Quadcopter simple. Choosing the size of the quadcopter. Details, assembly process, nuances

The first tests of a multicopter aircraft took place back in 1922, but only in the second decade of the 21st century. this type of layout began to gain popularity at an impressive rate. Compared to other radio-controlled models, quadcopters are in great demand, probably because they have a practical purpose: at a minimum, capturing beautiful footage from the air.

Following consumer demands, manufacturers are flooding the market with an abundance of models of various configurations with various characteristics. Many buyers prefer RTF (ready-to-fly) kits that can fly into the air after simple calibration.

But not everyone needs the easy way. Particular pleasure can be derived from assembling the quadcopter from scratch on your own. The degree of difficulty varies between sets with all necessary details for assembly to independently selecting each component, checking their compatibility, assembling and configuring your own UAV.

It also makes sense to assemble a quadcopter if there are specific application scenarios for which factory models are not adapted. Or assemble a flight training device yourself that you won’t mind breaking. Detailed drawing You don’t need it for this; a sketch with all the elements marked is enough.

Basic units and components

In order for the constructed device to be able to take off in the air, at least in theory, and to make assembling a quadcopter with your own hands a pleasure, you need to purchase a number of relevant components:

  1. Flight controller– the “head” of the future UAV, in which all the basic necessary sensors are installed, as well as software for processing their readings, as well as commands coming from the control panel to control the rotation speed of each engine. This is the most expensive component you will have to buy to assemble a quadcopter.
  2. Advanced modellers make the frame themselves from carefully selected materials (aluminum, plastic, wood, carbonate or combinations thereof). If there is a lack of experience or engineering knowledge, if a ready-made frame is more suitable for the project or there is neither the desire nor the time to design a quadcopter and its parts yourself, then ready-made frames produced in wide range sizes.
  3. It is better to choose brushless motors - they are somewhat more expensive, but much more reliable than brushed motors. For flights, rotation at a significant speed is necessary, so the absence of a collector has a positive effect on the service life. Purchase at least 4 (or 8, if you need an octocopter), if the budget allows, then with 1-2 spare ones.
  4. Motor controllers, these boards that regulate the rotation speed of each motor and power it, will be mounted on the “beams” of the case. Their number corresponds to the number of engines.
  5. Propellers or propulsors should be selected with special attention, because the size must match the dimensions of the future frame, regardless of whether it was built independently or purchased.
  6. The power distribution board is designed to distribute power from the battery to the engine speed controllers. As a rule, each purchased case is equipped with a small board on which you can solder the inputs from all controllers, and then carefully power them. If desired, you can order a more advanced version of the main power board if your quadcopter circuit requires layout features.
  7. Buying batteries is one of the most difficult moments in selecting spare parts. The type of suitable battery depends entirely on the intended purpose of the model being created. For fast models, it is better to take small batteries with high KV (revolutions per minute × Volts), and for low-speed filming devices, the priority is the ratio of capacity and weight, because the structure cannot be overloaded in any case. A useful addition is a battery charge monitor. You cannot do without a special balancing charger for the selected type of battery (lithium-ion or lithium-polymer).
  8. A control panel with a receiver module that connects to the flight controller so that the device can be controlled. The type of control panel determines the comfort of control and some other available functions.
  9. Additional options are selected depending on the purpose of the future device. Thus, camera stabilizers are often attached to drones for filming, and racing ones are impossible without an FPV (first person view) complex.

You will need few tools for assembly - a screwdriver for assembling the frame, a soldering iron and, of course, the skills to work with it.

The disadvantage of the latter is easy to eliminate during the assembly process; fortunately, the “aerobatics” of owning a soldering station is not needed. And it is better to use soldering irons with a thin tip.

Quadcopter drawings in the full sense of the word do not exist, and they are not needed. Assembly from modules eliminates this need. WITH consumables everything is a little more complicated. To assemble a quadcopter with your own hands you will need:

  1. Thread locker so that none of the screws can be unscrewed due to flight vibrations.
  2. Heat shrink insulation for each soldering point.
  3. Polymer clamps for fixing elements on the body.
  4. Waterproofing compound for printed circuit boards.
  5. Banana connectors for motors.

Nothing will prevent you from making the necessary corrections and modifications to the design during assembly or flight testing. Maybe for your purposes it is better to assemble an octocopter with your own hands. With care and caution, even the most technically illiterate drone hobbyist can build a flying drone. Moreover, future flight tests will reveal all the shortcomings, which will be eliminated. The result should be the perfect personal drone. The main thing is to clearly understand the scenario for its application.

Build process

There are many options for the layout and design of multicopters, but the most common are models with four propellers. Therefore, the assembly of such a quadcopter will serve as an example for a step-by-step overview of the assembly process. In the process, you can rely on approximate drawings of quadcopters from the network or compiled by yourself.

