The Use Of IC chips in drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

Image source Freepik

The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) technology has been evolving over the years. Drones are becoming more powerful than before and their application areas have also expanded in that they are used in a wider range of applications than before. Microchips are highly credited for the development and advancement of UAV technology. Just like in many other electronic applications, IC chips control many aspects of unmanned aerial vehicles. They are used in power management, navigation, control mechanisms, data, and in the execution of many other drone functionalities. In this article, we are going to discuss the major applications of  IC chips and drones in drones and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Overview of the Drones and UAV

The technology behind the working and operation of drones starts with the way they have been constructed. Their body works comprises of light composite materials, a factor that allows them to easily maneuver during flights without being affected by the weight.

Other than the construction, drones, and UAVs are equipped with numerous technological features. The control is through a remote-control system meaning that there are sensors that connect the drone to the control system.

When it comes to the UAV, it comprises two working areas: the drone and the control components. The drone takes care of the flight function of the vehicle while the control component takes care of all other functions.

You might be wondering, what functions are these? Well, think about the UAVs used for military purposes. They are designed to release missiles to the target enemies. That is just one of the functional components of the drone. The same applies to the drone used for delivering goods for online shopping. The control component ensures that the delivery is done to the right destination.

Image of Amazon delivery drone source The Guardian

Functions of IC chips in drones and UAVs

Both the control and navigation aspects of drones are heavily characterized by the use of integrated circuits. Let’s look at some of the key functions of microchips in drone and UAV technologies.

Power management in drones and UAVs

Power is needed to make drones fly from one location to another. Drone and unmanned aerial vehicles use both electric energy and as well as combustion fuel.  Regardless of the energy source, there is still a need for proper power management. This is where the relevance of the IC chips comes in.

Power management integrated circuits are embedded in drones and UAVs to control and manage all the power-related functions. Navigation is just one of these functions whereby the chips ensure that adequate energy is supplied to fly the drone. There are other functions of drones and UAVs which also need power. For example, if the UAV is used for delivering goods, it should have adequate power to hold onto and release the item. Power ICs are also used in charging battery-powered drones.

Network and connectivity

Drones and remotely controlled. This id done through the creation of the connections between the drone and the controller. Once the connection has been established, it will be easy to control all the drones such as navigation, speed, and flight altitude.

Such connections are possible only through the network on a chip. These microchips have specialized features and components that utilize various network protocols such as radiofrequency and even the internet. The specifications of the chips will determine the strength of the connection between the UAVs with the controllers.

Navigation and location chips

Image source Freepik

Drones and UAVs are built to navigate from one location to another. While networking and communication may the essential in controlling this, GPS chips are used for enhancing the accuracy of navigation and positioning. A global positioning system (GPS) that is embedded in a drone or in a UAV gets the location and position signals from more than 20 satellites that are on earth. GPS chips are also essential in the tracking of drones and UAVs.

IC chips used in sensors

How many sensors are in a drone and what are their functions? UAVs and drones are embedded with different sensors that are used for different functions. These sensors collect data about various aspects of the drone and flight.

Do you know that sensors in drones and UAVs are basically microchips? These are wafers that are embedded with different electronic components. For example, the accelerometers are used for sensing the position of the drones. Thermal sensors are used for collecting data that is related to the temperature. LIDAR (light detection and ranging) sensor is used for measuring and detecting physical objects and terrain.

AI chips in drones and UAVs

The drone and the UAV industries have not been spared by the current wave of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation. Modern drone technology features some elements of artificial intelligence technology. The drones have image recognition features and computer vision features that are used for the identification of different objects. The autonomous flight feature in drones and UAVs is made possible by the incorporation of AI chips. These chips are vigorously trained using flight data.

Conclusion

It is clear that the future of drones and UAVs will be defined by IC chips. They are causing significant disruptions in this industry and by the look of things, this is not going to stop any time soon.  It is also important to note that the market size of drones and UAVs has been growing at a steady rate. In 2022, the market value of UAVs was put at USD 22.91 billion. It was projected to grow at a CAGR of 21.6% between the periods of 2022 to 2028. IC chips can also take some credit for this growth.

Are you in the business of building drones or even UAVs? You should consider buying quality chips for drones and UAVs in China. It is not all about buying from anywhere but choosing a reputable and reliable supplier of IC chips in China. This way, you are sure of getting the best quality chips that will be suitable for the projects.

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