The droner's manual : a guide to the responsible operation of small unmanned aircraft / Kevin Jenkins.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jenkins, Kevin (Aerospace engineer), author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Vehicles, Remotely piloted--Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Vehicles, Remotely piloted.

Drone aircraft--Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Drone aircraft.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (177 pages) : illustrations

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Newcastle, Washington : Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc., [2017]

Summary:

The incredible advancements in the field of unmanned aircraft within the last decade have made it possible for almost anyone to build their own UAV, opening up exciting business opportunities in numerous fields ranging from video production to agriculture. However, many beginners and even more experienced hobbyists find this daunting, as reliable information for construction and programming of unmanned aircraft is often scattered across various sources, and the industry lacks established standards for the safe and efficient operation of small unmanned aircraft. The Droner's Manual: A Guide to the Responsible Operation of Small Unmanned Aircraft compiles the most important and relevant knowledge into a guide for both beginner and experienced operators. With his expertise as a UAV operator for government, industry, and hobby uses, author Kevin Jenkins offers step-by-step guidance to build, program, test, and fly both multicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for a variety of purposes. This comprehensive manual covers unmanned system components, aircraft set up, flight controller fundamentals and failsafe features, regulations for recreational and commercial use, the flight testing process, and flight operations. The more than 70 illustrations include detailed schematics and diagrams for the construction of complex systems such as first-person view (FPV) and imaging payloads. You will fly with confidence by following this book's direction on mission planning, checklists, and safe flight operations. Whether you use it to build your first unmanned aircraft or as a handy reference in the field, The Droner's Manual is an essential for drone builders, pilots, and operators.

Contents:

Introduction

Abbreviations

Unmanned system components

Ground systems

Interface device

Telemetry transmitter/receiver

Remote control transmitter

Payload interface

Power sources

Remote control (RC) systems

Theory of operation

Configuration

Selecting a system

Aircraft systems

Introduction to airframes

Electrical system

Flight controller

Flight controller sensors

Telemetry unit

Maneuvering controls

Propulsion system

Imaging sensor payloads

Selecting components for a multicopter

Selecting components for an airplane

Aircraft set up

Assembly and integration

Using fastener retention methods

Using caution with electrical components

Planning component placement

Protecting and securing connections

Wiring and routing

Vibration mitigation

Considering upgrades, replacement, and maintenance

Common info

Standard RC connections

Motor and ESC setup

Multicopter set up

Airplane set up

Flight controller fundamentals

Common flight modes

Stabilize (fixed and rotor wing)

Auto (fixed and rotor wing)

Return to home (RTH) (fixed and rotor wing)

Land now (fixed and rotor wing)

Aircraft-specific flight modes

Augmented rotor-wing control modes

Augmented fixed-wing control sub-modes

Flight controller failsafe

Common failsafe conditions

Actions

Failsafe summary

Regulations

Recreational use

Commercial use

Small UAS registration

The academy of model aeronautics (AMA)

Flight testing process

Multicopter flight testing

Selecting a suitable test site

Safety

Arming and tip over/control checks

Low hover check

Hover throttle setting with dummy payload weight

Pitch and roll PID tuning with dummy payload weight

Yaw testing with dummy payload weight

Altitude hold tuning with dummy payload weight

Maximum horizontal speed setting

Climb rate settings

Autonomous test with dummy payload weight

Failsafe test with dummy payload weight

Mode checks with dummy payload weight

Flight test with live payload

Fixed-wing flight testing

RC flight check with dummy payload

Configuring the flight controller

Stabilized flight check with dummy payload

Autonomous flight check with dummy payload

Autonomous launch and landing with dummy payload

Failsafe checks with dummy payload

PID loops and tuning

PID loops

Tuning process

Flight operations

Mission planning

Fixed-wing commands

Rotor-wing commands

General actions (?)

Developing a checklist

Power off preflight checks

Power on procedure

Power on preflight checks

Arming and launch

In flight

Recovery and shutdown

Building a field kit.

Notes:

Includes index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-61954-434-2