drone962
Autonomous 3-inch micro-drone powered by custom ESP32 flight controller logic.
The Concept
Commercial drones are "black boxes." Drone962 strips away the pre-made flight controllers. It is a project to build an autonomous flight system from scratch using raw C++ code on the Arduino IDE, handling everything from sensor fusion to motor mixing manually.
Engineering Goal
To prove that complex flight stability logic can be achieved on affordable, general-purpose hardware (ESP32) without relying on dedicated flight controller boards like Betaflight or Pixhawk.
Hardware Manifest
The components powering the system.
ESP32 WROOM
Dual-core microcontroller handling PID loops and Wi-Fi telemetry.
ESP32 Camera
Compact camera module for live visual feedback and recording.
MPU6050
6-Axis Gyroscope & Accelerometer for real-time stabilization.
MX1508 Driver
Mini Dual H-Bridge PWM Motor Drive. More efficient than L298N.
Coreless Motors
High-RPM brushed DC motors for the 3-inch lightweight frame.
3.7v LiPo Battery
High-discharge power source optimized for 3-inch frames.
Why It's Special
Drone962 isn't just about flying; it's about understanding the physics and code behind the flight.
Raw C++ Autonomy
No pre-made flight controllers. We wrote the PID logic and sensor fusion algorithms from scratch to ensure total software control.
Integrated Vision
Equipped with an onboard camera module to capture aerial footage and support future computer vision tasks.
Featherweight Design
Optimized 3-inch frame with light components to maximize thrust-to-weight ratio and battery efficiency.
The Airframe: SHLTHS v1
The chassis is a custom unibody design fabricated at the Makers Space. Unlike standard carbon fiber plates, this frame utilizes the geometric freedom of 3D printing to create a rigid, vibration-dampening protective shell.
- ▹ Material: Industrial ABS Printed at high temperatures for maximum impact resistance and heat tolerance.
- ▹ Geometry: 3-Inch Micro Class Calculated specifically for 3" propellers to ensure zero drag and optimal thrust lines.
- ▹ Rapid Prototyping Iterated directly at the Makers Space, allowing for same-day design adjustments.
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IMG_DETAIL_2 Drone Preview
Showcased at Makers Collective 2025.
Project Gallery
From prototyping to the Maker Collective exhibition.
The AirVerse Setup
The drone displayed alongside the software control interface at the Maker Collective event.