061 - On Drones - Part 2 - The Complexity of Not Bumping Into Things

What's up, Zengineers?

Drones! Get it? Awkward...

Anyway, This is our second episode in a multi part series on Drones. In this one, we get technical into how things work inside these crazy machines. Mostly we're talking quadcopters, but many similar technologies are in the military aircraft of nation states and even your pocket, too (inside your phone).

We get into the form, fit, and function the major componets of RC Flight Control Systems like magenetometers for measuring direction within the Earth's magnetosphere, altimeters that calculate height above the earth using barametric pressure from the atmosphere, and acceleromters that mesure the force of gravity through via variable electrical currents through material deformation (allowing orientation in 3d space). GPS finally ties everything together to allow autonomous AIs to move freely around our planet, know exactly where they are in all three dimensions of physical space, while simultaneously knowing what direction they are looking as they observe their surroundings to get around. Absurd run on sentence. Reread with lots of emphasis!

Although these technologies have spread around the globe because of cost decreases in manufacturing due to the unfathomable rise of smart phones, they aren't exactly new. Many of the same technologies that we're creating through microchips and material science, nature has been evolving through biology for eons. Isn't that always the way? Amazing!

This has been a fun series so far. We're not sure where episode three is going to head yet, but we'd love to hear your thoughts. As always, let us know what you like, or dislike on our website - https://zengineeringpodcast.com, rate and review Zengineering on iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/zengineering-podcast/id1063587710?mt=2, and support Zengineering on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/zengineeringpod.

Cheers,

Adam & Brian

PS: Listen to part one on drones, discussing what drones are, where they came from, and why they are here now: https://zengineeringpodcast.com/episode-059-on-drones-part-1-quadcopters-and-nasa-warp-drives-ed5bc8069062