How Video and Photography Drones Work
For Beginners and those who want to know the basics behind these miracle machines.
Drones are in the news almost daily with millions being sold and flown. However, many are not familiar with the mechanics of how they work. This article will provide a basic explanation of the systems that keep a modern Camera Drone flying.
Is it Magic?
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” – Arthur C. Clarke
For our more logical minds, it may help to rename magic to “sensor fusion” which is defined as:
“combining of sensory data or data derived from disparate sources such that the resulting information has less uncertainty than would be possible when these sources were used individually.”
Some fancy words…for sure! An example might help. Most modern automobiles have anti-lock brakes which use various sensors and computers to acheive a better result than a human driver would. Based on the slippage of the tires, the steering angle and other such inputs, the anti-lock systems makes decisions which help your car stay on the road. It is only the combination of these sensors (sensor fusion) and the proper programming which makes the system function as intended.
Modern camera quadcopters, such as the Phantom 3 or Phantom 4 series, need to have control of multiple systems:
The flying machine itself
The camera/gimbal combination
Radio Control between the ground and the drone.
Keeping the drone AND the camera steady and under control results in the desired end – butter smooth video and stunning photographs.
Multirotor Flight Control Sensors and Instruments [Read more…]