Flight Control System Design For Small Unmanned Helicopters Based On ARM

Small unmanned helicopters, with unique flight characteristics of hovering, flying sideways and backwards, are capable of accomplishing flying movements that can't be performed by fixed wing aircrafts and are in great demand for both military and civil use. The flight control system, a key component of small unmanned helicopters, is also the operation platform for flight control algorithm and a vital part for the automatic flight. Therefore, the research on it is of great practical application.This paper focuses on the design and implementation of the flight control system for small unmanned helicopters. First, it gives a brief introduction to the current research achievements and developing trends of small unmanned helicopters and their flight control systems, and based on which proposes a flight control system with a core of ARM processor and an assistant controller of CPLD.Secondly, the paper emphasizes on design processes and relevant plans of software and hardwire of this flight control system. Hardware mainly consists of ARM and CPLD modules, including functional modules like data acquisition circuit, serial communication circuit, servo control circuit, and power supply circuit. And software is made up of an operating system based on Linux 2.6 kernel and relevant drivers and contains a memory system designed on the basis of SD card.Last of all, this paper probes into the navigation control systems of small unmanned helicopters and discusses the upgrading plans for flight control systems and navigation control algorithm under unknown circumstances.