What does F4 flight control mean?
In the field of drones and model aircraft, the flight control system (Flight Controller) is one of the core components, andF4 flight controlAs a popular hardware platform in recent years, it has attracted much attention from enthusiasts. This article will combine the hot topics on the Internet in the past 10 days to analyze the definition, characteristics and application scenarios of F4 flight control, and attach relevant data comparisons.
1. Definition of F4 flight control
F4 flight control refers to theSTM32F4 series microcontrollerDeveloped flight control system. STM32F4 is a high-performance microcontroller launched by STMicroelectronics. It has a floating-point unit (FPU) and a high main frequency (usually above 168MHz), and is suitable for processing the complex flight algorithms of drones.
| Flight control type | core chip | Main frequency | Typical representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 flight control | STM32F1 | 72MHz | CC3D |
| F4 flight control | STM32F4 | 168MHz | Betaflight F4 |
| H7 flight control | STM32H7 | 480MHz | Matek H743 |
2. Recent hot spots of F4 flight control
According to the popularity of online discussions in the past 10 days, F4 flight control-related topics are mainly concentrated in the following areas:
| hot topics | Discussion platform | heat index |
|---|---|---|
| Betaflight 4.4 support for F4 | GitHub, RCGroups | ★★★★☆ |
| F4 flight control price/performance comparison | Station B, Zhihu | ★★★☆☆ |
| F4 and H7 performance controversy | Facebook model aircraft group | ★★★☆☆ |
3. Core advantages of F4 flight control
1.Performance balance: Compared with the F1 flight control, the computing power of the F4 is increased by about 2-3 times, and it can support more complex filtering algorithms (such as BiQuad filtering).
2.Compatibility: Mainstream firmware such as Betaflight, INAV, and ArduPilot all provide F4 optimized versions.
3.Extended interface: Usually equipped with more UART ports (5-6), supporting peripherals such as GPS, image transmission, and OSD.
4. Comparison of typical F4 flight control parameters
| Model | MCU specific model | UART quantity | gyroscope | reference price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matek F405-CTR | STM32F405 | 6 | MPU6000 | ¥220 |
| Holybro Kakute F4 | STM32F405 | 5 | ICM20602 | ¥180 |
| DALRC F4 Pro | STM32F411 | 4 | BMI270 | ¥150 |
5. Suggestions for use
1.Applicable scenarios: Racing drones (under 5 inches) and long-endurance FPV models give priority to F4 flight control.
2.Firmware selection: Betaflight is suitable for racing, INAV is more suitable for cruising.
3.Things to note: The SPI interface bandwidth of some F4 flight controllers is limited, and the configuration needs to be optimized when used with high-frequency gyroscopes (such as BMI270).
6. Future trends
Although the STM32H7 series is gradually becoming popular, F4 flight control will still be the mainstream choice in 2023 due to its mature ecology and cost performance. Recently, the developer community is optimizing the DMA resource configuration of F4 and is expected to further increase the PID control frequency to 32kHz.
(The full text is about 850 words in total, and the data is as of the latest discussion in October 2023)
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