Homemade drone with a camera. We assemble a quadrocopter with a camera with our own hands. Required to build a drone

The quadric can hang in one place and take photos and videos, which is why many photographers keep up with the progress and buy quadrocopters for video shooting.

Quadcopters burst into our lives along with technological progress. Today, ordering electronics for a quadrocopter from China is very cheap. Assembling a quadrocopter frame with your own hands from improvised materials is not at all difficult. You can learn how to fly with the help of flight simulators. So the main thing is the desire to make a quadrocopter with your own hands.

It is best to buy ready-made electronics for a quadrocopter.

Details of a homemade quadrocopter

Quadcopter motors, 4 pcs - D2822/14 1450kv

Of course, the additional purchase of a small quadcopter is a bit expensive, but by flying on this one you will learn how to control and be able to fly a large quadcopter with a camera without falling! A small toy can always be given to a child.

And finally, a small video of the flight on a quadrocopter, recording from the camera.

In this article, we looked at the basic principles of making homemade quadcopters. If you want to know more, see the section

iskra comments:

how to make a quadcopter so that it flies within a radius of 500 meters with a real-time camera that displays the image on the screen

chelovek comments:

Guys help!
I want to assemble a quadric on the arduino mega platform using these components:

Probably, it’s not worth talking about how popular quadrocopters are now. And you most likely know how much they cost, and have already given up thinking about it. In our article, you will learn how make your own quadcopter at home. We immediately warn you 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 quadrocopter on your own:

How to assemble a quadrocopter with your own hands

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

What details are needed

• Frame and its components. The main thing in the copter is the bearing part. If the frame is lighter, then less power will go away. But keep in mind - lightweight frames are more expensive. Durability isn't that important unless you plan on putting a heavier camera on the quad. There are three types of frames: four-beam, six-beam and eight-beam (one motor for each beam).

Features of the choice of components

• Motors. Chinese online stores are usually cunning and overestimate the specifications. Therefore, for reliability, it is worth buying more powerful motors. It will also make it possible to lift a heavier camera. Also exists 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 takes to balance.
  
• Remote control, signal receiver. The remote control should be taken together with the receiver. In this case, the receiver will receive the signal sent from the remote control. Normal remotes, again, cost from a thousand rubles and more - they have a higher range. The remotes themselves may have a bunch of unnecessary switches that will confuse you - it is better not to take such instances.
  
• Regulators and batteries. We advise you to immediately take a set of engines with controllers. You can do without it, but then you will have to adjust the power yourself. The battery should be bought with a more powerful one, especially if you want to put a heavier camera.
  
• Controller. Controllers are of two types. Universal is convenient because it works on drones of any assembly, sensors and multifunctionality contribute to this. 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 quadcopter is not an easy task. We advise you to install a camera like GoPro or analogues from Chinese companies - their quality does not differ much. The main role is played by weight and viewing angle, the latter will be discussed 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 \u003d 2 * tg (A / 2) x D, (L is the field of view, A is the angle, D is the 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, FOV 155 degrees;
• Video: 1920×1080, 60fps;
• Photo: 4608×3456;
• Weight: 72 grams;
• Time Lapse: Yes
• Built-in screen: no;
• Memory: microSD card.

SJCAM SJ5000X 2K

Price on AliExpress: $126.58

Specifications:

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

About parts from China

Of course, do not underestimate Chinese manufacturers, but do not praise either. Overcharging their products is a common thing. You can take, but not cheap parts, otherwise you have to do everything all over again.

Assembly instructions

Surely, you have read this article and took a frame with a distribution board. But if you have not done this, it does not matter, just connect the wires to the control module.

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 8×6 8060 SF ABS Slow Fly Propeller Blade For RC Airplane
• control module 1.5kk21evo
• 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

We lay out all this goodness on the table and proceed.

1. Approximately estimate the desired 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 the connection of the motors.
3. Solder the speed controllers to the wiring board.
4. Solder the battery connector to the wiring board as well.
5. Carefully screw the motors onto the drone arms. When installing, take care of the thread.
6. We solder the motor connectors, if they are not.
7. We fasten the beams with motors to the board.
8. We attach the regulators to the rays of the copter. It is most convenient to do this with plastic clamps.
9. We turn on the wires of the regulators to the engines in random order. If necessary, then change the order.
10. We fix the control module on the case (after photographing the back side, then you will understand why). We fix it even on chewing gum, but I recommend using a soft double-sided adhesive tape to begin with.
11. We connect the speed controllers to the controller. In the ports marked with signs "plus" - "minus" - "empty", as a rule, we connect a white wire to the screen.
12. With the remaining adhesive tape, we fix the receiver closer to the control unit, and connect the necessary channels to the corresponding ports. We use the documentation of this receiver and a snapshot of the outer edge of the board in order to understand which stack of wires is responsible for what.
13. We connect the power supply of the device from the battery, through the connector.
14. You are well done! You have assembled your first drone.

