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Custom fc drone project

Hardware
  • 12 Devlogs
  • 24 Total hours

I designed a custom PCB in kicad and firmware for a working 3.5 inch FPV drone

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3h 6m 2s logged

Custom FC V5 is here: I have made a LOT of changes like last time.
Changes:

  • Board size:
    It went from 39x36mm to 32x30mm. This was a lot more challenging compared to 39x36 since I had to pack everything so closely and there was so little space for larger traces. I made these changes because I decided to place the flight controler in a 2 inch drone instead of 3.5 inch.
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32m logged

The FC should be done maybe this time?? I said it was done but I realized that I made the capacitor sizes wrong. I did everything at the 0402 size, which is actually too small for some components like the 22uF capacitors. So now, my 22uf capacitors are at 0805 and my 1uf capacitors are 0605. I also changed my led’s to be smaller(0402) because it was going to get squished by the TPU mounts for the FC. Finally, I added 3d models to all of the components and I modified the board edge so that the USBC port would stick out, and so that the board would not be as big.

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50m 5s logged

I have made edits to my FC again because I realized how hard soldering everything would be. I would need a hot plate and heat gun to solder and that might not be enough. Before, all of the electronic components were on the bottom, and the MCU and GYRO(and their respective electronics) were on the top. If I actually wanted to do it this way, I would need to spend like 500$ for a reflow oven or something. Now, everything is on the top level and I made the Schotty diode further from the MCU bu pushing the USB-C cable further away. Oh yeah, I left the 8 pin JST connecter on the bottom so it can connect to the ESC.

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3h 49m 1s logged

I have finished the FC!. The shape is a bit weird, mainly the top right corner. That is because the 3d frame that I will be using cuts really close to there so im not taking any risks! Compared to my last design, this one has way less capacitors and resisters which make it cheaper and easier to solder. I have like 10 pads for different functions like boot, future GPS extensions and VTX and ESC connectivity. For the VTX and ESC, I added backup pads just in case the JST connecters dont work or pin order is different. I have also worked on the firmware/software for it.

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1h 46m logged

Instead of using a AIO FC and ESC, Im using a 20x20 stack. This is because I realized that if I designed it myself, the components would be way to close together and cause problems. Next up is designing the PCB

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1h 1m logged

I have created phase A,B, and C for MOTOR_1. these are the 3 mosfets and FD6288Q IC. I need to repeat this 4 times in total. Im currently looking for a better alternative for the MCU because I would need to have 4 of them so I need a 48 pin MCU that is compatible and its really hard to find

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1h 14m 7s logged

I was going through my schematic and I realized that I made some major mistakes that could cause the FC to not work. I let AI scan it and a bunch of my resistor and capacitor calculations were wrong, and my pin wiring was messed up so I had to redo the entire thing again. Im planning on also making it an AIO instead so I get the ESC and FC on the same board.

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3h 17m 1s logged

Made a LOT of progress today. I have finished the schematic(updated for 3s batteries) and finished organizing the PCB layout. im trying to make it as small as possible and as good looking, but currently isnt looking too good because the gyro cannot be too close to high voltage components so I need to isolate them and it just doesnt look too good(3d viewer)

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2h 9m logged

I just finished configuring everything in the schematics editor in kicad. Right now, im designing a custom FC for my drone because im not allowed to use a prebuilt one. Next up is designing it in the PCB editor

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2h 37m 2s logged

devlog2: I did a whole redesign of my original drone. I have also figured out the purpose of the drone now and what it will do.

  • The goal of this drone is to carry up to 1 kg of stuff under it and be able to drop it off at a designated point, flying autonomously without human input. The only input it needs is before takeoff, telling it where to go and what to do using ArduPilot firmware and Inav.

  • Currently, the dorone doesnt exactly look too good, because I haven’t refined the details yet it’s just the general shape that it’s going to be. The big square/rectangle thing you see at the top is a 6s Lipo Battery, and it looks really bad just siting there on the image but in real life it should look pretty good

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1h 9m 52s logged

devlog1: Im creating an autonomous drone (which the purpose I have not figured out). So far, I have finished working on the 3d modelling of the drone and choosing parts for it. Im going to submit for funding soon so I can actually start building it.

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