QuadCopter Project
Design & Build- Frame
I started off by designing the drone frame. The CAD modeling process was fairly straightforward, but choosing the right material for the build was more challenging. I needed something that was both lightweight and strong enough to handle crashes and high-speed maneuvers. After considering a few options, I chose carbon fiber for its excellent strength-to-weight ratio and vibration-dampening properties, which are ideal for drones. I have also attached the STL file in case anyone wants to take a look!
Performance & Testing
This was the fun part—finally taking the drone out and seeing all the work come to life. Watching it lift off for the first time was incredibly rewarding. That said, I quickly realized flying a drone isn’t as easy as it looks. The controls were much more sensitive and responsive than I expected. So to avoid crashing right away, I practiced using a flight sim called Drone Racing League Simulator. It helped me get used to flight dynamics, throttle control, and quick adjustments, which made a huge difference once I started flying the real thing.
Assembly & Electronics
While physically assembling the drone frame was straightforward thanks to the instructions, the real challenge came during the electronics integration—specifically, soldering. It was my first time working with small-gauge wires and delicate PCB pads, and I quickly realized how precise and steady-handed you have to be. Bad news for me since I was shaking all over the place.
I’ve never been a fan of soldering—mostly because the equipment I had was a nightmare—but I had to bite the bullet and get it done. Connecting the ESCs to the flight controller and soldering the tiny motor leads was especially tricky. I ended up redoing a few joints after testing revealed intermittent connections. But through trial, and error along with a few burnt fingertips, I got the hang of it.
I was shocked to find that a recent rise in tariffs had driven up the prices of all my components from AliExpress (A Chinese company). At the end of the day, I am a broke college student so that meant I had to cut out on a VTX or camera to the build. This led me down another rabbit hole which you can read here.