Installing and configuring equipment

Now you just need to set it up so that it does not crash on the first day of the flight.

1. We start the motors (it happens in every way, study the documentation)
2. We add gas and look in which direction the propellers are spinning. They must rotate as written in the diagram that is attached to the controller. Otherwise, the control will be inverted. In case something went wrong, we turn over the connector that combines the engine and controller.
3. If everything turns correctly, we fasten the upper part of the frame. Don't try to push it into place. If she got up tight - something goes 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 put the propellers, taking into account the direction of rotation of the motors. The raised element of the blade must look in the direction of rotation.
7. Eat! Your quadcopter is ready for the first flight.

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

Now on the Internet you can find several useful tutorials (all links at the end of the article) on how to assemble a drone on a 250 frame yourself. But, while collecting my first quadric for 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 questions. That is why it was decided to this article as a summary of my personal experience and other people's experiences to help beginners (like me) build their first drone as productively 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 2 parts.

Immediately report what I got:

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

FAQ List:

IN: Isn't it easier to buy a ready-made quadric and fly?
ABOUT: Easier, only if you are not going to keep improving your drone and building others. That is, you just want to fly, and not rack your brains and waste precious time. A store drone is in any case easier to learn and easier to operate. As an alternative, I can offer MJX Bugs 3. Review on it. Price from ~120$.

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

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

List to buy:

In order not to bother with the selection of the main components, I see an excellent alternative in buying a ready-made kit. Without wasting time on the selection of parts, you will get everything you need.

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

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

Propellers are really a consumable item for the first flights, so it's better to take it with a margin. Oddly enough, but ordering from China is more expensive, and the wait is long. Maximum diameter 5 inches. I bought .

Batteries from Aliexpress. Both are out of order. The second jar failed for the left one, the third jar for the right one.

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

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

Turnigy 9X with battery. Sits very tight, the lid closes

10) Soldering iron by itself.

Total cost ~ 11878 - 13217 rubles.

If you are surprised by the list, then it is worth noting that most of everything that you buy will serve you more than once.

I also want to note that prices are constantly changing, so I cannot guarantee the minimum cost for links. I'm sure you can find cheaper. I just shared sources one to one coinciding with mine.

Assembly

Frame assembly

There is a chance that a kit of parts will come to you without instructions for assembling the frame. So it was with me. If this happened, then we collect the picture or video. At this stage, you should not tighten all the screws in the "combat mode", you may have to disassemble the frame more than once. At this stage, it is not worth screwing the upper part at all; without it, it is more convenient to work with the insides of the copter. Also, do not forget about the washers, which I wrote about above.

Let's not forget the pucks. Of course, you don’t have a white plate - these are the very remnants of 3D printed legs

Motor installation

A very simple operation, if you remember about the direction of rotation of the motors. Decide where you will have the front. Motors with a black nut, rotating clockwise, we put in the front left and rear right places.

Pay attention to the location of the engines

Motor mount

Soldering

Distribution board soldering

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

Solder the regulators and power wires. We observe polarity. (My version)

Solder the regulators and power wires. We observe polarity. (Another variant)

Solder regulators to motors

First of all, we remove the standard red heat shrink from the regulators. In order for the motors to rotate in the direction we need, the regulators to the motors should be soldered 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 soldered and removed completely, or they can be cut to the desired length. The second method is preferable for beginners, as there is less chance of overheating the regulator when soldering.

Fully soldered standard wires of the regulator. I don’t advise you to do this, it’s better to just shorten the wires (don’t pay attention to the location of the wires, the picture was taken to show something else. Correct scheme above )

Solder the T-connector. Polarity matters!

We fix the power board, speed controllers

Time to fasten. Remember that the frame of the quad is conductive, so the board must be insulated from it. I put it on two layers of double-sided tape, pulled it from one end with a clamp, and then secured it with an elastic band.

