FPV Flight Controllers (FC)

What is a Flight Controller (FC) and What Does It Do?

The flight controller (FC) is the absolute key component of any FPV drone – its electronic "brain". It's a small printed circuit board responsible for:

Receiving Sensor Data: Mainly from the gyroscope and accelerometer (IMU), which report the drone's current orientation and movement in space.
Receiving Pilot Commands: Accepts signals from the RC receiver connected to your radio controller.
Running Firmware: The FC runs specialized software, such as the popular Betaflight or INAV, which contains stabilization and flight control algorithms.
Processing Data and Calculations: Based on sensor data and pilot commands, the firmware calculates the necessary corrections to maintain stability or execute a maneuver.
Sending Commands to ESCs: The FC sends appropriate control signals to the Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs), which in turn control the speed of individual motors.

Modern flight controllers often also include other integrated components, such as voltage regulators (BECs) to power other components (e.g., VTX, camera, receiver), flash memory for Blackbox (flight data logging), or UART communication ports for connecting peripherals.

How to Choose the Right FPV Flight Controller?

When selecting a flight controller for your FPV drone, consider several important parameters:

Processor (MCU): The heart of the FC is the microcontroller. The most popular currently are:
- F4: Older, but still found in cheaper FCs. Sufficient for basic applications.
- F7: Currently a popular standard, offering more processing power than F4, allowing for faster PID loops and handling more features simultaneously.
- H7: The latest and fastest processors, providing maximum performance and the ability to handle the most advanced features and algorithms.
Gyroscope (Gyro / IMU): The key sensor for stabilization. Different gyro models (e.g., MPU6000 vs BMI270) have different sensitivities to vibration and performance characteristics. Good vibration damping is always important.
Number of UART Ports: Serial ports used to connect peripheral devices (RC receiver, VTX SmartAudio/Tramp, GPS, etc.). Ensure the FC has enough free UART ports for all the devices you plan to connect.
Built-in BECs (Voltage Regulators): Check what output voltages the FC offers (e.g., 5V, 9V/10V/12V) and if their current capacity is sufficient to power your camera, VTX, receiver, or GPS.
Solder Pad Layout: Clear markings and conveniently placed solder pads significantly ease assembly and soldering.
Mounting Hole Pattern: Must match your frame or ESC stack. The most popular standards are 30.5x30.5mm (standard), 20x20mm (mini/micro), and 25.5x25.5mm (whoop/toothpick).
Software Compatibility: Ensure the FC is supported by your preferred firmware (Betaflight is the most popular for FPV, but INAV, ArduPilot also exist).
Brand and Support: Choose FCs from reputable manufacturers offering good support and regular updates, e.g., SpeedyBee, Holybro, Matek.

The Flight Controller (FC) is one of the most important component in your drone - is the heart of all Multirotors. FC gives stabilization and drone controling. FC consist a circuit board with sensors detected orientation changes of your quadocopter. On the other hand it allows you control the motor and keep the drone in the air. Gyrposcopes (Gyro) and Accelerometer (Acc) are the basic sensors using in FC. Some FC might include additional functions like GPS, LED, Barometer or Compass. Choosing the FC for your drone depends on what type of flying you intend to. FPV Freestyle, Racing Drones, Camera Drones require different FC.

Need Help Choosing a Flight Controller?

Choosing the right flight controller (FC) is one of the most important decisions when building or upgrading an FPV drone. Wondering if you need an F7 processor or if an F4 is enough? How many UART ports will you need? How to check compatibility with other components?

Selecting an FC can seem complex, but we're here to help! The Avifly team will advise you on which flight controller (e.g., from the SpeedyBee or Holybro range) will work best for your project. Contact us via the Contact Us page.

We offer modern and proven flight controllers, compatible with the latest Betaflight firmware, available with fast shipping from our warehouse in Poland.

Give your drone a reliable brain with a flight controller from Avifly! 🧠✈️