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new products
devices is critical. The industry leading response time
of 6µs ensures high-speed detection for time-critical
applications.
Designs using standard analogue circuits can be
extremely complex, with additional external components
which add space and cost. The OPB9000 is designed
to eliminate circuit complexity and reduces board space
requirements by up to 80% with its fully integrated
analogue front end and digital interface. It combines
an infrared emitter and integrated logic sensor in a
miniature 4.0 mm x 2.2 mm x 1.5 mm surface-mount
package.
For further information visit
http://www.ttelectronics.com/optoelectronics/ir-sensors/photologic-reflective-
object-sensors
TI technology extends flight time and
battery life of quadcopters and industrial
drones
Texas Instruments (TI) (NASDAQ: TXN) today
introduced two circuit-based subsystem reference
designs that will help manufacturers add flight time
and extend battery life to quadcopters and other non-
military consumer and industrial drones used to deliver
packages, provide surveillance or communicate and
assist at long distances.
“Flight time continues to be a top design challenge
for recreational quadcopters and professional drones,
especially those being used by companies for beyond
visual line-of-sight operation. Delivery companies want
droneswith enhanced battery life, and are testing delivery
of parcels with drones to see how far they can go,” said
Stelios Kotakis, senior analyst of data transmission
& managed services with IHS Markit. According to a
recent IHS Markit study*, almost 50 percent of drones in
the market have an estimated battery life of less than 30
minutes, 35 percent can fly between 31 and 60 minutes
and the remaining 15 percent and less can fly more
than an hour – all under ideal flying conditions without
additional payload.
Breakthrough battery management design
TI’s 2S1PBattery Management System (BMS) reference
design transforms a drone’s battery pack into a smart
diagnostic black box recorder that accurately monitors
remaining capacity and protects the Li-Ion battery
throughout its entire lifetime. Designers can use the
drone BMS reference design to add gauging, protection,
balancing and charging capabilities to any existing
drone design and improve flight time. Leveraging the
bq4050 multi-cell Li-Ion gas (fuel) gauge to accurately
measure remaining capacity over the entire life of the
battery, the design also features the bq24600 battery
charge controller and a high-efficiency DC/DC converter
to achieve high-efficiency power conversion efficiency.
High-speed performance for efficient motors
Another barrier to increased flight time has been the
inefficiency of turning a drone’s propellers. TI’s new
reference design for drone electronic speed controllers
(ESCs) will help manufacturers create drones with longer
flight times and more smooth and stable performance.
The Sensorless High-Speed Field Oriented Control
Reference Design for Drone Electronic Speed Control
helps electronic speed controllers achieve the highest
possible efficiency with performance for speeds more
than 12,000 rpm (> 1.2kHz electrical) including fast-
speed reversal capability for more stable roll movement.
The design features TI’s InstaSPIN-FOC™ C2000™
solution, includinganF28027Fmicrocontroller for precise
motor control and FAST™ field observer proprietary
software algorithm that estimates the rotor flux, angle,
speed and torque. Motor parameter information is used
to tune the current control bandwidth. Unlike other
techniques, the FAST sensorless observer algorithm
is completely self-tuning, requiring no adjustments for
proper operation and propeller control. The design also
includes a 60-V LMR16006 SIMPLE SWITCHER®
DC/DC converter with ultra-low quiescent current to
efficiently manage a drone’s lithium polymer (LiPo)
batteries.
Find out more about TI and drone subsystem design
New-Tech Magazine Europe l 77