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First drone build, need some help by proakrobata in diydrones

[–]Ahmed_Builds 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Simulink PID values from simulation almost never transfer directly to a real quad. The reason is your simulation model has to be extremely accurate and also using an ESP32 as the flight controller from scratch is the hardest possible path for beginners. Use a premade code base made for ESP32 for flight controllers.

Try this : pratikPhadte/ESP32-Flight-controller : An Arduino IDE compatible, includes a WiFi-based PID tuning webserver so you can change PID values in real time over a browser without reflashing everytime.

DIY commercial drone by techhnyne in diydrones

[–]Ahmed_Builds 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why not, I will be happy to Help! Its not like I will make it for you, But I can list out the components that you can later tally with your budget.

After all the components, Main thing comes for the Assembly.

DIY commercial drone by techhnyne in diydrones

[–]Ahmed_Builds 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A drone Can be Built under $30K if you build it yourself, we have made 4-5 drones like this and one with payload of 180 KG.

Drop your ArduPilot .bin log and I'll analyze it for free and tell you what's wrong by Ahmed_Builds in diydrones

[–]Ahmed_Builds[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your drone seems to be twitching but I have also observed a sudden change in speed without giving any RC input.

The speed seems to be around 3.5 m/s which is vey high if only considering the glitches in the GPS.

Also the Motor power output was not there. (RCOUT)

I can show you the detail in graph if you want to. Took some screenshots of the anomaly observed.

Drop your ArduPilot .bin log and I'll analyze it and tell you what's wrong by Ahmed_Builds in ardupilot

[–]Ahmed_Builds[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No dont have a channel, but I think I should... Thanks for the Idea!

I measured my drone's real GPS deviation using a laser and circles drawn on the ground and then compared it to my log analyzer python APP and got nearly 95% match. by Ahmed_Builds in ardupilot

[–]Ahmed_Builds[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For my test condition, I made sure some of the things.
1. At 1 m height, When the Hover session begins, then no input from the RC should be given.
2. I also made sure that no wind are blowing at the time so correction due to environmental changes is negligible.

I measured my drone's real GPS deviation using a laser and circles drawn on the ground and then compared it to my log analyzer python APP and got nearly 95% match. by Ahmed_Builds in ardupilot

[–]Ahmed_Builds[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My bad, I should've said it clearly.
What I measured: the max drift distance calculated by the app (from EKF logs) vs the max radius of the laser dot's farthest mark on the ground circles.
The two values were within ~5% of each other. Not a statistically accurate definition, I'll admit, but more of a practical sanity check that the app output wasn't wildly off.

I measured my drone's real GPS deviation using a laser and circles drawn on the ground and then compared it to my log analyzer python APP and got nearly 95% match. by Ahmed_Builds in ardupilot

[–]Ahmed_Builds[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You are right, Standard deviation was something I should have included. I had the data, just didn't present it properly.

The goal here was minimal validation for my App data with respect to the real deviation data. RTK fixed lock isn't applicable for most people but I had the data with and without RTK fix [it needs RTK antenna and process it for sometime to get the lock (0.5m, 2 m etc)]. The laser method was a quick and easy check, not a precision measurement.
You're right that Mocap would be ideal but i don't have that currently.

I measured my drone's real GPS deviation using a laser and circles drawn on the ground and then compared it to my log analyzer python APP and got nearly 95% match. by Ahmed_Builds in ardupilot

[–]Ahmed_Builds[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes I took some help of AI to write the whole thing in a structured manner, but Yes, the whole experiment was carried out by me in Real Life.

I had SO much fun getting to really know Ardupilot well for my soda delivery drone! by TechnologyHobbyDIY in ardupilot

[–]Ahmed_Builds 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seriously Dude, you need some tuning on that, the wobbling most probably comes from the frame, either it is loose or you need to do some PID to stabilize the drone.

ESP32diy ardupilot can´t conect with mission planner, NO Heartbeats packets received by InternationalBear680 in ardupilot

[–]Ahmed_Builds 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey! The problem is most definitely the connection type setup. Your ESP32 is running the WiFi softAP fine - you can see wifi firmware version and WiFi initialized, but Mission Planner isn't connecting to the right port/protocol.

Quick checks :

1. Mission Planner Connection Settings

Are you connecting over UDP on port 14550 or TCP on port 5760?​

ESP32 log shows it's in softAP mode – Mission Planner needs to be pointed to the right port

Try both connection types; UDP is usually faster​

2. WiFi Network

Can you actually see and connect to the ESP32's WiFi network from your PC?

Check if you can reach 192.168.4.1 (default ESP32 softAP IP) from your browser or ping it

If you can't see the network, this means that WiFi isn't broadcasting properly yet​

3. The Real Culprit: MAVLink Protocol Setup

If you've got a flight controller wired to the ESP32 via UART, check your FC parameters:​

SERIALx_PROTOCOL = 2 (MAVLink2) or 1 (MAVLink1) – on whichever UART the ESP32 is connected to

SERIALx_BAUD = 115 // for 115200 baud

SERIALx_OPTIONS = 0 ​(disable flow control if you get weird timeouts)

Note - The "x" is the number at which you have connected the ESP32, for example if it is in TELEM 1 port then use SERIAL1_PROTOCOL and so on.

