| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
ADSB |
Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast. A technology increasing aircraft safety based on aircraft-to-aircraft or aircraft-to-ground GPS position reporting. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
AGL |
Above Ground Level. A relative altitude above the ground. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
Airplane |
An aircraft with fixed wings and airfoils to generate lift. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
Airspace |
A 3D area above the ground, often separated into classes and regulated differently based on proximity to airports. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
Altitude |
The vertical distance between two reference points, often expressed in AGL or MSL (links). |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
ATC |
Air Traffic Control. The people and systems in place for maintaining safety and separation of aircraft in the air or on the ground at airports. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
BVLOS |
Beyond Visual Line of Sight. Often referring to operating aircraft without seeing it. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
CG |
Center of Gravity. The point at wich the vehicle balances in every direction |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
COA |
Certificate of Authorization. A certificate allowing operations within airspace that does not normally allow UAVs. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
Cross-Track / X-Track |
The perpendicular horizontal distance from a flight line or path |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
Dead Reckoning |
Using past position, and navigation data to estimate the current vehicle position. Often used during GPS or absolute position sensor failure. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
FPV |
First Person View. Flying an aircraft from the ground using sensors or cameras providing live feedback from the aircraft. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
Ground Track |
The path of the vehicle projected down to the ground. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
Ground Effect |
The air under a vehicle that acts as a cushion when operating in very close proximity to the ground. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
LOS |
Line of sight. The ability of a person to see the aircraft using their eyes. Often referenced by regulations. Also VLOS. See BVLOS |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
MSL |
Mean Sea Level. An absolute form of altitude based on the average sea level as the reference point. Ex: 200m MSL is 200 meters above the mean ocean level. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
NFZ |
No Fly Zone. An area or airspace that prohibits aircraft from flying. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
Odometry |
|
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
PIC |
Pilot In Command. The person in charge of a flight. Not necessarily the operator. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
Pilotage |
Using present locational data to determine the position of a vehicle. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
Rotocraft |
An aircraft with rotating airfoils as the primary lift mechanism. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
UAS |
Unmanned Aerial System. The UAV and its equipment on the ground. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
UAV |
Unmanned Aerial Vechicle. An aircraft operated without a pilot on board. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
VRS |
Vortex Ring State. An unstable state in wich a rotocraft is unable to increase altitude because of the descending air above the rotors. |
| AIRCRAFT GENERAL |
VSI |
Vertical Speed Indicator. An instrument showing the rate of change of altitude. Usually expressed in units like feet per minute or meters per second. |
| ARDUPILOT |
Antenna Tracker |
The ardupilot code/firmware that is applicable to controlling antennas to point at moving vehicles |
