instructables

DRONE WITH APM (EASIEST WAY)

by NEW G INNOVATION BECOMES REAL

In this tutorial i'll show you how to make a drone with propeller 1045 (4nos)
apm in an easy manner.
female to female jumper wires (6nos)
Drones can be used for transporting things quickly
and also for aerial photography zip ties(cable ties)

The total cost of my project is around 200 $.

THINGS REQUIRED FOR THIS PROJECT

Download the mission planner software
brushless dc motor 4 nos (i am using 1200kv) http://ardupilot.org/planner/docs/common-install-m...

f450 frame

30 A esc (4 nos)

transmitter and receiver 6 channel

apm flight controller 2.8 or 2.6

gps module

telemetry module ground and air

DRONE WITH APM (EASIEST WAY): Page 1

Step 1: SOLDERING THE ESC'S

First of all start by soldering the esc's and the battery connector to the bottom plate. Make sure that the positive
and negatives wires match positive, negative signs on the plate.The best way is to add some solder on the plate
and some solder on the wire and then solder them. Use silicon wire for the battery connector.

Step 2: CONNECTING THE MOTOR TO THE ARMS OF THE QUAD

Screw the motors in a way that the wires are on the arm.Use proper screws because if you dont, it may harm your
motors.

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Step 3: FINISHING THE FRAME

Screw all the arms to the bottom plate(use screw lock while doing this).Then screw the top plate to the
arms(again,use screw lock). Place the esc on the arms and use a zip tie to lock it in place.Then connect the wires
from the motors to the wires of the esc(it is better to use bullet connectors).

Step 4: MOUNTING THE APM

Mount the apm on the top plate with double sided tape and if u have a anti vibration plate mount the apm on
it.Mount the apm in a way that the arrow on the flight controller points towards the side which u want your drone to
face.

Step 5: CONNECTIONS TO THE RECEIVER

APM INPUT PIN 1 - RECEIVER PIN 1

'' PIN 2 - RECEIVER PIN 2

'' PIN 3 - RECEIVER PIN 3

'' PIN 4 - RECEIVER PIN 4

'' PIN 5 - RECEIVER PIN 5

THE APM INPUT PINS AND RECEIVER PINS ARE SIGNAL, +, - RESPECTIVELY FROM LEFT

DRONE WITH APM (EASIEST WAY): Page 3

Step 6: CONNECTIONS OF THE ESC

FOLLOW THE MOTOR LAYOUT GIVEN CONNECT THE ESC'S ACCORDINGLY. THE SIGNAL WIRES
SHOULD FACE UPWARDS (NORMALLY).

Step 7: CONNECTING THE COMPASS

THESE ARE THE IMAGES TO BE FOLLOWED FOR THE CONNECTION OF THE GPS MODULE OR
COMPASS. ONE OF THEM TO 12C AND OTHER TO GPS. The wires from the compass cannot be interchanged
as there is a difference in the number of pins. Fix the gps module under the bottom plate. The arrow on the gps
module should point towards the direction which your APM faces.

DRONE WITH APM (EASIEST WAY): Page 4

Step 8: CONNECTION OF THE TELEMETRY
TELEMETRY AIR MODULE SHOULD BE CONNECTED TO THE TELEMETRY PORT ON THE APM.
Step 9: PROGRAMING THE APM
Download the MISSION PLANNER SOFTWARE and
install it on your computer. Connect the APM to the
computer with a micro usb to usb cable. The easiest
way to program the quad is by the wizard. Program
the quad accordingly to their instructions. After the
programming make sure that the drone can be armed.
Next step is to check the direction of the motor
Step 10: FIRST FLIGHT
Now connect your propellers (LOOK UNDER YOUR
PROPELLERS YOU CAN SEE THAT IT WILL BE
MARKED CW AND CCW CW MEANS CLOCKWISE
AND CCW MEANS COUNTER CLOCKWISE
CONNECT YOUR PROPELLERS ACCORDINGLY)
and your telemetry module to the pc. Connect the
battery to your quad. Open the mission planner
software, select the port of your telemetry on the top
right hand corner of the screen and press connect.
The drone will be connected to the pc. Power on your
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD1O4qd_dNU
DRONE WITH APM (EASIEST WAY): Page 5
spinning. Mine is a x quad so my first motor should
spin counter clockwise, second motor also counter
clockwise, third motor clockwise and fourth motor
also clockwise. If your motor is spinning in the
opposite direction remove any 2 wire and interchange
them and connect it again.
transmitter and move the throttle to bottom right
corner and hold fore a few seconds, your drone will
be armed. now slowly increase the throttle you can
see that the motors start spinning . Increase the
throttle until the drone starts hovering. If your drone is
unstable do the compass calibration again. The
easiest and the best way to do compass calibration is
by following the methods i have done in the video .
Step 11: TIPS

MOUNT THE APM AND GPS MODULE AS STRAIGHT AS POSSIBLE. MANAGE THE WIRES WITH ZIP TIES
AND MAKE THE DRONE AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE DO THE SOLDERINGS PROPERLY AND THE JOINTS
SHOULD NOT BECOME A COLD SOLDER.

IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS YOU CAN CONTACT ME THROUGH EMAIL 7arrowsgaming1215@gmail.com

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