Introduction: Build a WiFi Enabled Micro-quadrotor

By plus.google.com/1104243985917582

This instructable just record how simple that build a WiFi enabled micro-quadrotor youself !

Most of parts can be bought cheap and easily.

And use your Android phone as remote-controller.

Step 1: Things That Need Prepare

Parts you will need:

  1. flight controller board, "SP racing F3 EVO Brushed" here.
  2. 8520 brushed motor * 4
  3. 65mm blade propeller prop
  4. 1S 3.7V 300~600mAh li-po battery
  5. ESP-01 wifi module
  6. any frame for Micro-qaudrotor, you can DIY or buy from somewhere.

Tools/Things that you need:

  1. soldering iron
  2. solder
  3. tape
  4. foam tape
  5. hot glue
  6. any UART to USB bridge (to flash ESP-01 firmware)

Step 2: Flash ESP8266 Firmware and Setting WiFi Module!

Download esp-link firmware: https://github.com/jeelabs/esp-link

And flash it via UART to USB bridge.

After flash, reboot ESP-01,

and you will find a SSID called "ESP_XXXXXX".

(XXXXXX is least 3 byte of MAC address of ESP-01 module)

Connect it, and open http://192.168.4.1 in your browser.

Go to "Debug log" page, set to "off".

Go to "uC Console" page, set "Baud" to "115200".

And you can also change any other thing you want (ex: SSID, password...)

* wiring image modify from https://pixhawk.org/peripherals/8266

* ESP-01 pinout image from http://ruten-proteus.blogspot.tw/2014/12/esp8266-a...

Step 3: Wire and Place All the Things Up!

Step 4: Drone Setting

Note: Betaflight@3.4.0+, Cleanflight@2.4.0+ remove 'RX_MSP' for all F3 board, which is needed for control from app. You may need to flash older version or build a 'RX_MSP' enable version firmware.

1) connect FC using Clean/Betaflight configurator via USB cable (depend on what firmware FC used)

2) Go to the "Ports" tab.

- UART1 row -> engage the "MSP".

- Save and Reboot

3) Go to the "Configurations" tab.

- Mixer -> Quad X

- Receiver Mode -> "RX_MSP".

- Set Motor Stop

- Min Throttle = 1000, Max Throttle = 2000, Min Command = 1100

- Save and Reboot

4) Go to the "Modes" Tab

- Set "ARM" to AUX1 if you wish to arm via AUX1 button.

- Set Flights Modes (Optional). Acro/Rate mode is the default, so if you wish to use Angle and Horizon, you will need to set it now.

- I usually put the Angle mode on AUX2, Horizon on AUX3, Acro/Rate mode if both off.

5) the "CLI" Tab

- Motor Jitter/Start up spinning -> Type: "set motor_pwm_rate=16000" enter.

- Type: "save" enter.

- will auto Reboot.

6) the "Receiver" Tab

- you can check you control command here.

ps. Thanks rschoi_75's set-up guide, most of parts are the same, only RX part are different.

Step 5: Connect and Fly!

Note: Betaflight@3.4.0+, Cleanflight@2.4.0+ remove 'RX_MSP' for all F3 board, which is needed for control from app. You may need to flash older version or build a 'RX_MSP' enable version firmware.

download this app: link1: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-ud10kmI-kSZXhhdFROTndwYWs , link2: https://github.com/cs8425/msp-controller/releases

or you can build yourself: https://github.com/cs8425/msp-controller

connect to drone's wifi SSID,

open the app called "MSP-Controller",

click transmitter icon on left-top,

type in 'tcp://192.168.4.1:2323' and click 'connect',

and you see that status will be updated.

and then, arm and fly the quadrotor as your setting!!