| ARDUPILOT |
ArduCopter |
The ardupilot code/firmware that is applicable to copters |
| ARDUPILOT |
ArduPlane |
The ardupilot code/firmware that is applicable to planes |
| ARDUPILOT |
ArduRover |
The ardupilot code/firmware that is applicable to rovers |
| ARDUPILOT |
ArduSub |
The ardupilot code/firmware that is applicable to subs |
| ARDUPILOT |
Copter |
A type of rotocraft vehicle that can be operated with Ardupilot. Takes off and lands vertically. Intended for hovering and highly maneuverable flight. Ex: Helicopter, Quadcopter, Hexacopter. |
| ARDUPILOT |
Plane |
See Plane. Ex: Propeller driven electric and combusion engine airframes. Includes hybrid aircraft such as quadplanes and tailsitters. |
| ARDUPILOT |
Rover |
A vehicle type that operates on the ground or surface. Ex: cars, boats, and tracked vehicles. |
| ARDUPILOT |
Sub |
A vehicle that operates on bouyancy. Ex: Submarines, Blimps. |
| CODE |
AHRS |
|
| CODE |
AP_ |
|
| CODE |
APM |
|
| CODE |
APSync |
|
| CODE |
Artifical Horizon |
|
| CODE |
Autotune |
|
| CODE |
Binary |
|
| CODE |
BPSK |
|
| CODE |
DCM |
|
| CODE |
DF |
|
| CODE |
EKF |
|
| CODE |
Failsafe |
|
| CODE |
FF |
|
| CODE |
FOC (Field Oriented Control) |
|
| CODE |
GCS |
|
| CODE |
HAL |
|
| CODE |
HIL |
|
| CODE |
HUD |
|
| CODE |
ICSP |
|
| CODE |
IDE |
|
| CODE |
Innovation (EKF) |
|
| CODE |
INS |
|
| CODE |
Kalman Filter |
|
| CODE |
Languages |
|
| CODE |
Log |
|
| CODE |
Mavlink |
|
| CODE |
MavProxy |
|
| CODE |
Parameter |
|
| CODE |
Pass-Through |
|
| CODE |
POI |
|
| CODE |
Pos Y X |
|
| CODE |
PyMavLink |
|
| CODE |
Quaternion |
|
| CODE |
ROS |
|
| CODE |
RTL |
|
| CODE |
Saturation |
|
| CODE |
SiRF III |
|
| CODE |
SITL |
|
| CODE |
Sketch |
|
| CODE |
SLAM |
|
| CODE |
Storm32 |
|
| CODE |
SVN |
|
| CODE |
Telemetry |
|
| CODE |
Turn indicator |
|
| CODE |
UWB |
|
| CODE |
ZigBee |
|
| CONTROLLERS |
Accelerometer |
Device that detects linear acceleration. Often located within a flight controller board. |
| CONTROLLERS |
APM |
Ardupilot Mega - The original mass-produced board that can power autonomous vehicles. Not produced any more - obsolete |
| CONTROLLERS |
APM 2 |
|
| CONTROLLERS |
Barometer |
Hihgly sensitive pressure sensor to detect the pressure altitude of an aircraft. Known to drift due to temperature and atmospheric changes. |
| CONTROLLERS |
BEC/UBEC |
Battery Eliminator Circuit - A device used to supply a constant, lower voltage to power auxillary devices like servos and lights. |
| CONTROLLERS |
Bootloader |
|
| CONTROLLERS |
Companion Computer |
A device on board an aircraft that is connected to a flight controller for increased functionality. A companion computer can do many things including live mission scripting |
| CONTROLLERS |
Compass |
A set of magnetometers to detect the flux and estimated orientation of the flight controller |
| CONTROLLERS |
Firmware |
Code that is loaded on to a flight controller or other board to make it run |
| CONTROLLERS |
FMU |
|
| CONTROLLERS |
Gyro |
Device that detects rotational acceleration. Often located within a flight controller board. |
| CONTROLLERS |
Hotshoe |
Part of a camera that connects to external devices such as flashes. Useful to detect shutter releases for aerial mapping. |
| CONTROLLERS |
IMU |
Inertial Measurement Unit - Used to estimate vehicle position without an absolute reference. |
| CONTROLLERS |
IO |
Input/Output - Often referring to the board connecting peripheral devices like the GPS, servos, and ESCs. |
| CONTROLLERS |
Joystick |
Device connected to a computer to give additional inputs through a ground station |
| CONTROLLERS |
LCD |
Liquid Crystal Display - can be connected to a flight controller to give a live display on board the aircraft |
| CONTROLLERS |
LiDAR |
Laser imaging Distancing and Ranging - a highly accurate method of remote sensing using light beams instead of passive triangulation or short-range sonar |
| CONTROLLERS |
Mode |
Type of operation of the vehicle. In different modes, the vehicle will respond to user input differenly. |