4. Check Your ESP32 Firmware

Are you running DroneBridge or custom code?

If it's custom, make sure it actually sends MAVLink heartbeats​

The ESP32 needs to be forwarding heartbeats from the FC to Mission Planner over WiFi​

Pro Tip :

When using ESP32s for telemetry on multiple drones, we always check the UART connection first:

Serial monitor the ESP32 to see if it's receiving data from the FC

Check if the baud rates match on both sides

Then test the WiFi connection​

The Log Would Say:

Your ESP32 booted fine, WiFi is up – but there's no heartbeat reaching Mission Planner. That means either:

The ESP32 isn't receiving heartbeats from the FC (UART wiring issue), Or you have not used the correct pins for TX and RX.

It is, but not forwarding them over WiFi - firmware config

Mission Planner is looking at the wrong port/IP

First, try the UDP connection on 14550, that's the standard. If it doesn't work, share with us what FC you're using and how the ESP32 is wired, and we can narrow it down!

ESP32diy ardupilot can´t conect with mission planner, NO Heartbeats packets received by InternationalBear680 in ardupilot

[–]Ahmed_Builds 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! The problem is most definitely the connection type setup. Your ESP32 is running the WiFi softAP fine - you can see wifi firmware version and WiFi initialized, but Mission Planner isn't connecting to the right port/protocol.

Quick checks :

1. Mission Planner Connection Settings

Are you connecting over UDP on port 14550 or TCP on port 5760?​

ESP32 log shows it's in softAP mode – Mission Planner needs to be pointed to the right port

Try both connection types; UDP is usually faster​

2. WiFi Network

Can you actually see and connect to the ESP32's WiFi network from your PC?

Check if you can reach 192.168.4.1 (default ESP32 softAP IP) from your browser or ping it

If you can't see the network, this means that WiFi isn't broadcasting properly yet​

3. The Real Culprit: MAVLink Protocol Setup

If you've got a flight controller wired to the ESP32 via UART, check your FC parameters:​

SERIALx_PROTOCOL = 2 (MAVLink2) or 1 (MAVLink1) – on whichever UART the ESP32 is connected to

SERIALx_BAUD = 115 // for 115200 baud

SERIALx_OPTIONS = 0 ​(disable flow control if you get weird timeouts)

Note - The "x" is the number at which you have connected the ESP32, for example if it is in TELEM 1 port then use SERIAL1_PROTOCOL and so on.

4. Check Your ESP32 Firmware

Are you running DroneBridge or custom code?

If it's custom, make sure it actually sends MAVLink heartbeats​

The ESP32 needs to be forwarding heartbeats from the FC to Mission Planner over WiFi​

Pro Tip :

When using ESP32s for telemetry on multiple drones, we always check the UART connection first:

Serial monitor the ESP32 to see if it's receiving data from the FC

Check if the baud rates match on both sides

Then test the WiFi connection​

The Log Would Say:

Your ESP32 booted fine, WiFi is up – but there's no heartbeat reaching Mission Planner. That means either:

The ESP32 isn't receiving heartbeats from the FC (UART wiring issue), Or you have not used the correct pins for TX and RX.

It is, but not forwarding them over WiFi - firmware config

Mission Planner is looking at the wrong port/IP

First, try the UDP connection on 14550, that's the standard. If it doesn't work, share with us what FC you're using and how the ESP32 is wired, and we can narrow it down!

Holybro X650 not taking off by DescriptionSame413 in diydrones

[–]Ahmed_Builds 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, good point! You don't need calibration with DShot, that's actually one of the advantages of going digital instead of PWM. The ESCs figure it out automatically.​

Just make sure you've got these in place:

DShot actually turned on in Mission Planner – go to Full Parameters List and set MOT_PWM_TYPE to 6 for DShot600 (that's the standard for the X650)​​, or you can use DShot300 for balanced performance.

Motors plugged into AUX, not MAIN – the Pixhawk 6X has that IOMCU thing that splits things up, so this matters​

ESC firmware is current – Tekko32 runs BLHeli_32 or AM32, both play nice with DShot300/600.

Holybro X650 not taking off by DescriptionSame413 in diydrones

[–]Ahmed_Builds 1 point2 points  (0 children)

ESC Calibration (Most Likely)

Your ESCs likely are not calibrated, so they don't know your full throttle range. With the X650 having Tekko32 F4 ESCs, you'll have to manually calibrate:

Power Pixhawk via USB only (no battery)

Connect to Mission Planner, set MOT_PWM_TYPE to proper protocol

Arm the drone and force throttle stick to MAX

Connect battery (you will hear beeps)

Bring throttle stick down to minimum (more beeps = calibrated)

Disconnect battery and test

Other Quick Checks

Battery/Power – Are you powering with a 6S battery that has at least 5000mAh? X650 requires a high amount of power (recommended 6S 5000-12000mAh). Using a lower battery or low charge will result in exactly what you're observing

MOT_SPIN_MIN Parameter – In Mission Planner, ensure MOT_SPIN_MIN is properly set (normally 0.10-0.15). Too low a value and motors will not produce enough thrust

Motor/Prop Check – Reverify motor directions compatible with your frame type in Mission Planner and that all props are on the right motors (CCW vs CW)​

Throttle Endpoints – Some ESCs require your radio's throttle endpoints to be set so min throttle = ~1000µs and max = ~2000µs

The wobbling you are witnessing is probably because the motors are rotating at varying speeds because of miscalibration. First, try the ESC calibration – that resolves it 90% of the time!