1: Build the frame

Regardless of size or purpose, each drone must have a frame, frame, and supporting base. Assembly of finished frames should not be difficult due to the fact that they are supplied detailed instructions and all necessary fasteners.

And to assemble the frame yourself, you will have to show your design skills. A self-made quadcopter frame made of metal, plastic, metal-plastic or wood must be strong enough. For example, the thickness of the wooden parts of a self-made frame must be at least 30 mm. Assembling your quadcopter on a frame that is not strong enough is a waste of effort, because it will often break.

In any case, the output should be a given number of beams of the same length, which are carried by motors and attached to the central supporting plate. Landing supports or “legs” are also installed on it. In some configurations, the legs “grow” from under the engines. It all depends on the features dictated by the drawing of the quadcopter and its frame.

2: Install the power unit and propellers

Engines, their controllers and propellers play a key role in speed, maneuverability and other flight characteristics. Therefore, you should choose products from brands that work closely in the quadcopter industry, and not from someone who ended up in this market segment by accident.

Motors for one project must be of the same model from the same manufacturer.

Yes, the movement occurs due to the difference in the speed of their rotation, but it must be strictly controlled. A motley crew of engines would upset the balance. They are attached with screws to the outer ends of the “beams”.

After the engines, speed controllers are placed on the plane of their supports and secured with ties. The connection of the controllers to the motors, as well as to the distribution board, is carried out by direct soldering and connectors. If desired and on a budget, you can use a 4-in-1 controller, but then the layout of the quadcopter will change slightly. The result is an almost finished copter, which only lacks a flight controller.

3: Installing the “brains”

The flight controller is typically mounted on the top of the aircraft frame, above the power distribution board and battery compartment. The layout can be changed, but it is worth remembering that the lower the center of gravity, the more stable the device.

To minimize the effect of vibrations on the operation of the flight controller, its mounting pad is often mounted on rubber spacers or more sophisticated vibration damping systems are used. At the design stage it is good opportunity show off your engineering ingenuity without causing irreparable damage to the entire structure.

Only after the controller is installed can the remaining components and modules be placed: a receiver from the control panel, a GPS sensor, a magnetic compass, a camera, a gimbal, etc.

And only place it on the body; connection is permissible only after the initial calibration of the flight controller.

Different manufacturers produce different controllers, remote controls and other components. Therefore, their calibration is a complex and variable process worthy of separate consideration.


I'm interested in quadcopters. I decided to place an order, the choice fell on the Habsan x4 with a 0.3MP camera.
I waited and received it. I flew it quite a lot (there were crashes, long waits for spare parts and repairs). The idea came to my mind to build a large quadcopter, I plunged into this topic, and re-read many articles. Whenever possible, I answered questions from people in the Rc modelers group: regarding the selection of parts, assembling the quadcopter. From all this the idea to write this article arose.
Flight principle


So, If you decide to build your own quadcopter, then you need to decide on a budget. The size depends on the amount you are willing to spend on this Miracle. The most common sizes (in mm) are 250,330,450,550 and more.
*250 size: small, light, most often used only for FPV flights.
*330 and 450 the golden mean for a budget quadcopter. Acceptable weight and assembly price.
*550 and more can be classified as professional copters or multirotors. Such machines will turn out to be heavy and expensive. These aircraft will have powerful engines and they can carry a decent amount of weight, up to kilogram DSLRs.
I will continue my story based on a 450 scale copter.
A special place in this category is occupied by the DJI 330 and 450 and TBS Discovery frames.


Their price is appropriate...high.
There are many clones, and I chose this one.


It's time to find out what is it quadcopter and what it consists of.
1. Frame
2. Receiver/Transmitter
3. Flight controller:
a) AIOP
b) NAZA
c) MuliWii
d) HKPilot
e) AMP
f) And others

4. Power plant
a) Motor
b) Speed ​​controller
c) Propellers
5. Battery
6. Add. Equipment:
a) FPV system (first person view in real time)
Heading camera
Transmitter
OSD
b) Gimbal for on-board camera
c) Backlight

Now we can look at everything in detail.
1) With frame have already decided. 450 scale, TBS clone.


