4 ms·

I'd say, for a hardware hacker, one they build themselves. I'm building one right now, have ordered all the parts for relatively cheap and it will be a lot more

I'd say, for a hardware hacker, one they build themselves. I'm building one right now, have ordered all the parts for relatively cheap and it will be a lot more powerful than a Parrot Drone and gives me more freedom with what I want it to do.

JoblessWonder 13y ago
Would you mind giving a quick run-down of everything you ordered? I've been trying to price out a DIY quadcopter on HobbyKing.com but I'm always worried I'm going to miss a piece that ends up costing a ton of money. If you could include prices that would be amazing, but I can always look it up if you can just post the parts!
- seiji 13y ago
  I bought three small ones from http://www.helipal.com http://www.helipal.com recently. They come pre-tested so when you crash them, you know you're the one who threw them all out of alignment. A proper quadcopter is different than those styrofoam quadrotor things you see. A copter will take longer to learn how to not crash, but you have more precise control.
- mbrameld 13y ago
  I just built a tri-copter. Here's what I used: Frame: http://shop.flitetest.com/multirotors/bat-bone-tri-370-kit/ http://shop.flitetest.com/multirotors/bat-bone-tri-370-kit/ but you can easily build a frame yourself from either wood or aluminum towel holder bars from home depot. Flight controller: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=24723&aff=247441 http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idp... I have this one, the 2.0, but there's a 2.1 out now too. Motors: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=14398&aff=247441 http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idp... ESCs: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__25363__Turnigy_Multistar_15_Amp_Multi_rotor_Brushless_ESC_2_3S.html http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__25363__Turnigy_Mu... Tail servo (don't needs this for a quad): http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=11626&aff=247441 http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idp... Batteries: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__9394__Turnigy_2200mAh_3S_30C_Lipo_Pack.html http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__9394__Turnigy_220... Radio: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=8992 http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idp... That's all the major parts. You'll need a few odds and ends like propellers, servo extensions, connectors for the battery and ESCs, etc. Hobbyking sells a power distribution board you can use if you don't want to make your own wiring harness.

JoblessWonder 13y ago

Would you mind giving a quick run-down of everything you ordered? I've been trying to price out a DIY quadcopter on HobbyKing.com but I'm always worried I'm going to miss a piece that ends up costing a ton of money. If you could include prices that would be amazing, but I can always look it up if you can just post the parts!

seiji 13y ago
I bought three small ones from http://www.helipal.com http://www.helipal.com recently. They come pre-tested so when you crash them, you know you're the one who threw them all out of alignment. A proper quadcopter is different than those styrofoam quadrotor things you see. A copter will take longer to learn how to not crash, but you have more precise control.
mbrameld 13y ago
I just built a tri-copter. Here's what I used: Frame: http://shop.flitetest.com/multirotors/bat-bone-tri-370-kit/ http://shop.flitetest.com/multirotors/bat-bone-tri-370-kit/ but you can easily build a frame yourself from either wood or aluminum towel holder bars from home depot. Flight controller: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=24723&aff=247441 http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idp... I have this one, the 2.0, but there's a 2.1 out now too. Motors: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=14398&aff=247441 http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idp... ESCs: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__25363__Turnigy_Multistar_15_Amp_Multi_rotor_Brushless_ESC_2_3S.html http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__25363__Turnigy_Mu... Tail servo (don't needs this for a quad): http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=11626&aff=247441 http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idp... Batteries: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__9394__Turnigy_2200mAh_3S_30C_Lipo_Pack.html http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__9394__Turnigy_220... Radio: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=8992 http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idp... That's all the major parts. You'll need a few odds and ends like propellers, servo extensions, connectors for the battery and ESCs, etc. Hobbyking sells a power distribution board you can use if you don't want to make your own wiring harness.