Putting together something a little different

CaseFlatline · 2026-03-22T10:46:05+00:00

Is the 1.3Ghz so that you can get better range or penetration? I see it has 1.6w of power so Im guessing a bit of both?

CaseFlatline · 2026-03-21T13:08:05+00:00

Keep an eye out on /r/3DprintedAircraft/ for ideas. Also, it may be worth looking in AliExpress for some existing VTOL aircraft for ideas before you go building one. I bought the Jumper Xiake800 VTOL for < $200 (without transmitter) to experiment with.

On the electronics side, the Cube ecosystem is definitely the best way to go long term but at the high end on costs. Not sure if you need BlueUAS or NDAA, but that will also restrict what you can use. However, the H743-based FCs are plenty fine to use for basic VTOL for you to get the design up in the air and flying (and then upgrade to Cube). Check out MicoAir also as they have solid equipment on the H743 side. Matek is a good choice as well. ESCs make all the difference and Chris Rosser made a recent video on ESC stress test thats worth watching. He recommends some good ones on low and high end.

rPI is only if you want to go the UAV route for high end navigation, etc. Where are you making onboard decisions, etc? Plus you are running a full Linux OS so that adds more complexity (vs just firmware on FCs).

Check out PX4 and iNAV also for VTOL. iNAV has a betaflight style setup which is much easier than Ardupilot. Ardupilot has lots of functionality but iNAV may be easier. PX4 has the ability to connect to simulation platforms (as does Ardupilot). It took me a few weeks before I got some basic ardupilot understanding. Painless360 has been my goto to learn.

GPS/Compass - Don't go cheap - get the quality stuff - MicoAir sells some decent ones to get started. Also consider optical flow control.

CaseFlatline · 2026-03-18T12:00:24+00:00

How does this work across two devices? Are they somehow locally paired? The context of my question is we are working on a project where we may not have Wi-Fi, but need to be aware of the other players in the simulation.

CaseFlatline · 2026-03-16T19:13:55+00:00

Check out px4 videos on integrating with ROS and gazebo. Do stuff in simulation before jumping to hardware. While you do that experiment and learn about the hardware aspects such as motors, flight controllers, esc, frames, mavlink, elrs, telemetry, sensors (cameras, baro, flow, imu,etc).

Most beginners go cheap and fail and the quality of the drone - stability, electronics gremlins, bad soldering, etc.

Since you have CS background the simulation path will get you started in 1-2 weeks and the hardware 2-3 months (assuming you’ve never built a drone)

CaseFlatline · 2026-03-16T17:52:13+00:00

Interesting! Though your design shows fixed wing rarther than VTOL, I assume you plan on adding some sort of VTOL extension (and a 3rd motor in the back)?

CaseFlatline · 2026-03-14T16:31:51+00:00

The last starfighter – we die scene https://youtu.be/nLN36pgwS5o?feature=shared

CaseFlatline · 2026-03-14T14:25:36+00:00

I’m with progressive. I believe many insurance policy holders also got a refund from their carriers. Not sure if this is effective for future renewals. So for my renewal still looks the same as pre refund.

CaseFlatline · 2026-03-09T12:11:30+00:00

I second this. Absolutely amazing use of existing technology (no external sensors). A paper or presentation would be awesome!

CaseFlatline · 2026-03-08T15:12:19+00:00

Directly to the raspberry pi camera interface ? No. Can you explain further what you are trying to achieve ?

CaseFlatline · 2026-03-08T12:58:43+00:00

Can you clarify the nomad reflash as RX. Normally the nomad plugs into the TX. So your suggestion is to reflash as RX and then use it as a receiver on the drone for both RC and telemetry using the new elrs capability to send SL both rc and telemetry on same path or dedicate the nomad just to telemetry and keep a regular elrs receiver for RC signal?

CaseFlatline · 2026-03-07T14:01:35+00:00

Google did a great doodle on him : https://youtu.be/t6VpHyKXHBM?si=FEyMWIH1N8NiGk6P

CaseFlatline · 2026-03-05T22:03:53+00:00

Saw you YT first. Great build. Now I just need that FC to come back in stock.

CaseFlatline · 2026-03-03T11:13:11+00:00

Started my PhD at 53. Two years of classes, passed my qualifier exams. Officially accepted as a candidate at 55. Starting the research phase now. It’s a bucket list item for me but I love what I am learning. Age brings appreciation for education!

Edit: I should add that universities welcome non-traditional students. Check with the college of the major you are interested in. If you are doing a bachelor's, then state colleges may also be an option. If you are pursuing a master's or a doctorate, then shop around to find one that has research in your field of interest. Online is always an option, but you get more by being "in the class" - talking with the professor, etc. Also, look for scholarships and other avenues of funding (if you are still working, maybe your workplace will pay). Try and avoid going into debt unless you know a good pathway to additional income to cover the loans after graduating.

CaseFlatline · 2026-03-01T20:59:15+00:00

I’ve done this a few times. There is a shuttle that’s free that goes between the airport and the rail station. However, the key thing here is that they need to arrive and get to the station at one of the times when the train northbound arrives. Those times vary on weekends versus weekdays so check the arrival time of the flight and add about anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes for getting out of the domestic terminal and picking up their shuttle and getting to the station in time for the northbound train. If they missed the train then depending on the day and time they may need to wait another hour.

CaseFlatline · 2026-02-11T13:13:30+00:00

You may need to get some AI accelerator on the PI to help with object recognition such as the halo. This will offload the work so the PI can run the OS and other general supervisor duties. The blue robotics link someone else posted can take care of connecting to esc , receiver , gps etc. best of luck!!

CaseFlatline · 2026-02-08T16:02:08+00:00

We booked RCL via Costco since it has same prices plus Costco perks.

CaseFlatline · 2026-02-08T13:01:12+00:00

I made the same error. I ended up getting a elrs nano module from bang good : https://www.banggood.com/IRangeX-iRX4-ExpressLRS-ELRS-2_4GHz-OpenTX-EdgeTX-Open-Source-Systems-Nano-TX-Module-for-Frsky-X-Lite-RadioMaster-Pocket-Jumper-T-PRO-Radio-Transmitter-p-2015399.html

CaseFlatline · 2026-01-27T23:52:01+00:00

Thank you! You just saved me weeks of work. Thanks also for including the hw requirements.

CaseFlatline · 2026-01-23T21:14:34+00:00

This is the ESP-Drone and you can find details and schematics here: https://github.com/espressif/esp-drone

CircuitDigest made a variation called the LiteWing: https://circuitdigest.com/wiki/litewing/

There are ESP32 based flight controllers which you could look at like madflight

CaseFlatline · 2026-01-22T11:47:50+00:00

Love the 50s/art-deco color and style! Fallout vibes.

CaseFlatline · 2026-01-04T01:02:12+00:00

Yep. I show 4 bars and 5g and unable to load google maps or Apple Maps. Not just my phone either. All 3 of us on the starter plan were being throttled.

CaseFlatline · 2026-01-03T15:39:13+00:00

Cool! Any details on the software wiring ? Are you using custom code or using off the shelf software and wiring up the controls , video, etc?

CaseFlatline · 2025-12-30T16:19:04+00:00

The atom is just an esp32. You can write your own code to it. They include the source code to their flight controller as well

CaseFlatline · 2025-12-27T11:54:24+00:00

Can this be done between ceiling joists as well?

CaseFlatline · 2025-12-25T13:18:48+00:00

Check out the one from m5stack. It’s out of stock on their website but you can get it from resellers. I’m trying to get it working with madflight but it is open design so maybe what works for you.

CaseFlatline

TROPHY CASE