A Study on Standardization on the Flight Controller Mode in Remotely Piloted Aircraft Drone : Focused on Drone Controller Mode Preference

Abstract

Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) controls as a type of unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) is growing rapidly and its flight controller stick disposition is required standardization. We should standardize RPA drone flight control disposition because the flight pilot of RPA is hard to be trained so the flight controller stick differences impairs safety and wastes time and effort of flight controller industry. So this study researches the on-going standardization of RPA drone flight control disposition in Korea and foreign countries. Also this paper analyzes and researches of expert about RPA drone flight controller function and application of flight control mode. I accomplished expert research about standardization plan of unmanned flight control mode and confirm the necessity. Nowadays mode1 and 2 are mostly used in Korea so I carried out preference investigation for two modes. There were 4 preferences choices of RPA drone control mode necessity (importance) and recommendation of standardization modes. They answered that necessity of standardization is important considering pilot training, flight safety and positive development of drone industry. The result of standardization mode preference is that they prefer mode 2 (drone maker 86%, training facilities and research facilities 58%, government bureau 60%). Overall preference result shows that mode 1 24%, mode 1&2 16%, mode 2 60%. So they preferred mode 2 by 60%. The differences between two modes are the direction of throttle and pitch. Direction of throttle and pitch operate opposite way. They prefer mode 2 because mode 2 has similarities of manned flight control mode. Significance of this study is that it showed the necessity of standardization and flight control preference in a quantitative way. It will help drone standardization in related industries and development direction near future.