How To Make a Wireless Remote Control Drone At Home?

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Drones for commercial use have grown in popularity in recent years. The rise of so-called FPV (first-person view) technology gave us a unique experience of flying. Their agile multi-rotors and capability to take amazing photos and video during flight made them popular.

That’s why commercial drones are in great demand nowadays but have you ever wondered how to build a DIY drone from scratch? Today, there is a wide range of drones on the market, and they differ in size, design, and properties.

The real challenge is to construct a drone from scratch without using a special kit.

Are you up for this task? This article will take you through the basic steps of building a drone from scratch.

As expected, this can be an extremely complicated project, depending on the type of drone you want to build, and the materials necessary.

This article will take you through a general outline of what it looks like to make a DIY quadcopter drone, and hopefully, this will help you to understand whether you truly want to take on this project.

BASIC PARTS YOU’D NEED

Before you begin building this DIY drone, you must first determine which components are required to complete it; this is, of course, assuming you want it to fly.

The following is a rough list of the parts you’ll need to make your own drone:

  • Frame: When it comes to the frame for your drone, you have two options. You can make it yourself or get it from an internet retailer with a large selection of high-quality frames. The project is not difficult if you opt to make it yourself, but you will need some engineering knowledge as well as an understanding of the materials you will use. You could, for example, use metal (if it’s light), plastic, or even wood slats. If you want to use a wooden frame, you’ll need a 2.5 cm thick wood board.
  • Motors: A conventional quadcopter requires four motors to fly, whereas an octocopter requires eight. Brushless motors are recommended since they are easier on the battery and should be purchased from a store unless you are an engineer who fully understands how a motor works.
  • Electronic speed controllers, or ESCs, are another important component of your drone because they are in charge of transferring power to the motors. Their number is determined by the number of arms your drone will have.
  • Propellers: You must find propellers that match the frame of your drone when looking for them. Take note of the materials – you won’t find wooden propellers, but you must ensure that the ones you choose are a good fit.
  • Connections: To weld the motors and ESCs, you’ll need 3.5 mm connectors, as well as 4.5 mm connectors for the power distribution board.
  • The power distribution board links the battery to the electronic speed controls.
  • Batteries: When buying batteries for your drone, you should think about the capacity and type of battery. Li-Po batteries are the most commonly used for this purpose, and their power varies.
  • Battery monitor: Although this is not a basic component, it is quite important in alerting you when the batteries are about to run out. This way, you don’t have to worry about the drone running out of power in the middle of a pond. A battery monitor ensures that your aerial vehicle does not die in an inconvenient location.
  • The mounting pad lowers vibrations, which improves flight. This one is especially helpful if you’re trying to snap photos or videos. This one is especially helpful if you’re trying to snap photos or videos.
  • Controllers: This device distributes power and controls the motors at the same time.
  • RC receiver: Of course, if you have a transmitter (which is normally with you), you’ll have a receiver put on the drone as well.
  • A camera is required if you wish to take aerial shots and record the surroundings while flying your drone. The greatest cameras are those that can capture high-definition 4K video, but everyone will find one that suits their demands. A camera gimbal may be required for high-quality aerial photography and videography.
  • USB key: To store the photographs and movies, you’ll need a USB key.

AWG silicone wires, a battery charger, Servo lead wire cables, zip ties, 3M command strips, thread locking compounds, and other components are also required. You can also add more accessories to your drone to make it more advanced in addition to these components.

To put it another way, there are a lot of different ways to build a drone, and the processes and required components will vary based on how much of it you want to do yourself. The following instructions will walk you through the process of building a quadcopter on your own.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

  • There are different types of drones, but people find quadcopters to be more efficient, as they are easy to fly.
  • So for this step-by-step guide, we have focused on showing you how to build a quadcopter with pieces that you can buy separately:

STEP 1: MAKING THE FRAME

  • A frame is required for any drone, regardless of its purpose. As a result, the initial step is to construct a frame. You can use a variety of materials for this, including metal, plastic, and wood. These materials will vary depending on how durable you want your drone to be.
  • If you want to use wood for the frame, look for a board that is at least 60 cm long and 25-30 mm thick. Cut this board into two 60cm long and 30mm wide laths by chopping it up. The structure of your future quad will be built using these two lengths.
  • The X frame is formed by crossing these two laths. In order to create and add a rectangular piece to the centre area of this frame, you’ll also need a wooden sheet. It should be 615 centimetres in length and 2mm thick.
  • You may, of course, use different proportions, but these will give you a lovely quad. You’ll need nails and glue to join these pieces together. The proportions are similar whether you use metal or plastic, but the way you link the laths together will be different.

STEP 2: PROPELLERS, ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROLLERS, AND MOTORS

  • A working drone’s ESCs (Electronic Speed Controllers), motors, and propellers are among the most crucial components. To assure quality and dependability, you should purchase these components from an authorised retailer. They must be proportional to the size of your drone, so keep that in mind when shopping. Do not be scared to seek assistance from a store employee.
  • When shopping for motors (or rotors), keep in mind that multi-rotor drones produce more speed and have more stable flying since each rotor works with the thrust points of the others.
  • We recommend purchasing metal 9-inch propellers, which are available on the market for a relatively reasonable price. These are tough and won’t bend as easily if the drone collides with something while flying. Carbon props, on the other hand, are better if you desire superior performance.
  • Finally, you’ll need some ESCs (Electronic Speed Controllers). If you don’t need four (remember, we’re talking about a quad), you can get a four-in-one controller.

