Drone technology (Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles, UAVs), has been around for over a century. First making their appearance during WWI, today’s more highly advanced technology is pushing the boundaries of modern military and civilian aviation. Drones are evolving at an unprecedented pace. From extended flight times and AI-powered navigation to enhanced sensor integration and specialized payloads, drones have transformed from military tools into intelligent multi-domain applications across industries.
With AI integration, extended flight endurance, and regulatory adaptations, drones are reshaping industries from agriculture to environmental protection. The technological leap in drone capabilities has unlocked new possibilities, making UAVs indispensable tools across various fields, including:
Drone flight control, navigation, and communication links heavily rely on stable timing references. High precision, high stability, and low power consumption are critical characteristics for selecting the right crystal or crystal oscillator in these applications. In addition, if the frequency control device is affected by high phase noise, temperature variation or vibration, it can cause navigation drift, leading to inaccurate positioning, communication interruptions, and resulting in unstable data transmission, and unstable flight control that increases mission failure risks.
For reliable UAV operation, engineers can choose between cost-effective crystals, crystal oscillators or TCXOs. Crystal oscillators are more expensive but are complete modules that will create your oscillator circuit. High-stability, low phase noise temperature-compensated crystal oscillators (TCXOs) ensure precise synchronization and robust system performance.
Different drones require different frequency precision, stability, low power consumption, and temperature resistance characteristics to ensure accurate flight and communication. The specific choice depends on the drone’s application, such as:
As a professional crystal and oscillator manufacturer and frequency solutions provider, Aker Technology delivers timing components specifically tailored for UAV systems. These solutions ensure precise timing for reliable flight data synchronization, low phase noise for stable communication, high-stability for environmental resilience, and a diverse product portfolio that supports flight control, GNSS, communication, and mission-critical modules.
Contact us today to request samples or have a technical consultation for drone oscillator solutions.
| Model | Product | Dimensions (mm) | Frequency (MHz) |
|---|---|---|---|
C3E, C2E, C1E | XTAL | 3.2 x 2.5 x 0.75, 2.5 x 2.0 x 0.65, 2.0 x 1.6 x 0.5 | 12, 16, 24, 25, 26, 27, 40, 48, 54 |
| S3, S2, S1 | XO | 3.2 x 2.5 x 1.2, 2.5 x 2.0 x 0.95, 2.0 x 1.6 x 0.8 | 0.032768, 12, 16, 24, 25, 26, 27, 40, 48, 54 |
| TX32, TX22, TX21 | TCXO | 3.2 x 2.5 x 1.2, 2.5 x 2.0 x 0.95, 2.0 x 1.6 x 0.8 | 10, 16.368, 19.2, 20, 26, 38.4 |
