Drones Study Guide
1.Definition of Drones
A drone is a dynamic remotely controlled navigation equipment that operates
without a human pilot on board. It is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can
be controlled remotely by a user or autonomously through onboard computers
and sensors. Drones are equipped with various technologies, including GPS,
cameras, and sensors, which enable them to perform a wide range of tasks such
as surveillance, photography, delivery, and scientific research.
2. What is a UAV?
UAV stands for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. It is another term for a drone. UAVs can
be used for various purposes, including surveillance, delivery, photography, and
recreation.
3. Parts of a Drone(Pluto X)
● Frame: The structure that holds all the parts of the drone together.
● Motors: Provide the force needed to lift and move the drone.
● Propellers: Attached to the motors, they spin to create lift.
● Flight Controller: The brain of the drone, which processes inputs and
controls the drone's movement.
● Battery: Provides power to the drone.
● Sensors: Include gyroscopes, accelerometers, and GPS, which help the
drone maintain stability and navigate.
Using the Pluto X Drone
The Pluto X is a versatile drone used for educational purposes. It is designed to
help students understand the basics of drone technology and programming. Here
are some key features:
● Modular Design: Easy to assemble and disassemble.
● Programmable: Can be programmed for different tasks and behaviors.
● Safe for Indoor Use: Lightweight and equipped with propeller guards.
4. What is the Aerofoil Method?
An aerofoil (or airfoil) is a shape designed to create lift when air flows over it. The
curved shape of an aerofoil causes air to move faster over the top surface than
the bottom, creating a pressure difference that lifts the drone into the air. This
principle is used in the design of drone propellers.
5.Drone Motion and Motor Direction
Opposite Direction of Adjacent Motors
In most quadcopters, the adjacent motors rotate in opposite directions.
This setup helps stabilize the drone and makes controlling it easier. Here’s a
simplified explanation:
● Clockwise (CW) Motors: Two motors spin clockwise.
● Counterclockwise (CCW) Motors: The other two motors spin
counterclockwise.
This configuration helps counteract the torque produced by each motor,
stabilizing the drone and preventing it from spinning uncontrollably. By having
adjacent motors spin in opposite directions, the drone can achieve a balanced
flight.
Motions of a Drone
● Throttle: Controls the altitude of the drone. Increasing throttle makes the
drone rise, while decreasing throttle makes it descend.
● Pitch: Tilts the drone forward or backward. Pitch forward to move the
drone forward and pitch backward to move it backward.
● Yaw: Rotates the drone left or right. Yaw left to rotate counterclockwise and
yaw right to rotate clockwise.
● Roll: Tilts the drone to the left or right. Rolling left makes the drone move
left, and rolling right makes it move right.
How Drone Motions Are Achieved
The motion of a drone is controlled by changing the speed of its motors. The four
main motions are throttle, pitch, yaw, and roll.
1. Throttle (Altitude Control)
● Purpose: Controls the drone’s altitude (how high or low it flies). ● How It
Works:
○ Increase Throttle: All four motors spin faster, generating more lift and
making the drone rise.
○ Decrease Throttle: All four motors spin slower, generating less lift and
making the drone descend.
2. Pitch (Forward and Backward Movement)
● Purpose: Tilts the drone forward or backward.
● How It Works:
○ Pitch Forward: The rear motors spin faster, and the front motors spin
slower. This tilts the drone forward, causing it to move forward.
○ Pitch Backward: The front motors spin faster, and the rear motors spin
slower. This tilts the drone backward, causing it to move backward.
3. Yaw (Rotation Around Vertical Axis)
● Purpose: Rotates the drone left or right around its vertical axis.
● How It Works:
○ Yaw Left: The motors spinning counterclockwise (CCW) spin faster,
and the motors spinning clockwise (CW) spin slower. This causes the
drone to rotate left.
○ Yaw Right: The motors spinning clockwise (CW) spin faster, and the
motors spinning counterclockwise (CCW) spin slower. This causes the
drone to rotate right.
4. Roll (Sideways Movement)
● Purpose: Tilts the drone to the left or right.
● How It Works:
○ Roll Left: The motors on the right side spin faster, and the motors on
the left side spin slower. This tilts the drone to the left, causing it to
move left.
○ Roll Right: The motors on the left side spin faster, and the motors on
the right side spin slower. This tilts the drone to the right, causing it
to move right.
Summary of Motor Speed Changes for Each Motion
1. Throttle:
0 Increase: All motors spin faster.
○ Decrease: All motors spin slower.
2. Pitch:
0 Forward: Rear motors faster, front motors slower.
○ Backward: Front motors faster, rear motors slower.
3. Yaw:
0 Left: CCW motors faster, CW motors slower.
○ Right: CW motors faster, CCW motors slower.
4. Roll:
0 Left: Right motors faster, left motors slower.
○ Right: Left motors faster, right motors slower.
By precisely controlling the speed of each motor, the drone can achieve smooth
and stable flight in all directions. Understanding these principles helps in both
flying and troubleshooting drones.
Introduction
Hi everyone, my name is Mohanya, and today I’ll explain how drones move and
stay balanced in the air. We’ll cover the aerofoil method, motor directions for
stabilization, and how drones perform key motions like rising, rotating, and
moving sideways.
1. Aerofoil Method
An aerofoil is a curved shape that creates lift when air flows over it. Air moves
faster over the top, creating a pressure difference that lifts the drone. This is how
drone propellers keep them in the air.
2. Motor Direction and Stabilization
In quadcopters, motors spin in opposite directions for balance:
Clockwise (CW) Motors: Two motors spin clockwise.
Counterclockwise (CCW) Motors: The other two spin counterclockwise.
This setup prevents the drone from spinning uncontrollably by balancing
the torque from each motor.
3. Drone Motions
Drone movements depend on controlling motor speeds, allowing it to rise, rotate,
or move forward, backward, and sideways. The main motions are Throttle, Pitch,
Yaw, and Roll.
1. Throttle (Altitude)
How: Increasing throttle speeds up all motors, making the drone rise;
decreasing throttle slows them, making it descend.
2. Pitch (Forward/Backward)
How: Forward → Rear motors speed up; backward → Front motors speed
up.
3. Yaw (Rotation)
How: Left → CCW motors speed up; right → CW motors speed up.
4. Roll (Sideways)
How: Left → Right motors speed up; right → Left motors speed up.
Summary:
Throttle: All motors spin faster/slower.
Pitch: Forward → Rear motors faster; backward → Front motors faster.
Yaw: Left → CCW motors faster; right → CW motors faster.
Roll: Left → Right motors faster; right → Left motors faster.
By controlling motor speeds, drones achieve smooth and stable flight in all
directions.