We fix the fee. Two layers of double-sided tape + clamp + elastic band

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

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

We fix the flight controller, receiver

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

I have it done like this:

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

Attaching the flight controller (2)

Fix the receiver. Butt he also sits on double-sided tape

We connect everything with wires

Flight controller controls

From each of the regulators we have 3 wires. You need to do the following: on three of the four regulators, you need to pull the red wire out of 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 the red wire out of the connector

Receiver to flight controller

And 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.

Connect the receiver to the flight controller. The power wire should be located white closer to the side with the sticker

We fasten the upper part of the frame, look what happened

I also added a "camera mount".

"Camera mount"

Total:

About falls and what to do while waiting for the package

Be prepared for some falls 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 a flash drive with adhesive tape, there is a chance of loss if it falls

Here is a video from my very first flight.

The desire to have your own quadcopter is quite understandable, because today is a time when the world is experiencing a real boom. The cost of a “good” drone equipped with a high-resolution camera for video recording is not affordable for everyone.

( ArticleToC: enabled=yes )

But, there is a way out - a quadrocopter with your own hands. Step by step assembly seems complicated at first glance.

The entire stage of manufacturing with your own hands consists of:

• frame assembly;
• purchase of necessary spare parts;
• assemblies;
• wiring.
• Frame manufacturing

It can be made with your own hands from plywood 150x150 mm in size or aluminum profile 14x14 mm in size. The rays are screwed diagonally with screws, the length of which is 300 mm. Motor holes can be drilled after the quadcopter is assembled.

For landing "skis" a thin aluminum tape is suitable. It can also be selected for the manufacture of a battery holder.

Required spare parts

• drone battery - 8 pcs.;
• battery for equipment;
• charging - 1;
• propellers 10 inches;
• control board (HK multi-rotor control board 2.1);
• Turnigy 9x hardware.

All together will set you back about $120. But, it will take about 20 days to wait for a package from Hong Kong. Plus, 5 days until you can get the import. To the specified amount, you need to add 3-15 bucks for delivery.

It is necessary to place the control board as accurately as possible in the center of the platform. Holes for it are drilled through beams and plywood. The board is attached to the beams with metal screws.

A receiver is glued to the board next to it using dusk mega-glue. They can also glue the antenna to the rays. If the purpose of the channels for it and the board are the same, they are allowed by three-wire loops.

The next step in assembling a quadrocopter with your own hands is drilling holes for the motor. It is necessary to put a mark on the rays at the same distance, taken “by eye”. The motor will fit with a hole center distance of 19mm and an internal M3 conventional thread.

For the motor shaft, you need to drill a hole. It is recommended to make it through and over the entire width of the square, so as not to cling to the edges of the stand:

We fasten the motors to the platform with the leads, using M3 screws with a length of no more than 4 mm, since this size has a profile. They do this so as not to spoil the winding, not to contribute to the interturn circuit in case of damage to the varnish on the wire.

Wiring

Now it's time to move on to wiring. Of the four speed controllers, you need to solder the "spider" by soldering the wires directly into the sockets of the adapters.

Are used detachable connections in a single place - when connecting the "spider" to the battery. All other connections are soldered and tightened into a heat-shrinkable cord so that the wires do not fall out during vibration.

According to the numbers of the motors on the board, we connect the signal wires of the drivers. If you use a "plus" flight scheme, you need to connect them to the M1-M4 pins (when you learn how to control, the firmware can be changed).

The connection diagram is shown below:

The result is a do-it-yourself quadrocopter weighing one kilogram. You can conduct a test flight.

But, first, you need to charge the battery, connect it and the transmitter. Now it's time to push the throttle to the right and down. The LED on the board should turn red. The next moment - the throttle stick is moved forward. The engines should start working, and the quadcopter should “go” into flight.

It was a simple do-it-yourself quadcopter. If you need to assemble a quadrocopter yourself, and even with a camera, which would be distinguished by good performance and good flight qualities, there is another option. The assembly depends on the specific model, the features of the electronics and the number of structural elements.

DIY parts for a drone with a camera

These include:

• engine D2822/14 - 4 pcs.;
• turnover regulator - the same;
• rotation rotors - left and right;
• power splitter, or 3.5 mm connector for connecting speed controllers.

You can’t do without a do-it-yourself quadrocopter adjustment board connected to a computer via USB - MultiWii ATmega32U4. For the launch to take place, Nano Tech 2200 30C batteries are needed - 4 pieces, since when using one drive, the flight time will be short.

Charging is needed to restore energy in them. You will also need a controller for DIY assembly, with the help of which flight adjustment is carried out. A Turnigy 9x device will work for the remote control. You can pick up signals with it at a distance of 800-900 meters. The signal transmitter is included with the remote control.

