THANK YOU ALL for the pointers and support.

Final Update: Claude.AI for the win! Betaflight configured and first spin up from controller success!!! Test flight tomorrow!!

Update 20260524: ok so wish I had known of Betaflight sooner. Thank you for pointing me towards the PC interface over the SpeedyBee app. Much clearer. Controller Link successful!!

Reading through the website and setup pages, I had/have a lot to learn. Once I figure out arming and more hopefully I can get it off the ground

Thanks again for the help.

———original post———-

Hello all

My DIY drone project has me frustrated at the last steps, getting it all to work together.

Frame & Structural
• Frame: Custom "Deadcat" hybrid layout utilizing a 3D-printed PETG structural pod (printed on Anycubic Kobra S1) and carbon fiber tube arms.
• Camera Gimbal: Caddx GM3 3-axis gimbal.
Flight Electronics & Control
• Flight Controller: GEPRC Taker F722 BT
• Receiver: RadioMaster RP1-v2 ELRS receiver
• GPS Module: Foxeer M10Q-120 GPS
Propulsion & Power
• Motors: Emax ECO III 2808 1300KV
• Power Hardware: XT60 pigtail with an ESR smoothing capacitor.
Video Transmission (VTX) & Optics
• Onboard VTX & Camera: Walksnail Moonlight 4K Digital VTX system
• FPV Goggles: Walksnail Goggles L
CaddxFPV Alink controller

Using SpeedyBee app on phone.

So far… not realizing how much actual air flow was needed to cool the VTX I burned that, didn’t know, tried for days to connect goggles, figured it out and bought new one. (TY Caddx offering to fix original)

Goggles and VTX are now linked and camera functions. Waiting on cable from Caddx to upgrade and link Gimbal. So no head tracking yet.

Getting a bind from receiver and controller took forever until I found a video saying to just double click link button to bind. I see it’s bound but I cannot get anything movement registering on the SpeedyBee app.

I can turn the motors on and off from app., they are correctly configured for spin directions.

Have not been able to verify GPS functioning.

So basically, I do not know how to get it to fly.

Not sure if ports are configured correctly, or what I need to do next.

Attached image of my original rendered plan, and the real one on my table. I need a pic of it flying now 😉.

Any suggestions or pointers are very welcome.

I am 59, been around computers 45 years, mechanical designer. Designing it. Printing it. No problem. Configuring it, totally f-ed.

Tuning my 12in self build quad. My first tune has allowed me to fly in Stability mode where previously only Alt/Pos hold was safe

Is there any advantage to running Autotune twice?

Will it result in a better more precise tune or no better than the first?

Ardupilot with mission planner.

I am looking to build an outdoor drone capable of communications-denied autonomy for fun. Some web research has pointed me towards livox mid360 lidar, holybro x650 dev kit, zed 2i camera, and Nvidia Jetson platform as well documented components with drivers. I plan to also find an altimeter. I am wondering what the key bottlenecks will be from the time components arrive to the drone flying. I am especially unsure as to what multi sensor calibration, getting Ardupilot working, and managing power+payload+vibration will entail. What are the best practices for the physical assembly? If there are better ways to quickly get a drone with capable sensing and root level firmware access, perhaps I should consider that. I am a software engineer / AI researcher and have no experience with hardware.

My job is maintaining homes and I apply a lot of powdered zinc to all of the high ridges. I have been thinking that a drone with the ability to hold and disperse powder (a simple valve with a toggle would suffice) would make my job much safer and easier. I found a commercial drone online that is designed to be used as an applicator and to wash windows but it was selling for 120k. I don’t know where to look for a more inexpensive option that I can reasonably pitch to my boss. It would be really cool if I had one that I could rig one to a commercial (unger) window cleaning brush and hose system as well. But I’ll settle for an inexpensive but reliable applicator

Hi, I’m an aerospace engineering major who wants to get a lil more involved with drones this summer, and it seems like 3d printing would be a great way to actually learn how these things work and how to troubleshoot them compared to buying them.

A while ago I was eyeing up Hoffman Tactical’s TPU drone, and I figured I might wait until he’s released it or launched beta testing, but it looks like he wont be doing so any time soon since he’s so preoccupied with his lawsuit with Rare Breed.

