Custom-Built Drone

An entirely custom-made drone, crafted from the ground up by sourcing and assembling all the necessary components, including wiring, programming, and design.

Key Highlights

Component Sourcing: Researched and sourced individual parts such as motors, electronic speed controllers (ESCs), flight controller, propellers, and frame components.
Assembly: Carefully assembled all the components, ensuring proper wiring and weight distribution to achieve balanced flight.
Programming: Utilized Betaflight to program the flight controller. Configured the drone to handle manual flight inputs.
First Flight: After successful calibration and configuration, the drone had its maiden flight, which was a culmination of weeks of work and learning.

Technology Stack

Hardware

Frame: Carbon Fiber Frame Kit – Durable, lightweight frame for the drone’s structure.
Motors: Racerstar BR2306S Brushless Motors – High-power brushless motors (2400KV) for smooth and powerful movement.
Flight Controller: F4/F7 Flight Controller – Flight controller with Betaflight firmware, essential for drone navigation and stability.
ESCs: Racerstar 30A ESCs – Electronic Speed Controllers for precise motor control.
Antennas: Pagoda Antennas – Omni-directional antennas for telemetry and FPV (first-person view) signal control.
VTX FPV Transmitter: Eachine TX801 Video Transmitter – Adjustable video transmitter for live drone footage transmission.
Camera: Eachine C800T Camera – High-resolution FPV camera with a wide-angle lens.
Buzzer & LED: Tracking LED & Buzzer – LED and buzzer for locating the drone if it’s lost.
Transmitter: FlySky i6X Transmitter & Receiver – Remote control and receiver setup for controlling the drone from a distance.
Propellers: iFlight Nazgul Propellers – Three-blade propellers for efficient and stable flight.
Straps: Eachine Battery Straps – Straps to secure the battery and other components.

Software

Betaflight for firmware control and tuning.

Others

FPV Goggles: Eachine EV800D FPV Goggles – 5-inch FPV goggles with a built-in battery, HD DVR, and diversity receiver for enhanced signal reception.
Batteries: TATTU R-Line V3.0 6S Battery – 1300mAh, 120C LiPo battery for high-performance drones, providing reliable power for extended FPV sessions.
Battery Charger: T60 XT30 Parallel Charging Board – Parallel charging board supporting 2S-6S LiPo batteries for efficient and simultaneous charging of multiple batteries.

Challenges

One of the significant challenges faced during the project was component compatibility. Ensuring that all sourced components were compatible and worked seamlessly together was crucial for the success of the build. This involved verifying specifications and understanding how different parts interacted, which could be quite complex given the variety of components available.

Another challenge was programming. Learning to tune the flight controller for stable flight required time and effort. It involved understanding the intricacies of the flight controller’s settings and making adjustments to achieve optimal performance. This process was essential to ensure safe and effective drone operation.

Learning Outcomes

Through this project, I acquired a deeper understanding of UAV systems, gaining insights into essential aspects such as sensor calibration, battery management, and motor control. This comprehensive knowledge allowed me to appreciate the intricate details that contribute to the overall performance of the drone.

Additionally, I gained hands-on experience in circuit design, wiring, and troubleshooting mechanical issues. This practical experience was invaluable, as it helped me develop skills that are crucial for building and maintaining UAV systems.

I also learned how to troubleshoot hardware-software integration issues, particularly focusing on the interactions between the flight controller and various sensors. Understanding these integration challenges is essential for achieving smooth operation and reliable performance in UAV systems.

Future Enhancements

Looking ahead, one of the future enhancements I plan to implement is the addition of autonomous flight features. This improvement will not only increase the drone’s capabilities but also enhance its functionality in various applications.