Assembly

As in the first case, it begins with the manufacture of a frame, for which you can take plastic pipes. Since their weight is small, the quadrocopter will be mobile, and the speed it develops will be high. In addition, such a frame is easy to repair in the event of an "accident".

Rotors are attached to the corners of the rectangular frame. The structure must be equipped with "legs" to which the camera is attached.

Silicone wires will help connect the motors to each propeller. It is a good idea to mount the battery with electronics on a platform installed in the center of the frame. Before proceeding with the installation of the electronic filling, you should download the connection diagram, which is easy to find on the forums. If necessary, the remote control can be reflashed taking into account latest updates. In the same place, on the forums, they tell how to reflash the remote control.

It is not for everyone to assemble a quadrocopter with their own hands, since it requires engineering skills. But, if there is an instruction and a diagram, the process of creating a flying device is simplified.

Step by step assembly

People who want to assemble a quadrocopter with their own hands are trying to save money, which is quite understandable. But this is not the only reason: many people are interested in the question because their hobby of controlling a drone has grown into a desire to participate in races and, if possible, become a winner in them. And for this, it is necessary to refine the design.

Assembly from a kit

By acquiring the appropriate kit, you can greatly simplify the process of assembling an aircraft with your own hands.

It costs several times cheaper than a ready-made quadcopter, since the user will be involved in the assembly, firmware, calibration and fine tuning. The main advantage of the kits is that there is no need to select chips, engine power, or case weight.

You should not worry about the balance that affects the behavior of the quadcopter in flight either - it will have all the necessary parameters, including the planned speed and time spent in flight.

Kits allow you to assemble collapsible and monolithic drones with your own hands. It is up to the pilot to decide what he wants to have a design. Collapsible are interested in those who prefer overall models, but at the same time easily portable.

But, for a note: these models do not differ. attractive design, since there is no external case that performs a decorative and protective function.

How to assemble such a structure with your own hands is described in detail in the attached instructions.

As a rule, everything starts with installation on a plastic, carbon or metal exoskeleton of motors. The PIN cables are then placed to control the power of the motors. Later, a signal receiver and a control module, a think tank, are attached to the body.

At the final stage, LEDs, clamps, batteries are installed.

The assembly ends here, but the fun begins - firmware, device calibration and fine-tuning, which takes from 30 minutes to 3 hours (depending on the manufacturer of the parts included in the kit). By this time, the battery should be fully charged.

Assembling a quadrocopter from improvised materials

Although it is popular among those who like to "fly" on drones, it is worth admitting that it does not allow you to get a full-fledged copter. You will definitely have to buy parts, just take not the whole set, but the most necessary ones: screws, motors, battery, control board and receiver, control equipment, without which it is impossible to control the device.

To prevent the components from falling apart in the air, they must be fixed on a light but durable frame. Everything can be suitable for making this: ice cream sticks, plastic bottles and covers.

When creating the hull, one should not forget about the stability of the self-assembled structure, balance, flight qualities, and lightness.

If knowledge allows, you can come up with your own scheme, if not, you can find it on the Internet.

The first build is usually just the beginning. In the future, it will be improved many times.

There is one trick that helps to avoid complex balancing calculations - you need to choose a specific model, and order components from the basic list for it.

The main thing is to specify the details correctly. For example, there must be in the list two motors of left and right rotation and their corresponding propellers. Otherwise, the device will not function.

If possible, it is worth ordering more parts - in case of replacing defective ones (this happens). Unlike kits for sale, you won’t be able to assemble a quadcopter with your own hands (naked).

You will need:

• glue gun;
• screwdriver;
• soldering iron;
• Double-sided tape;
• insulating tape.

When the working model is ready, it will be time to upgrade, as a result of which the quadcopter may have LEDs, an antenna, tweeters (beepers), etc., which increase functionality.

Video: DIY quadrocopter

The first tests of a multicopter aircraft took place as early as 1922, but only in the second decade of the 21st century. this type of layout began to gain popularity at an impressive pace. Compared to other RC models, quadcopters are in high demand, probably because they have a practical purpose: at a minimum, capturing beautiful aerial shots.

Following the demands of consumers, manufacturers flood the market with an abundance of models of various configurations with a variety of characteristics. Many buyers prefer RTF (ready-to-fly) kits that are capable of being airborne after a simple calibration.

But not everyone needs easy ways. You can get special pleasure by assembling a quadrocopter from scratch on your own. The degree of difficulty varies from sets with all necessary details for assembly up to independently selecting each component, checking their compatibility, assembling and configuring your own UAV.

