Multi-chip Flight Computer of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

This study used five microchips as the core processor. along with the avionic sensors and instruments required for flight, to construct a flight computer of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Data from the flight computer were cross-linked to ground control stations. The flight computer was able to collect and process flight data as well as transmit and communicate information. The communication interface of inter-integrated circuit ((IC)-C-2) was used as a communication bridge between the microchips. The MCU PIC (R) series of PIC18F2550 single-chips manufactured by Microchip Technology Inc. was the core of the flight computer. The PIC18F2550 chip was responsible for information integration and decision-making. PIC16F88, PIC16F87and PIC18F2550 chips served as the data buffer for GPS, IMU and Data Link, respectively. Another PIC16F88 chip was responsible for manual or automatic flight mode switching. The developed flight computer and avionics system is tested for our own designed and produced UAV to successfully complete autonomous flight testing.