Make an Open Source Drone: More Fun

Upgrade the Flysky FS-i6 transmitter with open source firmware via a usb cable to extend from six to eight channels (potentially up to ten) and add flight mode presets.

open-source firmware upgrade expands transmitter and receiver to up to ten channels, unlocking flight modes such as stabilize, altitude hold, loiter, and return to launch, with binding and field-testing steps.

Download and extract the firmware archive, run the updater as administrator, connect the transmitter, choose the correct com port, and upgrade to the latest modified firmware while verifying ten-channel operation.

Learn how to recover a bricked drone controller by using firmware upgrades, battery checks, and a secret key combo to enter firmware update mode, then reprogram and test channels.

Bind the transmitter and receiver after upgrading firmware by shorting the signal pin to ground with a jumper or bind key, then power up and press the bind button.

Calibrate the transmitter with a Pixhawk setup, connect for telemetry, and configure auxiliary channels and flight modes on channels 5–8, then save the settings to the controller.

Calibrate the transmitter to center PWM values for channel 5, aligning flight modes within their defined ranges. Use the radio calibration menu to verify end-points and stabilize the readings.

Calibrate subtrim to center all spring-loaded controls at 1500 on the radio calibration screen. Verify pitch, roll, and throttle channels, adjust bias if needed, and save changes.

Learn radio telemetry fundamentals to replace tethered cables for in-flight calibration and live mission updates, enabling parameter changes and remote control through dedicated hardware.

Set up a two-module radio telemetry link for a drone by selecting the correct frequency (433 mhz or 868 mhz), installing the silicon labs driver, and verifying a bidirectional connection.

Configure the radio telemetry net ID on local and remote modules to 315 using Mission Planner, copying and saving settings, then reload settings to verify they match.

Set ground and air module net ids via serial monitor using 80 commands, switch to command mode, then save and reboot to ensure net ids (315 and 400) for operation.

Connect and test the radio telemetry by verifying unique net ids and configuring the ground module. Confirm a successful handshake and a nav link connection in the virtual machine.

Learn how to run apm planner on mac os, enable telemetry, and evaluate failsafe features to keep the drone safe during flight.

Arm the drone after connecting the radio and COM 6 to Mission Planner, verify radio telemetry works during a manual flight, then safely land and confirm telemetry remains active.

Connect the telemetry module to the flight controller via UART4, power from five volts, and mount with double-sided tape while raising the GPS magnetometer to reduce interference.

Test the radio telemetry hardware on the Matek F405TE using Mission Planner; connect power, verify telemetry flow, upload parameters, and confirm remote control and GPS 3D fix.

Learn to implement basic failsafes for drones, enabling autonomous responses to events like battery voltage drops and lost transmitter connections, including automatic landing or return-to-launch.

Configure radio failsafe to detect transmitter loss of connection using the throttle channel, calibrate endpoints, and enable return to the launch site behavior to safely recover or land the drone.

Configure geo fencing with a circular boundary and altitude around the launch site to keep the drone inside the field, enabling return-to-launch or land if it exits.

Configure a battery failsafe on Pixhawk by calibrating the power module’s voltage reading, then set a voltage threshold (around 9–10 volts for a 3s pack) to auto land.

Configure geofencing with a 20-meter altitude limit and 20-meter radius, then test sensor triggers at 30 meters to observe return and landing during a field flight.

Master geofencing in Mission Planner by defining inclusion and exclusion zones to keep drones away from crowds and unsafe areas, and test and refine these zones in the simulator.

Explore failsafe and geofencing options in mission planner, learn how to apply throttle, rc, and ground control station failsafes from the full parameters list, and write changes to your drone.

Explore drone photography and real-time video using a 4K Firefly Q6 camera and an embedded transmitter miniature camera, with ground monitors or goggles, while noting line-of-sight rules in Australia.

Power the Firefly Q6 as an independent 4k camera for drone flights, recording hd video and 16 mp photos on an sd card, with stabilization and timestamping.

Install a 1/4 inch cmos hd camera with a 150 degree field of view for real-time first-person view footage, wiring it to the radio receiver and powering from the battery.

Review test footage from the HD recording camera on an open source drone, highlighting real-world video capture and the fun of building open source drone projects.

Attach and secure an fpv monitor to the drone controller by mounting a bracket, aligning holes with screws, and adjusting the angle for stable, real-time first-person view.

Integrate telemetry, fail safes, and onboard cameras; set up flight modes on fly sky controller, assign them to two knobs on the control arm, and test in the field.

Explore basic flight modes from stabilize to altitude hold, loiter, return to launch, circle, and auto mode, with notes on mission planning and setup for remote control.

Learn to assign flight modes to rc switch channels, calibrate two switches, and save the configuration to enable stabilize, altitude hold, and rtl modes with gps lock verification before flight.

Compare normal mode, simple mode, and super simple mode, where inputs translate using the drone's reference frame or the pilot's position, with super simple mode using lock to simplify control.

Configure flight mode parameters to tailor drone behavior, adjusting angle max and other user options. Set circle mode radius and rate for panoramic shooting, then save or load parameter files.

Explore test flight procedures and flight modes for an open source drone, including stabilize, altitude hold, loiter, circle, and return-to-launch, with real-time battery failsafe and panic controls.

Configure flight modes by combining two switches to control channel five PWM in Mission Planner, then extend options with auxiliary channels and parameter tweaks for auto RTL and other modes.

Explore how to use mission planner to design automatic drone missions for children, featuring waypoints, altitude changes, straight or curved paths, and three examples.

Design a simple drone mission, simulate it in the mission planner's simulator, set home and waypoints with altitude and circle or spline paths, then upload before field testing.

Simulate a simple drone mission by downloading flight simulation software, connecting telemetry, uploading waypoints, arming, and executing a multi-waypoint flight with two circles and a landing.

Connect the real drone via radio telemetry to mission planner, upload the waypoints, verify the map matches the created mission, and save missions as files for reload and reuse.

Prefetch map segments for offline missions by right-clicking the map, choosing prefetch, and setting a max zoom of about 10 to 20 to download the needed area.

Design an advanced drone mission with multiple waypoints and a region of interest aligned to the front camera, including loiter times, then save, load, and map it.

Use mission planner's auto grid function to generate drone flight paths inside a polygon, producing lawn mower patterns for agricultural field mapping with adjustable altitude and takeoff and land waypoints.

Upload the polygon to the drone, enable polygon-based geofence as a fail-safe, and use altitude and circle constraints to trigger return to launch or land.

Operate an automatic mission mode by arming the drone, executing a waypoint-based path, and returning to land while monitoring telemetry and camera footage within a fence.

simulate a flight path using mission planner’s simulator, create and test a flight plan with waypoints, altitude, and GPS, then arm and start a mission in a software-in-the-loop setup.

Combine geofencing, the flight planner, and Mission Planner in a simulated workflow. Set geofence limits to 130 m altitude, 50 m radius, and test rtl and land behavior in simulation.

Add a secondary power source to the flight controller to keep the drone operating if the power module fails. Use a battery tester to quickly assess the battery state.

Discover powering the Pixhawk esc from a primary supply and a servo rail backup, using a reverse-polarity diode and a 220 μF capacitor to prevent overvoltage and enable failsafe landing.

learn how an inexpensive battery tester provides real-time per-cell and total voltage readings, audible alerts, and a failsafe for drone batteries up to eight cells.

Configure the built-in voltage and current monitor on the Matek flight controller to track real-time battery usage in Mission Planner and enable battery failsafes.