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Page 157 - Toucpad robotics C11
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    Principle: Each propeller creates thrust (an upward force) by pushing air downwards. The drone’s flight controller
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                            independently adjusts the speed of each motor.
                            Movement Control:
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                               To lift off or ascend, all propellers speed up, increasing total thrust.
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                               To descend, they slow down.
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                               To move forward/backward (pitch), propellers on one side speed up while those on the opposite side slow
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                               down, tilting the drone.

                               To move sideways (roll), propellers on the left speed up while those on the right slow down, tilting the drone.
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                               To turn left/right (yaw), specific pairs of propellers speed up or slow down to create a rotational force.
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                            Advantages: Capable  of  vertical  take-off and  landing  (VTOL), stable  hovering, high maneuverability,  and
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                            easier to control for beginners.
                            Disadvantages: Limited flight time (battery life), slower forward speed compared to fixed-wing, sensitive to wind.
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                        Fixed-Wing Drones:
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                            Description: Resemble small aeroplanes with wings. They use
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                            a single or multiple propellers for forward thrust and rely on
                            the airflow over their wings to generate lift.
                            Principle: Similar to aeroplanes, they require forward motion
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                            to generate lift over their wings. Control surfaces (ailerons,
                            elevators, rudder) are used to steer and change altitude.
                            Advantages: Much longer flight times and greater range (more energy efficient at cruising speed), can carry
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                            heavier payloads for longer distances.

                            Disadvantages: Requires  a runway or launch system  for take-off and landing (cannot  hover or do  vertical
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                            take-off/landing), less maneuverable, more complex to operate.
                        Hybrid Drones (Fixed-Wing VTOL):
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                            Description: Combine features of both, offering vertical take-off and landing with the efficiency of fixed-wing flight.
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                            Advantages: Best of both worlds – vertical take-off/landing in confined spaces and efficient long-duration flight.
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                            Disadvantages: More mechanically complex and expensive.
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                     Control System and Stability

                        Flight Controller (The Brain): An onboard computer that runs sophisticated algorithms to continuously monitor the
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                        drone’s orientation, altitude, and position using various sensors. It then sends precise commands to the motors to
                        maintain stable flight or execute commanded movements.
                        Sensors for Stability and Navigation:
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                            Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU): Contains gyroscopes (to measure rotational rates and prevent unwanted
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                            spinning) and accelerometers (to measure linear acceleration and determine tilt/orientation relative to gravity).
                            This is absolutely critical for maintaining stable flight.
                            Barometer: Measures atmospheric pressure to estimate altitude.
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                            Global Positioning  System (GPS): Provides  precise  outdoor  location,  speed,  and  altitude  data,  enabling
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                            autonomous navigation between waypoints.
                            Magnetometer (Electronic Compass): Measures the Earth’s magnetic field to determine the drone’s heading
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                            (direction), similar to a compass.

                            Vision Sensors (Cameras): For visual odometry (tracking movement by observing visual features), obstacle
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                            avoidance (identifying objects), and landing assistance (recognising landing pads).

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                                                                                                    Applications of Robotic Systems

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