OVERVIEW AND FEATURES OF DRONE ESC
An electronic speed control (ESC) is a device used in drones and other radio-controlled vehicles to vary the speed of an electric motor. The ESC converts the controller’s DC voltage into AC voltage to power the motor.
The drone ESC is typically connected to the flight controller, which sends it signals indicating the desired speed of the motor. The ESC then uses these signals to adjust the voltage and frequency of the AC power going to the motor, thereby controlling its speed.
ESCs come in a variety of sizes and specifications to suit different types of motors and applications. Some ESCs are designed for use with brushed motors, while others are designed for brushless motors. Brushless motors are more efficient and longer lasting than brushed motors, and are typically used in high-performance drones.
In addition to controlling the speed of the motor, the ESC also provides several other functions, such as:
- Current limiting: To prevent the motor from drawing too much current, which could damage the motor or the battery.
- Over-temperature protection: To protect the motor and ESC from overheating.
- Throttle range calibration: To set the minimum and maximum speeds of the motor.
- Battery cell detection: To detect the number of cells in the battery and adjust the voltage accordingly.
- Low voltage cut-off: To protect the battery from over-discharge by cutting off power when the voltage drops too low.
Drone ESC also come in different firmware versions, the most popular ones are BLHeli and SimonK. These firmwares are designed to provide additional features such as active braking, Damped Light, and OneShot125, which are useful for multirotors.
In terms of connecting the Drone ESC with the flight controller, there are different methods. One is through the use of a PWM signal and another one is through the use of a protocol called PPM (Pulse Position Modulation) or the newer protocols such as iBUS, SBus and DSMX.
In summary, an ESC is an essential component of any drone, responsible for controlling the speed of the electric motor and providing additional functions such as current limiting, over-temperature protection, and low voltage cut-off. It is important to choose the right Drone ESC for the specific motor and application, and to connect it properly to the flight controller.