2) Receiver/Transmitter. Its choice is very important. You need to understand for yourself: how far you want to fly.
The most popular options:
 1.5-2 km will provide 2.4 GHz
 433 MHz will provide about 5-10 km (it all depends on the power, you can fly 20 km)
For myself I chose 2.4 GHz FlySky Th9x 9 channels



Not expensive and easy to set up equipment.
A quadcopter requires at least 5 channels.
The choice of this equipment is due to its popularity, how long it has been on the market. There are many clones. There is a lot of debate about which company was the first, this is the same Turgiga 9, Avionix and others... There are a lot of settings on the Internet.
3) Flight controller
At the moment there are a lot of flight controllers for quadcopters. I made my choice. This Naza Lite with GPS

Not very expensive and angry. Naza requires minimal setup and is very easy to do.
With AIOP, Crius and MultiWii controllers it will be many times more difficult, especially for a beginner.
Why did I take a controller with GPS?
This function is necessary for hovering at a point and returning home.
I see it very convenient functionality.
4) Power plant
Raises many questions among the uninitiated.
BC motors are used. They are three phase (3 wires), their efficiency is about 90%.
To control the rotation speed of such a motor, a speed controller (regulator) is used, which receives commands from the flight controller.

Let's consider frames 330.450mm. Depending on your needs, you need to estimate the weight of the quadcopter. On average it turns out from 1k to 1.5kg. It is desirable that the thrust of the motors be 2-2.5 times greater than the total mass. This suggests that the thrust should be 2-3 kg. We divide this by 4 and get the thrust of one motor: approximately 500-750 g.
The question arises: which engine to choose? We look at the characteristics of the frame: we are interested in what engines can be installed in it. The first 2 digits should be of interest: 22 or 28 in most cases.
Let's start choosing an engine. You will see a certain value next to the engine name, for example: 1100kv. This value indicates the number of revolutions per 1 volt. Motors with high kv values ​​have fewer turns of the stator winding than lower speed motors. It follows that the maximum current will be higher in motors with lower kv, which have more torque and this allows the use of larger propellers.
Can be compared to a car's gearbox. 380kv and 1400kv are like the first and third gears of a car.
380kv for measured slow and long flights with a large load capacity
1400kv for fast and manoeuvrable running.
On the Internet or in the description of this engine you can see it specifications and test results. You need to find out the maximum current (A) that the engine can draw and, based on this data, select a speed controller (ESC). Let's say max A for a 20A motor. Then, we take ESC 20-25% more powerful, 25-30A.
Now let's look at the test results.
For example we see: 11x4.7 –3S-12A – 830g
It means
11x4.7 - propeller characteristics (11-inch, 4.7 pitch)
3S - number of LiPo battery cans
12A - current strength in the circuit at a given load
830g – engine thrust under given conditions
Thus, the maximum thrust is 830x4 = 3300 g, the maximum current in the circuit is 12x4 = 48A
The maximum current strength is needed to select the Battery and Wiring.

For starters, don't buy carbon props. Overpayment. Learn to fly cheap ones.
The propeller mounting depends on the engine itself. Most propellers have an adapter for the engine axis. Possible mounting on collets or threads. DJI has excellent self-tightening options; with this option, your propeller will never come loose during flight.
For more simple options I advise you to additionally secure it with thread sealant.

Paying attention : You can compare motors with different kv under conditions of the same standard size. For example, EMAX XA 2212 exists in different configurations:
820
980
1400
They can be compared.
The efficiency of a motor with 1400kv will be maximum when using an 8040 propeller,
And a motor with 820kv - with a propeller of 1147.
A motor with 820kv will have maximum torque, so it is advisable to use large propellers. And a motor with 1400kv will love high speeds at lower loads.
The difference between the presented motors is in the winding.
It makes sense to use them like this:
1400kv on a 330 frame and 8040 propellers
980kv on a 450 frame and 1045 propellers
820kv on a 500-550 frame and 1147 propellers
I chose
And propellers
Wonderful set.
Connection diagram
For simplicity: Signal - black, Power (+\-) - red


5) Battery
When choosing a battery, you need to select the current output. This is the number C. (25С,35С)
Don’t forget that, according to our data, the system consumes 48A.
Let's say there is a 3300mAh 3S 35C Lipo Pack battery
3300 mAh - battery capacity
3S – number of cans (one can 3.7v)
35C – current output. Those. Battery capacity 3.3Ah (3300 mAh) x 35C = 115A
Which sufficiently covers our energy consumption. Even too much. The higher the C, the heavier and more expensive the battery.
Let's see whether a battery of the same capacity, but with a current output of 25C can cope with our tasks or not: 3.3Ah (3300 mAh) x 25C = 82A
Answer: Yes.
Such a battery will be lighter and cheaper.
To monitor the battery condition, you can buy such a thing.

Imax B6 is very popular for charging batteries, be careful, there are a lot of fakes.

