2/5/2018 How to Build a Drone - A Definitive Guide For Newbies

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HOW TO BUILD A DRONE – A DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR NEWBIES

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So, you want to build a drone? Awesome! The following tutorial is going to guide you through every step of the process. Let
me warn you: it’s pretty long (5,000+ words), so you may want to bookmark this page. Why did I make this guide so long? Like Page

Basically, a lot goes into building a drone, so I want to make sure I leave nothing out. From understanding basic UAV/drone
terminology, to assembling the different parts of an RC quadcopter, you’re going to learn all the steps, from A-Z, on how to Be the first of your friends to like this

build a drone. With that being said, sit back, pull out a pen and paper (for taking notes), and let’s get started.

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Let me remind you that building a drone is something that takes practice, especially Drone Basics  57917
if you’re a beginner. If you’re looking to “get in the air” quickly, then perhaps it’s best
to purchase an RTF (Ready-to-Fly) model and save this DIY project for a more
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convenient time. When I built my first RC drone back in 2014, it took me a few tries
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to get it right, but when I finally got my drone in the air, it was an amazing feeling. Drone Basics  51824
With that said, if you’re still here, I’m assuming you’re still up for the challenge, so
let’s go learn how to build a quadcopter!
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HOW TO BUILD A DRONE – PART 1: UNDERSTANDING BASIC DRONE

TERMINOLOGY
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Before you can even think about building your own custom quadcopter, there’s a lot of basic terminology that you need to Drone Reviews  19173
learn first. It may sound like a hassle, but be rest assured that you’ll be thanking me later on in the guide when a bunch of
new lingo starts to show up. For your convenience, I’ve divided up all the terms you need to know by category:

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BASIC TYPES An In-Depth Look
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 Drone: Synonymous with the term “quadcopter” or  RTF: Stands for “Ready-to-Fly”. It describes any RC
“UAV”. The term “drone” is generally reserved for quadcopter that comes with fully assembled with all of
unmanned aerial vehicles designed for military use. the parts and accessories required for flight.

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2/5/2018 How to Build a Drone - A Definitive Guide For Newbies

 DIY: Stands for “Do-It-Yourself”, which in this case,  BNF: Stands for “Bind-and-Fly”. It describes any RC
means building a custom quadcopter by using different quadcopter that comes fully assembled WITHOUT a
parts that may or may not have been originally transmitter (you’ll need to choose a compatible
designed for one another. transmitter to “bind” to the receiver on your drone).
 UAV: Stands for “unmanned aerial vehicle” (of any  ATF: Stands for “Almost-Ready-to-Fly”. These drones
kind). don’t come fully assembled, and will require additional
parts/accessories before they can be flown.

MECHANICS  Hexacoter: A UAV that has six motors/propellers.

