Comparison DJI RC-N1 vs DJI RC Pro

The presence of a display controller in the design and the type of installed matrix.

The screen in remote controls for RC models can play different roles. Thus, it is possible to display a picture from the camera in real time on a color display, and service parameters are often superimposed on top of it (for example, flight altitude, speed, remaining battery charge level, all sorts of service notifications, etc.). Monochrome screens are usually assigned other tasks - first of all, they are responsible for tracking telemetry (for more details, see the corresponding paragraph).

It is customary to equip advanced controllers for RC models with a display. Simple remote controls are often presented without a display. And according to the types of matrices, there are the following screen options in controllers:

- OLED. In the context of control controllers, OLED screens usually mean the simplest solutions with a black backing and white symbols for displaying settings and/or various service information. Such displays are based on organic light-emitting diodes, and their key advantage is the ability to easily read the displayed information in poor ambient lighting.

- LCD. As a rule, these are the simplest monochrome screens - either segmented to display a limited set of characters, or based on a single-color...LCD matrix, suitable for text and basic graphic information. LCD screens provide additional convenience: they can display various important data, for example, the flight altitude of a conventional quadcopter, the speed of movement of the RC machine, the signal level, the remaining battery charge, notifications of problems, etc.

- TFT. A TFT display means a screen consisting not of segments, but of full pixels and suitable for displaying various types of data: graphic symbols, images, and even streaming video from an installed camera. TFT screens provide the most extensive visualization of settings; they are used in controllers for controlling drones and other RC models in FPV (First Person View) mode.

Display diagonal size in inches. The larger the display, the more accurate and easier to read the information displayed on it, the better the video stream can be seen on the screen in real time. On the other hand, a display that is too large entails an increase in the size and cost of the controller. In remote controls with the ability to display only service parameters, the screen size is usually from 1 to 3 inches, in copies with full color matrices and support for broadcasting a video stream - about 5 - 7 inches diagonally.

Display size in dots (pixels) horizontally and vertically. The higher the resolution of the screen, the more detailed the image can be displayed on it and the smaller objects will be clearly visible. It makes sense to pay attention to this parameter in controllers that are used to control the RC model with a first-person view in real time. The display resolution of such copies can correspond to the Full HD format (1920x1080 pixels) or even exceed it (for example, Quad HD - 2560x1440 pixels).

Compatibility of the controller with specific RC models. For many popular models, their own specialized remote controls are produced, which are initially tailored to the characteristics of a particular model. However, it is often possible to replace the “native” controller with a third-party one - many models of this type are produced with compatibility for a certain list of RC equipment. Before purchasing, it makes sense to check compatibility to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Rated power of the transmitter installed in the controller. This is an important parameter for ensuring reliable control of the RC model at a distance. The power of the transmitter is measured in milliwatts (mW), and the higher the number, the further the signal reaches and the more reliable control will be over long distances or in conditions of interference. In professional models of remote controls, the transmitter power can exceed 1000 mW (1 W).

The operating range of the transmitter in the control panel, in other words, is the maximum distance that the RC model can move away from the transmitter without losing control. The greater this distance, the more convenient it is to operate the car, but at the same time, powerful “long-range” transmitters have corresponding dimensions, weight and cost. In practice, the range may be less than stated - for example, due to the presence of obstacles in the signal path or due to weak batteries. Therefore, it is best to choose according to this parameter with some reserve.

The total number of controls in the remote control directly depends on the design, manufacturer, model and, most importantly, the purpose of the controller. This paragraph specifies all switches, buttons, sticks, sliders, scroll wheels and other elements used to control the RC model.

The controls are in the form of protruding levers that can be tilted in any direction. The sticks usually do not have fixed positions, which provides more “fine” control of the motion vector of the RC model. However, gimbals can also be used for other functions - in fact, everything depends on their implementation on board a particular controller.

— On Hall sensors. An advanced version of suspensions are solutions based on Hall sensors. The design of such levers is more reliable due to the absence of rubbing and contacting parts, and the position of the stick is determined by changes in the fluctuations of the magnetic field, which are monitored by appropriate sensors. Sticks on Hall sensors do not have “dead zones”, are devoid of the drift effect (misalignment), and wear out an order of magnitude slower. However, such solutions are not cheap.

- On potentiometers. Potentiometers change their resistance depending on the position of the control element, in this case the suspension. When the user moves the stick on the remote control, it actually changes the position of the potentiometer. These changes are captured by a variable resistor and used to generate an analog control signal. Sticks on potentiometers are less reliable due to the presence of rubbing parts.

The presence of a built-in speaker in the controller design.

The specific implementation of this function varies depending on the device itself. In its simplest form, the speaker provides audible warnings about low battery charge, loss of connection with the model, and other problems. The built-in speaker can also play sound effects to confirm the completion of certain actions or commands. And in the most advanced implementations, the speaker is used to provide voice alerts.