The desire to rise into the sky has probably never left a person. In this instruction we will take a step towards our dream and make a quadcopter with our own hands.

Step 1: Build the Frame

We look at the drawing and use the layout to model the frame of the quadcopter. This device will be based on wooden frame. To make it, you will need wooden slats of the following sizes: 60x3x2.4 cm and 57x3x2.4 cm, as well as a rectangular board 15x6x0.2 cm. Next, using glue and nails, we make a “cross” structure, which will serve as the frame.

Step 2. Prepare the motor

At this point, it's time to install the motor, propeller and speed control device (all items can be purchased online).
To make a quadcopter from this instruction, we used an EMAX MT2213 935kv engine, 24 cm propellers, and an EMAX 4in1 ESC.

Step 3: Installing the Engine

Using a caliper and a pencil, we mark the base and drill it with a drill, then secure the motor with the appropriate screws.

Step 4: Installing the Speed ​​Controller

After the stage of installing the engine, we install the speed controller ties and wires on the lower part of the frame, and then the battery.

Step 5: Attach the chassis

To make a chassis, you can take 4 pieces of rings from a pipe with a diameter of 15 cm, cut them 2 cm wide and attach them to the frame with tape. This step is designed to land the quadcopter smoothly on the surface.

Step 6: Mounting the Quadcopter Controller
It is this that stabilizes the flight of the device and is the main element of this process. Leaders of sells:
"ArduPilot" - based on Arduino, characterized by high performance.
“DJI Naza” is an “advanced” controller, in a price segment more expensive than the above, but with a set of different functions.
"OpenPilot CC3D" - based on STM32 and MPU6000 and six channels. It can also be reflashed.
"NAZE32" is an intricate device that is operated by experienced specialists.
“KK2.1” is the most popular on the Internet, equipped with an AVR microcontroller, and has a liquid crystal display.
"KKMulticontroller" - based on Atmel AVR, considered a slightly outdated model.

Step 7: Install the remote control
In general, the models vary from expensive ones - Futaba, Spektrum, to low-cost ones - Turnigy and Flysky. To make this quadcopter you will need a 4-channel control panel.

Step 8: Installation and configuration of electronic “stuffing”
Using the video instructions provided, we install all available electronics.

Step 9: Test Time
Before launching the quadcopter, you need to try out the first flight, which is what we are doing.

Step 10: Launch

We attach and connect the battery to the bottom of the frame and install the quadcopter on an open, flat surface. We move away and use the remote control to launch the device and enjoy the flight.

This is how we made a quadcopter using these instructions, although we are not aircraft designers! Don't stop there, and good luck in all your endeavors!

Now on the Internet you can find several useful tutorials (all links are at the end of the article) on how to assemble a drone on a 250 frame yourself. But, while putting together my first quad using these articles, I ran into problems that were not covered in any way. Namely: I did not find a complete list of parts and additional equipment that I need, the price of a complete assembly, as well as some practical and theoretical issues. That is why it was decided to make this article as a summary of my personal experience and other people's experiences, to help newbies (like me) build their first drone as efficiently as possible.

Part 1 will be devoted to the selection of parts, equipment, assembly and connection of all components of the copter. The software side will be discussed in part 2.

Here's a quick report on what I got:

It is noticeable in the video that the drone’s legs disappeared during the flight, but more on that later

List of frequently asked questions:

IN: Isn’t it easier to buy a ready-made quad and fly?
ABOUT: Easier only if you don't intend to keep improving your drone and building others. That is, you just want to fly, and not rack your brains and waste valuable time. In any case, a store drone is easier to learn and easier to operate. As an alternative, I can suggest MJX Bugs 3. Review of it. Price from ~120$.

IN: Do I need to solder?
ABOUT: Yes need!

IN: Is it cheaper to assemble a quadric yourself than to buy it in a store?
ABOUT: No! I think this is a misconception. If you are a beginner, and since you are reading this article, most likely you are, then in addition to parts for the quadcopter, you will need a lot of other things. I am attaching the list below.