 Multirotor: This term can be used to describe any
 Size: Usually provided in millimeters (e.g. 350mm), aircraft that has multiple rotors.
“size” represents the greatest point-to-point distance
between two motors on a drone. Size can also help  Octocopter: A UAV that has eight motors/propellers.
determine a drone’s “class” (mini, micro, etc.).  Quadcopter: A UAV that has four motors/propellers.
 CG: Stands for “Center of Gravity”, which is the point  Tricopter: A UAV that has three motors/propellers.
on the drone where weight is equally distributed on all
sides (VERY important when learning how to build a
drone). PROPULSION
 Dampener: Dampeners are small molded pieces of  ESC: Stands for “Electronic Speed Controller”, which
rubber used to minimize vibration throughout an RC is something that connects to the flight controller, TOP PICKS
drone. motor, and battery, and helps mediate the speed by
 Frame: A drone’s frame is synonymous with a human which the motors are rotating (you’ll learn a lot about DJI PHANTOM 3 REVIEW
being’s skeleton – it helps bring together important these later on).
components, as well as provide protection.  Li-Po: Stands for “Lithium Polymer”, which is pretty
 Landing Gear: For an RC drone to land without much the universal battery type used to power RC
drones. The reason why is because they’re lightweight
damaging fragile hardware, it must have landing gear.
Unlike airplanes, which have wheels on their landing (they won’t weigh the drone down) and are capable of DJI INSPIRE REVIEW
gear, RC drones utilizes plastic, metal, or rubber releasing a lot of current.
materials to help cushion landings.  Motor: The motor is the part of the drone that rotates
 LED: To help orientate you to an RC drone’s location the propellers. Larger UAVs typically use “brushless” DJI PHANTOM 2 VISION+
at night, it needs to have “Light Emitting Diodes”, or motors while smaller UAVs typically use “brushed”
motors (you’ll learn about the differences between the
REVIEW
LEDs, on it.
two later on).
 Prop Guards: Prop guards help protect your drone’s
propellers from coming into contact with the external  PCB: Stands for “Printed Circuit Board”. This is a flat
fiberglass part that has many different components
3DR SOLO DRONE REVIEW
environment. They are also there to protect the
operator (you). soldered to it. COMPLETE GUIDE
 Shell: A drone’s “shell” is its outermost cover. Made  Power Distribution: In order to power the different
parts of an RC quadcopter, batter power must be
from a variety of materials, it’s designed for aesthetic
purposes (style) as well as functional purposes shared, or “split”, to all those different devices. This is
PARROT BEBOP REVIEW
(proving protection from the elements). Depending on done with the help of a power distribution board. It
the shell’s shape, it can help the drone become more takes the single negative and positive terminal from
aerodynamic. the drone’s battery and provides numerous other
terminals (or connection points) throughout the drone DROMIDA OMINUS REVI
so that other devices can receive power.
SENSORS
 Prop Adaptor: A prop adapter is the thin used to
 Accelerometer: This sensor is designed to measure connect the drone’s motor to the propellers.
CHEERSON CX-20 REVIEW
liner acceleration.
 Barometer: This sensor is designed to let the drone VIDEO
know how high above the ground it is. It does this by
measuring pressure. Since air pressure changes with  FPV: Stands for “First Person View”. This is when HUBSAN X4 H107C REVIE
altitude, the drone can determine its own height with you’re able to see a live video feed of what you’re AN IN-DEPTH LOOK
the help of a barometer. drone’s camera is seeing while it’s recording.

 Gyroscope: A gyroscope is designed to measure  LCD: Stands for “Liquid Crystal Display”. It’s a type of
angular acceleration on an x, y, or z axis. Basically, it’s screen used to display an image that’s coming in from HUBSAN X4 H107L REVIE
responsible for allowing the drone to fly in a stable a receiver.
manner.  Gimbal: A gimbal is something that holds a camera
 GPS: Also known as a “Global Positioning System”, a during a flight, and allows it to deliver stable footage.
GPS sensor allows satellites to pick up on a drone’s CHEERSON CX-10 REVIEW
 GoPro: This is a popular sports/action camera that
location so that the flyer (you) can do things like set can be attached to RC drones with the proper mounts.
specific coordinates for your drone to fly to, or even
bring the drone back to its original staring location
despite it not being in your field of sight.

HOW TO BUILD A DRONE – PART 2: CHOOSING A FRAME FOR YOUR DRONE

On your quest to learn how to build a drone, it’s imperative that you memorize the above terms. At the very least, you
should have them written down for quick reference. In this part of the guide, you’re going to learn about the different types
of frames that you can use to build a drone. Below, we’re going to cover all of the most basic/common frame configurations
that exist, as well as show you the different types of materials that they can be made from. Like before, make sure that you
take notes because the following information is very important!

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TYPES OF RC DRONES/FRAME SETUPS

Not only am I going to show you the most common types of frame setups, but I’ll also discuss the pros, cons, and
characteristics of each one. With that being said, let’s get started.

FRAME TYPE #1: QUADCOPTER

This is by far the most common type of frames that you see within the RC drone industry. It
has four arms, each of which are connected to a single motor. In the illustration to the
left, you’ll notice that the quadcopter is designed in an “x configuration”. Just remember that
“+ configuration” quadcopter frame setups also exist. When learning how to build a drone for
the first time, I highly recommend that you use a quadcopter frame. Not only is it the simplest
type of frame design you’ll find, but it’s also one of the most versatile. This is why popular
drone models like the DJI Phantom 3 and the Parrot Bebop are all built using this exact frame configuration.

