A Study of Drift Variability in Crazyflie Nano-Quadcopters by Pitting in-built Logging Parameters against Meticulous Measurement Techniques
Vihaan Bhaduri, Mark Santolucito
Affiliation: Saratoga High School
IJSCAR Vol. 2, Issue 1 (2025) · pp. 15–22
Abstract
Drift is one of the most unpredictable challenges when operating nano-quadcopters like Crazyflie. Caused by various factors including propeller orientation battery positioning and hardware manufacturing variations-drift significantly impacts flight predictability particularly in tight spaces such as narrow hallways crowded rooms and public areas. While a permanent solution to drift may not exist especially when it arises from inherent hardware variations such as mechanical inconsistencies and alignment inaccuracies understanding its effects is crucial for flight precision safety and the mitigation of unintended flight path deviations. Moreover drift analysis is essential in environments lacking precise positioning systems. Addressing drift directly within flight operations provides a more effective and broadly applicable solution to this mechanically induced issue. In this case study we examined the typical drift patterns observed in Crazyflie quadcopters assessing their scale and comparing differences across model versions. This analysis can help researchers determine whether these drones offer the precision required for their applications or if additional stabilization measures such as a lower-level Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller are necessary.
Keywords: Nano-quadcopters, Crazyflie, mechanical variability, drone drift