Assembling a quadcopter also makes sense in the presence of specific application scenarios for which factory models are not adapted. Or you can assemble an apparatus for flight training yourself, which you won’t be sorry to break. Detail drawing this is not needed, a sketch is enough, on which all the elements are marked.

Basic units and components

In order for the built device to be able to take to the air, at least in theory, and to assemble a quadrocopter with your own hands, you need to purchase a number of relevant components:

1. The flight controller is the “head” of the future UAV, in which all the basic necessary sensors are installed, as well as software to process their readings, and at the same time the commands coming from the control panel, control the speed of rotation of each engine. This is the most expensive component that you will have to buy to build a quadcopter.
2. The frame is made by advanced modellers on their own from carefully chosen materials (aluminum, plastic, wood, carbonate, or combinations thereof). With a lack of experience or engineering knowledge, if the project is more suitable for a finished frame, or there is neither desire nor time to design a quadcopter and its parts yourself, then ready-made frames produced in a wide range of sizes will come to the rescue.
3. It is better to choose brushless motors - they are somewhat more expensive, but much more reliable than collector ones. For flights, rotation at a significant speed is necessary, so the absence of a collector has a positive effect on the service life. At least 4 (or 8, if you need an octocopter) are purchased, if the budget allows, then with 1-2 spare ones.
4. The motor controllers are the circuit boards that regulate the speed of rotation 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 propellers should be chosen with special care, because the size should fit the dimensions of the future frame, regardless of whether it is independently built 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 supplied with a small board where you can solder the inputs from all the controllers, and then carefully power them. If you wish, you can order a more advanced version of the main power board if your quadrocopter circuit requires layout features.
7. Buying batteries is one of the most difficult moments in the selection of spare parts. The type of a 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 × Volt), and for slow-moving devices for filming, the ratio of capacity and weight is a priority, because you cannot overload the design in any case. A useful addition is a battery charge monitor. It will not do without a special balancing charger for the selected battery type (lithium ion or lithium polymer).
8. A remote control with a receiver module that connects to the flight controller so that the aircraft can be controlled. The type of control panel determines the comfort of operation and some other available functions.
9. Additional options are selected depending on the purpose of the future device. So, camera stabilizers are often attached to drones for shooting, and racing drones are impossible without an FPV (first person view, first-person view) complex.

You will need a 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, "aerobatics" of ownership soldering station not needed. And it is better to use soldering irons with a thin sting.

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

1. Thread lock so that none of the screws get out from the flight vibrations.
2. Heat-shrinkable insulation for each soldering point.
3. Polymeric puffs-clamps for fixing elements on the body.
4. Waterproofing composition for printed circuit boards.
5. Banana connectors for motors.

Nothing will prevent you from making the necessary changes and improvements to the design during the assembly process or flight tests. Maybe for the set goals it is better to assemble an octocopter with your own hands. With care and caution, even the most technically illiterate spacecraft enthusiasts can build a flying drone. Moreover, flight tests in the future will reveal all the shortcomings that will be eliminated. The result should be the perfect personal drone. The main thing is to clearly present the scenario of its application.

Assembly process

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

1: Building the frame

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

And to assemble the frame yourself, you will have to show 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 do-it-yourself frame must be at least 30 mm. Assembling your quadcopter on a frame that is not strong enough is an empty effort, because it will often break down.

In any case, the output should be a given number of beams of the same length, which are carried by the motors and are attached to the central carrier plate. It also has landing supports or “legs”. In some layouts, the legs "grow" from under the engines. It all depends on the features dictated by the drawing of the quadrocopter and its frame.

2: We mount 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 field of quadcopter construction, and not someone who happened to be in this market segment by chance.

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 company of engines would upset the balance. They are fastened with screws to the outer ends of the "beams".

After the engines, on the plane of their supports, speed controllers are placed and fixed 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 you wish and budget possibilities, you can use the 4-in-1 controller, but then the layout of the quadrocopter will change a little. The result is an almost finished copter, which lacks only a flight controller.

3: Install the "brains"

The flight controller is usually mounted on top of the frame of the aircraft, above the 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 vibration 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, this is a good opportunity to show off engineering ingenuity without causing irreparable harm to the entire structure.

Only after the controller is installed, you can place the remaining components and modules: the receiver from the control panel, GPS sensor, magnetic compass, camera, gimbal, and so on.

And only place on the body, the connection is allowed only after the initial calibration of the flight controller.

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