And don't forget to handle LiPo very carefully.
My advice: take at least a couple of batteries.
6) Add. Equipment.
When you have decided on the flight range and selected the control system, you can begin choosing an FPV system:
FPV - literally: first-person view in real time.
 2.4GHz is compatible with 5.8GHz
 433MHz compatible with 1.2GHz
Otherwise, joint interference will be created.
For my 2.4 GHz I selected 5.8 GHz 200mw

The FPV system consists of:
1) Course camera
2) Transmitter on a quadric
3) Receiving station on the ground.
To increase the communication range, you can replace standard antennas with “clovers”

Most transmitters are powered within 9-12v, a small 3S battery can power the transmitter and camera, which is selected for a given voltage.
What does 200mw mean?
This is the transmitter power. It directly affects the communication range. In open areas with non-standard antennas, the signal can be received at a distance of up to 1 km.
Considering that my control system is not capable of controlling a distance of more than 1.5-2 km, this is ideal
option for my needs.
Now everything is clear with the choice of receiver and transmitter, but how to choose a camera, there are a huge number of them?
The choice of camera initially comes down to money.
There are cameras that have the function of streaming data and simultaneous recording. The cost of such cameras is much higher. The mobius camera is very popular.

Its competitor has appeared, which also has an AV output

You can use the cheapest directional camera, without a housing. The cost of which ranges from 600 to 1000 rubles, and is recorded using a good action camera on a gimbal.
For an FPV camera we will see the TVL number. What it is? This is the number of scan lines. For an FPV camera, 500-700TVL will be enough. The level of minimum illumination is important; this parameter is measured in lux. 0.01 lux is enough for flights even in the evening. The viewing angle is equally important. 100-120 degrees is ideal. It would be nice to have automatic highlight and auto correction. white balance.
The picture can be displayed on such a monitor

You can buy a 2- or 3-axis gimbal for the camera. This thing allows you to rotate the camera and have a more stable picture, without jerking or jerking.
The thing is quite expensive.
I have this one:
Naturally the on-board camera itself
You can install LED backlight, beeper, GPS tracker

As you understand, to assemble such a UAV requires quite a lot of investment.
The price is approximately 400-500 dollars.

This review is intended for beginners and contains theory; there will be a continuation soon. With assembly and configuration.
I have planned a series of articles and will slowly implement them.
I will be glad to criticize Thank you per view.
I'll show you the cards: the end result


How to assemble such a thing and lift it into the sky?
Instructions will be in the next part)

Here is a short video from the first flights with a gimbal.


P.S. Everything was purchased with personal funds. I'm planning to buy +99 Add to favorites I liked the review +62 +150

After reading articles on homemade quadcopters on Habré and after I saw a video shot with AR.Drone, the idea for making a homemade one came up in future plans FPV quadcopter, I wasn’t happy with AR.Drone at a price of approximately $350 (at that time I didn’t know that mine would be much more expensive), because the range is small, unstable outdoors, and the fact that it’s not open source and I can’t influence the algorithm of its operation .

About a year has passed since then, during which time I practically did nothing related to Arduino and other electronics, although I gradually bought various interesting electronic things.

And just recently it turned out that one of my friends decided to assemble a quadcopter, and I decided that it was time for me too.

Requirements for a quadcopter: FPV (first person view), that is, control from the ground without looking at the model, but looking only at the screen, fail safe - in case of loss of signal from the remote control, you need it not to fall lumpy, but calmly landed, or flew to the take-off point. GPS - it’s quite interesting to program some mission for it and watch its implementation. Flight time on one charge > 10 minutes. The range is approximately a kilometer.

List of necessary items

GoPro Hero3

I already had a GoPro (used it as a camera) so I didn’t have to spend any money.
PRICE: 300$
Buy GoPro Hero3

Turnigy 9X

This legendary (for its cheapness, good quality and functionality for that kind of money) I also bought the radio control equipment in advance, but I haven’t used it yet, it was collecting dust.
It comes with or without a receiver and transmitter, I have them, but our quadcopter will need others (with fail safe), so you can buy a stripped-down version, although I don’t regret buying the full version, because... It’s not difficult to insert another receiver here, and the price differs by only $4.
It is powered by 12V, which can be provided by 8 AA batteries, but it is better to use a LiPo battery. I made a little mistake with the dimensions, and my battery has to be secured with double-sided tape, but below I give a link to a battery that will fit perfectly into the battery compartment. You need to pay attention to the polarity (minus on the left, plus in the center) because You can stick it in the wrong place and burn the appa.
By default, it comes without a screen backlight, so it’s better to immediately buy an additional backlight for $5.
And the firmware with which it comes leaves much to be desired (I don’t know myself, but many people are flashing with the ER9x firmware, which is easier to understand and more functional), I will also flash it without even using the standard firmware, and for this I need a programmer. Price: 54+5(backlight)+10(LiPo)+4(programmer)+24(delivery)=97$
Buy Turnigy 9X
Buy Turnigy 9X (without receiver and transmitter)
Buy backlight
Buy LiPo
Buy a programmer

