DRONE COMPONENTS

A Drone's Components: Guide for Beginners - DroneforBeginners

ASSEMBLING DRONE

1. Gather Your Components

You'll typically need:

●​ Frame: The base structure (X-frame, H-frame, etc.).

●​ Motors: Usually 4 (quadcopters) but can vary (e.g., hexacopters with 6 motors).
●​ Propellers: Sized appropriately for your motors.
●​ Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs): Control the speed of the motors.
●​ Flight Controller: The brain of the drone for stabilization and control (e.g., Betaflight or
DJI).
●​ Power Distribution Board (PDB): Distributes power to all components.
●​ Battery: Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries are common.
●​ Transmitter and Receiver: For remote control.
●​ Camera/Gimbal (Optional): If you're building a camera drone.
●​ GPS Module (Optional): For advanced navigation.

2. Assemble the Frame

●​ Start by putting together the frame.

●​ Secure arms, landing gear, and mounting points using screws and spacers.

3. Mount Motors and ESCs

●​ Attach motors to the arms of the frame using screws.

●​ Connect the ESCs to the motors and secure them on the arms with zip ties or tape.

4. Install the Flight Controller

●​ Mount the flight controller in the center of the frame.

●​ Use anti-vibration pads to reduce vibrations affecting the controller.

5. Connect the Wiring

●​ Connect ESCs to the power distribution board (PDB).

●​ Wire the ESCs to the flight controller.
●​ Ensure proper connections for the receiver, GPS (if used), and camera.
6. Attach the Propellers

●​ Wait until everything else is set up before attaching propellers.

●​ Match propeller rotation (clockwise/anti-clockwise) with motor directions.

7. Set Up the Battery

●​ Secure the battery with straps.

●​ Connect it to the PDB or a battery connector.

8. Calibrate and Configure

●​ Connect the flight controller to a computer and calibrate it using software like Betaflight.
●​ Pair your transmitter and receiver.
●​ Configure flight modes, failsafe options, and other settings.

9. Test and Fly

●​ Test the motors without propellers to ensure everything is working.

●​ Attach propellers, double-check connections, and do a low-hover test in a safe open
area.

LEVEL OF AUTONOMY

Breaking Down The Levels of Drone Autonomy

PROGRAMMING DRONES​

1. Set Up Your Environment

Before programming the Tello, ensure you have the necessary tools ready.

What You Need:

●​ A DJI Tello drone.

●​ A laptop/PC with Wi-Fi.
●​ Python installed on your system (preferably Python 3.x).
●​ Python libraries: socket, time, and tello-py (optional, but helpful).

2. Install Python and Required Libraries

1.​ Download and Install Python:

 ○​ Go to Python.org and download Python.
○​ During installation, check "Add Python to PATH."

Install Libraries: Open a terminal or command prompt and install required libraries:​
bash​
CopyEdit​
pip install djitellopy

2.​

3. Connect to the Tello Drone

1.​ Turn on the Tello drone.

2.​ Connect your computer to the Tello’s Wi-Fi network (SSID: TELLO-XXXX).

Verify the connection by checking if the drone responds to pings:​

​
ping 192.168.10.1

3.​

4. Write Your First Program

Here’s a basic Python script to control the Tello drone using the djitellopy library:

Code Example:

from djitellopy import Tello

import time

# Connect to Tello

tello = Tello()
try:

tello.connect()

print(f"Battery: {tello.get_battery()}%") # Check battery level

# Takeoff

tello.takeoff()

time.sleep(2)

# Perform some movements

tello.move_up(50) # Move up by 50 cm

tello.move_forward(100) # Move forward by 100 cm

tello.rotate_clockwise(90) # Rotate clockwise by 90 degrees

tello.move_back(100) # Move back by 100 cm

# Land

tello.land()

except Exception as e:

print(f"Error: {e}")

finally:

tello.end() # Close the connection

5. Use the Tello SDK for More Commands

The Tello SDK provides many commands to control the drone. Here are a few examples:

Command Description

takeoff Drone takes off.

land Drone lands.

move_forward(x) Move forward x cm.

move_back(x) Move backward x cm.

move_left(x) Move left x cm.

move_right(x) Move right x cm.

rotate_clockwise(x) Rotate clockwise x degrees.

rotate_counter_clockwi Rotate counterclockwise x

se(x) degrees.

get_battery() Get the battery percentage.

