SPARC (Safety Perception Array & Real-time Controller Module)

Abstract: Flying drones in tight spaces is tricky because they need to avoid obstacles, but the usual tech for this is often too bulky, pricey, or power-hungry for small drones. Enter the SPARC module—a smart, efficient solution designed for these smaller drones, like those using a Raspberry Pi. SPARC uses four tiny LiDAR sensors to create a 360-degree view of the surroundings. The magic happens on a custom 4-layer PCB with a powerful STM32H7 microcontroller. This chip runs a fast algorithm to clean up sensor data and quickly identify the nearest obstacle, all in under 50 milliseconds. This means the main computer on the drone doesn’t have to work as hard. Important safety info is then sent to the drone’s flight controller using a reliable communication protocol. The whole module is just 50mm by 50mm, making it a great fit for small drones by keeping size, weight, and power use low. This makes advanced obstacle avoidance affordable and reliable for the small drone market.

Keywords: Obstacle Perception, LiDAR Sensors, Microcontroller, Collision Avoidance, Drone CAN Protocol.