FrSky DJT 2.4Ghz Combo Pack for JR w/ Telemetry Module & V8FR-II RX

Receiver and transmitter for Turnigy 9x with fail safe (I haven’t bought it yet, but I will need it in order to fly confidently and not be afraid of signal loss)
PRICE: 40+6(delivery)=$46
Buy FrSky DJT 2.4Ghz Combo Pack for JR w/ Telemetry Module & V8FR-II RX

LiPo 2200mAh 3S 25C

Battery that will be in the quadcopter (I haven’t bought it yet, I’ll order it with FrSky)
PRICE: $10.68 + shipping
Buy LiPo 2200mAh 3S

Frame RCT Spider FPV Quadcopter Frame W/ Landing gear

Of course, you can make the frame yourself, but... They are not very expensive, and they look very good in appearance, so I decided to buy them. The choice fell on this one because There seems to be enough space in it for everything that is planned, and there will still be left for future additions, it is convenient to attach a GoPro to it, and in my opinion the rays and blades will not fall into the frame, or will be minimal.
PRICE: $29
Buy frame

Propellers 12 Pairs Carbon Reinforced 10x4.5" Counter Rotating Propellers

The propellers I bought were simply cheap and suitable in size (in the frame info it says 9~12" propeller), and there are also adapters for different motors.
PRICE: 27$
Buy propellers

Motors 2830/11 1000KV Outrunner Brushless Motor

I don’t know much about motors, I looked to see if they fit the frame (in the info on the frame it says 28, 35 series motor), a friend of mine bought the same motors. They had different powers from 750KV to 1300KV, I decided to take the middle. PRICE: 11x4=$44
Buy motors

Motor controllers SK-30A SimonK Firmware Multicopter Speed ​​Controller ESC 30A

A friend of mine bought these controllers and I also chose them, so that if something happened, the two of us could figure out the problems. Yes, and on the hub someone praised them.
PRICE: 12.5x4=50$
Buy motor controllers

Motor Controller Cable JST to 4 X 2mm Bullet Multistar ESC Quadcopter Power Breakout Cable

Just to avoid soldering and to look nice.
PRICE: 2$
Buy cable for motor controllers

Wires 18AWG Silicon Wire Red (1Meter), 18AWG Silicon Wire Black (1Meter)

I don’t know where in Belarus you can buy normal wires, so just in case I ordered red and black, 2 meters each.
PRICE: 1*2+1*2=4$
Buy red wire
Buy black wire

200pcs 10cm 2.54mm 1pin Male to Female jumper

Can be useful for connecting sensors and a radio signal receiver
PRICE: 10$
Buy Male to Female jumper

20 Pairs 2 mm Bullet Banana Plug Connector

To connect the battery and motors may be useful
PRICE: $3.5
Buy 2mm Bullet Banana Plug Connector

AIOP V2.0 ALL IN ONE PRO Flight Controller

I bought the same flight controller as a friend, because... The price and functionality are fine. And it will be easier to solve problems together.
It is planned to install MultiWii on it
PRICE: 49$
Buy AIOP V2.0

AIOPIO Board (Input / Output module)

I don’t know what it is specifically, but... the price is not high and maybe this thing will be useful to me, I decided to take it. I suspect that there are additional pins on which you can attach more sensors and so on. And it seems that telemetry can be transferred to the remote control thanks to it and FrSky.
PRICE: 4$
Buy AIOPIO Board

u-Blox CN-06 GPS Receiver V3.0

GPS receiver supported by MultiWii
PRICE: 30$
Buy u-Blox CN-06

Gyro / Flight Controller Mounting Pad (10pcs/bag)

Something like double-sided tape that smoothes out the vibration a little more.
PRICE: 1$
Buy Flight Controller Mounting Pad

7A UBEC

Because for AIOP we need 5v and our motors are 12 volt, we need to lower the voltage from the 3s battery to 5 volts (the one I bought returns 5.25) because

It’s probably not worth talking about how popular quadcopters are now. And you most likely know how much they cost and have already stopped thinking about it. In our article you will learn how make a quadcopter with your own hands at home. We warn you right away that this is a responsible and difficult task, but in the end you will have invaluable experience and a treasured device at a ridiculous price.

There are several ways to assemble a quadcopter yourself:



How to assemble a quadcopter with your own hands

We warn you that the instructions are generalized and that there may be differences in a couple of points. We will tell you the basics about assembly and selection of parts.

What parts are needed?

  • Frame and its components. The main thing in a copter is the load-bearing part. If the frame is lighter, then less power will be consumed. But keep in mind that lightweight frames are more expensive. Durability is not that important unless you plan to put a heavier camera on the copter. Frames come in three types: four-beam, six-beam and eight-beam (one motor for each beam).