| CONTROLLERS |
PCM |
|
| CONTROLLERS |
PDB |
|
| CONTROLLERS |
Pixhawk |
One of the most common open-source flight controllers. Originally developed by 3DR. Also the benchmark for the pixhawk 2.1 |
| CONTROLLERS |
Pixhawk 2.1 |
An advanced flight controller with some design improvements over the pixhawk including a vibration isolated and heated IMU, better connectors, and a removable cube for future upgraeds |
| CONTROLLERS |
Pixracer |
A very small flight controller with less inputs and outputs, made for smaller vehicles that need less automation. |
| CONTROLLERS |
Power Module |
Device connected to flight controller to detect current and or voltage of a battery. Useful to monitor battery status and remaining capacity |
| CONTROLLERS |
PPM |
Pulse Position Modulation - A very basic form of digital communication used by most new transmitters and recievers to send multiple channels over one signal wire |
| CONTROLLERS |
PWM |
Pulse Width Modulation - A very common form of digital communication used by almost all servos and older recievers and ESC’s. Limits signal to 1 channel per wire. Pulse widths are often between 1000-2000ms, with the center for servos at approximately 1500ms. |
| CONTROLLERS |
PX4 |
|
| CONTROLLERS |
Rangefinder |
Device used to detect the distance of an object, usually the nearest. Useful for obstacle avoidance and landings to correct for barometer drift. |
| CONTROLLERS |
Reciever |
Device used to detect wireless signals from a transmitter and translate the signals into a usable communication method, usually PPM, PWM, or S.BUS. |
| CONTROLLERS |
Safety Switch |
Switch with embedded LED used to enable or disable servo and motor outputs |
| CONTROLLERS |
Servo Rail |
The pins on a flight controller that control servos, ESC’s, or other PWM devices. Usually 5v, but can vary depending on the application. Almost always externally powered. |
| CONTROLLERS |
Sonar |
Distance measurement using sound waves or pulses. Usually short-range position sensing for obstacle avoidance in copters. |
| CONTROLLERS |
SPI |
|
| CONTROLLERS |
SRAM |
|
| CONTROLLERS |
The Cube |
A modular, heated, vibration isolated flight controller that sits on top of an I/O board. Intended to be removed and replaced when hardware technology improves. |
| CONTROLLERS |
USB |
|
| CONTROLLERS |
Vibration Isolation |
Supporting a device so that it is not impacted by vehicle vibrations. Common forms are soft foam or rubber pads. Flight controller vibration can provide bad data resulting in erraneous AHRS estimates. |
| COPTER |
Autorotation |
A method of safe landing with a helicopter without propulsion. Uses the energy of the vehicle to maintain rotor speed during descent until close to the ground. The rotor energy is converted to thrust just before landing to slow the descent for a safe landing. |
| COPTER |
Coaxial Helicopter |
A helicopter with two counter-rotating rotors. Rarely has a tail rotor for yaw control |
| COPTER |
Heavy Lifter |
A large vehicle intenede to carry a payload that is significant compared to the vehicle empty weight |
| COPTER |
Helicopter (TradHeli) |
An aircraft with a main rotor and a tail rotor that are independently controlled. |
| COPTER |
Multicopter |
An aircraft with 3 or more propellers that maneuvers by changing the speed, thrust, or direction of those propellers. Most often electrically powered. Ex: Tricopter (3 motors), Quadcopter (4 motors), Hexacopter (6 motors), Octacopter (8 motors), etc. |
| COPTER |
Racing Quad |
A high speed copter with 4 motors and an on-board camera used for FPV racing or acrobatics |
| COPTER |
Rotocraft |
A type of vehicle using rotating airfoils as the primary lifting mechanism. |
| COPTER |
Tandem Helicopter |
A helicopter using two, separately controlled parallel axis rotors to provide lift and control. Different from coaxial helicopter in that the rotors do not rotate on the same axis. |
| COPTER |
Tethered Copter |