6. Expand Your Program

Once you're comfortable with basic controls, you can expand the program to include:

●​ Autonomous Navigation: Write scripts to make the drone navigate a pre-defined

path.
●​ Image/Video Capture: Use the drone’s camera to take photos or record videos.
●​ Gesture Control: Program advanced movements or responses to triggers.

7. Debugging and Safety Tips

●​ Always test in an open area to avoid crashes.

●​ Ensure the drone battery is sufficiently charged.
●​ Start with low-speed, small-movement tests.

FLIGHT MODES

Understanding Drone Flight Modes - Drone Nastle

MULTI ROTOR STABILIZATION

1. Fundamental Principles of Stabilization

●​ Lift and Torque Balancing: Multi-rotor drones rely on the coordinated thrust of multiple
motors to maintain balance. Changing the speed of individual motors alters the lift and
creates torque, allowing the drone to pitch, roll, or yaw.
●​ Gyroscopic Stability: Drones use gyroscopes and accelerometers to sense orientation
and movement.
●​ Feedback Control: A flight controller continuously adjusts motor speeds to stabilize the
drone based on sensor input.

2. Key Components in Stabilization

1. Flight Controller

●​ Acts as the "brain" of the drone.

●​ Continuously reads data from sensors and adjusts motor speeds to stabilize the drone.
●​ Examples: Betaflight, ArduPilot, DJI Naza.

2. Sensors
 ●​ Gyroscope: Measures angular velocity (roll, pitch, yaw).
●​ Accelerometer: Measures linear acceleration to detect tilt.
●​ Magnetometer: Measures magnetic field to determine heading.
●​ Barometer: Measures altitude for vertical stabilization.
●​ GPS (optional): For position hold and navigation.

3. Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs)

●​ Control motor speeds with high precision.

●​ Quickly adjust motor thrust based on flight controller commands.

4. Motors and Propellers

●​ Motors generate lift, while propellers affect thrust and torque.

●​ Proper alignment and balanced propellers are critical for stability.

3. Control Mechanism for Stabilization

The flight controller uses PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) control to stabilize the drone:

●​ Proportional (P): Corrects current errors (e.g., tilting too much).

●​ Integral (I): Accounts for accumulated errors over time.
●​ Derivative (D): Predicts future errors based on the rate of change.

These three terms work together to adjust motor speeds and keep the drone stable in the air.

4. Stabilization During Flight

1. Hovering

●​ All motors operate at equal thrust to maintain a stable altitude.

●​ Flight controller adjusts for small disturbances like wind or vibrations.

2. Rolling, Pitching, and Yawing

●​ Roll: Adjust opposite motors (e.g., left motors speed up, right motors slow down).
●​ Pitch: Adjust front and rear motors (e.g., front motors speed up, rear motors slow down).
●​ Yaw: Rotate the drone by varying the speed of clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise
(CCW) motors.

3. Compensation for External Forces

●​ Sensors detect changes caused by wind or sudden movements.

 ●​ Flight controller adjusts motor speeds in real time to counteract these forces.

5. Advanced Stabilization Techniques

1. Sensor Fusion

●​ Combine data from multiple sensors (gyroscope, accelerometer, GPS) for accurate
stabilization.
●​ Common algorithms: Kalman Filter, Complementary Filter.

2. Auto-Tuning

●​ Modern flight controllers include features to auto-tune PID values for optimal
performance.

3. Redundancy

●​ Advanced drones have multiple sensors (e.g., dual IMUs) to improve reliability.

4. Software Features

●​ Altitude Hold: Uses barometer to maintain a consistent height.

●​ Position Hold: Uses GPS and IMU to maintain a fixed position.
●​ Return-to-Home (RTH): Automatically flies back to the starting point using GPS.

