BME680 Drones are increasingly finding use in many applications, including as part of a first responder’s tool kit at the scene of an emergency or disaster. For example, during the fire at the Notre- Dame Cathedral in Paris they were used to initially report the size, heat, and extent of the active fire. They were also outfitted with thermal imaging capability to search for people still inside. Later, they were used to assess the damage. Clearly this kind of application presents challenges in trying to see through complex conditions such as smoke and flames with adequate resolution. As enticing as it may be to add more sensors to a drone to address these challenges, designers need to remain aware that drones are battery powered, and in many cases, cost sensitive. As a result, designers need to perform a delicate balancing act between functionality, cost, size, weight, and power consumption (SWaP). Finding this balance is the primary objective when considering the addition of sensors and imaging equipment to a drone design. This article discusses the architectural trade-offs designers need to consider when adding sensors to a drone. In doing so, particular attention is paid to the power supply, which will likely have magnetics that can add excess weight and take up precious space. In addition, suitable power supply and sensor solutions
are introduced from vendors that include Texas Instruments, Efficient Power Conversion, Analog Devices, Bosch Sensortec, STMicroelectronics, and SparkFun Electronics . Drone architectural design considerations The power supply : Once the designer knows the key areas on which to focus for optimum drone performance, they can then look at ways to minimize its physical size and weight, beginning with creating the most efficient power supply possible. This will lead to the minimization of the overall power supply size and weight, and so to a smaller, lighter drone. Being battery operated, a drone with greater power supply efficiency can operate with a smaller battery size and weight. A typical choice for a drone battery would be a rechargeable lithium battery—Li- Ion or Li-Po type—especially if the designer plans to recharge the battery when landing or hovering over a wireless charger, or just upon landing with an external charger. Designers can also use a standard non-rechargeable battery as the power source and replace it once it is discharged. When choosing a DC/DC converter, designers will need to use a wide input device due to the high voltage pulse of back EMF
we get technical
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