A copter that is physically connected to the ground via a cord. The cord can transmit power to the copter, offering extended hovering times. |
| FORUM ABBREVIATIONS |
IDK |
I don’t know |
| FORUM ABBREVIATIONS |
IIRC |
If I remember correctly |
| FORUM ABBREVIATIONS |
LGTM |
Looks good to me |
| FORUM ABBREVIATIONS |
LoIDH |
Logs or it didn’t happen |
| FORUM ABBREVIATIONS |
WAG |
Wild ass guess |
| FORUM ABBREVIATIONS |
WTF |
what a terrible failure |
| GENERAL |
Auxillary (AUX) |
A component that is not a part of the main feature |
| GENERAL |
Body frame |
Positions with the vehicle’s frame as the reference. Different from Earth frame |
| GENERAL |
Calibrate |
Adjust sensor data to take external factors into account to allow comparison with other data. |
| GENERAL |
CPU |
Central Processing Unit |
| GENERAL |
Drone |
An autonomous, unmanned vehicle, most often associated with aircraft. |
| GENERAL |
Dynamic |
Moving |
| GENERAL |
Earth frame |
Positions with the earth/ground as the reference. Different from Body frame |
| GENERAL |
EMF |
Electromagnetic Field |
| GENERAL |
EMI |
|
| GENERAL |
FFT |
Fast Fourier transform (FFT). An algorithm that samples a signal over a period of time and divides it into its frequency components. Useful for radio frequency and vibration analysis. |
| GENERAL |
Firmware |
A code set that can be loaded onto a flight controller or other PCB to make it operate. |
| GENERAL |
Gimbal |
A device that rotates things like cameras to stabilize them on 1, 2, or 3 axes |
| GENERAL |
Gimbal lock |
Device that stops a gimbal from moving |
| GENERAL |
Hardware |
Physical, tangible devices used to gather or process data |
| GENERAL |
Hardware support |
The customer service or help to diagnose or solve problems related to hardware |
| GENERAL |
Inertial frame |
|
| GENERAL |
Lean angle |
|
| GENERAL |
LED |
Light emitting diode. Small and efficient light source often on PCBs |
| GENERAL |
Open Source |
Publishing information to allow for copying and continued development by anyone. Ardupilot is open source. |
| GENERAL |
PCB |
Printed circuit board. |
| GENERAL |
PDF |
Portable Document Format - one of the most common digital file formats used for document viewing on computers |
| GENERAL |
PID |
Proportion Integral Derivitave. A type of control theory based on differential equaitons that is used to quicly and accurately correct for errors on systems with inertia. |
| GENERAL |
Plane (geometry) |
A flat surface, often used as a reference for directions |
| GENERAL |
RGB |
Red Green Blue - Oftern referring to a traditional camera sensor or color display. The combinations of red, green, and blue can form almost any color |
| GENERAL |
RTF |
Ready To Fly - Remote controlled aircraft that can be taken out of the box, turned on and flown without additional hardware installation |
| GENERAL |
Software |
Programs that run on a computer. |
| GENERAL |
Software support |
|
| GENERAL |
Static |
Not moving |
| GENERAL |
Throttle |
A device limiting the throughput of a system. Most often used to limit the power output and thrust of motors. |
| GENERAL |
Thrust |
Resultant force vector along the primary axis of a propeller |
| GPS |
DGPS |
Differential GPS - the best gps signal that can be received without RTK corrections |
| GPS |
FIX |
Certainty of position |
| GPS |
GLONASS |
Global Navigation Satellite System - A Russion constellation of satellites used for positioning |
| GPS |
GNSS |
Global Navigation Satellite System - The overall term that encompasses all satellite positioning systems. Often misused and called “GPS.” Uses electronic distance measuring to triangulate position. |
| GPS |
GPS |
Global Positioning System - A United States constellation of satellites used for positioning |
| GPS |
L1 |
The most common frequency for GPS signal used in almost all GNSS devices. |
| GPS |
L2 |
A newer, better GNSS signal that is used in high-end and survey grade GPS systems to quickly resolve error. |
| GPS |
NAV |
A log file type used by rovers for PPK positioning |
| GPS |
OBS |
A log file type used by base stations for PPK positioning |
