Hi, i wanna build my first drone in the near future, and been looking through some build guides. I don't intent to fly with googles though, i wanna control it mostly via a laptop. It doesn't have to do crazy turns or high speeds, just fly reliable. I just dn't know what to search up for, as fpv kinda implifies using googles/racing/cinematic shots, and i don't want to use a prebuilt drone. In my unexperienced head there should be a way to plug the receiver in a laptop + an antenna, and control the drone over some programm that supports its protocol? Does anyone has experience with this, if there is a name for this usecase or knows a guide? Thanks!
For example, one setup i like would be: https://rotorbuilds.com/build/16210
Is it possible to just add a gyro to this, to assist on flying without controller?
Or do only certain FCs support that? Sorry i'm a complete beginner >.<
#Selfbuilt drone, but not for fpv
near ibex
Selfbuilt drone, but not for fpv
supple pond
That's a pretty old setup.
What do you intend to do with it?
near ibex
I want to use it as a flying data collection robot basically, for education
Infrared cam, some proximity and humidity sensors maybe
supple pond
do you realise that the stuff we fly here is NOT autonomous in any way shape or form?
near ibex
Yes
supple pond
well, that's a contradiction...
near ibex
I'm more asking if you could point into a direciton of where i should ask for help with that
supple pond
it honestly sounds like you want a DJI but don't want a DJI
supple pond
That's a difficult proposition.
near ibex
Thats why the idea was a fpv with gyro and diffrent control hardware
Doesn't seem you think it makes much sense
any alternative you know?
supple pond
FPV drones normally aren't capable of maintaining a set position
without fast pilot input
You need to add a positioning system of some kind
near ibex
even with gps and gyro?
supple pond
gyro is irrelevant to positioning
that lets you control attitude
GPS is okay for an accuracy in the meters range
with INAV or Ardupilot you can make that stay in place
but then you need altitude
for which you need a baro, laser or sonar
near ibex
ohh thats what you mean, it really just has to be able to stay straight, not in one place
i'd still pilot it
supple pond
in that case why pilot it from a PC?
just use a conventional radio, much less hassle
near ibex
Dislike of goggles, and i'd like to monitor the inpt data it collects
supple pond
I didn't say anything about goggles
near ibex
You mean controller vs keyboard?
supple pond
you're not getting anywhere with a keyboard lol
near ibex
okay glad to have asked here before trying it xD
supple pond
controlling a drone without the stuff which allows it to control its own position
is a fiddly business
experienced pilots can keep it in one spot, but that's not easy
you're constantly doing microadjustments
near ibex
with INAV or Ardupilot you can make that stay in place
looking roughly over those, sounds promising ill definitely look into those
supple pond
INAV and Ardupilot are firmwares for flight controllers
Betaflight, which most FPV stuff runs, doesn't support any "self-control" modes currently
INAV runs on lots of the same FC's as BF
for general location outside, you need GPS
for precise movement, you need optical flow
it's like a mouse sensor
just for large area
DJI stuff uses a bunch of sensors like these to keep in place
supple pond
optical flow sensors typically look downwards below the drone and really work like a PC mouse sensor @near ibex
it lets the drone detect tiny changes in position
INAV supports one kind iirc
near ibex
current plan would be getting a inav supporting fc with fitting fpv setup around it, one of those optical flow sensors, and getting it to keep its position while flying "normal" fpv as first step then, from what i understand
supple pond
I would recommend starting from something fairly standard and making it fly itself progressively
At some point you'd be able to control it from a PC, even with waypoint commands...
supple pond
I would recommend looking up ExpressLRS radio system, as it has some very good docs, and uses some common (in the hobby) protocols - namely CRSF.
ExpressLRS also has a system (firmware variant) called "AirPort", which gives you a transparent serial link between a transmitter and receiver instead of CRSF command packets.