History of unmanned aircraft flight controller development

Abstract

Unmanned aircraft find successful applications across various fields and continue to see increasing demand in numerous sectors. Modern flight control systems empower the creation and programming of unmanned vehicles for a diverse range of tasks. (Research purpose) This study aims to retrospectively analyze the evolution of drone control systems, tracing their development from the early unmanned aerial vehicles to the flight controllers of modern multifunctional drones. (Materials and methods) The study employs the historical-analytical method for data collection and processing. This encompasses a thorough examination of original works by both domestic and foreign authors, including literary references, scientific journal articles, monographs, conference materials, museum exhibitions, photographic archives, and open-access software source code. (Results and discussion) The historical process of unmanned aerial vehicle development has led to the emergence of many types of designs that provide better flight performance and new functions through the creation of flight control systems. Designers integrated worldwide aviation expertise and the latest advancements in science, engineering, and technology to enhance unmanned systems. The miniaturization of flight control systems has facilitated the widespread adoption and application of unmanned aerial vehicle in many domains. The introduction of intelligent flight control modes has ensured a high level of autonomy in drone operations. (Conclusions) In the course of the research into the historical development of control systems for unmanned aerial vehicles, block diagrams illustrating these control systems were created. Additionally, a block diagram was constructed outlining the evolution of these systems, with a periodization of individual stages. The block diagram includes nine stages; with the current emphasis primarily directed towards the advancement of intelligent control systems. The findings confirm that the extensive diversification of unmanned aerial vehicle applications and functionalities is closely linked to the continuous development and enhancement of micro-electromechanical systems technologies. The study identifies the key flight controllers that have significantly influenced the enhancement of unmanned aircraft and have outlined potential directions for the future development of flight controllers.