Pros: One of the biggest benefit to using a Cons: No frame design is perfect – not even the
quadcopter frame is that nearly all of the flight quadcopter. A drawback to using this frame type is
controllers (you’ll learn about those later) on the that if one motor or propeller fails, the remaining
market today can work with this type of design. It’s motors/propellers won’t be able to compensate,
also one of the simplest designs you can use, which resulting in a crash. For this reason, if you’re going to
is perfect if you’re learning how to build a drone for use a quadcopter frame, you need to do it the RIGHT
the first time. way!

FRAME TYPE #2: TRIPCOPTER

This type of frame isn’t as common as quadcopter frames, but it’s certainly an option for
anyone interesting in learning how to build a drone. This type of RC drone design has three
arms, each of which are connected to a single motor. With this type of setup, the UAV will
have three arms that are separated by approximately 120 degrees each. Since this design isn’t
symmetric, the lone rear motor (as you can see from the illustration in the left) must have the
ability to rotate using a normal RC servo motor (will be discussed later) so that it can
counteract the fact that there are an uneven number of rotors. As with the quadcopter setup,
there are benefits and drawbacks to the tricopter setup.

Pros: If you’re looking for something that’s “different” Cons: Due to the fact that this design requires an RC
from an aesthetic standpoint, then a tricopter setup is servo motor to rotate the rear motor (since the copter
the way to go. When in motion, this type of frame isn’t symmetric), the overall building process is, in
setup flies more like an airplane than it does an RC theory, much more complicated. While we won’t get
drone. Also, since it requires the fewer number of into much detail, let’s just say that the rear arm
brushless motors, it could be the cheapest route to requires a lot of complex work done to make it
take when learning how to build a drone. operate efficiently.

FRAME TYPE #3: HEXACOPTER

As its prefix implies, a hexacopter (“hexa” = six) is a type of drone setup in which there are six
arms. Each arm is connected to a single motor. Generally speaking, these types of setups
are reserved for flyers who are interested in doing some serious aerial photography. They can
exist in one of two different “layouts”: one in which the front of the body is located between two
motors, and one in which the front of the body is located directly behind a single motor. I’ve
never built a hexacopter before, but I thought that I’d include it on this list anyway just so that
you can see what your potential options are when learning how to build a drone. Now, let’s go over the pros and cons of
this frame setup.

Pros: One of the main benefits to a hexacopter frame Cons: In general, building a hexacopter is going to be
is that you’ll be able to deliver more thrust. This more expensive than building say, a triocpoter or
comes in handy for lifting heavier payloads. Also, if quadcopter. This is due to the larger number of parts
one motor fails, then there’s still a chance that the required to make it fly. Also keep in mind that more
drone can land safely rather than crashing. Another parts equals more weight, so in order to achieve the
great advantage to this design is that nearly all flight type of thrust you’ll need to get a hexacopter in the
controllers support this type of frame setup. air, a larger battery will be required.

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FRAME TYPE #4: OCTOCOPTER
Last but certainly not least on this list is the octocopter. With this frame setup, there are eight
arms, each of which are connected to a single motor. As you can imagine, there’s a huge
amount of thrust being produced with this type of setup. But as the old saying goes, “With great
power, comes great responsibility“. If you decide to go with this type of frame setup, which I
don’t recommend if you’re a beginner, then you have a long, challenging road of ahead of you.
For the most part, these types of RC drone setups are reserved for people who know what
they’re doing. When learning how to build a drone for the first time, stick to a simpler model, like the quadcopter or tricopter
setup.

Pros: The high amount of motors present means Cons: As you’ve probably guessed, more motors
more thrust, which subsequently means it can lift equals a more expensive build, as well as a larger
heavier things. Another great advantage to this type battery pack. For the most part, people who build
of design is that if one motor fails, the drone can larger octocopters are interested in serious aerial
probably still make it to the ground safely rather than photography and/or videography. I’m not saying that it
crashing. would be impossible for a beginner though.

COMMON TYPES OF MATERIALS USED FOR DRONE FRAMES

Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with the different types of frame setups, let’s go over the most common types of
materials that can be used when learning how to build a drone frame. While this list does not contain every possible
material which can be used in your DIY project, it does include the more popular/budget-friendly ones. With that being said,
let’s see what they are!

WOOD
If you’re trying to build a drone as cheaply as possible, then consider using a wooden frame. Wood isn’t
the most aesthetically appealing option out there, but it’s certainly one of the most inexpensive. One
reason why I love wooden frames is because if something breaks, you can quickly and easily replace it.
If you’re going to use wood for your drone’s frame, then make sure that it doesn’t have any areas that
are warped or twisted.