List to buy:

In order not to bother with the selection of main components, I see great alternative in purchasing ready set. Without wasting time selecting parts, you will get everything you need.

Everything you get is included. On the picture Not the connecting wires from the controller to the transmitter are shown

3) At least 2 additional sets of propellers (4 pieces included: 2 left, 2 right) ~0-100 rub.

Propellers really consumables on your first flights, so it’s better to take it with a reserve. Oddly enough, it’s more expensive to order from China, and the wait is long. Maximum diameter 5 inches. I bought .

Batteries from Aliexpress. Both failed. The second bank on the left failed, the third on the right.

Left: battery for radio remote control with JR connector (black head). Right: battery for powering the quadcopter

I strongly advise against purchasing batteries from China: both batteries I ordered failed, that is, they stopped producing the required voltage (one bank each failed). Yes, perhaps it’s a matter of chance, but there were no such problems with other batteries, and the savings were 150 rubles. not worth the risk.

Turnigy 9X with battery. Fits very tightly, the lid closes

10) Soldering iron of course.

Total cost ~11878 - 13217 rub.

If you're surprised by the list, it's worth noting that most of everything you buy will serve you more than once.

I would also like to note that prices are constantly changing, so I cannot guarantee the minimum price for the links. I'm sure you can find it cheaper. I just shared sources that coincide with mine one to one.

Assembly

Frame assembly

There is a possibility that the kit of parts will come to you without instructions for assembling the frame. That's how it was for me. If this happens, then we collect it from the picture or video. At this stage, you should not tighten all the screws to “combat mode”; you may have to disassemble the frame more than once. At this stage, there is no need to screw the upper part at all; without it, it is more convenient to work with the insides of the copter. Also, don’t forget about the washers that I wrote about above.

Don't forget about the washers. Of course, you don’t have a white plate - these are the very remnants of 3D printed legs

Installation of motors

A very simple operation if you remember the directions of rotation of the motors. Decide where you will have the front. Motors with a black nut rotating clockwise are placed in the front left and rear right places.

Pay attention to the location of the engines

Engine mounting

Soldering

Soldering the distribution board

So, you have already tried it on and decided how everything will be installed. Time to solder. When soldering the board The most important thing is to observe the polarity! It doesn’t matter where you solder the wires, it all depends on how you are going to install the board.

We solder the regulators and power wires. Maintain polarity. (My version)

We solder the regulators and power wires. Maintain polarity. (Another variant)

Solder the regulators to the motors

First of all, remove the standard red heat shrink from the regulators. In order for the motors to rotate in the direction we need, the regulators should be soldered to the motors like this:

Connecting regulators to motors

I think that you have a question: where to put the long wires from the regulators. They can be unsoldered and removed completely, or they can be cut to the desired length. The second method is preferable for beginners, since there is less chance of overheating the regulator when soldering.

Fully sealed standard regulator wires. I don’t recommend doing this, it’s better to just shorten the wires (don’t pay attention to the location of the wires, the picture is taken to show something else. Correct scheme above )

Solder the T-connector. Polarity is important!

We attach the power board, speed controllers

Time to strengthen. Remember that the frame of the copter conducts current, so the board must be insulated from it. I placed it on two layers of double-sided tape, tightened it at one end with a clamp, and then secured it with an elastic band.

We attach the board. Two layers of double-sided tape + clamp + rubber band

I hid the speed controllers in heat shrink, placed them on double-sided tape, tightened them with clamps and, to be sure, tightened them with an elastic band. Looks more than reliable

We attach the regulators. Heat shrink + double-sided tape + clamps + elastic band

We attach the flight controller and receiver

Double-sided tape and rubber bands come into play again. Again, the tighter you secure it, the better.

I have it done like this:

Fastening flight controller(1). Grass left after the crash

Attach the flight controller (2)

We attach the receiver. The end also sits on double-sided tape

Connecting everything with wires

Regulators for the flight controller

We have 3 wires from each of the regulators. You need to do the following: on three of the four regulators you need to pull out the red wire from the connector. You need to connect the wires to the controller in a certain order, this will be discussed in the next part.

