Drones experienced rapid growth in the early 21st century, gradually expanding from military to civilian applications. Today, drones are widely used in various fields, including cargo delivery and express delivery, monitoring and measurement, environmental and animal protection, emergency rescue, environmental inspection, power line inspection, aerial photography and mapping, and agricultural plant protection. With the increasing maturity of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, drones are increasingly utilizing IoT technologies, with sensor technology playing a crucial role.
Accelerometers are used to determine orientation and the flight attitude of drones. Like the orientation of the Nintendo Wii controller or iPhone screen, these small MEMS sensors play a crucial role in maintaining flight control.
MEMS accelerometers have multiple methods for sensing motion posture, and one type of skill can sense the minute movements of micro-integrated circuits.
The movement of this type of "diving board" alters the movement of current in the structure, which in turn indicates a change in displacement related to gravity.
Another type of accelerometer technology is thermal convection technology, which has several significant advantages.
It has no moving parts; instead, it senses changes in motion by moving a "hot air mass." These sensors are highly sensitive and play a crucial role in applications such as secure vehicle cameras and video production.
With its control over vertical movement and vibration damping function, the producer can capture footage very smoothly. Furthermore, because these sensors have significantly better shock resistance than other products, the thermal convection MEMS sensors demonstrate excellent shock resistance in the drone propeller motion.
Inertial measurement unit
Inertial measurement units (IMUs) working in conjunction with GPS are crucial for maintaining orientation and flight path. With the development of intelligent unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), orientation and path control are paramount rules for air traffic management.
The multi-axis magnetic sensors used in the inertial measurement unit are essentially small, highly accurate compasses. They sense the direction, transmit the data to the central processing unit, and then indicate the direction and speed.
Tilt sensor
The tilt sensor, integrating a gyroscope and accelerometer, provides the flight control system with data to maintain level flight. This is the most critical stability monitoring application in the transportation and delivery of fragile goods.
These types of sensors and gyroscopes, in conjunction with accelerometers, can measure minute changes in motion, enabling tilt sensors to be used in motion applications such as gyroscope compensation in cars or drones.
Current sensor
In drones, power consumption and usage are paramount, especially when battery-powered. Current sensors can be used to monitor and optimize power consumption, ensuring the safety of internal battery charging and motor fault detection systems.
Current sensors work by measuring current (bidirectional) and ideally provide electrical isolation to reduce power loss and eliminate the chance of electric shock damaging user systems.
magnetic sensor
In drones, electronic compasses provide crucial information for inertial navigation and orientation systems.
Sensors based on anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) technology have a significant advantage in power consumption compared to other sensors, while also featuring high accuracy and short response time, making them highly suitable for use in drones.
The overall solution provides drone manufacturers with high-quality, secure, and compact data sensing solutions.
Engine intake air flow sensor
Flow sensors can be used to effectively monitor the fine airflow velocity of the gas engines in electric drones.
This function helps the engine CPU determine the appropriate fuel-air ratio at a specific engine speed, thereby improving power and efficiency, and reducing emissions.
Many gas engine mass flow sensors employ thermal technology, primarily using heated elements and at least one temperature sensor to quantify mass flow.
MEMS thermal gas mass flow sensors also utilize thermal principles in the micro-metering range and are suitable for applications with high precision requirements. With the continuous maturation and advancement of technology, and a deeper understanding of the value of drones, drones are becoming increasingly important.
