Day 1

Autonomous
Drone Workshop
Table of Contents
▪ History
▪ Introduction to UAV
▪ Types of Drone
▪ Fixed Wing Vs Multi-rotor UAV
▪ Fundamental Terms in UAV
▪ UAV flight dynamics
▪ Quadcopter Overview
▪ Key Components of UAV
History of UAVs
▪ Earliest recorded use of an unmanned aerial
vehicle for warfighting occurred in July 1849
with a balloon carrier
History of UAVs
History of UAVs
Introduction to UAV
▪ An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a
drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or
passengers on board.
▪ An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is defined as a
"powered, aerial vehicle that does not carry a human
operator, uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift,
can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely, can be
expendable or recoverable, and can carry a lethal or
nonlethal payload".
▪ Missiles with warheads are generally not considered UAVs
because the vehicle itself is a munition, but certain types of
propeller-based missile are often called "kamikaze drones"
by the public and media.
Types of Drones
Fixed Wing UAVs
▪ Design
• Resembles traditional airplanes with wings for lift
• Typically powered by a single or multiple propellers

▪ Advantages
• Greater endurance: ideal for long-duration flights
• Higher speeds: can cover more ground quickly
• Better suited for surveying large areas and mapping

▪ Applications
• Agricultural monitoring
• Environmental surveying
• Long-distance delivery
• Military reconnaissance
Multi-rotor UAVs
▪ Design
• Multiple rotors (e.g., quadcopter with four rotors)
• Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities

▪ Advantages
• Precision hovering: ideal for detailed inspections
• Greater maneuverability: useful in urban or cluttered
environments
• Easier to control and deploy in confined spaces

▪ Applications
• Photography and videography
• Infrastructure inspection
• Search and rescue operations
• Law enforcement and surveillance
Fundamental Terms in UAV
▪ Lift
▪ Drag
▪ Thrust
▪ Weight
UAV Motion: Roll, Pitch, Yaw
▪ Roll
▪ Pitch
▪ Yaw
Quadcopter Overview
▪ Quadcopter is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
or drone with four rotors, each with a motor and
propeller.
▪ Can be manually controlled or can be autonomous
▪ Main principle behind the flight of a quadcopter
• A quadcopter's propellers push air downwards.
• This causes an opposite reaction called thrust
that pushes the quadcopter upwards against
gravity.
Quadcopter Configuration
Key Components of Drones
▪ Airframe
▪ Brushless Motor
▪ Propellers
▪ ESC
▪ Flight Controller
▪ Li-Po Battery
▪ Transmitter (Tx)
▪ Receiver (Rx)
▪ GPS module
▪ Radio Telemetry
▪ LIDAR
▪ Optical Flow Sensor
AIRFRAME
▪ Structure and Materials: Quadcopter airframes are
built from lightweight materials like carbon fiber,
aluminum, or plastic to ensure durability and flight
efficiency.
▪ Design and Configuration: The standard quadcopter
airframe features an X or H configuration for
balanced thrust and stability.
▪ Size and Weight: Quadcopter airframe sizes vary from
small, palm-sized models to larger, professional-
grade units, impacting payload capacity and flight
performance.
▪ Aerodynamics and Protection: Designed for optimal
aerodynamics, many airframes also include protective
features like landing gear or propeller guards to
prevent damage.
BLDC Motors
▪ Brushless DC (BLDC) motors are preferred in quadcopters for
their high efficiency, greater power-to-weight ratio, and longer
lifespan compared to brushed motors.
▪ BLDC motors require ESCs to regulate their speed, direction, and
performance, ensuring smooth and precise control during flight.
▪ The KV rating of a BLDC motor indicates its RPM per volt, with
higher KV motors providing faster speeds suitable for racing
drones, while lower KV motors offer more torque for lifting
heavier payloads.
▪ BLDC motors generate less heat and have fewer maintenance
needs due to the absence of brushes, enhancing their durability
and performance reliability.
▪ BLDC motors come in various sizes and specifications to match
different quadcopter designs and applications, from small hobby
drones to large industrial UAVs.
PROPELLER
▪ Materials: Plastic or carbon fiber
▪ Size and Pitch: Affects thrust and efficiency
▪ Number of Blades: Two, three, or more blades
▪ Balance and Alignment: Proper balance and
alignment of propellers are crucial to minimizing
vibrations and ensuring stable flight
▪ Directional Design: Clockwise (CW) and
counterclockwise (CCW) pairs
ESC (Electronic Speed Controller)
▪ Function: Regulates motor speed

▪ Types: Brushed and brushless

▪ Programming: Customizable settings

▪ Cooling: Heat sinks or active cooling

▪ Communication: PWM, PPM, SBUS

Flight Controller
▪ The flight controller is the central processing unit of a
quadcopter, responsible for interpreting sensor data
and controlling motor speeds to stabilize and
maneuver the drone.
▪ It uses inputs from accelerometers, gyroscopes,
barometers, and GPS to maintain orientation and
altitude.
▪ Flight controllers often feature various flight modes,
such as manual, stabilized, and GPS-hold, catering to
different levels of pilot expertise and use cases.
▪ Many modern flight controllers support additional
functionalities like automated flight planning, return-
to-home, and failsafe mechanisms to enhance safety
and user experience.
Transmitter and Receiver
▪ The transmitter and receiver system in a quadcopter
allows the pilot to control the drone remotely,
sending commands from the handheld transmitter to
the onboard receiver.
▪ The transmitter operates on various frequency bands,
commonly 2.4 GHz, to ensure a reliable
communication link with minimal interference.
▪ The receiver interprets these commands and relays
them to the flight controller, which adjusts the
quadcopter's movements accordingly.
▪ Modern transmitters and receivers offer features like
multiple channels, fail-safe settings, and telemetry
feedback for real-time monitoring of the drone's
status.
Li-Po Battery
▪ Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries are the preferred
power source for quadcopters due to their high
energy density, lightweight, and ability to deliver high
current output.
▪ They come in various cell configurations, such as 3S
(11.1V) or 4S (14.8V), affecting the quadcopter's
voltage and performance.
▪ Proper care and management of LiPo batteries are
crucial, as overcharging, over-discharging, or physical
damage can lead to safety hazards, including fires.
▪ LiPo batteries require specific chargers and should be
monitored during charging to ensure they remain
within safe voltage and temperature ranges.
GPS Module
▪ A GPS module in a quadcopter provides precise
location data, enabling features such as position hold,
waypoint navigation, and return-to-home
functionality.
▪ It communicates with satellites to determine the
quadcopter's exact coordinates, altitude, and velocity.
▪ Integrating a GPS module enhances flight stability
and allows for advanced autonomous flight modes,
improving user experience and safety.
▪ The GPS module often works in conjunction with
other sensors, like the barometer and compass, to
deliver accurate and reliable flight control data.
Application of Drones
▪ Aerial Photography and Videography
▪ Agriculture
▪ Delivery Services
▪ Search and Rescue
▪ Infrastructure Inspection
▪ Environmental Monitoring
▪ Surveillance and Security
▪ Mapping and Surveying
THANK
YOU !