Introduction
This page exists to help people learn what different terms mean that may be thrown around at meetings or in documentation within WARG. If you don't see one here, ask what it means and add it so that other team members can benefit! Further this information is frequently used in our architecture documents. Please feel free to add anything and update the formatting as necessary.
Related Documents
Some sub-teams maintain more specific lists of glossary like terms. Some include:
Terms
Name | Definition |
|---|---|
ESC | Electronic Speed Controller, used to control the speed of a brushless DC motor. |
xS Battery | A x Series Cell Battery. The number followed by the S refers to the number of battery cells that are in series with each other. More definitions for batteries can be found in Batteries. |
LiPo | Lithium Polymer Battery. A very high power-density battery that is commonly used in UAVs |
UAV | Unmanned Aerial Vehicle |
VTX / VRX | Video Transmission / Video Receiver. The system used so the pilot can see a camera feed remotely |
FPV | First Person View. Refers to the camera view mounted on a drone that the pilot uses |
UART | Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter. Device to device communication protocol |
I2C | Inter-Integrated Circuit. said “I squared C”, it is a type of serial communication protocol. it is relatively slow |
SPI | Serial Peripheral Interface. Another serial communication protocol. It is very fast |
GPIO | General Purpose Input Output. A basic signal (on or off) |
Transceiver | A combination of a receiver and transmitter |
BEC | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_eliminator_circuit , generally just buck converter (could also be a SEPIC or buck-boost) |
The Drone | The drone as a whole, including electronic components and integrated software systems. |
airframe | Fuselage, wings, control surfaces, & mechanical components used to connect them |
IMU | Inertial Measurement Unit |
GPS | Global Positioning System (device to capture GPS data) |
ESC | Electronic Speed Controller, Motor Controller |
GS | Groundstation |
tracking antenna | all tracking antenna systems. |
T_Telem | telemetry tracking tower |
T_VRX | video receive tracking tower |
CONOPs | concept of operations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concept_of_operations |
COTS | commercial off the shelf (something you can easily buy) |
GSPC | groundstation personal computer |
GS_SW] | groundstation software |
GUI | graphical user interface |
OSD | on screen display (attitude information overlaid over video feed |
MUX | MUX multiplexer |
DM | direct message |
DSO | Digital Storage Oscilloscope |
IPA | Isopropyl Alcohol |
FT | flight test |
Pm | Power module (a current sensor and power supply in one package, generally used as a power and data source for a flight controller) project manager |
Pdn | Power distribution network (the network for converting and transfering power throughout a system) |
vrm | voltage regulation module (generally another word for a power supply) |
mpn | manufacturer part number |
ic | integrated circuit |
pcb | printed circuit board |
pcba | printed circuit board assembly, a pcb with components solderred onto it |
LL | logic level |
pp | power pole |
NC | not connected (in electronics this is when a wire or pin isn’t electrically connected to anything) |
RF | radio frequency (this term is used generally to define any electronics interfacing with radio frequencies) |
ERC | electronic rules check |
(generic) no ERC | An indicator to describe an intended NC pin |
ELRS | |
POR | plan of record. Generally the source of truth plan approved by upper management that teams should be following in system engineering. |
hitl | hardware in the loop; testing code with the hardware it’s intended to run on |
sitl | software in the loop; a setup for testing software with the other software it’s intended to work with |
Power Supply | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_supply “A power supply is an electrical device that supplies electric power to an electrical load.” |
FC | flight controller |
POC | Proof of Concept |
IST | Information Systems and Technology |
C2 | Command and control |
RP or RPed | Reverse Polaritied (means voltage was connected backwards on a device, this kills electronics that are not designed to handle it) |
RPP | reverse polarity protection: https://uwarg-docs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/EL/pages/2272002049/Reverse+Polarity+Protection+Circuits?search_id=4e2c4f5a-a670-4c63-a183-b7b340ee22ec&additional_analytics=queryHash---b2d7f24e833051d5fc296d4a747281e9d155ecfb636b983cfd70b51ed9b45a32 |