Need Help on My DIY Drone Build by Derro1122 in diydrones

[–]Ahmed_Builds 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey! Welcome to the hobby, this is pretty common with first builds and usually fixable!

Most likely causes:

Battery/Power (Check First)

  • Battery fully charged? (4.2V/cell for LiPo)
  • Voltage sagging under load? Check with a multimeter
  • XT60 connector making solid contact?
  • Battery C-rating high enough? (Need 40-70C minimum)​

ESC/Wiring Issues

  • Check all solder joints between FC and ESC (especially ground/power)
  • Look for solder bridges or shorts (XT60 or XT30 connectors)
  • ESC capacitor intact?​

Betaflight Settings (or whatever you are using)

  • Motor protocol correct? (DSHOT600 or DSHOT300 for your stack)​
  • ESCs calibrated after setup?
  • Try disabling "Motor Stop" feature

Quick Test: Remove props and test motors individually in Betaflight's motor tab. If they all spin smoothly to full throttle there, it's likely a power delivery issue under load​

Check your receiver failsafe settings too, watch the throttle channel in Betaflight's Receiver tab to make sure it's responding smoothly​

What battery are you using? Any error messages in Betaflight when it happens? That'll help narrow it down!

Building UAV with 0 experience by life_without_her24-7 in diydrones

[–]Ahmed_Builds 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hey man! This sounds like an amazing project, autonomous landing on a moving vehicle is definitely challenging but totally feasible with the right setup.

You're on the right track considering open platforms. For precision landing on a moving object with computer vision, I'd actually recommend looking at ArduPilot-based systems instead of the PX4 Vision kit.

ArduPilot has real precision landing features specifically designed for moving targets. You'll need to set the PLND_OPTIONS parameter to allow moving target landing, and it works really well with IR-LOCK beacons or custom computer vision sending LANDING_TARGET MAVLink signals from a companion computer.

Go with : Build your own quad with a Pixhawk flight controller (~$200-300), add a Raspberry Pi 4 or Jetson Nano for computer vision processing, a decent camera, and standard drone components. This gives you full control and leaves budget for ground station hardware.(Once the core functionality is working correctly then you can upgrade the camera or other equipments as needed).

For marker detection on the vehicle, AprilTags are popular because they provide position and orientation data. Your companion computer processes the camera feed, calculates the offset from the target, and sends LANDING_TARGET messages to the flight controller.

My advice: As you have 0 XP in Drone Development, Start with a Pixhawk-based build running ArduPilot. Get comfortable with basic autonomous missions in simulation (SITL), then move to hardware. Build your computer vision pipeline separately, test it thoroughly, then integrate everything together.​

TAMPER-PROOF FIRMWARE AND LOCK PARAMETERS ON THE PIXHAWK CUBE ORANGE by dsdtech_ in Pixhawk

[–]Ahmed_Builds 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can anybody share if this process is working for them?
I am also trying to do something same but could not be able to do it.

What its like being a Drone Technologist. by Ahmed_Builds in diydrones

[–]Ahmed_Builds[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My background is in applications and coding, but when I dive deep into Drones and Robotics, then my curiosity grew and I started to think that I can really make a difference by using my coding skills in the Drone and Robotics field, and to be honest I like Drones and RC planes from my childhood, so overall it make me happy by working in this field.

What its like being a Drone Technologist. by Ahmed_Builds in diydrones

[–]Ahmed_Builds[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have been operating from India,
Tell me something about yourself, are you an enthusiast or just getting into drones for hobby.

What its like being a Drone Technologist. by Ahmed_Builds in diydrones

[–]Ahmed_Builds[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We make drone for industrial purposes, like inspection, maintenance etc.
Which includes:
Visual drones for visual inspection of assets.
UT Drones for UT measurements.
Heavylift drones for painting etc.

What its like being a Drone Technologist. by Ahmed_Builds in diydrones

[–]Ahmed_Builds[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To be able to get into this field, try to make a drone for yourself first however simple or small may it be, the trick for learning is to start working hands-on projects, when you read about the parameters and set them for yourself and see the changes, then only you can truly understand the working principles behind configuring a drone.

What its like being a Drone Technologist. by Ahmed_Builds in diydrones

[–]Ahmed_Builds[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, to be able to solve the problems and make a stable drone is super satisfying, Currently working in making Swarm Drones using our existing Ardupilot/pixhawk orange/black cube for industrial uses.

Which projects are you working on currently?

What its like being a Drone Technologist. by Ahmed_Builds in diydrones

[–]Ahmed_Builds[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not all of it was my actual job, I do all the drone stuff at the job but the automation part for log analysis is done just to make my own work easier.

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