| GPS |
PPK |
Post Processed Kinematics - Using known points to correct raw GPS signals to determine accurate positions after the data has been collected |
| GPS |
RINEX |
A data format used for logging raw signals for PPK processing |
| GPS |
RTK |
Real Time Kinematics - A system used to gain cm level accuracy by using base stations to correct GPS signals due to atmospheric differences |
| GPS |
WAAS |
Wide Area Augmentation System |
| GROUPS |
3DR |
3D Robotics - Original designer of the pixhawk and solo quadcopter |
| GROUPS |
AION |
|
| GROUPS |
AMA |
Academy of Model Aeronautics - largest community based organization in the United States promoting remote control aircraft flying |
| GROUPS |
Arduino |
A PCB used for early ardupilot projects |
| GROUPS |
Ardupilot |
The best group ever |
| GROUPS |
BLHeli |
|
| GROUPS |
ChibiOS |
|
| GROUPS |
DAPO (discuss forums) |
|
| GROUPS |
DEV Team |
The team of developers that formally contribute code to the ardupilot project |
| GROUPS |
DJI |
Chineese Manufacturer of consumer and professional multirotor drones. Include the Phantom and Mavic drones |
| GROUPS |
DroneCode |
|
| GROUPS |
Dshot |
|
| GROUPS |
Github |
|
| GROUPS |
GPLv3 |
Type of license that allows public use, see wiki page |
| GROUPS |
GSoC |
Google Summer of Code - project for students to contribute code to organizations in furtherance of their education. |
| GROUPS |
IoT |
Internet of Things, provide link |
| GROUPS |
JST |
Type of connector used on small PCB’s, especially on the pixhawk flight controllers |
| GROUPS |
NMEA |
|
| GROUPS |
OGC |
|
| GROUPS |
Oneshot |
|
| GROUPS |
Parrot |
European manufacturer of consumer and prosumer drones. Includes the BeBop and Disco drones |
| GROUPS |
PX4 |
|
| GROUPS |
RFD |
RF Design - Australian manufacutrer of radio modems and equipment. Modems used for long range telemetry. |
| GROUPS |
RPi |
Raspberry Pi - a small computer capable of running an OS like Microsoft windows. Can be used as a companion computer |
| GROUPS |
Simonk |
|
| GROUPS |
SimuLink |
Graphical programming environment for modeling, simulating and analyzing multidomain dynamical systems |
| GROUPS |
SkyViper |
|
| GROUPS |
STM32 |
|
| GROUPS |
SWAG Shop |
An apparrel shop for ardupilot themed items. Used to help fundraise for the dev team. |
| GROUPS |
uBlox |
Chineese manufacturer of GNSS devices for global positioning. |
| GROUPS |
UnConference |
a loosely structured conference emphasizing the informal exchange of information and ideas between participants, rather than following a conventionally structured program of events. |
| GROUPS |
Wiki |
A website for documentation of a product. You’re reading one |
| OUTPUTS |
Battery |
Electrical storage device. Often used as the main power source for small unmanned aircraft. Often rechargable |
| OUTPUTS |
Brushless |
Type of motor utilizing 3 phase electricity to provide energy. Most often controlled by a ESC |
| OUTPUTS |
DC |
Direct Current - constant voltage causing one direction of current flow. |
| OUTPUTS |
Digital Outputs |
|
| OUTPUTS |
EDF |
Electric ducted fan - |
| OUTPUTS |
Encoder (Rotary) |
|
| OUTPUTS |
Engine |
Type of motor that converts chemical energy into mechanical power. |
| OUTPUTS |
ESC |
Electronic Speed Controller - Controls the speed of brushless motors by providing alternating precise voltage to the 3 input wires. |
| OUTPUTS |
Motor |
Device used to translate energy into mechanical power. |
| OUTPUTS |
Propeller |
Mechanical device for propelling a boat or aircraft, consisting of a revolving shaft with two or more broad, angled blades attached to it. |
| OUTPUTS |
S and C rating |
Battery parameters used to define voltage and maximum current draw. See https://rogershobbycenter.com/lipoguide/
|
| OUTPUTS |
Servo |
Device normally used for indexed, noncontinuous movement |
| OUTPUTS |
Turbine |
Type of engine with continuous torque output, efficient at higher altitudes |
| OUTPUTS |
WOT |
Wide Open Throttle - The maximum power that a system can provide |
