Power Distribution: In order to power the different parts of an RC quadcopter, batter power must be shared, or “split”, to all those different devices.This is a flat fiberglass part that has many different components soldered to it. PCB: Stands for “Printed Circuit Board”.Larger UAVs typically use “brushless” motors while smaller UAVs typically use “brushed” motors (you’ll learn about the differences between the two later on). Motor: The motor is the part of the drone that rotates the propellers.The reason why is because they’re lightweight (they won’t weigh the drone down) and are capable of releasing a lot of current. Li-Po: Stands for “Lithium Polymer”, which is pretty much the universal battery type used to power RC drones.ESC: Stands for “Electronic Speed Controller”, which is something that connects to the flight controller, motor, and battery, and helps mediate the speed by which the motors are rotating (you’ll learn a lot about these later on).Depending on the shell’s shape, it can help the drone become more aerodynamic. Made from a variety of materials, it’s designed for aesthetic purposes (style) as well as functional purposes (proving protection from the elements). Shell: A drone’s “shell” is its outermost cover.They are also there to protect the operator (you). Prop Guards: Prop guards help protect your drone’s propellers from coming into contact with the external environment.LED: To help orientate you to an RC drone’s location at night, it needs to have “Light Emitting Diodes”, or LEDs, on it.Unlike airplanes, which have wheels on their landing gear, RC drones utilizes plastic, metal, or rubber materials to help cushion landings. Landing Gear: For an RC drone to land without damaging fragile hardware, it must have landing gear.Frame: A drone’s frame is synonymous with a human being’s skeleton – it helps bring together important components, as well as provide protection.Dampener: Dampeners are small molded pieces of rubber used to minimize vibration throughout an RC drone.
CG: Stands for “Center of Gravity”, which is the point on the drone where weight is equally distributed on all sides (VERY important when learning how to build a drone).Size can also help determine a drone’s “class” (mini, micro, etc.). 350mm), “size” represents the greatest point-to-point distance between two motors on a drone. Size: Usually provided in millimeters (e.g.With that said, if you’re still here, I’m assuming you’re still up for the challenge, so let’s go learn how to build a quadcopter! When I built my first RC drone back in 2014, it took me a few tries to get it right, but when I finally got my drone in the air, it was an amazing feeling. If you’re looking to “get in the air” quickly, then perhaps it’s best to purchase an RTF (Ready-to-Fly) model and save this DIY project for a more convenient time. Let me remind you that building a drone is something that takes practice, especially if you’re a beginner. Point Of No Return – Do You Really Want to Build a Custom RC Drone? With that being said, sit back, pull out a pen and paper (for taking notes), and let’s get started. From understanding basic UAV/drone terminology, to assembling the different parts of an RC quadcopter, you’re going to learn all the steps, from A-Z, on how to build a drone. Why did I make this guide so long? Basically, a lot goes into building a drone, so I want to make sure I leave nothing out. Let me warn you: it’s pretty long (5,000+ words), so you may want to bookmark this page. So, you want to build a drone? Awesome! The following tutorial is going to guide you through every step of the process. How to Build a Drone – A Definitive Guide For Newbies