How to choose mini flight controller？

Mini flight controllers are commonly used in smaller drones where space is limited, such as micro quadcopters or racing drones. Despite their smaller size, they retain essential features for flight control and often include built-in technologies for stabilization, navigation, and connectivity.

What does mini flight controller refer?

The spacing between a flight controller’s neighboring mounting holes is referred to as the mounting pattern. 30.5×30.5mm, 25.5×25.5mm, 20×20mm, and 16×16mm are examples of common designs. The size of the board and the aircraft it is meant for primarily dictate the pattern. Larger drones (>5’’) often use 30.5×30.5mm, whereas smaller drones use 25.5×25.5mm and 20×20mm. The 16x16mm design is starting to gain traction for micro constructions smaller than 100mm.

A mini flight controller, in the context of drones or quadcopters, refers to a compact and lightweight electronic component that plays a crucial role in controlling the flight of the aerial vehicle. It is a smaller version of a standard flight controller designed to fit the size constraints of mini or micro quadcopters.

What are the benefits of using a mini flight controller?

Mini flight controllers offer several benefits over traditional flight controllers, including:

• Smaller size and weight: micro quad flight controller is typically smaller and lighter than traditional flight controllers, making them ideal for small drones.
• Lower cost: Mini flight controllers are often less expensive than traditional flight controllers.
• Improved performance: micro quad flight controller can often provide improved performance, such as faster response times and smoother flight.

Considerations when choosing mini flight controller

Voltage Range

Check the voltage range supported by the mini flight controller. Ensure that it matches the voltage output of your drone’s battery. Common voltage ranges are 3S (11.1V), 4S (14.8V), or higher.

BEC (Battery Elimination Circuit)

Micro quad flight controller’s BEC, or battery eliminator circuit, is just a set of voltage regulators. The majority of flight controllers feature a 5V BEC to power the GPS, radio receiver, and other devices; some flight controllers also have a 9V or 12V BEC specifically for the video transmitter. Even though FPV equipment can be powered directly from a LiPo battery, using a controlled power source can yield better performance.

Some flight controllers come with a built-in BEC that provides regulated power to other components like receivers and cameras. Verify the BEC output voltage and current rating to ensure compatibility with your peripherals.

Current Requirements

Understand the current requirements of the micro quad flight controller, taking into account the overall power consumption of connected devices. This includes receivers, cameras, and other accessories.

Power Distribution Board (PDB)

Check if the mini flight controller requires an external power distribution board (PDB). Some flight controllers have integrated PDBs, simplifying the wiring and power distribution process.

ESC Compatibility

Ensure compatibility with the Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs) that you plan to use. The flight controller should be able to handle the current supplied by the ESCs.

These days, 4in1 ESCs are frequently offered as a stack with flight controllers and are meant to be plugged and played with. It’s vital to double check before connecting, though, as the plugs and connections between ESC and FC from different brands may not be compatible. If this happens, you risk burning your FC.

Power Filter

Consider whether the flight controller has a power filter to reduce noise and interference in the power supply. This can be crucial for maintaining stable performance, especially in the case of sensitive components like gyroscopes.

Backup Power Source

Check if the mini flight controller has provisions for a backup power source, such as a dedicated BEC for critical components. This can be important for safety and stability in case of a main power failure.

Battery Connector Type

Ensure that the flight controller’s battery connector type matches the one on your drone’s battery. Common connectors include XT60 and XT30.

By paying attention to these power-related considerations, you can choose a mini flight controller that not only meets the voltage and current requirements of your drone but also provides a stable and reliable power supply to all connected components.

Blackbox

Blackbox is helpful for adjusting and resolving issues. If there is an onboard SD card logger, you can store your flight data on an SD card in addition to using the embedded flash memory.

Although flash memory is less expensive, it can only store 5 to 10 minutes’ worth of flight data. It may potentially take a while for data to download. By using an SD card reader on your flight controller, you may record continuously for an entire year without using up all of the storage. You can also instantly retrieve the logs by just inserting the SD card into the card reader.

Experienced pilots should have access to blackbox logs. It allows you to get the most out of the drone’s performance and provide a detailed diagnosis of any problems. You can also use UART to link an external SD card reader to the flight controller if it lacks a flash memory or SD card slot.

Recommendations of best mini flight controller

MEPS fpv drone flight controller

Enhance your FPV journey with the MEPS MINI F7 Flight Controller, a pinnacle of reliability designed for advanced drone enthusiasts. Featuring the advanced STM32F722 chip, this best micro flight controller ensures outstanding performance and rapid processing speed, providing pilots with a stable and seamless flying experience.

Engineered for user-friendly convenience, the board incorporates a 6-pin plug&play port, enabling a direct connection to HD Digital VTX without the need for any soldering. This feature makes it an optimal choice for both racing drones and freestyle drones, offering seamless compatibility with Betaflight firmware.

For those on the quest for the finest flight controllers for quadcopters, the MEPS MINI F7 stands out with its compact 20×20 design. Whether you’re assembling a micro quadcopter or in search of the ideal 20×20 F7 flight controller, this micro flight controller serves as your ultimate solution.

 

 

T-MOTOR MINI F7 HD

Upon closer inspection, it may be apparent that this flight controller is actually manufactured by Aikon and marketed as T-Motor. The features are almost the same, and the layout is really comparable. T-Motor is widely known for its high performance and quality, regardless of manufacturer. Mostly, though, I’m providing it as a backup plan in the event that the Aikon runs out of stock. As of this writing, Evan Turner (HeadsUpFPV) also uses it as the FC in his racing builds.