Article directory
1 Oilpan
Oilpan : This is an Arduino- type shieldthat pairs with an ArduPilotMega . It contains most of the sensors (gyroscope, accelerometer, barometer, etc.), allowing ArduPilotMega to function as an autopilot .
2 OSD
OSD : On-screen display. A way of integrating data, usually telemetry, into a live video stream sent from an aircraft to the ground.
3 PCB
PCB : Printed circuit board. Unlike breadboards or prototyping boards, printed circuit boards can be reused in many projects.
4 PCM
PCM : Pulse Code Modulation, the technology used by modern remote control transmitters/receivers to transmit remote control channel information. It is transmitted digitally using a numeric code to represent the channel number, the position of the transmitter rod or switch, and sometimes other information. Some modern remote control systems also provide digital signals to control digital servos - usually unique to each manufacturer.
5 PDB
PDB : Power distribution board. A circuit board used in multi-rotor aircraft to distribute power to multiple ESCs.
6 PIC
PIC : Pilot in Command. Refers to the FAA's requirement that if an unmanned aerial vehicle is approved by the COA under a recreational exemption, it must fly under the direct control of a pilot. See " Sight " above. (Not to be confused with Microchip 's line of PIC processors).
7 PID
PID : proportional/integral/derivative control method. A machine control algorithm that enables more precise sensor-motion control loops with less overcontrol. See here ( this ) for more information.
8 THEN
POI : point of interest. Specify a point at which the drone should aim its camera.
9 PPM
PPM : Pulse Position Modulation . A square wave pulse sequence used to transmit multi-channel information between some remote control transmitters and receivers. Some remote control receivers offer a PPM output (sometimes called PPM sum), which can be used with Pixhawk series boards. Other receivers convert the PPM signal to provide only a PWM signal for each channel.
10 PWM
PWM : Pulse Width Modulation. Square wave signal used to drive servos and speed controllers in remote control. Each channel has a PWM signal. The width varies from 1000 microseconds to 2000 microseconds, depending on the RC manufacturer.
11 PX4FMU/PX4IO
PX4FMU/PX4IO : The first version ( FMUv1 ) of the Pixhawk series of autopilots. discontinued.
12 RTL
RTL : Return to launch location. Fly back to the " Home point " where the plane took off.
13 SiRF III
SiRF III :The standard used by most modern GPS modules. Includes !SiRF III binary mode, which is an alternative mode to the ASCII -based NMEA standard mentioned above.
14 Sketch
Sketch :Program files, drivers, and other code generated by the Arduinio IDE for a single project.
15 SVN
SVN : Short for the Subversion version-controlled source code repositoryused by DIY Drones and other teams.
16 Telemetry System
Telemetry System : A two-way radio system that sends flight data from an aircraft and sends control or adjustment information back from a " ground station " (usually a laptop computer). See telemetry landing page for options .
17 Thermopile
Thermopile : Infrared detector. Typically used in pairs in drones, tilt and pitch are measured by observing the difference in infrared signatures in front of, behind and on both sides of the horizon. This is based on the fact that there is always an infrared gradient between sky and earth, and just ensuring that each pair of sensors gives the same reading will keep the aircraft level when flying in opposite directions. Electronic gyroscopes have largely replaced this device and are no longer in common use.
18 UAV
UAV : Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. In the military world, these aircraft are increasingly referred to as unmanned aerial systems ( UAS ) to reflect that the aircraft are only part of a complex system in the air and on the ground. Autonomous robots on the ground are called unmanned ground vehicles ( UGVs ), and robotic submersibles are called autonomous underwater vehicles ( AUVs ). Robotic ships are called unmanned surface vehicles ( USVs ).
19 VLOS
VLOS : Visual Line of Sight. The pilot's ability to see the aircraft from the ground without the use of artificial visual aids (other than glasses) is sufficient to control the aircraft. FAA regulations require.
20 WAAS
WAAS : Wide Area Augmentation System. A system of satellites and ground stations that provides GPS signal correction with positioning accuracy five times greaterthan uncorrected GPS . See here ( this ) for more information.
21 Xbee
Xbee : The commercial name for a ZigBee- compatible radio modem commonly used by amateur drones. You can find these modems at sparkfun , but keep in mind you'll also need a circuit board to mount it on, likethis one from sparkfun .
22 ZigBee
ZigBee : A wireless communication standard with longer transmission distance than Bluetooth but lower power consumption than WiFi .