Drones - Principles, Components, Design and Control

February 6, 2016, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, at the National Electronics Museum

Speakers:    Jonathan McGee, Duy Tang

Abstract

Electronics.  In the last three years we have seen an explosion of drone (Multi Rotor copters) use.  Drones are a popular subject in today’s world, and their components and accessories are important for engineers to understand.  The components being discussed in this workshop include the flight controllers, electronic speed controllers, remote control systems, the first person viewer (FPV) technologies, and the wiring for the drones themselves.  By understanding all of the components of a drone, one will be able to modify and automate the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).

Mechanics and practical considerations: Typically, the larger the vehicle, the more capable it is.  Some quad copters can be purchased for less than $1K that require little or no prior experience to operate.  However, more often than not, the owner makes a mistake and the quad is badly damaged or lost. In this workshop we also examine popular quad copters types, their uses, and limitations. An examination on the safe operation of quad copters is offered, along with an opportunity for the course participants to fly a quad copter on a simulator and experience First Person View (FPV) while at the controls.  A discussion of how to use these devices in a safe and legal manner is also included. 

Agenda:

10:00 am – 11:45 am Electronics

11:45 am – 12:15 pm Break

12:15 pm – 2:00 pm Mechanics and Practical considerations, including Flying Quads on the Simulation

Speakers’ Biographies

Jonathan McGee

Jonathan McGee is a third-year Computer Engineering student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), and he has been the secretary of UMBC’s IEEE organization for two years.  He has led a workshop on how to build quadcopters, as well as run a competition where members of Engineering clubs from UMBC gathered to fly and compete in events with the quadcopters. In the Summer of 2015, Jonathan worked at Textron Unmanned Systems, where he helped to build an automated testing software that the Systems Engineers at Textron will be using to make the testing easier and more time effective.

Duy Tang

Duy Tang is a junior Computer Engineering Major at UMBC specializing in Electronics/VLSI. He is the Treasurer of the IEEE Student Branch at UMBC and is a Software Developer for ProObject, working on Bluetooth Low Energy Devices. He is interested in electronics, robotics, and Bluetooth Low Energy.

Registration: The course is sponsored by the Baltimore Section of the IEEE and is free of charge for IEEE members. All course applicants should register through vTools providing also their IEEE membership number:

https://meetings.vtools.ieee.org/m/37478

Attendees can obtain a CEU credit and a certificate from the IEEE by sending an email in advance to Boris Gramatikov (bgramat@jhmi.edu, subject: “CEEE”) indicating IEEE status and IEEE membership number, as well as their current employer. All course applicants should register through vTools. No exceptions will be made. Non-members who wish to attend should contact Dr. Gramatikov per email ahead of time and can only be included if the course is not filled with IEEE members.