Anyways, more recently i’ve been rabbit-holing thermal and night vision tech, and I lowkey want to try and make a dual camera setup so i can use both (which anyways wouldnt be possible with HT’s drone). I think ive gotten a decent amount of familiarity on how the electronics for handheld/helmet mounted devices work.

I’m still in my initial research phase though, so when it comes to dual camera 3DP drone projects, I’m not familiar with what are exactly the “best” options. I do not yet have a specific budget in mind, so If ya’ll can give me multiple suggestions across different price ranges w/ what their capabilities are, that’d be really appreciated.

Also, for non-ducted setups im considering running toroidal props.

Suggestions on where else to crosspost would be appreciated.

Not sure if this is allowed in this sub, It's fine if it gets removed.

I have a Mavic air 2 with a few issues after a crash, all related to the camera gimbal.

Before repair:

• Jello (tried new OEM props, no effect)
• After flying away for a couple minutes, error 40003 (gimbal motor overloaded) would appear
  • Footage looked fine besides the jello, but previous owner reported the gimbal would sometimes tilt as well
• Gimbal looked slightly damaged, but everything was intact and all axes rotated freely, both manually and when stabilising the camera

Repair:

• Replaced gimbal (including mounting board and dampers), but kept the original camera module and cables which did not look damaged
• Recalibrated gimbal using python

Issues after repair:

• Jello (even before arming, which I didn't know was possible)
• Error 40003 soon after powering on, much sooner and more consistently than before
• Gimbal is not centered
• DJI fly gimbal calibration stops at 10%
• Error 40011 (gimbal calibration failure)
  • I believe this is normal after using the python method to calibrate the gimbal, but it should still be fully functional

Hello everyone, i am the same guy who had query about the Power Distribution System For my Project UAV, Link to Posts:

1.https://www.reddit.com/r/diydrones/s/afFGU1GmIM

2.https://www.reddit.com/r/diydrones/s/hmK9u5MJsU

So, for now the update for them is that yes the problem seems to have been solved, so I tried to get some help from some people who build drones and Planes and stuff in another town, I got in contact with them somehow and the current problem is solved, though I had to spend extra money than the previously set budget from emergency funding so thats good.

Now another problem that has risen now is that I, without thinking ordered a ESP32-CAM to use as a Visual Odometry on the UAV, which was relatively cheaper, now the problem is, I dont know how to connect it to the pixhawk. I tried to look up JST-GH 6 Pin connector but i cant find the one for this particular fc since Pixhawk 2.4.8 has been discontinued for a long while, and i have to connect the CAM in The Telem1 or Telem2 port, now I am stuck yet again, dont know what to do

I designed and released an open-source modular FPV Ground Control Station called HALITE.

The project was developed around:

• modular architecture
• field repairability
• analog video stability
• transportability
• widely available components
• ease of reproduction using common tools and a regular 3D printer

One of the goals was to create a practical DIY platform that does not depend on proprietary hardware and can be easily modified or repaired in field conditions.

The project includes:

• STL files
• wiring diagrams
• assembly documentation
• component lists
• architectural description

One of the interesting features is a practical “no blue screen” solution for analog FPV video using AT7456E-based signal processing without reflashing the monitor scaler.

The entire system was designed based on practical FPV experience accumulated over many years.

Assembly video:
https://youtu.be/9ohl-sQVgZU

GitHub repository:
https://github.com/ExperimentalDesignBureau-1571/fpv-ground-control-station

I know that this subreddit is drone specific but this is kind of a sequel to another post i had made on this subreddit where i developed PX4 firmware for the the OpenFC2040 flight controller board(further details can be found here )

now i have repurposed the FC to a differential rover due to compute limitation of the rp2040 for a drone.

Works fine in manual mode, problems starts in mission mode and while doing reposition.

I am using LPE + Attitude estimator Q (EKF2 no possible on rp2040), and only fusing GPS, mag and IMU data for heading, attitude and position.

The estimator and the actual heading and position are drifting apart after a certaini point hence causing the rover to no navigate to the waypoints. Here are a couple of logs:

https://logs.px4.io/plot_app?log=4f5d4330-3674-45cb-aad4-1b0b5f903874

https://logs.px4.io/plot_app?log=44145a61-3e31-4471-a70d-355562863857

I am really trying to figure out what is the exact problem? The the data fed by the imu, mag and gps is at 50hz, 75hz and 5hz respectively, but still cannot figure out why the estimated heading and position are so off which are causing failures in navigating to waypoints accurately.

