Design of a Novice-Friendly Drone Control System

Abstract

In recent times, aerial robots have gained prominence in critical applications such as natural disaster response and social security. However, existing control interfaces like joysticks and touch screens often pose significant challenges for untrained users, particularly in complex tasks and remote operations. This study introduces an innovative, novice-friendly drone control system, leveraging the familiar framework of a conventional car steering system combined with a VR headset for visual feedback. This design aims to provide an immersive, carlike experience to users unfamiliar with UAV operation. The core objective is to bridge the knowledge gap for inexperienced users, enabling them to effectively control drones in critical scenarios. To evaluate the system’s efficiency and user experience enhancement, we devised an indoor search-and-rescue experiment simulating an earthquake disaster scenario. The study includes a comparative analysis between traditional joystick control and our car steering-based system. Additionally, we will conduct a comprehensive user study to assess the improvement in user experience offered by our interface. This research contributes to making drone technology more accessible and effective for general users, particularly in high-stakes environments.