Experiential learning in automatic control using quadrotor UAVs

The integration of laboratory activities into the engineering curriculum plays a pivotal role in fostering student engagement and comprehension. This paper delves into the development and implementation of educational materials aimed at aiding students in grasping some fundamentals of control theory and flight control of quadrotor UAVs. By providing hands-on experiences in a laboratory setup featuring a lightweight quadrotor equipped with a widely adopted open-source autopilot, students can enhance their comprehension of fundamental control concepts and the practical challenges inherent in flight control systems. The significance of experimental data for verification and validation purposes in modeling and control is underscored. Preliminary feedback and directions for improvement from independent studies at the University of Houston are discussed.