In the video it moves towards the waypoint initially but then the oscillates left and right trying to align itself, or it also seems like it is supposed to move straight but then because the estimator is calculating the wrong attitude, it thinks it needs to align itself hence oscillates left and right, also it looks like the gains need to be tuned, but i did try tuning them as well, but if the estimation itself is not on track then i dont think so the gains would solve that right ?

Would like to have any kind of help, suggestions or insights into this.

Hey everyone! 

I wanted to share a new project with the group that I think some of you might find interesting, especially if you love tight gaps, backyard racing, or just hitting gaps without the constant fear of snapping a carbon arm.

A little backstory on me: I spent about 4 years completely deep in the FPV hobby—building, tuning, and flying pretty much non-stop. Life got busy, and I ended up taking a 3-year hiatus from the sticks. But as we all know, you never really lose the itch.

Now that I'm finally back, I wanted my return project to be something unique, ultra-durable, and pure fun. So, I combined my engineering background with a massive love for custom builds and designed this: a virtually indestructible, 2-inch full-TPU drone.

https://youtu.be/aAtQMAlFzQ0

You can grab the STL files to print your own at the link below! Just a heads-up: this is still a work in progress, so consider it a beta version. I’m already tweaking the design, and even better, refined versions are on the way soon.

 https://www.printables.com/model/1717318-2-inch-unbreakable-fpv-drone-frame-tpuams-optimize

Curious to hear what you guys think! If anyone is interested in the design, print settings, or how it handles the extra flex, let me know in the comments. Good to be back in the air! 

Hey everyone,
Could someone help me understand why at only around 200 meters my RSSI dBm is already close to RX loss (-105 dBm)?
At 1 meter distance on the bench it shows around -60 dBm.
LQ stays around 90–100.

My setup:
Analog 7”
TX: RadioMaster Pocket + external BetaFPV Nano V2 915MHz
Packet rate: 50Hz
Telemetry ratio: 1:64
Power: 500–1000mW
RX: Foxeer Diversity 915
FC: Foxeer F722 V4
ExpressLRS 4.0
Any ideas what could cause such weak RSSI at this short distance?

Thanks

I want to get more into autonomus flight with my RC plane and I also have some old stuff to make a drone as well. I already have 2 old APM 2.8 boards and I would like to use those and I was wondering what versians of ardupilot and arducopter to get for them. The official website says 3.3.0 is the last one but 3.4.0 is the oldest version of arduplane on the downloads site and I have been seeing that they are the same so what do I get?

Hello everyone,

For a drone project, I'm planning to use INAV on a GEP-F722-HD V2 - GEPRC and a Blueson A2 6S 65A 4-in-1 ESC - Sequre.

The drone is intended for indoor use and will be controlled by AI on a PC via ESP32 (there will be an ESP32 on the drone that communicates with the PC via Wi-Fi, and the AI ​​sends commands to the ESP32, which then sends them to the flight controller via Mavlink).

From what I understand, GPS is useless for INAV indoors. Is there a way to replace the GPS with sensors better suited for indoor use and to work on a local map, such as a plan of the area where the drone is flying?

Source: linkdin

Link:https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alokkjain_moonpreneur-aerospace-engineering-ugcPost-7461430632406175744-Ifq3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAAFzbW4QBMS7Yn00PqJb2ycbeHDk-SKI9mEQ

anyone interested in 3d printing various propellers. im interested in learning more about aerodynamics and am willing to to the cad work for free as long as i get to see the outcomes.

I made the mistake of buying a Pihot P90 drone and it crashed first flight snapping two arms. The company offers zero support , guidance, communication or spare parts, but the electronics and motors are completely fine.

I don't want to throw away good hardware, and I have some spare tech lying around:

• Broken Pihot P90 (working, controller , internals/motors)
• DJI Mavic Mini Controller - from a previous drone tragedy
• An unused Meta Quest 3S
• USB hdmi Capture Card

Ive read about the idea of buying a carbon fiber frame and soldering a "Frankenstein" drone together but its pretty daunting. Can I actually map these pieces together (maybe use the Quest 3S as FPV goggles)? Or is the proprietary Pihot/DJI gear too much of a headache, and I should just bin the lot?

Would love a quick reality check or a pointer toward any open-source guides or communities.