A drone prototype that tracks a reflected laser target, confirms signal lock, estimates direction through coarse-to-fine sensing, and uses ESP32-based telemetry and control to guide flight.
Verified subsystems · End-to-end integration in progress
A guided visual inspection of the drone’s sensing and control layers.
01 Overview
Laser-Guided Flight System
A drone prototype designed to detect a reflected laser target, confirm signal lock, and adjust its movement through sensing, control, and telemetry.
LASER GUIDANCEROBOTICSSYSTEM DESIGN
02 Sensor Array
Fine Tracking Array
The front sensor array compares signal strength across multiple receivers to estimate where the reflected laser target is coming from.
FINE TRACKINGSIGNAL COMPARISONSENSING
03 Sensor Array
Coarse Directional Lock
Four sensors are placed at the corners of the rotor guards to give the drone a rough baseline direction toward the reflected laser target before handing tracking over to the fine front array.
COARSE TRACKINGTARGET DIRECTION
04 Control Stack
ESP32 to Flight Controller
A connected ESP32 handles sensor data and telemetry, draws power from the drone battery, and communicates with the flight controller through MSP and Betaflight to send PID-stabilized control signals.
ESP32MSPBETAFLIGHTPID CONTROL
05 Rotor
Flight Output and Stability
The rotor system turns control decisions into movement, keeping the drone responsive as it corrects toward the laser target.
MOTIONSTABILITYFLIGHT RESPONSE
06 Telemetry
Live System Feedback
Telemetry makes the drone easier to debug by showing lock state, sensor readings, and system behavior while the prototype is being tested.
TELEMETRYDEBUGGINGVALIDATION
Autopilot roadmap
Autopilot System Roadmap
From IR beacon detection to stabilized flight, this roadmap shows how the drone moves from raw sensor input through embedded processing, flight command generation, Betaflight stabilization, and live telemetry output.