| PLANE |
3D flying |
Nontraditional form of airplane flying where the plane is constantly slower than the stall speed of the main wing. |
| PLANE |
Aileron |
Airfoil at the rear edge of a main wing that controls the roll of an aircraft |
| PLANE |
Airfoil |
A shape that generates lift when passing through a fluid |
| PLANE |
Airframe |
The structure and components that connect airplane components |
| PLANE |
Airspeed |
The speed of an aircraft through the air |
| PLANE |
Approach |
The stage of flight just before landing |
| PLANE |
Belly |
The lower fuselage of an aircraft |
| PLANE |
Control Surface |
An aileron, flap, elevator, etc. used to control the movement of an aircraft |
| PLANE |
Coordinated |
0 lateral acceleration of the fuselage (body frame) |
| PLANE |
Cruise |
Primary stage of forward flight after takeoff |
| PLANE |
Deep Stall |
Type of landing that involves a very steep but controlled approach |
| PLANE |
Elevator |
Control surface that controls the pitch of the aircraft, ususally on the tail |
| PLANE |
Elevon |
Combination of elevator an aileron. Affects roll and pitch of a flying wing style aircraft |
| PLANE |
Flying Wing |
Tailless aircraft. Uses elevons instead of an elevaotr |
| PLANE |
Flap |
Control surface inboard of the aileron that provides additional lift and drag for takeoff and landing of a traditional plane |
| PLANE |
Flaperons |
Ailerons that are individually controlled so that they may both be in a downward position at the same time during landing. |
| PLANE |
Flare |
Stage just before touchdown where the motors stop and the aircraft glides closer to the ground |
| PLANE |
Fuselage |
The main body of the aircraft where payload is typically stored. Extends from the nose to the tail |
| PLANE |
Groundspeed |
The velocity of the aircraft relative to the ground |
| PLANE |
Helical Landing |
A circular descent to lose altitude without extending flight lines |
| PLANE |
Landing Gear |
Wheels or other forms of landing protection for traditional forward-flight planes |
| PLANE |
Nose |
The front of an aircraft |
| PLANE |
Porpoising |
A tendency of an aircraft to bounce and become airborne again immediately after touchdown due to a change in pitch |
| PLANE |
Quadplane |
Combination of a quadcopter and an airplane. 4 vertical motors provide VTOL capabilities |
| PLANE |
Retractable Landing Gear |
Landing gear, typically wheels and struts, that retract into the fuselage or wing compartments to reduce drag. |
| PLANE |
Reverse Thrust |
Reversing the rotation of the propellers during the landing stage to enable steeper descents without overspeeding the aircraft. |
| PLANE |
Rudder |
The vertical control surface on an aircraft that controls yaw |
| PLANE |
Skid |
An uncoordinated turn where the aircraft is over-yawed and too much rudder is applied into the turn |
| PLANE |
Slip |
An uncoordinated turn where the aircraft is under-yawed and rudder is applied away from the turn. |
| PLANE |
Spoiler |
Control surface above the wing that causes airflow separation and a significan loss of lift |
| PLANE |
Tail |
The rear structure of an aircraft including the elevator and rudder or V-tails. |
| PLANE |
Tailsitter |
An airplane tha lands vertically on its tail |
| PLANE |
TECS |
Total Energy Conservation System - control system used control altitude using pitch and throttle. |
| PLANE |
Touchdown |
The instant that the landing gear comes in contact with the landing surface |
| PLANE |
VTOL |
Vertical TakeOff and Landing - An airplane that is capable of vertical takeoffs and landings |
| PLANE |
WOW |
Weight on wheels - the force on landing gear indicating touchdown |
| RADIO |
4g |
|
| RADIO |
Antenna |
Device used to direct, shape, or focus a signal in order to increase sensitivity and range |
| RADIO |
Bandwidth |
The amount of information that can be passed through a wireless connection |
| RADIO |
Baud |
|
| RADIO |
cts |
|
| RADIO |
Frequency Hopping |
Transmitting on multiple frequencies not at the same time. Legally required by some coutnries |
