The team at Circuit Digest has designed a low-cost DIY drone based on a custom PCB and off-the-shelf components, controlled by an ESP32 module. The manufacturing cost is approximately 1000 rupees, or $12 at current exchange rates.
The DIY ESP32 drone was designed as a low-cost alternative to expensive DIY drones that typically cost close to $70. The result is a WiFi drone that fits in the palm of your hand and can be controlled via his WiFi using your smartphone. Interestingly, there are no 3D printed parts included as the PCB forms the chassis of the device.
DIY ESP32 Drone Main Features and Components
- Wireless Module – ESP32-WROOM-32 for WiFi control using a smartphone.
- Storage – microSD card slot
- Sensor – MPU6050 IMU for stability control.
- promotion
- 4x 720 coreless motor
- 2x 55mm propeller type A(CW)
- 2x 55mm propeller type B(CCW)
- USB – 1 x USB-C port for charging and programming (via CP2102N)
- power management
- 1300mAh lithium ion battery
- TP4056 Lithium Ion Charger IC
- Custom “all-in-one” PCB that requires no 3D printed parts
- Dimensions – complex (see photo below).
The hardware design files (PDF schematic + BoM + Gerber files) and firmware code based on Espressif's ESP-Drone implementation can be found on GitHub. The drone is designed to be controlled by a smartphone running his open source Android or iOS app developed by Espressif and is based on a fork of the Crazyflie open source mobile app for nanocopters.
Please see the announcement for details. You can also see the drone in action in the video embedded below and learn more about the schematics and challenges encountered during the project.
via Hackster.io
Jean-Luc started CNX Software as a part-time job in 2010, then quit his job as a software engineering manager and began writing daily news and reviews full-time in late 2011.
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