Automatic flight control: Bridging the gap between fixed-wing drones and airplanes

Over the past two decades, remotely piloted aircraft have increased significantly in size, weight, and range. As the lines blur between drone and airplane technology, engineers must reconcile conflicting assumptions and approaches when developing small drones versus conventional full-sized aircraft. This article summarizes key considerations with systems architecture, control theory, and regulatory approvals that early career engineers should be aware of when developing automatic flight control systems. Various examples including energy management, left-yawing tendencies, automatic landing systems, and machine learning applications are used to highlight the major differences therein.