, such as 2.4GHz2.4 cap G cap H z 2.4𝐺𝐻𝑧 or 900MHz900 cap M cap H z

•Signal Transmission: It sends these signals wirelessly over specific radio

900𝑀𝐻𝑧

Receiver (On the Drone)

•Function: The receiver is a small electronic device located inside the drone.
•Process: Its built-in antenna receives the radio signals from the transmitter.
Dept of AE •Signal Interpretation: The receiver decodes the radio signal and converts the
commands into electrical signals that the drone's flight controller can understand.
•Communication with Flight Controller: It then passes these decoded instructions to
the flight controller, which is the drone's onboard computer.
 Flight controller

A drone's flight controller is the "brain" that manages its flight, acting as a
central processing unit on a circuit board. It receives data from sensors like
gyroscopes and accelerometers to understand the drone's orientation,
processes user commands from the remote control, and sends precise
signals to the motors to ensure stable and responsive flight.

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 Key functions of a flight controller:
•Processing data:
•It receives data from various onboard sensors, including gyroscopes,
accelerometers, and barometers, to determine the drone's position,
speed, and orientation.
•Receiving commands:
•It decodes and processes signals from the pilot's remote control or a
ground station, which tell the drone what to do, such as ascend, descend,
or rotate.
•Controlling motors:
•It calculates the necessary adjustments and sends signals to the
electronic speed controllers (ESCs), which in turn control the speed of
each motor. This continuous adjustment keeps the drone stable even in
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windy conditions or during maneuvers.
•Enabling features:
•It enables a wide range of functions, including autonomous missions,
return-to-home features, and stability control.
•Connecting components:
•It acts as a central hub, integrating and managing the communication
between all the drone's components, such as the motors, GPS, and
receiver.
 Pixhawk is an open-source flight controller originally developed by the PX4 open-hardware
project. It serves as the “brain” of the drone, processing sensor data and controlling the
motors, servos, and other components to stabilize and navigate the aircraft.

Main Functions
•Stabilization: Keeps the drone level and balanced during flight.
•Navigation: Uses GPS and sensors for autonomous movement along pre-set waypoints.
•Sensor Fusion: Combines data from IMU (gyroscope, accelerometer), magnetometer,
barometer, and GPS for accurate position and orientation.
•Control Signals: Sends outputs to motors (via ESCs) and receives inputs from RC transmitters.
•Failsafe Operations: Handles emergency actions (like Return-to-Home) if signal or GPS is lost.

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Compatible Software
Pixhawk works with popular open-source autopilot software, such as:
•PX4 Autopilot
•ArduPilot (APM)
These platforms allow mission planning, tuning, and flight control through ground
station software like QGroundControl or Mission Planner.
 Key Components
Component Function
Microcontroller (CPU) Processes flight control algorithms
IMU (Accelerometer + Gyroscope) Measures orientation and motion
Magnetometer Acts as a digital compass
Barometer Measures altitude
GPS Module Provides position data
Connects ESCs, servos, telemetry, and
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sensors
Supplies stable power and monitors
Power Module
voltage/current
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 Mission planning in drone

Drone mission planning is the process of setting up a pre-flight checklist

and a detailed flight path to ensure a safe, efficient, and successful
operation. Key steps include defining the mission objective and area,
selecting the right drone and camera, planning the flight path and altitude,
and conducting a safety and compliance check. Automated software can
simplify this by creating optimal paths and handling parameters like
speed, altitude, and gimbal orientation, with AI increasingly used to
automate decision-making.

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 Mission planning software
•Purpose:
Mission planning software allows operators to create, manage, and execute missions for drones and other unmanned
systems.
•Features:
This software enables the creation of autonomous flights with waypoints, grid patterns, and other actions.
•Automation:
Some platforms use AI to automate the creation of optimal flight paths based on mission objectives and
environmental conditions.
•Examples:
Examples include dedicated mission planner software for specific flight controllers, like Mission Planner for ArduPilot
, and commercial platforms like FlytBase and DroneDeploy.

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 Drone telemetry
Drone telemetry is the process of gathering real-time data from a drone and
its environment, transmitting it to a ground control station (GCS) for
monitoring. This data includes flight information like altitude, speed, and
GPS location, as well as the drone's status such as battery level and motor
temperature. It allows operators to track and manage the drone safely and
efficiently, and some systems allow for two-way communication to send
commands
What it is back to the drone
•Data collection:
Telemetry systems collect data from the drone's autopilot, sensors (like
GPS, accelerometers, and gyroscopes), and internal subsystems.
•Data transmission:
Dept of AE This data is transmitted wirelessly from the drone to a GCS or a remote
controller.
•Real-time monitoring:
The GCS displays the data in real-time, allowing operators to see the
drone's performance and status.
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 ARUDINO

arduino is an Italian open-source hardware and software company, project, and user
community that designs and manufactures single-board
microcontrollers and microcontroller kits for building digital devices.

Arduino is used to build and program electronic projects that interact with
the physical world, with applications in robotics, home automation, and
wearable technology. It's also used in interactive art, educational settings
for teaching programming and electronics, and for creating custom
projects like those found in the Internet of Things (IoT)

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 What is an Arduino Board?
An Arduino is an open-source microcontroller board used to control electronic
components like sensors, motors, and LEDs.
Common boards for drones include:
•Arduino Uno (basic prototypes)
•Arduino Nano (compact and lightweight)
•Arduino Mega (more memory & I/O pins for advanced drones)

Arduino boards like the Uno, Nano, and Pro Mini are commonly used in DIY
drone projects as the flight controller due to their affordability and ease of
use for programming and connecting sensors. These boards can be
Dept of AE programmed to receive commands, process sensor data, and control the
drone's motors to maintain stability and perform tasks.
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 Arduino Uno is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega328P
(datasheet). It has 14 digital input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as
PWM outputs), 6 analog inputs, a 16 MHz ceramic resonator

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 Types of cameras used in drone

Drones use several types of cameras, including standard RGB cameras for general photography and
video, specialized thermal cameras for detecting heat signatures, multispectral and hyperspectral
cameras for analyzing different light wavelengths (like crop health), and LiDAR systems which use
lasers to create 3D maps. Other types include FPV (First-Person View) cameras for
high-speed, immersive flying and panoramic cameras for wide-angle views

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 BINDING IN DRONES
Binding is the process of creating a secure, one-to-one communication link between a
drone's receiver and its remote controller, which is essential for controlling the
drone. The specific steps vary depending on the brand and system, such
as DJI or ExpressLRS (ELRS), but generally involve putting both the drone
and the controller into a "bind mode" and then completing the process
through either an app or by shorting pins on the receiver.

Dept of AE General methods

•Using a bind button: Press and hold the bind button on the transmitter (or
transmitter module) while powering it on. Meanwhile, power on the drone,
which should have a bind cable connecting the receiver to a power source
like an ESC and the receiver's bind pins shorted together.
•Using a bind phrase (common with ELRS): Set the same binding phrase
in both your radio transmitter and the drone's receiver through the
ExpressLRS configuration website.
•Using a dedicated binding tool: Some manufacturers sell tools like the
Wills Bind Buddy, which simplifies the process by creating a stable
connection for binding.
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