CARBON FIBER
If you can afford it, I would highly recommend building your frame out of carbon fiber. The reason why
is simple: carbon fiber is very tough and extremely lightweight. It’s this combination that will make your
RC drone fly better and consume less energy. Remember that carbon fiber impedes RF signals (you’ll
learn about these later), so make sure that you keep this in mind when you’re mounting important
electronic components (like an antenna for example).

PCB
Also known as “Printed Circuit Board”, this is a type of material that shares the same basic structure
and properties as fiberglass. Unlike fiberglass, PCD is always flat. Frames that are less than 600mm in
size typically use PCB for the bottom and top plates. In fact, small quadcopter frames can be built
entirely from a single printed circuit board. Click here to learn more about printed circuit boards and how
they work.

PLASTIC
Most commercial RC drones that you buy today come with plastic frames. 3D printed molded plastic
frames have become an incredibly popular amongst DIY drone enthusiasts. Generally, using a 3D
printer to create a perfectly shaped plastic frame is something that only works on smaller drones. When
using plastic sheets (not 3D printed shapes or objects), you can strategically use them on your landing
gear or for the cover of your drone.

G10
G10 is a variation of fiberglass that’s often used as a less expensive alternative to carbon fiber. From
the outside, G10 and carbon fiber look almost identical, but they do vary slightly in their basic
properties. You can purchase G10 in sheet format. As far as pricing is concerned, it costs less than
carbon fiber but is still more expensive than wood, aluminum, or plastic. Here’s a really useful forum
post I found on the major differences between G10 and regular fiberglass.

ALUMINUM

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Aluminum can also be used when building your frame. It’s lightweight (though not as lightweight as
carbon fiber), flexible, and is relatively easy to work with. You can use aluminum to build the entire
frame, or simply use the material to supplement certain parts of the frame (arms, landing gear, etc.).
Another benefit to aluminum frames is that this type of material is both inexpensive as well as readily
accessible.

HOW BIG DO YOU WANT YOUR DRONE TO BE?

When learning how to build a drone, you need to become familiar with the standard sizes that are out there. For example,
some RC drones can fit in the palm of your hand – these are called “nano” drones. Larger ones, like “mega” drones, are
extremely large, and often must be transported in the backs of trucks. In either case, understanding what size you want
your drone to be is very important. As a beginner, I’m going to recommend a size range of 400mm to 500mm. This size
range will provide you with A) A lot of value, and B) A lot of versatility.

ARE SMALLER DRONES LESS EXPENSIVE TO BUILD THAN LARGE ONES?

Not necessarily. As you’ll come to see when learning how to build a drone, the total cost relies more on how advanced your
flight controller is, whether or not you’re going to mount a camera, etc. Generally, the frame will be the least expensive part
of your build, but this doesn’t mean that it’s the least important.

HOW TO BUILD A DRONE – PART 3: MOTORS, PROPELLERS, AND PROPULSION

At this point in your journey of learning how to build a drone, you’ve mastered basic terminology (I hope) and familiarized
yourself with basic frame setups and the materials you could use to build them. In this section, we’re going to talk about
propulsion. More specifically, we’re going to talk about all the stuff that’s actually going to get your drone in the air (motors,
propellers, batteries, etc.). When learning how to build a drone, this part is exceptionally important, so make sure that you
pay attention!

THE MOTOR
Motors are the heart and soul of a drone. It’s what allows you to lift the frame off the ground, hover, and fly in the direction
of your choosing. As a general rule of thumb, each motor should deliver the same amount of thrust. Otherwise, you’ll run
into problems with stability. In the sections that follow, we’re going to talk about the general anatomy and functions of an RC
motor, followed by discuss the different types of motors that you can potentially use when learning how to build a drone.

HOW RC MOTORS WORK

All electric motors are made up of two components: magnets and “windings” (coils of wire). Don’t worry, you won’t need to
refer to a physics textbook to grasp what I’m about to teach you. In a nutshell, the coils of wire (windings) moving within a
magnetic field creates an electric current thus, causing the rotor to spin around and round. If any of that sound confusing,
check out the video below as it may be able to explain it better:

BRUSHED VS. BRUSHLESS MOTORS – WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

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When I first started learning how to build a drone, one thing that I kept hearing about over and over again were “brushed”
and “brushless” motors. At the time, I had no idea what they meant, nor did I know how each motor was different from the
other. Because of this, I wanted to create a section dedicated completely to helping you differentiate between the two.