| RADIO |
FTDI |
|
| RADIO |
Gain |
The amount of focus of a radio signal, expressed in dB |
| RADIO |
OSD |
On Screen Display - used to visually display data onto a video stream |
| RADIO |
Polarity |
|
| RADIO |
Protocols |
SIK S.BUS DSM2 DSMx CAN.BUS CRSF UART I2C SERIAL CAN |
| RADIO |
RC |
Remote Control |
| RADIO |
RSSI |
Received Signal Strength Indication - a numerical representation of signal strength |
| RADIO |
rts |
|
| RADIO |
RX/TX |
Reciever/Transmitter |
| RADIO |
sck |
|
| RADIO |
sda |
|
| RADIO |
spi |
|
| RADIO |
Telemetry |
The stream of data between a vehicle and a ground station. Usually over mavlink protocol and sik radios |
| RADIO |
Transmitter |
The low latency device with control sticks, switches, and knobs that a poilot uses to control a vehicle. |
| RADIO |
VTX |
Video Transmitter - for transmitting |
| UNITS |
Acceleration |
How quickly an object is changin velocity. Often expressed in meters per second squared or G’s. |
| UNITS |
Accuracy |
How close a points are to their target. Different from Precision |
| UNITS |
Aliasing |
Sampling data at a lower frequency than the stream, causing the collected data to misrepresent the stream |
| UNITS |
Axis |
A vector, usually in an assigned direction like X, Y, or Z, that is used to communicate directions or rotations. Eg, yaw is a rotation about the body frame Z axis of an aircraft. |
| UNITS |
Bias |
An offset, usually in a sensor, that is nonzero |
| UNITS |
CCW |
Couter-Clockwise a rotation direction opposite of with analog clocks |
| UNITS |
Centi |
Prefix for numbers indicating 1/100th of or .01 |
| UNITS |
Clipping |
A stream’s maximum or minimum values that are too large for a reciever. Intense vibrations can cause clipping of the accelerometers. |
| UNITS |
Current |
|
| UNITS |
CW |
Clockwise - a rotation direction consistent with analog clocks |
| UNITS |
Deci |
Prefix for numbers indicating 1/10 of or .1 |
| UNITS |
Degrees |
An angular measurement based on 1/360th of a revolution |
| UNITS |
Diameter |
The distance from one side of a circle or arc to another |
| UNITS |
Euler angle |
|
| UNITS |
Flux |
Magnetic unit |
| UNITS |
Frequency |
How quickly a wave period repeats itself. Usually expressed in Hz |
| UNITS |
Latency |
Time delay from input to output |
| UNITS |
Length |
distance from one point to another |
| UNITS |
Mass |
The amount of matter in an object |
| UNITS |
Mean |
The average of a set of data |
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Median |
A value that has an equal number of values higher an lower than it |
| UNITS |
Normalized |
Made so that the magnitude of the value is 1, often associated with vectors |
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Offset |
Increasing or decreasing all values an equal amount. |
| UNITS |
Pi |
A constant relating the radius of a circle to its circumference. Also the value of radians that is 180 degrees or half of one revolution |
| UNITS |
Pitch |
The inclination of the front of the aircraft above or below the horizon |
| UNITS |
Pitch (props) |
The designed advance position per revolution of the props determined by the angle of the airfoil. |
| UNITS |
Position |
The location of a point, usually in 2 or 3 dimensions |
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Precision |
How close points are to one another. Different than accuracy |
| UNITS |
Radians |
An angular measurement based on pi being one-half of a full revolution |
| UNITS |
Radius |
The distance from the center of an arc to the arc itself |
| UNITS |
Resistance |
|
| UNITS |
Roll |
The rotation of the aircraft about its longitudional axis. |
| UNITS |
Vector |
A direction and magnitude expressed mathematically |
| UNITS |
Velocity |
The speed or rate of change of position |
| UNITS |
Voltage |
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| UNITS |
Weight |
The force of an aircraft’s mass due to gravity |
| UNITS |
Yaw |
The rotation of the aircraft clockwise or couterclockwise when viewed from above |