On three of the four regulators you need to pull out the red wire from the connector

Receiver to flight controller

But here the order of connecting the wires to each channel is not important. You just need to connect the power wire correctly - the white wire is closer to the side with the sticker.

We connect the receiver to the flight controller. The power cord should be located white closer to the side with the sticker

Screw the top part of the frame and see what happens

I also added a "camera mount".

"Camera mount"

Total:

About falls and what to do while we are waiting for the parcel

Be prepared for some falls at first. And this: broken propellers, legs and camera in my case.

Broken legs

Broken camera. By the way, I advise you to additionally seal the connector with the flash drive with tape, there is a chance of loss if dropped

Here's a video from my very first flight.

To assemble a quadcopter with your own hands at home, you must first understand the basic components of the quadcopter.

Parts for assembling a quadcopter

1. Quadcopter frame Diatone Q450 Quad 450 V3 PCB Quadcopter Frame Kit 450mm (the last three digits in the name Q450 indicate the distance between the motors in mm diagonally). It is the body of the aircraft, which will be used to mount all other equipment and electronic components. Consists of 4 rays and printed circuit board. Weight 295 grams.

   banggood.com

   Price 922 rub.

2. Motor DYS D2822-14 1450KV Brushless Motor. 4 pieces.

   Sold in the online store Banggood.com

   Price 571 rub/piece

   

3. Regulator DYS 30A 2-4S Brushless Speed ​​Controller ESC Simonk Firmware for speed regulation and speed control. 4 pieces.

   Sold in the online store Banggood.com

   Price 438 rub/piece

   

4. Propellers DYS E-Prop 8x6 8060 SF ABS Slow Fly Propeller Blade For RC Airplane, 4 pieces. Two right-handed and two left-handed propellers.

   Sold in the online store Banggood.com

   Price 125 rub/piece

   

5. Quadcopter control module KK2.1.5 kk21evo. 1 PC.

   Sold in the online store Banggood.com

   Price 1680 rub.

   

6. Rechargeable lithium-polymer battery Turnigy nano-tech 2200mah 4S ~90C Lipo Pack, you need to prepare at least two pieces, and preferably four, as they run out quickly. 1 PC.

   Sold in the online store Parkflyer.ru

   Price 1268 rub/piece

   

7. Hobby King Variable6S 50W 5A battery charger. 1 PC.

   Sold in the online store Hobbyco.ru

   Price 900 rub.

   

8. Battery connector XT60 Male Plug 12AWG 10cm With Wire. 1 PC.

   Sold in the online store Banggood.com

   Price 144 rub.

   

9. Clamps for securing wires to the quadcopter body. 1000pcs 2.0x100mm Black/White Nylon Cable Ties Zip Ties. 1 package.

   Sold in the online store Banggood.com

   Price 316 rub.

   

10. Connectors 20 Pairs 3.5mm Bullet Connector Banana Plug For RC Battery/Motor. For regulator wires. 1 package.

    Sold in the online store Banggood.com

    Price 256 rub.

    

11. Velcro strip for attaching the battery to the quadcopter body. 1 PC.

    Sold in the online store Banggood.com

    Price 79 rub.

    

12. 50pcs Motor Fixing Screws Set for DJI F450 F550 HJ450 550 Quadcopter Multicopter. 1 package.

    Price 217 rub.

    

13. Remote control for quadcopter Spektrum DX6 V2 with AR610 Receiver. The receiver and transmitter are supplied in one kit. 1 PC.

    Price 9700 rub.

    

In total, a set of equipment for assembly will cost 20,018 rubles.

Features when choosing components

Basic characteristics of the transmitter:

• Modes Mode1 or Mode2. In the first mode, the gas handle is on the right, in the second mode, the gas handle is on the left.
• The transmitter frequency is 2.4 GHz.
• Number of channels. Minimum channels required for control aircraft- four. Control equipment from Spektrum DX6 V2 with AR610 Receiver contains 6 channels.