BRUSHED MOTORS
Like all RC motors, brushed motors contain windings (coil) and magnets. With this particular type of RC motor, the
magnets remain FIXED while the coils SPIN. Generally speaking, brushed motors are quite popular amongst
smaller, inexpensive model quadcopters (like the Syma X5C or Cheerson CX-10).

One potential downside to this type of motor is that the brushes can wear out rather quickly, so their lifespans tend
to be less than that of a brushless motor. Obviously, there are
exceptions, but this tends to be the general rule. Personally, I’ve
built a few smaller drones using brushed DC motors, and each
time, I’ve almost always experienced problems after relatively
short period of time.

BRUSHLESS MOTORS

When learning how to build a drone, you need to understand how brushless motors work. Brushless motors act in
the exact opposite manner: their COILS remain fixed while their MAGNETS are spun. As its name implies, a
brushless motor does not contain any brushes, which can actually lead to the longevity of the RC motor.

When I teach people how to build a drone, I almost exclusively recommend brushless motors due to their durability,
versatility, and ability to generate a lot of power. Just know that you will pay more for brushless motors compared to
brushed motors. Here are a very common types of brushless DC motors that you’ll encounter:

Inrunner: These types of brushless motors have coils that are fixed on the outer casing, while the mobile
magnets spin on the inside of the casing.

Outrunner: As you can probably guess, these types of brushless motors have their magnets on the outer
casing, and are spun around the fixed coils that are located within the middle of the motor casing.

While nothing about RC motors is black and white, do know this: outrunner brushless DC motors are generally
exclusive to helicopters, airplanes, and RC cars (due to their high KV), and tend to have less torque than their
outrunner brushless DC motor counterpart.

UNDERSTANDING KV
The KV Rating of a motor relates to how fast it is able to spin at a specific voltage (more specifically, it equates to 1,000 per
volt). For the average RC drone, a low KV is recommend (anywhere between 500 and 1,000). Why? Because it helps
stabilize the drone mid-air. If you’re planning on doing more acrobatic flights, a high KV is recommend (anywhere between
1,000 and 1,500). I found a really useful forum post that helps explain KV Rating much more clearly.

DO THE MATH
If the KV Rating for a specific motor is 650 RPM/V, then at 11.1V, the motor is going to rotate approximately at 7,215
RPM (650 x 11.1 = 7,215). If, however, the exact same motor is operating at a lower voltage, like 7.4V for example,
then the new RPM is going to be 4,810 (650 x 7.4). Remember that the KV Rating for a motor should be available in
its specifications.

As you can see, understanding KV is pretty straightforward. If you’re going to learn how to build a drone, it’s important that
you begin to really think about things like KV and motor types. That way, should you ever decide to build your own custom

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quadcopter, you could do so without help or guidance from anyone else. But we’re not quite there yet! Let’s move on to talk
about another important part of a drone’s propulsion system – the propellers.

PROPELLERS
All multi-rotor RC aircrafts use propellers (not to be confused with helicopter blades) to
achieve lift. Propellers attach to the drone’s motors. When the motor spins, so do the
propellers. Similar to drone frames, propellers can be made from a wide variety of
materials, as well as exist in many different sizes.

The majority of RC drones come with three-bladed or two-bladed propellers, with the
most common setup being two. Smaller blades (those with smaller diameters) tend to be
easier to slow down and speed up, which comes in handy if you’re interested in doing
acrobatic flights. Larger blades, or those with larger diameters, are better-suited for more
stable flights since it’s harder to speed up or slow down the blades.

PROPELLER ROTATION
All propellers that you use to build a drone come designed to spin in one of two ways:

Clockwise (CW)

Counterclockwise (CCW)

Obviously, it’s important that you be able to tell which part of the propeller is supposed to face upwards and which part of
the propeller is supposed to face downwards (you’ll learn more about this in later sections).

