Self-built quadcopter

Hi there,


Me and a buddy of mine are building our own quadcopter as a school project.
Our plan is to buy all parts but make a self-built controller and program it ourselves.

Before I start I must say that we have very little to none programming experience.
Our plan was to build the frame itself (which has partially been completed), and then assemble the quadcopter.
Next, we were planning on building a controller (for example: an arduino controller/PS2 controller) and get a signal over to our copter. Then (somehow) write a code for the copter to fly. We don't need it to do acrobatic stunts, but would like it if we could at least do basic fly manuevres with it.

I have done some research myself and I think this are the 'best' parts for our quadcopter:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...v_250w_short_shaft_version_NL_warehouse_.html < 4 of these motors
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__2164__TURNIGY_Plush_30amp_Speed_Controller.html < 4 of these ESC's for the motors
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...y_3000mAh_3S_40C_Lipo_Pack_NL_Warehouse_.html < one battery

These are the main parts, we need a mainboard, something to transmit and receive the signal. We thought of using Arduino for a mainboard, and then connect the motors/ESC's to it. However we are not sure how to connect the ESC's/motors to the mainboard, along with the battery since you have to solder the battery wires yourself, and Arduino runs through USB right?

We were planning on using something like Xbee to send/receive a signal.

Anyways, I'd like to know if the parts I've selected so far will suffice, and if our plan works. We would like some help with getting a signal along, and building it. I have seen loads of video's of people building quadcopters, but not with arduino. Is any of our parts shown above incorrect, or does something need editing? Please tell me. Thanks in advance and have great holidays!

- Processorkoeler

"we have very little to none programming experience." Unless you have months to learn you will want to go with something pre-built. If you want the option to program it you should invest in something open source. If you think that your are going to etch, solder, and program a flight controller with "very little to none programming experience", then you are going to get in way over your heads.


Take a look at this site for Arducopter, building it from scratch will be more costly and unless you have the experience unreasonably difficult. Also take a look at this site for Areo-quad. This site has a list of controllers, defiantly take a look here.

Wre know we can get something 'pre-built- but this is for a school project, we can't just buy parts and assemble them. We need to make something ourselves, and the frame is too easy to make. We figured that the controlling/getting the signal over would be difficult enough.

Anyways, are the parts I selected good?

Processorkoeler said:

Wre know we can get something 'pre-built- but this is for a school project, we can't just buy parts and assemble them. We need to make something ourselves, and the frame is too easy to make. We figured that the controlling/getting the signal over would be difficult enough.

Anyways, are the parts I selected good?

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I am a little new to quads, but I have been in electronics for a few years. From the reviews I see that the motors have some structural issues. You could get by with a 25 amp ESC, but it is better to be too big than too small. You probably don't want to go over 8'' props and you can get a bigger battery for not much more 5200Mah Mutistar
. If you go with a Muti-Wii board then you can program it to do what you want (it is Arduino based).

MultiWii MWC Flight Control Module for Arduino


http://blog.oscarliang.net/arduino-multiwii-quadcopter-connection-test/

I don't know the full extent of your electronics experience, if you are confident that you guys can do what your talking about, then I say go for it. If you are on a tighter budget and would want to go with an open source flight controller (as apposed to a scratch built), then this is the cheapest open source that is pretty good.

Also I am working on a frame that is a H.A.L with shocks, it is not fully finished, but if you like the design you could use it in your project.

That is a cool frame!! I have been following your posts for a few weeks now. Being a newbie I have been trying to absorb as much as I can. You have a unique approach to this hobby. The problem is after seeing your frame project I am dissatisfied with mine. I am going to take mine apart (again) and change the design(again) and it's your fault!! LOL I am discovering that I am having as much, or more, fun tinkering as flying. I hope you post picture's of the finished project.

Haha, thanks. The landing gear turned out to be light enough, but for longer flight times I decided to go with simplier landing gear. The gear on it worked great, and I can swap them by turning 4 screws. I am etching a distribution board so the wires are different, and the grey leg is now a metallic gold. I call my approach to the hobby "head first" .

"Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead"!! HaHa! I just finished taking mine apart. I'm gonna sleep on it before I start again. Your frame gave me a couple ideas. I may never fly....... sigh

Haha, I had to weight two months for my CF propellers. This stuff is the slowest to ship. I have been building mine since January and I just now have everything I ordered . I also burnt our my camera, so I have to order a new FPV camera.

Sounds ridiculous. If you intend to build it yourself, it will never get off the ground, lol. Where do you say no to buying something manufactured? Do you intend to etch your own chip sets? Get real. What's the point if every part you can't possibly afford to make has to be purchased? At what point do you draw the line? When your motors can't lift the board, you buy something lighter? I really don't understand. It sounds more like a lesson in futility. Sorry, I don't intend to be negative. I honestly don't understand the goal.

For us the design and build is a big part of the fun. I modify, or outright build a lot of my stuff. My stereo is one off. My motorcycles are unique....and on and on.....Just 'cause I could buy it doesn't mean that's the only answer. Many of us like tinkering and don't want to be one of many at the field flying the same thing as everyone else. Think about it; the quad YOU build is yours alone. Nobody else has that copter. You get to not only fly it but you built it! The goal is the satisfaction of watching your creation take to the air. The point of all this rambling is; buy it or build it. Just be sure to enjoy it!!

sniperbob said:

Sounds ridiculous. If you intend to build it yourself, it will never get off the ground, lol. Where do you say no to buying something manufactured? Do you intend to etch your own chip sets? Get real. What's the point if every part you can't possibly afford to make has to be purchased? At what point do you draw the line? When your motors can't lift the board, you buy something lighter? I really don't understand. It sounds more like a lesson in futility. Sorry, I don't intend to be negative. I honestly don't understand the goal.

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Like HDtallrider said, the fun in building it. I really enjoy the open-source communities because of this.

I am actually currently designing my own flight controller. As for the frame, I can really customize it to fit my needs. I am using a distribution board I designed, because I wanted one for power, led power/control, and video/audio. I understand that it is easier to buy everything pre-built, but for me the fun is in the building and improving of it.
I use almost solely opensource software on my home PC because I use Linux and you can do nearly anything with opensource. This is the reason that around <85% of devices that have an operating system have Linux (Windows is around 3%).

Anyways, if your fun is in flying not building, bind and fly. If it is in building then built and fly.

Here is a controller Nikos Katsanakis on facebook group copter fans designed

HDtallrider said:

For us the designmakingd build is a big part of the fun. I modify, or outright build a lot of my stuff. My stereo is one off. My motorcycles are unique....and on and on.....Just 'cause I could buy it doesn't mean that's the only answer. Many of us like tinkering and don't want to be one of many at the field flying the same thing as everyone else. Think about it; the quad YOU build is yours alone. Nobody else has that copter. You get to not only fly it but you built it! The goal is the satisfaction of watching your creation take to the air. The point of all this rambling is; buy it or build it. Just be sure to enjoy it!!

Click to expand...

Oh, I get that. To piece something WILD together that nobody is making is the best. I just don't understand the end goal. Are they trying to do something unique, or just learn just how many man hours are involved in the task they describe. They say it's for school. Are they planning on doing it for a doctorate degree in electrical engineering? It sounds like they lack the time to learn all they'll need to accomplish their task. Unless they're talking about a masters degree paper. I'm just saying that I feel I've got a lot more of a start on them, and I could see it taking way more than a year, even for two people, to get the job done. Best wishes and good luck to them. I really mean that.

Are you referring to the flight controller or what.

As for taking on a project that may take over a year, I have always enjoyed getting in over my head. When I was 7 or so I decided I would make a robot out of junk (washer, microwave, tv and other broken junk). The only thing I accomplished out of that was to see how a flyback transformer got it's name. xD

guess05775 said:

Are you referring to the flight controller or what.

As for taking on a project that may take over a year, I have always enjoyed getting in over my head. When I was 7 or so I decided I would make a robot out of junk (washer, microwave, tv and other broken junk). The only thing I accomplished out of that was to see how a flyback transformer got it's name. xD

Click to expand...

Well I guess if they want to use the collective knowledge of the community this is probably a good place to start. Gotta give that to them.

If you are referring to Nikos Katsanakis (the guy who is making the flight controller) he is really good. He works as an engineer of some sort,I think he has a masters in electrical engineering or something equivalent.