Make an Open Source Drone: More Fun
What you'll learn
- Improve the features of your FlySky radio controller so that you can take full advantage of the hardware.
- Set up radio telemetry between your computer and the drone so that you can track and control your drone from your computer in real time.
- Configure fail-safes to prevent avoidable injuries and damage to your drone.
- Record high-definition flight video and transmit first-person video to a monitor on the ground.
- Setup and configure flight modes.
- Design simple and more complicated missions that your drone can execute on its own.
- Dow to use the radio telemetry module with the Matek F405TE flight controller
- How to setup geofencing inclusion and exclusion zones
- How to set up flight modes with the Matek F405TE
- How to use the Mission Planner flight simulator
- How to test geofencing in the simulator
- How to setup the battery monitoring capability in the Matek F405TE
Requirements
- Ideally, you will have completed the course "Make an Open Source Drone".
- The required parts as listed in the Parts and Tools lecture in section 1 (free access).
- A Windows computer with the Mission Planner software.
- A Mac OS computer with the APM software (this includes most functions found in Mission Planner).
Description
Latest updates
In mid-2023, I updated 'Make an Open Source Drone' course to offer detailed instructions on constructing a custom quadcopter with the MATEK F405TE flight controller, in addition to the Crius and the Pixhwak 4. See detailed content for Make an Open Source Drone below.
In early 2025, I updated 'Make an Open Source Drone More Fun' course with new lectures to teach you how to use the radio telemetry module with the Matek F405TE flight controller, how to setup geofencing inclusion and exclusion zones, how to set up flight modes with the Matek F405TE, how to use the Mission Planner flight simulator and testing geofencing in the simulator, and how to setup the battery monitoringcapability in the Matek F405TE.
Course description
In my first drone course “Make an Open Source Drone”, you learned how to build a quadcopter based on open source software and hardware.
You now have a modern programmable aircraft and a good understanding of the principles of drone flight and of the skills needed to enjoy being a drone pilot.
In this course, you’ll take your knowledge and skill to the next level. You’ll go past the basics and explore some of the most exciting features and capabilities of your drone.
Your drone, from simply reacting to your radio instructions, will look as if it has a mind of its own, and fly itself.
I promise, the first time you experience your drone flawlessly execute a mission, you will feel proud and thrilled.
By the end of this course, you’ll learn:
how to improve the features of your FlySky radio controller so that you can take full advantage of the hardware,
how to use the radio telemetry module with the Matek F405TE flight controller,
how to setup geofencing inclusion and exclusion zones,
How to set up radio telemetry between your computer and the drone so that you can track and control your drone from your computer in real time,
How to configure fail-safes to prevent avoidable injuries and damage to your drone,
How to record high-definition flight video and transmit first-person video to a monitor on the ground,
How to setup and configure flight modes,
how to set up flight modes with the Matek F405TE,
how to use the Mission Planner flight simulator,
how to test geofencing in the simulator,
how to setup the battery monitoring capability in the Matek F405TE.
And most important, how to design simple and more complicated missions that your drone can execute on its own.
I invite you to review the free lectures in the first section of this course to find out more details about it.
If you are excited about learning how to to make your open source drone even more fun, join many other Makers and me in "Make an Open Source Drone: More fun"!
Who this course is for:
- Drone pilots who have a basic understanding of their aircraft and are ready to learn more.
- Graduates of Tech Explorations Make an Open Source Drone.
- Anyone interested in learning about the Ardupilot firmware and the Pixhawk flight controller.
Instructor
- 4.6 Instructor Rating
- 23,820 Reviews
- 149,116 Students
- 33 Courses
Peter Dalmaris is an educator, electrical engineer, electronics hobbyist, and Maker. Creator of online video courses on DIY electronics and author of three technical books, and has recently released his book Maker Education Revolution.
As a Chief Tech Explorer since 2013 at Tech Explorations, the company he founded in Sydney, Australia, Peter’s mission is to explore technology and help educate the world.
Tech Explorations offers educational courses and Bootcamps for electronics hobbyists, STEM students and STEM teachers.
A life-long learner, Peter’s core skill is in explaining difficult concepts through video and text. With over 15 years of tertiary teaching experience, Peter has developed a simple yet comprehensive style in teaching that students from all around the world appreciate.
His passion for technology and in particular for the world of DIY open source hardware has been a dominant driver that has guided his personal development and his work through Tech Explorations.
Peter’s current online courses have helped over 150,000 people from around the world to be better Makers.
For more information on Peter's work, please go to his web site, techexplorations dot com.