Unit 3: Introduction to Drones - Part 2
micro SD
A Secure Digital (SD) card that has non- volatile memory for use in portable devices.
V-tail
A configuration that is a 4-motor quadcopter with two of the motors attached on the front arms as normal, but the rear motors are in closer proximity and tilted at a slightly vertical angle.
Mode 1/Mode 2
A configuration used on transmitters. One has the throttle located on the right transmitter stick while the other has the throttle stock on the left.
Kv rating
A measurement of a motor's RPM per volt (RPM/volt). The number is a constant that tells you the RPM of the motor when a potential difference of 1V (1 volt) is applied with no load.
modem
A network hardware device that modulates one or more carrier wave signals to encode digital information for transmission and demodulates signals to decode the transmitted information.
LiPo
A rechargeable battery of lithium-ion technology in a pouch format. Unlike cylindrical and prismatic cells, they come in a soft package or pouch, which makes them lighter but also less rigid.
waypoint
A reference point in physical space used for purposes of navigation, otherwise known as a landmark.
multirotor
A rotorcraft with more than two rotors.
microcontroller
A small computer on a single integrated circuit containing a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals.
LED
A two-lead semiconductor light source.
mAh
A unit that measures electric power over time, commonly used to measure the energy capacity of a battery.
nano drones
A very small unmanned aerial vehicle.
sUAV
Acronym for a Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle lighter than 55 lbs.
UAV
Acronym for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
UGV
Acronym for an Unmanned Ground Vehicle.
telemetry
An automated communications process by which measurements and other data are collected at remote or inaccessible points and transmitted to receiving equipment for monitoring.
servo
An electromagnetic device that converts electricity into precise controlled motion by use of negative feedback mechanisms.
sensor
An electronic device used to measure a physical quantity such as temperature or pressure and convert it into an electronic signal.
magnetometer
An instrument that measures the direction of the magnetic field at a point in space.
octocopter
An unmanned mulitcopter having eight rotors.
quadcopter
An unmanned multicopter having four rotors.
tricopter
An unmanned multicopter having three rotors.
terrestrial
Means of or relating to land as distinct from water.
pitch
Motion about the lateral axis, and it's a measure of how far an aircraft's nose is tilted up or down.
VLOS
Refers to a normally unobstructed view between an intended observer and a drone. Same as LOS (line-of-sight).
UAS
Refers to an unmanned aircraft and all its components.
submersible
Refers to any device designed to be completely submerged or to operate while submerged.
ROV
Refers to remote control vehicles operating on land or in the air.
racing drones
Small radio-controlled quadcopters, often equipped with cameras showing the live stream camera feed, designed to compete in races over a set course.
yaw
The aeronautical term used to describe a twisting of a moving aircraft around the vertical axis.
payload
The carrying capacity of an aircraft or launch vehicle, usually measured in terms of weight.
stator
The stationary portion of an electric generator or motor.
torque
The tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis and relates to the lifting power of a drone.
R/C
The use of radio signals to remotely control a drone from a hand-held radio transmitter.