Features of the selection of components

  • Motors. Chinese online stores are usually cunning and inflate their specifications. Therefore, for reliability, it is worth buying more powerful motors. This will also make it possible to lift a heavier camera. There is also two types of quadcopter motors- these are collector and brushless
  • Propellers. Their price depends on the purpose of your copter. If your plans do not include more complex “flights”, plastic propellers will be enough. If you are planning aerial photography, you will have to take composite materials. The more expensive the propellers, the stronger they are and the less time it will take to balance.
  • Remote control, signal receiver. The remote control should be taken along with the receiver. In this case, the receiver will receive the signal sent from the remote control. Normal remote controls, again, cost from a thousand rubles and more - they have a longer range. The remote controls themselves may have a bunch of unnecessary switches that will confuse you - it’s better not to take such copies.
  • Speed ​​controllers and battery. We advise you to immediately buy a set of motors with controllers. You can do without this, but then you will have to adjust the power yourself. You should buy a more powerful battery, especially if you want to install a heavier camera.
  • Controller. There are two types of controllers. Universal is convenient because it works on drones of any build; this is facilitated by sensors and versatility. The disadvantage is the price of the controller - from 17 thousand rubles. It will also have to be configured through special software written for a specific model. A specialized controller already has the necessary settings for a specific type of copter.
  • Camera. Choosing a camera for a copter is not an easy task. We recommend installing a camera like GoPro or analogues from Chinese companies - their quality does not vary much. Main role weight and viewing angle play a role, we’ll talk about the latter below. The more massive the camera, the more difficult it will be to center it. You can calculate the camera position using the formula L= 2 * tg (A /2) x D, (L – viewing area, A – angle, D – distance to the propellers).

GoPro camera analogs

Xiaomi Yi Action Camera

Price on AliExpress: US$49.99 – 109.99

Specifications:
  • Sensor: CMOS 1/2.3″ 16 megapixels;
  • Lens: f/2.8, viewing angle 155 degrees;
  • Video: 1920×1080, 60fps;
  • Photo: 4608×3456;
  • Weight: 72 grams;
  • Time Lapse: yes;
  • Built-in screen: no;
  • Memory: microSD memory card.
SJCAM SJ5000X 2K

Price on AliExpress: $126.58

Specifications:

  • Sensor: CMOS 12 megapixels;
  • Lens: f/2.8, viewing angle 170 degrees;
  • Video: 2560×1440, 30fps;
  • Photo: 4032×3024;
  • Weight: 74 grams;
  • Time Lapse: yes;
  • Built-in screen: yes;
  • Memory: microSD memory card.

About parts from China

Of course, you shouldn’t underestimate Chinese manufacturers, but you shouldn’t praise them either. Overcharacterization of their products is common. You can take it, but not cheap parts, otherwise you’ll have to do it all over again.

Assembly instructions

Surely, you read this article and took a frame with a distribution board. But if you haven’t done this, it doesn’t matter, just connect the wires to the control module.

Let's take, for example, a copter assembled from the following components:

  • Base (frame) – Diatone Q450 Quad 450 V3 PCB Quadcopter Frame Kit 450
  • 4 motors DYS D2822-14 1450KV Brushless Motor.
  • Speed ​​controller DYS 30A 2-4S Brushless Speed ​​Controller ESC Simonk Firmware
  • Propellers DYS E-Prop 8x6 8060 SF ABS Slow Fly Propeller Blade For RC Airplane
  • Control module 1.5 kk21evo
  • Battery, type: lithium polymer - Turnigy nano-tech 2200mah 4S ~90C Lipo Pack
  • Charger Hobby King Variable6S 50W 5A
  • Battery connector XT60 Male Plug 12AWG 10cm With Wire
  • Connectors 20 Pairs 3.5mm Bullet Connector Banana Plug For RC Battery/Motor
  • Remote Control Spektrum DX6 V2 with AR610 Receiver (with receiver and transmitter)

All this will cost about 20 thousand rubles

Quadcopter assembly steps

Let's lay all this stuff out on the table and get started.

  1. We roughly estimate the required length of the controller wires, add a small margin just in case, and cut them to the required length.
  2. We solder the connectors to the outputs of the regulators to simplify connecting the motors.
  3. Solder the speed controllers to the wiring board.
  4. We also solder the battery connector to the wiring board.
  5. Carefully screw the motors onto the drone's arms. When installing, take care of the thread.
  6. Solder the motor connectors if there are none.
  7. We screw the beams with motors to the board.
  8. We attach the regulators to the copter's beams. The most convenient way to do this is with plastic clamps.
  9. We connect the wires of the regulators to the engines in a random order. If necessary, we will change the order later.
  10. We attach the control module to the case (after photographing the back side, then you will understand why). We can even attach it with chewing gum, but I recommend using soft double-sided adhesive tape first.
  11. We connect the speed controllers to the controller. As a rule, we connect the white wire to the screen to the ports marked with “plus” - “minus” - “empty” signs.
  12. Use the remaining adhesive tape to secure the receiver closer to the control unit, and connect the necessary channels to the appropriate ports. We use the documentation for this receiver and a photo of the outer edge of the board in order to understand which stack of wires is responsible for what.
  13. We connect power to the device from the battery through the connector.
  14. You are well done! You've built your first drone.

