Building my own Drone with arduino/raspberry pi 3G/4G

Kekko991

Hello, i want to build my own drone. I have altready an arduino UNO, but i saw it's too complicated with arduino and you can't use a 3G/4G module.
So i decided to switch to a raspberry pi (i haven't bought it yet) , but how i can make the frame of my quadcopter? What Kind of motors i have to buy and how i will connect them to my rasperry pi?

P.S. i saw for 9€ on AliexPress the Orange PI (a raspberry PI clone, it can run Rasperbby pi OS)
it can be compatible?

it seem good

Orange PI https://it.aliexpress.com/item/Orange-Pi-One-ubuntu-linux-and-android-mini-PC-Beyond-and-Compatible-with-Raspberry-Pi-2/32603308880.html?scm=1007.13338.71800.000000000000000&pvid=89055310-af2c-4530-a8f4-b2ffe8a960d1&tpp=1

Sinamics

Welcome Kekko991

Im from the cold living Norway.. ⛄
If you refer to post Kekko991 then we need some more information on your goal. There are many skilled persons with broad experience building multicopters or planes in this forum.

Sinamics

Kekko991
If you can describe your goal and what you want in the end, then we are able to provide you some pointers what neccessary parts to use..

Are you going to use RPI as Companion Computer , or as the FlightController itself?
building a flightcontroller using RPI demands good programming skills and i belive there are many pitfalls on the road. But I never tried myself.

Kekko991

Sinamics if It Will not too expensive i Will use pikhaxw ad Flight controller and RPI as Central unit for my drone

Sinamics

Kekko991 if It Will not too expensive i Will use pikhaxw ad Flight controller and RPI as Central unit for my drone

Yep, sounds good..
Couple of threads that might be insteresting
https://discuss.uavmatrix.com/d/5110-UAVcast-Casting-software-for-Raspberry-PI-Supports-3G-4G-WiFi
https://discuss.uavmatrix.com/d/2210-Pixhawk-21-with-UAVcast-Rpi/14

Kekko991

for chassis you saw something interesting?

i saw on AliexPress this chassis for only 10€

image htb1kbb2pfxxxxacaxxxq6xxfxxx2.jpeg

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/250mm-Mini-Multicopter-Quadcopter-Racing-Drone-Glassy-Carbon-Frame-Kit-FPV-QAV/32793178778.html?spm=2114.13010308.0.0.zno4XP

Sinamics

Kekko991

ZMR250 is probably a great drone racing frame, so if you want to a neat and fast drone then this is probably what you want.. 🚁

However, im not that good at such frames. Hopefully some other guys will confirm if this is the correct choice.

Kekko991

Sinamics

ZMR250 frame seem the same frame i Linked in my post

Kekko991

So, any suggestion?

For propeller i chose a fiber propeller

image 1817266168866107992.jpeg

As You Can see in the Image this is my choise

Sinamics

Kekko991 So, any suggestion?

Could you please elaborate? Would be nice if you could describe your project in little more details.
Propellers and motors is depending on the total AUW, and you could use eCalc to find the optimal system.

Are you planning to fly using LTE network? or 433Mhz?
Camera? gimbal?

Kekko991

@Sinamics

Sinamics

Please keep your post to this thread, that way we will keep the forum clean. 🙂

Kekko991

yes, i will use full 4G/LTE network with "Wind" As carrier (i wil check frequencies later)

and i chose this materials for my own drone:

Carbon Fiber Chassis ZMR250 (https://goo.gl/x1h8WL)
Carbon Fiber Propeller (https://goo.gl/tpoib😎
SIM808 as LTE/4G transmitter/receiver (https://goo.gl/2i86Ma)
Raspberry pi 3/Orange PI
Pixhawk 2.4.8 , but i'm not sure for the hight cost (https://goo.gl/RmbLdo)

I saw for 60€ a complete kit with flight controller but i don't know what are some components

Drone Complete Kit (without Arduino): https://goo.gl/6VApXR

EDIT - i forgot to mention 4€ for picamera

Sinamics

Kekko991

Im concerned using ZMR250 with RPI due to the space needed. The 250 frame is quite small. I never build such small drone using Companion computer, but there might be other people in here to answer that.

Kekko991 SIM808 as LTE/4G transmitter/receiver (https://goo.gl/2i86Ma)

I would rather use a USB LTE dongle instead of SIM900 or SIM808. E.g E8278s-602 as mentioned here RemoteOperations This is plug an play and would save you allot of time.

Kekko991 Pixhawk 2.4.8 , but i'm not sure for the hight cost (https://goo.gl/RmbLdo)

I know there is some clone Pixhawk using diffrent connectors than 3DR. @mocart is`t that correct?

mocart

Sinamics
yep, correct . In my case I have connectors that you can find as Picoblade 6pin type. They look similar to df13 available in regular pixhawk from 3DR company but they are little different

Kekko991

at home i have as 3g key an Huawei E169 but it support until HDSPA+ module, and it's not very quick.

Kekko991

mocart Can You help me with controller? There are a cheap alternative Total pixhawk? I saw for 49€ (pixhawk 2.4.8)

mocart

Kekko991
hey Kekko,

I decided to buy Radiolink Pixhawk because I know this company from other RC tools / RCs, TXs / and they are doing overall good quality products. Its little more than half price of regular 3DR flying controller but it`s also developed as 2.4.6 version (same as 3DR). Radiolink can be little improved then regular, it suport 2MB ( what is unavailable for 3DR products as I know).

I was reading about 2.4.8 version and I know this version was never developed by 3DR and maybe something else can be different than regular Pixhawk. I assume there are 2 different version of 2.4.8 controllers: one with 1MB of Flash memory support and second one with 2MB support. In my opinion you should to buy version with 2MB support.

There was a disussion on my local PL language forum http://rc-fpv.pl around this topic and peoples were sharing links to shops that are selling this 2MB version. Link you can find below:
Pixhawk 2.4.8 from BG

Here you are also link to shop were I order my Radiolink version: Radiolink 2.4.6 Pixhawk

Kekko991

mocart yes thanks for helping but this pickhawk are too expensive than the pixhawk i saw for 50€ ,and i said Its expensive.. so its possible use only raspberry pi as Flight controller?Because pixhawk Its top expensive

Sinamics

Kekko991 . so its possible use only raspberry pi as Flight controller?

Everything is possible. If you feel like you have the time and skills to create such sofware then go for it.
I would rather recommend to use Navio2 as you can mount on top of RPI https://emlid.com/shop/navio2/
and then use theirs software.

Kekko991

Sinamics Yes but Every post You proposte more expensive Flight controller .. i asked for a cheap Flight controller and navio 2 cost more thanks pixhawk.

It cost 168$ about 154€

Sinamics

Kekko991 Yes but Every post You proposte more expensive Flight controller .. i asked for a cheap Flight controller and navio 2 cost more thanks pixhawk.

Either way you will need a IMU to control your vehicle motions ect, and the most easy way is to use either a clone Pixhawk or the Navio. Yes its possible to use RPI, but that will require allot of you. You may find some projects out in the web were people has used RPI.

If you cant afford a clone pixhawk, then my suggestions is to wait until you can. It will save you time and money in the end.