Arduino can be used in multiple applications from blinking a LED to controlling traffic systems or even making a DIY drone. Designing quadcopter drones with Arduino are getting very popular among the Arduino community. Arduino can serve as the main brain behind a new drone. For someone who is new in multirotor hobby, designing his first drone might be a difficult task to execute. This article will help you to figure out which parts you have to buy before building an Arduino based drone.
Equipment Required to Make Drone with Arduino
Trying to build a DIY drone with Arduino is not as simple as it looks, one who has no prior experience in radio-controlled planes or devices faces some tough time to decide which parts will work for them. We have aligned a complete list of all the specific parts that are needed to build a quadcopter, this post is a general overview of the parts along with basic specifications that one must know before jumping in making a drone. These are the supplies you’ll need:
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- Frame
- Propellers
- BLDC Motors
- Electronic Speed Controller
- Flight Controller
- Radio Transmitter and Receiver
- Battery and Charger
1. Frame
Every drone or unmanned aircraft needs a frame to join all other equipment together. While selecting a frame for drone some parameters such as weight, size, and the quality of material. One of the widely used frames is DJIF450. It is light weight with built in power distribution boards that helps to reduce the number of wires and allows for a clean and easy design. There are tons of other clone’s frames available with the same power distribution system that are durable and cheap to buy.
2. Propellers
Another main equipment needed to build drones is propellers. Normally propellers have four propellers, two of them are normal that spin counterclockwise while the other pair of propellers spin clockwise. Propellers give general lift to a drone. They convert rotary movement into linear movement. They create an airflow which results in pressure difference up and below these propellers which in term gives a lift to fly a drone.
3. BLDC Motors
To run propellers, we need a strong and powerful motor, so BLDC motors are the best choice for drone related applications. Brushless direct current motors are strong, high efficiency, high torque with small volume. BLDC motors play an important role in controlling drone positions and speed. Generally, motors are rated in kV, higher kV ratings means the motor will spin faster at constant voltage.
4. Electronic Speed Controller
While making a drone four electronic speed controllers are required. ESC allows drone flight controllers to adjust motor speed by controlling the voltages of each BLDC motor. A signal is sent from the main flight controller to ESC that raises or lowers the voltages according to that input. Many latest ESCs allow power flight controller board and radio receiver without any need of battery; it is kind of a battery backup for on board equipment. This circuit is commonly referred to as a battery eliminator circuit (BEC) which comes as a standard in all the latest drones.
5. Flight Controller
Flight controller is the main “brain” behind all this equipment. In the case of Arduino based drones any Arduino board having enough input output pins that can control the drone will be used as the main flight controller. Flight controllers control sensors such as gyroscopes and accelerometers that determine drone speed and positioning. A flight controller should have the ability to control multiple motors for any future upgradation. Arduino mega and Uno are the best choice for flight controllers. Click here to read why these Arduino can serve as the best flight controller for your next drone.
6. Radio Transmitter and Receiver
Drone transmitter is a wireless electronic device that uses radio technology to send and receive instruction from Arduino flight controllers, in simple words it’s a device that converts user commands into drone movement. It consists of two blocks: one is attached to a flight controller while the second one also known as a transmitter is a remote controller for drones. While selecting Radio controller range is to be considered, it’s okay to spend a bit more for a long range and good quality radio transmitter and receiver, as it’s the only way to communicate once the drone is in midair.
7. Battery
One of the most neglected parts while designing a drone is batteries. Having a good battery backup is as important as the main flight controller. Drones that last longer than usual can increase your flying experience. They are the vital component while making a drone. Li-Poly batteries have wide application in drone making; they have a C-rating which describes the rate at which we can draw power from the battery. While selecting batteries’ weight is not to be neglected, generally large batteries weigh more so it means we must either tradeoff between flight time or the battery capacity.
Conclusion
Those are the main components required to build a drone using Arduino. There are several drone configurations and designs available choosing between them is not an easy task. Hope this list gives a clarity of what equipment to be chosen while building a DIY drone with Arduino.
