USB

dRonin flight controllers generally have their firmware installed using USB and also are configured over the USB interface.

dRonin implements a "telemetry interface" that usually runs over USB HID (human interface device). This is the same protocol used for joysticks and keyboards, and was chosen because it does not require any drivers to be installed on the operating system. This telemetry interface allows the GCS (ground control station) to monitor all of the sensors and parameters and to change and save configuration settings.

This telemetry interface can also run over USB CDC (virtual serial port), but this requires a driver on Windows. The driver .INF file can be found at https://raw.githubusercontent.com/d-ronin/dRonin/next/flight/Project/Windows%20USB/dRonin-CDC.inf but is not signed and may be difficult to install on recent Windows. The USB CDC can be used for other things; for instance, it can be used as a combridge to use the flight controller's serial ports from Windows to configure a GPS or bluetooth peripheral.

Telemetry can also run over real serial ports, radio modems, or bluetooth with appropriate peripherals.