MATERIALS USED TO MAKE PROPELLERS

Remember when we talk about all of the different materials that a drone’s frame could be constructed from? Well,
propellers aren’t any different. Here are some of the more common materials that are used to make propellers:

PLASTIC
Plastic is by far the most popular choice for propellers in the multi-rotor industry. This is
mainly due to their low cost and respectable durability. Unfortunately, plastic propellers
do have their downsides. For example, when you crash, it’s very likely that, without a
prop guard, you’ll damage your propellers (even with prop guards there’s a chance you
can damage them). The good news is that plastic propellers are dispensable, so you
can break the again and again without worrying about spending a lot on new ones.
When learning how to build a drone, choosing plastic propellers for your propulsion is certainly a good idea.

WOOD
Now, I know what you’re probably thinking, “You can use wood to build a drone?”
Absolutely! But I’ll be the first to tell you that they are no common in the drone industry.
As you can probably already guess, due to the intricate machining required to produce
wooden propellers, they will cost much more than plastic. On a good note, wooden
propellers tend to be very durable. They won’t bend, and tend to remain in pretty good
condition after light crashes. While they’re not common in the RC drone industry, you
can still find them in various RC planes.

CARBON FIBER
If you’re looking for something that’s super-high quality and that won’t break, then
consider using carbon fiber propellers when building a drone. Just note that you will be
paying top dollar for these propellers. What I love about carbon fiber propellers (I used
them in a build several years back and they were amazing) is that they are very hard to
break, and offer much more flex than a standard plastic propeller. If you’re a beginner
who’s never built a drone before, I would stick to plastic propellers until you get a few
builds under your belt.

ATTACHING PROPELLERS TO THE MOTORS

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Most, if not, all propellers come with specialized adapter rings that are used to mount the propellers to the drone’s motors. If
when mounting your propellers you discover that the “bore” (center) of the propeller is too large for the motor shaft, then
you’ll need the adapter ring/spacer to make it fit accordingly.

Don’t ever assume that the propellers you’re purchasing come with adapter rings. Sometimes they won’t, and if you’re
unfortunate enough to have a set of propellers that don’t properly fit your motors, then you’ll need to put your DIY project on
hold until they arrive in the mail. And who wants that? If you look at the visual schematic below, you’ll be able to see exactly
how propellers are attached to the drone’s motors:

PROP SAVERS
A “prop saver” is designed to replace a normal propeller adaptor on a motor. Prop savers
contain small parts that help keep the propeller in place. In the event that you crash your drone,
they will help save your propeller and motor from damage. They do have a few drawbacks
though:

The O-rings can become brittle and crack over time.

If you place the prop savers on wrong, then it can lead to vibration.

The propeller will sit higher on the shaft than normal.

PROP GUARDS
A “prop guard” is the thing that surrounds the propeller and prevents it from coming in contact with anything from the
outside environment. When learning how to build a drone, I would definitely keep prop guards in mind. If you’ve never flown
before, chances are good that you’re going to crash…a lot. And the best way I can think of to protect your props is to use a
prop guard. RC quadcopters like the UDI U818A or FQ777-124 Pocket Drone come with removable plastic prop guards.
Just keep in mind that they’re not perfect, and do come with their own set of drawbacks:

They add weight to your drone, which can decrease overall flight time.

They only work for “light” crashes.

They can contribute vibration of your RC aircraft.

THE ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROLLER (ESC)

The electronic speed control (ESC) is the thing that provides the flight controller (we’ll be covering this in the next section)
with the ability to control the direction and speed of the drone’s motor. In short, it’s a VERY important component to keep in
mind when learning how to build a drone. Not only should an ESC provide the right voltage, but it must also be able to
handle the maximum current that the motors are going to consume.

The majority of electronic speed controllers in the RC drone industry only allow the propellers to spin in a single direction.
However, with the right firmware, you can configure them to fly in two directions. Below is a quick video that should help you
become familiarized with the different components of an electronic speed controller.

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CONNECTORS
When learning how to build a drone, and upon taking a look an electronic speed controller, you might notice several
different wires existing on two side. Let’s take a look at what those are now:

3-Pin R/C Servo Connector: This is the thing that accepts the RC signal.

3 Bullet Connectors: These are the things that connect to the three pins that you’ll find on a brushless motor.

Power Input: The pair of thick wires (normally, one will be red and the other will be black) are there to obtain power from
the power distribution board.

BEC
Also known as a “Battery Elimination Circuit”, a BEC is designed to convert battery DC voltage to the required DC voltage
of the flight controller you’re using.