STEP 3: ASSEMBLE THE MOTORS

  • The next step is to drill the holes for the motors in the frame, based on the spacing between the screws holes on the motors. Another hole should be drilled to allow the clip and shaft of the motor to move freely.
  • If the motors already came with mountings, you can skip this step. Place the motor in its proper location and secure it to the frame with screws and a screwdriver.

STEP 4: MOUNT THE ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROLLERS

  • After you’ve installed the motors, you’ll need to install the speed controllers. What method will you use to do this? Due to many factors that affect the drone’s performance, it is recommended that the speed controllers be connected on the bottom side of the frame. This is because it will “unload” the upper side of the drone, which is where further components should be put, among other things.
  • Zip ties are required for a secure fit of the ESC to the frame. Your ESCs will be properly secured and strapped down when flying this way.

STEP 5: ADD THE LANDING GEAR

  • It’s a vital component of landing your drone since it decreases the amount of stress when it hits the solid ground. It can be created in a variety of ways, but you should be inventive and make it your own.
  • Here’s one suggestion: Cut 4 1-2 cm thick rings out of a metal pipe (about 6 inches in diameter) using the required equipment. Naturally, the size of these rings should correspond to the overall size of your drone. Duct tape can then be used to secure the parts to the frame.
  • If you don’t like the metal pipe idea, you can substitute other flexible but robust materials, such as new plastics, or anything else that reduces shock.

STEP 6: FLIGHT CONTROLLER

  • A control system is required for any flying drone. This electronic technology enables a drone to maintain stability in the air while flying and processes any changes in direction and wind.
  • When it comes to this phase, you have two options: The first and most convenient alternative is to purchase a ready-to-use controller. The second alternative is to make it from scratch.
  • If you wish to construct your own controller, pick one of these projects that best fits your needs. Follow the websites above to do some further study and look at the specific characteristics of each. The construction of such a device is quite difficult and necessitates the use of a skilled drone specialist. Your drone will be the ideal “do-it-yourself” aerial device if you are able to do so.

STEP 7: CHOOSING A RIGHT RC TX-RX (WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM)

  • To control a drone, you’ll need a remote control system like this.
  • Nowadays, RC control systems such as Futaba, Spektrum, Turnigy, FlySky, and others are available.
  • A few channels for yaw, pitch, throttle, and roll, as well as the additional channels if you want to mount a camera control to your drone for aerial photography, are required in addition to this system.

STEP 8: MOUNT THE FLIGHT CONTROLLER

  • After you’ve decided on the best flight controller for your needs, you’ll need to mount it. It can be mounted in a variety of ways. You can, for example, arrange it on top of the frame in a specific orientation, but before calibrating your drone, make sure that all of the components are properly secured. You can also use the zip ties indicated before for this reason.
  • A little piece of sponge should be placed on the underside of the flight controller to absorb and lessen vibrations from the motors. As a result, your drone will be more steady while flying, which is crucial while operating a drone.

STEP 9: CONNECT THE OPEN PILOT TO YOUR DRONE

  • The next step is to configure the flight controller and link it to the electronic speed controller.
  • It must also be connected to the remote control. To see how to accomplish this step, go to YouTube and search for a tutorial video for the flight controller you previously installed.

STEP 10: CHECK OUT AND TEST YOUR DRONE

  • Before you use your drone for the first time, make sure everything is in working order. As a result, before taking the first flight, you must test all of the functions. Using the proprietary OpenPilot GCS, you may test your drone’s sensors and other components.
  • Remove the props and perform a little experiment with the remote control to ensure that everything is working properly. This ensures that you can test the drone without worrying about it breaking.
  • Find a good location for this challenge and try to move your drone inside its control distance. Pay close attention to the zip ties and cables to ensure they are securely linked. When everything is in order, your drone is ready to take to the skies!
  • Make sure you don’t skimp on this phase; it’s critical to thoroughly test everything before flying the drone. After all, you don’t want your drone’s first flight to be its last!

STEP 11: TAKEOFF

  • This is the final (and, dare I say, most crucial) phase in the process. Before taking off, make sure the battery is properly connected and that all of the components are securely fastened. You must carefully select a spot for the test flight, as this aircraft can do major damage and can also be destroyed. It’s best to find an open, flat place so that your drone doesn’t damage anything or vice versa. You’ll also make sure you have a clear view of your drone at all times.
  • Place your quad on the ground, turn it on, grab the flight controller, and take off for your first flight. For the first time, it’s best to gradually increase the speed of your drone and fly it at a low height. As a result, if it starts to fall out of control, the harm will be minimal.
  • If the drone begins to drift in one direction, you must utilize the trims to perform the appropriate flight corrections. You should also experiment with different PID values to see how your drone responds to various inputs until you get exactly what you’re looking for.