Bought a homemade drone what now?

So I bought a homemade drone on eBay for $65 USD(50+15Shipping to Hawaii). I don't know exactly what I got, but I know the remote is a $45 2.4Ghz remote and receiver. I'm hoping that someone can identify some of the parts for me so that I can look them up see what they are all about and see if I need to already consider getting better parts, I don't know squat yet, but I know that flight controller looks like a cheap $20 with nothing special and I'd think that is one of my first things to put good money into. It hasn't even shipped yet, so I'm trying to figure out if I need to purchase some stuff in the mean time. I have some different types of batteries and power supplies to toy with before I purchase a battery. Once it gets here and I have a better view of the stuff I know I can look up each of the parts and get it tested out, but I like to learn before it gets here, if possible.

Expectations and realizations:
1. There is a chance none of this will work, and I wasted $65 less the worth of the parts that work.
2. Some of this may not match up right and I will be paying more to make it work than the overall project is worth.
3. You never get your true money worth on something like this.
4. This is a basic flight controller with some basic parts so I shouldn't be expecting much at all, GPS, FPV, gyro stabilization, etc..
5. This is something simple and inexpensive that I can learn on and make mistakes on without worrying about breaking something more expensive so worst case I learn some stuff and $65 is a small price to pay for learning, as long as it's not all the time.

That said I've had really good luck on other things I buy on eBay like this and making them work. My experience is very limited for the DIY stuff, I can repair, but not necessarily create. I have a couple books I am reading and trying to learn, but I figured worse case I buy this while I'm reading and I can understand a little better what I'm reading. I was looking at cheap drones to take apart and play with and add too, but the cheap electronics, propriety parts and the rest can be a hassle. Worst case here I've got a frame and a remote. I'm hoping it is all good and someone else put together some cheapish stuff couldn't get it to level off or even taking off thinking he had more than it was worth it sat in a closet for a few months and they figured they'd get something for it. The math on each of the parts made sense to me.

Anyway any point in the right direction is greatly appreciated. I was looking at some cheap used NAZA flight controllers or a pixhawk, but they are a little more than I want to pay right now, Christmas is coming up and my kids are more important than my crazy projects :P


Homemade Drone 1.jpgHomemade Drone 2.jpg
 
It's older parts but if everything works you got a good deal. The fc looks like a naze 32 once considered top of the line. The ESCs are only 12 amp so you're probably not gonna be able to use over a 3s battery. Can't really see the motors but they're brushless so that's good.

Looks like a fun project to me, luck!
 
So until it gets here I won't know 6DOF/ACRO/10DOF/Full(I just learned these things). I am looking at different FCs and it looks like both a 6 and a 10dof so I might have gotten even more than I expected. I don't know a thing about batteries yet, well I do but not for this application, so I will be doing some research this weekend on batteries and upgrading ESCs.

If this is a 6DOF I understand it will be harder to control, and if it is a 10DOF it has Baro and Compass so easier, but do both have Gyro for leveling, or does 6DOF have full control?
 
Oh wait I think it's the accelerometer that decides if you're in angle/horizon mode and then deactivating the accelerometer it's in acro mode (default).
 
I love how simplistic it looks. That and non-proprietary batteries and parts. I'm already anxious to get this thing started. I've been reading so much on whatever I can. Luckily I'm already a GoPro guy and have several cameras, I can probably steel my FatShark transmitter and flysight Black Pearl off my Phantom 2 for video for fun until I figure it all out. I don't have dedicated FPV goggles, but I have the Parrot ones you put your phone in might be able to figure out something with that as well. So much to learn to little time and money.
 
So to close this post out.

The eBay users account was hacked... I am in the process of getting my money back and now looking at some other stuff, nothing remotely in that price range, if it seems to good. I am doing a lot more research right now and might be doing some boot leg with existing parts and buying a decent flight controller. I'm toying with the idea of seeing if I can get my lego flybrix controller to work with a 3D pritned frame and do some playing that way for now as flying it with legos is a PITA. I'm looking at some of the tiny whoops too, so many choices, prices and technology not sure exactly what I want now, but I'm learning.
 
Back
Top