Step-by-step instructions for assembling a quadcopter with your own hands

1. We reduce the length of the wires on the regulators. When connecting the regulator to the motors, the length of the wires will significantly exceed the length of the beam on which this entire structure will be attached.

   

2. We solder the connectors to the ends of the wires on the regulator so that in the future you can connect the regulator to the motors.

   





3. We install the motors - we screw 1 motor onto each beam.

   

   

4. We assemble the frame. Screw the rays to the board.

   

   



5. We connect the regulator wires to the motors. The regulator and motor cables are connected in any order. In the future, you may need to change the connection order when finalizing the drone. When using dedicated regulators for each motor, the positive and negative poles must be connected to the controller coming from only one regulator.

   

6. We secure the control module to the body with double-sided tape. It is best located in the central part of the platform.

   



7. We secure the receiver to the body with double-sided tape and connect it to the control module. The receiver should be located as close as possible to the module.

   

   The purpose of the channels is described in the receiver manual. Usually their sequence is as follows:

   1. Ailerons - the channel responsible for left and right turns;
   2. Elevator - a channel guiding forward and backward directions;
   3. Gas is a channel that controls gas. Manages takeoff and landing, as well as altitude changes;
   4. Yaw - the channel makes it possible to rotate the quadcopter around its axis.

   

8. We power up the device. We connect the battery to the connector.

   

This operation completes the quadcopter assembly process.

Setup

1. We start the engines. Activation of engines requires the process of starting motors - arming. The instruction manual explains in detail how to achieve this. Deactivation of engines requires a disarming procedure.
2. We turn on the weak gas and make sure that the motors are rotating. The rotation pattern must be the same as indicated in the diagram in the controller manual. If the motor rotates incorrectly, you just need to swap the poles of the wires coming from the motor to the controller.

   

3. We screw the second platform to the quadcopter body.

   

4. We attach a Velcro strip to the case to secure the battery.

   

   DIY quadcopter assembly using Arduino

   Conclusion

   Fulfill self-assembly Quadcopters can only be used by those who enjoy solving complex problems. These should be people who enjoy the progress of various calculations and the process of assembling the device.

   The advantage of a copter assembled with my own hands the fact that at any time you can upgrade it by adding new equipment.

Everyone brainiacs, brain hello! For a long time, people have been dreaming of flight, of free soaring in the sky, but so far this is not achievable, although... let's try to fix this a little and let's do it ourselves simple quadcopter.

KK2.1
This is probably the first thing you will find when searching for a flight controller online. It is based on an AVR microcontroller, has an LCD display that allows you to program it without connecting to a PC, and also has an MPU6050 as a sensor. You can program it using your own firmware, but for this you will need an AVR ISP programmer, since it does not have outputs on the board. It's also cheap, requires manual adjustment, and is great for experienced pilots.

KKMulticontroller
This is something unique in the line of controllers! It is based on Atmel AVR (168p), which is good, but I think the controller is no longer supported, since their website is closed. Maybe they switched to 32-bit quadcopters or something else. The controller itself is outdated, it uses Murata Gyros to orient the position in space, the sensors are not interconnected, the gyroscope is analog, arrow attachments are used for adjustment, that is, everything is simple, but old...

For your brain games I picked OpenPilot CC3D because of how easy it is to set up.

Step 7: Control Panel

Controlled homemade, of course, with a wireless control panel. Their choice is quite large, from expensive ones - Futaba, Spektrum, to cheap ones - Turnigy and Flysky.

The number of remote control channels means the number of control signals transmitted, we need at least 4 channels:

Throttle
Yaw (rotation about Z axis)
Pitch (rotation about the Y axis - axis passing through the left and right sides)
Roll (rotation about the X axis - the axis passing through the front and back of the copter)

In the future, for use on a quadcopter - homemade The video camera will need more channels, so I chose the 6-channel Flysky. It's a cheap remote control, but it's not suitable for long-range flights. So, according to our budgetary capabilities, we choose a remote control for crafts.

