book

Getting Started with Drones

by Terry Kilby, Belinda Kilby

October 2015

Beginner

203 pages

4h 15m

English

Make: Community

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The First Book of Its KindThe Book’s GoalConventions Used in This BookSafari® Books OnlineHow to Contact Us
Some DefinitionsWho Is This Book For?The Drone User CommunityBrief History of Autonomous FlightRC Model AirplaneThe Advent of MicrochipsThe Technology of DronesThe Launch of GPSInternetThe SmartphoneSmall Autopilot Flight ControllerPrinciples of FlightWeight/GravityLiftDragThrustFlight Maneuvers: Aircraft Movement with Stick MappingThrottleYaw/RudderPitchRoll
What Is an Airframe?Thrust VectoringAircraft DesignsMaterialsKeeping It BalancedBuilding the Little Dipper AirframeStep-by-Step Build InstructionsStep 1: Install the StandoffsStep 2: Complete the Dirty Frame AssemblyStep 3: Assemble the Clean FrameStep 4: Attach the Two Subframes Together
PropellersDirectionSize and PitchBalancing PropsMotorsSizeskV RatingPairing with the Right PropsTotal LiftElectronic Speed ControllersFlight BatteryStep-by-Step Build InstructionsStep 1: Mount the Power Distribution Board (PDB)Step 2: Solder on the Bullet ConnectorsStep 3: Mount the Speed ControllersStep 4: Solder up the Power SupplyStep 5: Mount Brushless MotorsStep 6: Connect Brushless MotorsStep 7: Clean UpWrapping Up
What Is a Flight Controller?Open Source Versus Closed SourceSensorsFlight CharacteristicsSoftware AssistantStep-by-Step Build InstructionsStep 1: Mount the Flight ControllerStep 2: Wire up the Flight Controller OutputsStep 3: Attach the Two Subframes to Each OtherWrapping Up
GPSFlight ModesCompassBattery MonitorStep-by-Step Build InstructionsStep 1: Mount the GPS PuckStep 2: Connect GPS and Compass to the APMStep 3: Install the Battery MonitorWrapping Up
What Is a Transmitter?Most Common Frequency BandsDifferent Modes Around the WorldPWM Versus PPMStep-by-Step Build InstructionsStep 1: Identify What You NeedStep 2: Mount the ReceiverStep 3: Plug in the Receiver
Software Monitoring and ControlStep-by-Step Build InstructionsStep 1: Mount the Ground Station RadioStep 2: Prep the Aircraft Radio for MountingStep 3: Plug in the RadioStep 4: Mount the Aircraft Radio
Popular Drone CamerasMicro Four Thirds CamerasThe Mobius ActionCamFPV for a Live StreamStep-by-Step Build InstructionsStep 1: Fasten the Camera MountStep 2: Attach the Vibration Isolation PlateStep 3: Place the Camera in the Quick-Release Mount
Step-by-Step Build InstructionsStep 1: Update FirmwareStep 2: Connect and Complete Mandatory SetupStep 3: Optional HardwareLet’s Explore the Rest of Mission PlannerFlight ModesGeo FenceBasic TuningExtended TuningStandard ParamsFlight DataFlight PlanPreparing for Your Maiden Flight

Above All Is SafetyTraining and EducationResourcesImportant LinksKey Flight Safety RulesFirst-Person ViewWhere and When to FlyPreflight Checklist and Flight Log InformationAircraft InspectionFlight and Maintenance LogsLaws and Regulations
Beneficial DronesAerial PhotographyMapping and SurveyingPrecision AgricultureSearch and RescueInfrastructure InspectionConservation
Add a Camera and First-Person ViewCollect More Data with Other SensorsAltering Speed: Ready, Set, Race!Increasing Flight TimesTroubleshooting in the Drone CommunityThank You!

Content preview from Getting Started with Drones

Chapter 2. Airframes

What Is an Airframe?

The airframe is the main body of the aircraft. All other components—propellers, batteries, computer, etc.—are mounted to the airframe. Airframes can vary greatly in size and complexity. Some of the airframes we built when we first got interested in flying were very simple designs sketched on the back of a napkin, and cut from pressboard with a jigsaw. Today, we use computer-aided design (CAD) software to design our frames before cutting them out with a computerized numerical control (CNC) machine. We will touch on many of the popular design types in this chapter, but first let’s take a quick look at how these actually fly.