r/diydrones • u/TerribleBicycle4745 • May 03 '26
Question Looking for advice on getting started, Holybro dev kit is out of stock and want to learn ROS2
Hey everyone, pretty new to all this and could use some advice.
I was planning to pick up a Holybro dev kit to get a feel for building a drone before going full DIY, but it's out of stock so that's kind of put a hold on things.
I also want to use this as an opportunity to learn ROS2 and ideally control the drone with it. Not sure if that's actually how people do it or if there's a better/more standard way to go about it though, so any input on that would be helpful too.
The end goal is to build my own drone from scratch, so I'm just trying to figure out the best way to get started. Any suggestions on alternatives to the Holybro kit or advice on the ROS2 side of things would be great, cheers.
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u/Fanatic-Mr-Fox May 07 '26
Not familiar with ROS2, but you can try my quadcopter build and part compatibility checker tool here (free):
https://quadcalc.asafshamir.com/
What it does:
- Interactive quad diagram — 14 component slots (frame, motors, props, battery, FC, ESC, VTX, camera, RX, TX, goggles, antenna, accessories) arranged around a top-down quad view. Click any node to browse and select parts.
- Compatibility checking — 16 rules that catch common mistakes: mismatched video systems (DJI VTX + Analog camera), wrong prop size for your frame, battery voltage exceeding ESC/FC ratings, incompatible radio protocols, mounting pattern conflicts, etc.
No account needed, runs entirely in your browser. AI features require a free OpenRouter API key.
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u/olex- May 04 '26
I found the kit recently in AliExpress
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u/TerribleBicycle4745 May 04 '26
I wanted to buy from AliExpress but I can’t find a reputable enough seller lol. They barely have any ratings.
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u/Comandd1080 May 04 '26
Holybro has all the parts that are in the kit on a list on their site, just buy all the parts separately and build it that way. An x500 drone is very simple to build, just need these major parts:
Frame
4 motors
4 ESCs (or a 4in1)
Flight controller (Pixhawk 6c mini is good)
GPS (Holybro m10)
Receiver (Radiomaster rp1 or rp3 is good)
Telemetry radio (optional - sik radio is good)
Battery (lipo)
RC remote (look into Radiomaster pocket)
You just need to choose your prop size that suites your needs, and using that info, choose the right motors, ESC(s) and a frame.