FIRMWARE
One of the main benefits of having an electronic speed controller that’s equipped with firmware is that it will be able to react
much more quickly to changes in input. What exactly does this mean? Essentially, it allows the flyer (you) to experience a
much more acrobatic flight with more responsive controls.

POWER DISTRIBUTION BOARD

As you’ll come to see in the assembly lesson later, the ESC is powered by the RC drone’s main battery. However, when
building a drone, the battery’s single connector must be able to be split among four different electronic speed controllers. In
order to achieve this, you’ll need something known as a “Power Distribution Board”. This component helps split the
battery’s negative and positive terminals into four. Pretty simple, wouldn’t you agree?

BATTERY
Nearly all RC drones are powered by Lithium Polymer (Li-Po) batteries. Other variations of these batteries do exist, but
they’re rare. In this guide, you’re going to learn how to build a drone using exclusively Li-Po batteries. Once reason why
these batteries are excellent power sources is because they’re A) Lightweight, and B) They give off a lot of power. Perhaps
their only downside is that they can cost higher than normal batteries, and if not handled properly, they can become a
safety issue. Check out the below video as it should help explain these types of batteries a little more in-depth:

A battery’s voltage is something you must take into consideration when constructing your RC drone. Basically, the battery’s
voltage should match with the motors you’ve chosen. Otherwise, you’re going to run into problems. When learning how to
build a drone, keeping tabs of a battery’s voltage is extremely important.

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BATTERY CAPACITY AND DISCHARGE RATE
The capacity of a battery pack is measured in amp-hours, or Ah. Smaller battery packs have capacities of approximately
0.1Ah (or 100mAh), while larger battery packs can have capacities of 2-3Ah (2,000mAh-3,000mAh). As a general rule of
thumb, the higher the capacity, the more flight time you’re going to experience (just keep in mind that the larger battery also
means a heavier RC drone). When you learn how to build a drone, you’ll almost always get a flight time of about 10
minutes, with five minutes being the average low and 20 minutes being about the max.

A battery’s discharge rate is measured in the unit “C”. The average discharge rate of most Li-Po batteries is about 5C (five
times the capacity). Next in this guide on how to build a drone, you’re going to learn about the “brains” behind the
operation – the flight controller.

HOW TO BUILD A DRONE – PART 4: THE FLIGHT CONTROLLER

By this point in your journey on learning how to build a drone, you’ve:

Learned basic terminology

Built your frame

Purchased all the appropriate batteries, motors, propellers, and electronic speed controllers.

But guess what? None of this can work without a flight controller. In simplest terms, the flight controller is the “brains” of
the operation. It’s the thing that contains all of the microprocessors, sensors, and output/input pins that make it possible to
maneuver your RC drone through the air.

SENSORS
Flight controllers can have many different sensors built into them. These sensors are designed to gather information about
the drone’s speed, direction, height, and much more. At an absolute minimum, a flight controller will have a three-axis
gyroscope (gyroscopes help keep drones stable mid-air). Let’s take a look at a few different types of sensors that may or
may not be present in the flight controller that you’ve chosen:

Accelerometer: Measures liner acceleration on up to three axes (X, Y, and Z). It plays a major role in allowing an RC
drone to remain stable in the air.

Gryoscope: Detects angular changes on up to three angular axes (alpha, beta, and gamma).

Inertia Measurement Unit (IMU): Small board that contains the gyroscope and accelerometer.

Compass: As you can probably guess, this reads/gives off information regarding the drone’s direction.

Barometer: This measures atmospheric pressure and tells the drone how high it is. Remember, as you go higher up
into the air, pressure increases. It’s in this way that a barometer is able to detect changes in height.

GPS: Helps determine the specific geographic coordinates of the drone.

As you can probably imagine, the more sensors you have, the more expensive the flight controller is going to be when
learning how to build a drone. A model like the DJI Phantom 3 will have more sensors that the Syma X12. To get an idea
about all of the components of an RC drone work together with the flight controller, check out the following video:

HOW TO BUILD A DRONE – PART 5: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Now that you’ve come to understand all of the underlying theory on how to build a drone, it’s time to put it all together. Take
a look at the following two videos and learn about how these parts work together, as well as how you can go about
constructing your RC drone:

PART 1

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