Installation and configuration of equipment

Now all you have to do is set it up so that it doesn’t crash on the first day of flight.

  1. We start the engines (anything can happen here, study the documentation)
  2. Add gas and see in which direction the propellers spin. They must rotate as written in the diagram that comes with the controller. Otherwise, control will be inverted. If something goes wrong, we turn over the connector that connects the engine and controller.
  3. If everything turns correctly, screw the upper part of the frame. Don't try to push it into place. If it stands up tightly, something is going wrong. We loosen the lower screws, then tighten everything gradually.
  4. We fix the block with batteries.
  5. We mount adapters for propellers on engines.
  6. We install the propellers, taking into account the direction of rotation of the motors. The raised element of the blade must face in the direction of rotation.
  7. Eat! Your quadcopter is ready for its first flight.

We have considered a simple example of assembling a quadcopter, which does not require large costs and effort in terms of assembly. Accordingly, if you decide to lift something heavier on a drone (navigator, heavier filming equipment, etc.), the design will have to be modified and strengthened. However, you have already gained your first experience in assembling such structures. Then it will be easier for you to understand the principle of operation of the copter and know how to further refine it.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) are high-tech, expensive equipment. However, amateur-level “drones” seem quite affordable. It is no coincidence that in recent years small drones, including those assembled by hand, have been rapidly gaining popularity among ordinary people. The new, so-called FPV (First Person View) technology, a first-person view, gives a unique flight experience to everyone. Radio-controlled aircraft modeling has always been in demand among youth society. The advent of drones has only spurred this demand, which is easily satisfied if you buy a ready-made flying car or assemble a drone with your own hands.

A quadcopter (drone) is a design of an unmanned aerial vehicle, one of the most popular aircraft modeling projects.

The easiest way to acquire a UAV is to simply buy a quadcopter (drone), since the market (including the Internet) freely provides this opportunity.

However, for greater interest and for the purpose of a better understanding of what a drone is, it is more practical and economical to assemble a quadcopter with your own hands (DIY - Do It Yourself), for example, from a kit finished parts. A more serious option is to assemble a quadcopter (drone) from scratch using a minimum of ready-made components.

What is needed to assemble a quadcopter (drone)

Before you start assembling the drone yourself, you will need to decide on the components to create a quadcopter (drone). Therefore, let's look at the list of basic components that make up (the drone):

Quadcopter frame

The frame of a drone (quadcopter) can be built using different materials:

  • metal,
  • plastic,
  • wooden.

If the choice fell on a wooden drone frame (as the simplest from a technology point of view), you will need wooden plank about 2.5-3.0 cm thick, 60-70 cm long.

The board is cut in such a way as to obtain two planks 60 cm long and 3 cm wide. These two planks are the structure of the future quadrant of the quadcopter.

The drone frame structure is built by simply intersecting two wooden planks under the “X” frame factor. The resulting frame is reinforced with a rectangular piece - stitching - in the central part. The size of the rectangle is 6 × 15 cm, thickness 2 mm. The material is also wood.

The classic quadcopter (drone) frame configuration, which is used in most cases of DIY assembly. Option shown with installed motors and controller

Other dimensions of the quadcopter (drone) frame other than those stated are not excluded, but we should not forget about maintaining the proportions. The joining of frame parts is usually done with nails and glue.

Instead of wood, it is allowed to use metal or plastic of the same size. However, the methods of connecting the planks will be different.

Below is a list of ready-made carbon quadcopter frames (drones) available on the market:

  • LHI 220-RX FPV
  • Readytosky FPV
  • iFlight XL5
  • RipaFire F450 4-Axis
  • Usmile X style
  • Readytosky S500

Motors, ESC modules, propellers

To make a classic quadcopter (drone), you need to have 4 engines. Accordingly, if an octocopter project is conceived, eight engines will be required.


One of the options for manufacturing quadcopter (drone) motor propellers. The material chosen is hard plastic, taking into account the small dimensions of the structure

In Russian, the ESC (Electronic Speed ​​Controllers) module of a quadcopter is called a speed controller. This is no less important part of an unmanned aerial vehicle than an electric motor.

ESC modules are responsible for the correct transfer of power to the drone's motors. The number of quadcopter modules corresponds to the number of electric motors.