Step 8: Mounting the Flight Controller

The remote control and flight controller are selected, all that remains is to attach this controller to the quadcopter frame, add the battery and begin calibration brain games. We attach the controller to the top of the frame with zip ties, with the arrow on the controller located along the X axis. Another point, to dampen the vibrations of the motors, we place a regular sponge between the frame and the controller.

Step 9: Connecting and Setting Up Electronics

According to the instructions, we connect the flight controller, speed controller and control panel. And the following video will help you with this:

And if you have a Flysky remote control, then this video:

Step 10: Testing

Before the first flight, all components must be tested using the OpenPilot GCS control system. It has a display that makes it convenient to test sensors and other components. So, we remove the propellers and use the remote control to check the functioning of all parts homemade products.

I also checked the range of the remote control by placing the quadcopter nearby and at a considerable distance. And the correct functioning of the propellers can be recognized by the characteristic sound when they rotate.

Step 11: And finally: flight

Basically, a quadcopter dangerous device, which can cause serious damage if used incorrectly, so be careful and responsible when handling it!

We hang the battery at the bottom of the frame, connect it and place it under the tree in the open. Then, from a safe distance from the quadcopter, we begin a gradual launch brain craft And. If you feel that craft When lifting, it falls off and floats to the side, then correct this by attaching the appropriate arrows. Once you have achieved a stable climb, check how the quadcopter responds to the remote control commands and adjust the PID values ​​to get the desired response.

And now congratulations, you have created your own quadcopter from scratch with your own hands!

A quadcopter is a very interesting toy for adults. She is a true embodiment of new technologies in the entertainment market.

You can order a quadcopter without any problems in China, on the same Aliexpress, the electronics for it are affordable. It will be absolutely easy to control such a flyer, because there are different simulators to hone your skills. But let's consider the option of how to assemble a quadcopter with your own hands, which will not cost much.

So, all spare parts will still have to be ordered from the Chinese, here is their list:
First, you need to buy engines. You will need 4 units of them. Model D2822/14 1450kv.
Speed ​​controllers are also needed, you will also need 4 of them. I recommend the model Turnigy Multistar 30 Amp Multi-rotor Brushless ESC 2-4S.
Left and right rotation propellers are also required. Models Slow Fly Electric Prop 9047 SF CCW (4 pc - Green) And 11x4.7SF respectively.

For the Multistar regulator you will need a wiring cable with a 3.5 mm connection connector. Model (XT60 at 4 X 3.5mm).

You can control the quadcopter using a board MultiWii NanoWii ATmega32U4, which can be controlled remotely via a PC via a USB port.

You also need to provide power to the device - take several batteries Nano-Tech 2200 30C. Why several? So you won't be disappointed when the charge runs out and you can continue to enjoy your flights. If you want to work in open areas, take at least 4 units. The batteries also need a charger, we recommend this brand HobbyKing Variable 6S 50W 5A.

Radio control requires a Turnigy 9x device - it is the best in terms of price and quality. The device will make it possible to control the quadcopter at a distance of up to 900 m. Along with the transmitter, you also buy a receiver; it comes in one set.

Connectors are used to connect the board to the receiver Turnigy 9x.

You will also need additional cords to extend the connection to the engine; take several colors of cable to make it easier to connect later.

Before you make a quadcopter with your own hands at home, you need to think about whether you will buy a frame or make it yourself.

If you don’t want to fool around for a long time, then you can buy a frame. Just keep in mind that if it breaks, you will still have to order parts for it.

A do-it-yourself quadcopter frame is an opportunity to repair a breakdown within half an hour; it does not require additional work when making a quadcopter.

To prevent wires from breaking, use plastic pipes. They will strengthen the wires, making the structure more durable. You can buy fasteners for the wall, and you can also buy rotating parts. The result may be a fairly durable design that will make it possible not just to transport electronics, it will be a self-made quadcopter with a camera.

Watch a video about assembling a frame for a quadcopter from pipes.

Video: DIY budget quadcopter assembly