Make · Getting Started With Drones by Kilby, Terry -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Preface

The First Book of Its Kind The Book’s Goal Conventions Used in This Book Safari® Books Online How to Contact Us

1. Introduction

Some Definitions Who Is This Book For? The Drone User Community Brief History of Autonomous Flight

RC Model Airplane The Advent of Microchips The Technology of Drones The Launch of GPS Internet The Smartphone Small Autopilot Flight Controller

Principles of Flight

Weight/Gravity Lift Drag Thrust

Flight Maneuvers: Aircraft Movement with Stick Mapping

Throttle Yaw/Rudder Pitch Roll

2. Airframes

What Is an Airframe?

Thrust Vectoring Aircraft Designs

Tricopter Quadcopter Hexacopter Octocopter Y6 X8

Materials Keeping It Balanced

Building the Little Dipper Airframe Step-by-Step Build Instructions

Step 1: Install the Standoffs Step 2: Complete the Dirty Frame Assembly Step 3: Assemble the Clean Frame Step 4: Attach the Two Subframes Together

3. Power Train

Propellers

Direction Size and Pitch Balancing Props

Motors

Sizes kV Rating Pairing with the Right Props

Total Lift

Electronic Speed Controllers

Classification: Amps and volts SimonK firmware

Flight Battery

Capacity and voltage Leave a little in the tank

Step-by-Step Build Instructions

Step 1: Mount the Power Distribution Board (PDB) Step 2: Solder on the Bullet Connectors Step 3: Mount the Speed Controllers Step 4: Solder up the Power Supply Step 5: Mount Brushless Motors Step 6: Connect Brushless Motors Step 7: Clean Up

Wrapping Up

4. Flight Controller

What Is a Flight Controller?

Open Source Versus Closed Source Sensors Flight Characteristics Software Assistant

Step-by-Step Build Instructions

Step 1: Mount the Flight Controller Step 2: Wire up the Flight Controller Outputs Step 3: Attach the Two Subframes to Each Other

Wrapping Up

5. GPS, Compass, and Battery Monitor

GPS

Flight Modes

Loiter (position and altitude) Return to Home (RTH) failsafe Waypoint navigation Follow Me mode

Compass Battery Monitor Step-by-Step Build Instructions

Step 1: Mount the GPS Puck Step 2: Connect GPS and Compass to the APM Step 3: Install the Battery Monitor

Wrapping Up

6. Transmitter

What Is a Transmitter? Most Common Frequency Bands Different Modes Around the World PWM Versus PPM Step-by-Step Build Instructions

Step 1: Identify What You Need Step 2: Mount the Receiver Step 3: Plug in the Receiver

7. Telemetry Radios

Software Monitoring and Control Step-by-Step Build Instructions

Step 1: Mount the Ground Station Radio Step 2: Prep the Aircraft Radio for Mounting Step 3: Plug in the Radio Step 4: Mount the Aircraft Radio

8. Camera and FPV Equipment

Popular Drone Cameras

Micro Four Thirds Cameras The Mobius ActionCam

FPV for a Live Stream Step-by-Step Build Instructions

Step 1: Fasten the Camera Mount Step 2: Attach the Vibration Isolation Plate Step 3: Place the Camera in the Quick-Release Mount

9. ArduPilot Mega (APM) Setup

Step-by-Step Build Instructions

Step 1: Update Firmware Step 2: Connect and Complete Mandatory Setup

Step 2.1: Set frame type Step 2.2: Calibrate accelerometer Step 2.3: Set up the compass Step 2.4: Radio calibration Step 2.5: Set flight modes Step 2.6: Failsafe setup

Step 3: Optional Hardware

Step 3.1: 3DR radio (telemetry) Step 3.2: Battery monitor

Let’s Explore the Rest of Mission Planner

Flight Modes Geo Fence Basic Tuning Extended Tuning Standard Params Flight Data Flight Plan

Preparing for Your Maiden Flight

10. Safe and Responsible Flight

Above All Is Safety Training and Education Resources Important Links Key Flight Safety Rules First-Person View Where and When to Fly Preflight Checklist and Flight Log Information Aircraft Inspection Flight and Maintenance Logs Laws and Regulations

11. Real-World Applications

Beneficial Drones Aerial Photography Mapping and Surveying Precision Agriculture Search and Rescue Infrastructure Inspection Conservation

12. Expanding Your Drone’s Abilities

Add a Camera and First-Person View Collect More Data with Other Sensors Altering Speed: Ready, Set, Race! Increasing Flight Times

Troubleshooting in the Drone Community

Thank You!

Index

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