Inspired by the ability of aerial robots and vehicles being able to fly, I wanted to fly a drone yet was frustrated with the limited capabilities of existing drone kits. Thus, I designed and built my own custom small quadcopter drone. With a focus on making the design simple and easily reparable, the drone parts are made through 3D printing technology.
With no prior experience with drones, this project initially involved extensive research on how they operated and what components were needed. Many new skills were learnt throughout the build process too, such as CAD modelling for 3D printing, soldering, and operating a 3D printer. A large amount of testing was involved, and many failures, crashes and troubleshooting often followed. The images below show the different drone iterations throughout the length of the project, as well as other notable components.
First Iteration
Second Iteration – With a more rounded and sleek look
Third Iteration – Smaller and more compact than the previous versions
The DIY flight controller design used in the first and second drone iterations. The open source MultiWii flight control software was used here.
A 3D printed arm, used in the second iteration
CAD model of the drone arm that I designed
CAD model of the drone base frame I designed