  • Emax RS2205 2600KV Brushless Motors
  • DLFPV DL2205 2300KV Brushless Motors
  • Gemfan GT2205 2650KV Brushless Motors
  • HOBBYMATE Quadcopter Motors Combo
  • 35A ESC BlHeli32 32bit DSHOT1200
  • Thriverline Sunrise ESC 20A BLHeli-S

You can buy 9-inch metal propellers. These products are freely available on the market at an affordable price.

Metal structures are durable and do not bend under high loads during flight. However, for higher screw performance – the best option carbon propellers. For example, these:

  • BTG Quick Release Carbon Fiber Reinforced Propellers
  • Performance 1245 Black Propellers MR Series
  • YooTek 4 Pairs Foldable Quick Release Propellers
  • Myshine 9450 Self-tightening Propeller Props
  • Jrelecs 2 Pairs Carbon Fiber Propellers

Electronics and power module

A set of electronics for drones (quadcopters) traditionally consists of a flight controller and wireless system management. This also includes the power module, since most power modules are equipped with an electronic battery monitoring system.

Battery charge status – important point flight. It is difficult to imagine what will happen to the device if the battery is discharged, for example, during a flight over a body of water.

The flight controller maintains the stability of the quadcopter's flight by processing data regarding wind direction and strength, as well as many other parameters.


Flight controller on the STM32F103C8T6 chip: 1, 2 — tweeter (+; -); 3 - flow; 4 - RCCI; 5 — body; 6 - 5 volts; 7 - battery; 8, 9 - UART TX, RX; 10 — strip indicator; 11, 12, 13, 14 — motors; 15 — PPM

The controller, as a rule, is equipped with so-called “firmware” - a memory chip where basic information is recorded for a chip similar to an AVR microcontroller.

The flight controller can be purchased at ready-made version, but assembling the circuit yourself is also possible. True, for the second option you need to have the skills of an electronics engineer and the appropriate ones. Therefore, it is easier to use ready-made solutions. For example, one of the following:

ArduPilot– a high-quality controller (expensive), designed for aircraft unmanned control. The firmware is distinguished by the presence of fully automated flight modes. The system provides high technical characteristics.

OpenPilot CC3D– a system based on Digital Motion Processor, equipped with a whole family of flight management sensors. Includes a three-dimensional accelerometer and gyroscope. The project is quite easy to configure and install. There is a user manual.

NAZE32– is also a fairly flexible and powerful system, but seems somewhat complicated in terms of configuration. Equipped with an advanced firmware program.

KK2– one of the popular solutions, which is often chosen by beginners, since the controller is relatively inexpensive and is equipped with an LCD display. The basis of the circuit is the AVR microcontroller, one of the latest modifications. The circuit provides for connecting MPU6050 sensors. However, the setup is only manual.

Wireless system remote control consists of a transmitter and receiver of radio signals. The remote control system not only controls the flight, but also controls the position of the aircraft installed on the drone.


Drone (quadcopter) control panel in the classic variation of a radio signal transmitter with the ability to monitor via an LCD display

Here, as a rule, they are used exclusively ready-made solutions. For example, any of the remote control systems in the list below:

  • Futaba 10JH 10-Channel Heli T-FHSS Computer Radio System
  • Turnigy 9xr PRO Radio Control System
  • Spektrum DX8 Radio Transmitter
  • YKS FlySky FS-i6 2.4GHz 6 Channels Radio Control System

DIY drone (quadcopter) assembly

Electric motors are installed on the created frame. You may have to calculate the locations of the motors and drill mounting holes in the frame if there are no other options.


Approximately according to this mechanical scheme, it is recommended to mount electric motors on the frame of a quadcopter (drone). True, much in fastening depends on the frame material

Then the speed controllers are installed. Traditionally, these modules are installed on the bottom plane of the frame. Speed ​​controllers are connected directly to the motors via ribbon cables.

Next, a landing module is added to the frame - a part of the structure designed to organize a “soft” landing of the drone. The design of this structural element must provide for shock mitigation when landing on hard ground. Various designs are possible.

The next step is to install the flight controller. The location of this module is not critical. The main thing is to ensure electronics protection and uninterrupted operation.

The drone flight is connected according to the attached diagram to the module (receiver) of the remote control and to electronic board adjusting the speed of the motors. All connections are made using reliable connectors, and the most important points are “situated” on tin solder.

In principle, the main assembly is completed here. But there is no need to rush to cover the drone with its body. It is necessary to test all systems - sensors and other components of the quadcopter, using special software OpenPilot GCS (CC3D and GCS). True, the program release is quite old and may not be supported by new developments.

After the test, the assembled device - an unmanned quadcopter - is ready to fly. In the future, the drone can be easily upgraded - equipped with a video camera and other devices that expand functionality.



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