Safety Features
The Microdrone has been designed with safety and simplicity in mind. It has various different safety features that allow the operator to fly his microdrone with peace of mind.
The MD Cockpit has the following safety features that are automatically activated and prompt the operator in two different ways whilst operating to improve operator awareness and safety.
- A clearly understood English speaking female voice telling you what the problem is.
- Visual text prompts on the MD cock pit screen.
Safety prompts.
- Battery estimation filters to monitor the voltage of the flight pack.
- Detection of invalid receiver signals.
- Monitoring of RC quality and transmitting range.
- Warnings against out transmitting range for the receiver and downlink.
- Monitoring of receiver and downlink quality with quality warnings.
- Monitoring of GPS quality, accuracy and satellite count.
- Recognition filters of high current loads on the motor windings with danger warning.
- Recognition filters for possible propulsion overload, danger warning.
- Recognition filters if pitch or roll axis limits are exceeded.
- Indication of the last known GPS position.
- Real time export of the flight path / position onto Google Earth.
- Automatic detection of critical problems with the flight recorder data analysis system. (SD card reader)
Safety actions /features.
The microdrone has a number of features that will prevent the machine from flying if it suspects there is an issue. MD Cockpit has a data field called "machine state" and this field will notify the pilot of any potential problems before takeoff can be initiated. The following are checked before every flight by the machine automatically.
- GPS accuracy within set tolerances < 6 meters accuracy and satellite count greater than > 6
- Barometer sensor working and within tolerances
- Altimeter sensor working and within tolerances
- Magnometer sensor working and within tolerances
- Valid RC signal strength / channel
- Battery voltage isn't too low
- GPS has locked on
- Navigation system is working
In the very unlikely event of the following problems occurring, the microdrone will initiate an automatic fail safe landing procedure.
- Total radio loss for 30 seconds or greater
- Critical battery voltage occurs in flight
- Other system failures
The microdrone will depending on what error occurs maintain its current GPS position for a certain amount of time (30 seconds). Within this 30 second period the machine and operator can try and rectify the problem. If the problem can't be rectified the machine will automatically descend vertically at a safe rate of 50 cm per second. This provides plenty of time to clear the area and give warning to others. Upon touch down the motors will stop and the machine will shut down.
The Microdrone is also fitted with an extremely comprehensive Black Box system that records every single flight control movement, command, position and value for every flight the machine ever makes. It's the same principle used in full size aviation to allow for highly detailed system analysis. To read more about the please see the "black box" page.