6. Practical Tips for Stabilization

●​ Calibrate Sensors: Gyroscope, accelerometer, and compass need calibration before

flight.
●​ Balanced Propellers: Unbalanced props can cause vibrations and destabilize the drone.
●​ Tune PID Values: Adjust PID values manually or use auto-tuning to improve flight
stability.
●​ Proper Weight Distribution: Ensure the drone's weight is evenly distributed to avoid
tilting.
WIFI CONNECTION

Wi-Fi connection drones are commonly used for short-range operations, as they rely on Wi-Fi
networks to communicate between the drone and the controller (usually a smartphone, tablet, or
remote). These drones are user-friendly and affordable, making them ideal for beginners and
hobbyists. Here’s a guide to understanding how Wi-Fi drones work and how to get the most out
of them:

1. How Wi-Fi Drones Work

Wi-Fi drones establish a direct wireless connection between the drone and the controller device
via a Wi-Fi Access Point or Peer-to-Peer (P2P) connection:

●​ The drone creates a Wi-Fi network (e.g., Drone-XXXX).

●​ The user connects their smartphone, tablet, or controller to the drone's Wi-Fi.
●​ Communication occurs over the 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequency bands.

2. Range and Frequency

Frequency Bands

●​ 2.4GHz: Offers longer range but slower data transfer. More prone to interference.
●​ 5GHz: Offers higher speeds and less interference but with a shorter range.

Wi-Fi Range

●​ Most Wi-Fi drones have a range of 50–300 meters, depending on:

○​ Frequency band.
○​ Obstructions (e.g., buildings, trees).
○​ Signal interference from other devices.

3. Setting Up a Wi-Fi Drone

Step 1: Power On the Drone

●​ Turn on the drone and wait for it to initialize.

●​ The drone will create a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Step 2: Connect to the Drone’s Wi-Fi

 ●​ Open Wi-Fi settings on your smartphone or tablet.
●​ Find and connect to the drone’s Wi-Fi network (e.g., Drone-1234).
●​ If prompted, enter a password (often found in the user manual).

Step 3: Open the Drone Control App

●​ Install the drone’s companion app (e.g., DJI Fly, Tello app).
●​ Launch the app and confirm the connection.
●​ You should see a live video feed and controls.

4. Features Enabled by Wi-Fi Connection

Wi-Fi drones support a variety of features:

1.​ FPV (First-Person View): Real-time video streaming from the drone's camera.
2.​ Flight Controls: Operate the drone via touchscreen controls or a connected remote.
3.​ Photo and Video Capture: Record footage directly to your smartphone or the drone’s
onboard SD card.
4.​ Smart Flight Modes:
○​ Waypoint Navigation: Pre-set paths for the drone to follow.
○​ Follow Me: The drone follows a moving subject.
○​ Gesture Control: Control the drone using gestures (on some models).

5. Advantages of Wi-Fi Drones

●​ Ease of Use: No additional setup required beyond connecting to Wi-Fi.

●​ Affordability: Wi-Fi drones are cost-effective compared to other communication
technologies.
●​ FPV Compatibility: Real-time video transmission is readily available.

6. Limitations of Wi-Fi Drones

1.​ Limited Range:

○​ Wi-Fi signals weaken with distance or obstacles, reducing range and reliability.
○​ Upgrading to 5GHz can reduce interference but doesn’t fix range limitations.
2.​ Latency:
○​ Wi-Fi-based communication may introduce slight delays, especially in FPV mode.
3.​ Signal Interference:
 ○​ Nearby Wi-Fi networks and electronic devices can cause interference, affecting
performance.
4.​ Battery Drain:
○​ Wi-Fi communication consumes more power, reducing flight time.

7. Tips for Optimizing Wi-Fi Drone Performance

1.​ Fly in Open Areas:

○​ Avoid urban areas with heavy Wi-Fi interference.
○​ Choose open fields for a stronger and more stable connection.
2.​ Use a Strong Battery:
○​ Fully charge the drone’s and smartphone’s batteries before flying.
3.​ Upgrade to 5GHz (if supported):
○​ Use the less crowded 5GHz band for smoother operation and faster video feeds.
4.​ Position Antennas Correctly:
○​ Keep the antennas on your drone and controller oriented for optimal signal
reception.
5.​ Update Firmware:
○​ Regularly check for firmware updates for better performance and bug fixes.

CLASSIFICATION OF DRONES

https://dronstechnology.com/types-of-drones-a-detailed-classification/