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Building Your Own Drones: A Beginner’s Guide to Drones, UAVs, and ROVs

by John Baichtal

September 2015

Beginner

272 pages

5h 35m

English

Que

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Who This Book Is ForHow This Book Is Organized
What Is a Drone?Three TerrrainsAnatomy of a DroneSummary
Bicycle Rim Quadcopter3D-Printed Mini QuadcopterClothesline RacerVesselsRadio-Controlled BlimpFPV QuadcopterOpen RC TrikeFoldable QuadcopterMini-Quadcopter3D-Printed RC BoatTricopterMecanum Wheel RoverSummary
Parallax ELEV-8 QuadcopterDJI Phantom 2 Vision+OpenROVActobotics NomadBrooklyn Aerodrome FlackSummary
Which Airframe?Choosing Between Commercial OptionsMaking Your Own AirframeProject #1: MakerBeam AirframeMakerBeamPartsStepsSummary
Amateur Model RocketryQuick-and-Dirty Arduino GuideProject #2: Data-Gathering RocketParts for Building the Data-Gathering RocketSteps for Building the Data-Gathering RocketProgramming the PayloadSummary
Choose Your MotorsOutrunner Versus InrunnerBrushed Versus BrushlessAC Versus DCChoose Your PropellersProp AdaptersProject #3: Attach the Props and MotorsPartsSteps for Attaching the Props and MotorsSummary
Radio ControlTransmittersReceiversESC (Electronic Speed Controller)Project #4: Blimp DronePartsArduino PartsStepsAutonomous Control with an ArduinoCodeSummary
Know Your ESCsCommon ESCsProgramming ESCsReceiverFlight ControllerFlight Controller ExamplesInstalling the Flight ElectronicsPartsInstalling the ESCsInstalling the Flight ControllerInstalling the ReceiverSummary
Design ItDrive ItMeasure ItCut ItWire ItAttach ItCNC ItSummary
Choosing a BatteryBattery TypesAdding Bullet ConnectorsWhy Bullet Connectors?Parts ListSteps for Adding Bullet ConnectorsAssembling the Wiring HarnessPartsSteps for Assembling the Wiring HarnessWiring the Flight Controller and ReceiverSummary
Realities of Waterborne ElectronicsDisadvantages of Waterborne ElectronicsAdvantages of Waterborne ElectronicsWaterproofing Your ElectronicsSandwich ContainerPelican 1000-SeriesSealing a TubeXBee Mesh NetworkingProject: Soda Bottle BoatPartsBuilding the DroneBuilding the ControllerProgramming the Soda Bottle BoatSummary
Add Accessories to Your QuadcopterCameraFirst-Person Video (FPV)Landing GearParachuteProtective Plate or DomeProp GuardsProject: Adding Accessories to the QuadcopterInstall the Camera MountInstall the Landing GearInstall the Top PlateSummary
Advantages and Disadvantages of RoversAdvantages of RoversDisadvantages of RoversChassis Options3D PrintedTamiyamBotArduino RobotActobotics BogieNavigating with Radio Frequency Identification TagsProject: RFID-Navigating RoverPartsStepsProgramming the RFID-Navigating RoverSummary
Flight Control SoftwareOpenPilotMultiWiiAPM Planner 2.0eMotionAR.Freeflight3DR Solo AppConfiguring the MultiWiiExamining the MultiWii Control SketchPre-Flight ChecklistSummary

Content preview from Building Your Own Drones: A Beginner’s Guide to Drones, UAVs, and ROVs

4. Building a Quadcopter I: Choosing an Airframe

The main project of the book is a four-bladed helicopter (pictured in Figure 4.1) called a quadrotor or quadcopter. You’ll begin the project by choosing a chassis, which in the plane world is called an airframe.

FIGURE 4.1 Build this quadcopter yourself!

This chapter begins by presenting you with a number of chassis options, but ultimately (spoiler alert!) I went with a set of MakerBeam aluminum girders that I bolted together into a fine airframe. I then topped this off with a handy wooden platform that will eventually house the quadcopter’s microcontroller, battery pack, and other electronics. ...