Quadcopter With Nodemcu and Blynk(Without Flight Controller)

Hello guys.!

The search to make drone without a flight controller ends here.

I was kinda making drone for my project which involves survillence.I was surfing net overnight to make it work without the flight controller and it’s was very disappointing that i didn’t one.So i decided to make this instructable so it’s easy for those who will be making drone without flight controller.

Blynk is an open-source IOT platform where one can control the things remotely.(Can be even stated as an universal remote).Check out their webpage to know more.

Thanks to Blynk.!

Nodemcu has been on buzz these days.I have used nodemcu because of it’s ease in programming.One can program it in arduino IDE itself.

Prerequisites:
One needs to know the basic soldering techniques and of Arduino IDE.

Things needed:

1.BLDC motors.(In my case, i have used 2212 1800KV motors of quantity 4)

2.30A ESC-4

3.A drone frame(One can order it online or can make it like this).

4.LIPO Battery(Typically with a charger)(I have used 2200 mAh 11.1V 30C spec battery).

5.Power Distribution Board.

6.Nodemcu

References:

Here are the references i have used:

1.Blynk Docs

2.Nodemcu docs

3.Esp9266WiFi Header functions.

4.BLDC and ESC working, calibration.(Refer youtube).

Time to get started.!

Step 1: Wiring Up the Escs' and BLDCs'

ESCs’ are generally used to control the speed of the motor.The three pins coming out of the ESC are given to the BLDC motors as follows. PWM signal is generated by the nodemcu which will control the speed of the motor.

Aerodynamics to be considered:
The synergistic step for making the drone fly is it’s aerodynamics.
The motors which are opposite to each other has to in the same direction

Two motors which are opposite has to be in same direction(i.e.,ACW),then the other two opposite motors has to be in CW.

Solder properly by taking care of the dynamics.

Step 2: Setting Up the Blynk App

Download the blynk app.One can find it in the Android/ios store. Create Blank account and get your account verified.

Install blynk library to the Arduino IDE.

Add two slider widgets.
One is for motor calibration and the other is for motor control.

Choose one slider and assign the pin as V0 and change the highest value to 255.(For calibration)

Choose another slider and assign the pin as V1 and change the highest value to 255.(To control drone)

One can use the same widget to calibrate and to control the drone.(but not recommended)

Some pictures has been uploaded to show demonstrate.

Step 3: Arduino IDE Code

Check this link out to get the code.

Esp8266 board package has to be installed to Arduino IDE.Follow the uploaded video to add ESP8266 library to the Arduino IDE.

Open the file in Arduino and upload the code by selecting the board in Boards manager as “Nodemcu”.

Step 4: Calibrating the Motors

Caution.!
Please make sure that the propellers are removed while calibrating.An important precaution ‘coz i had very bad experience with ‘em.!?

The motors have to be “callibrated”.It’s more defined like matching up the highest and lowest throttle speed to highest and lowest voltage provided by the mcu.

Once blynk app is properly setup and wiring the esc and BLDC is done,the next step is to calibrate.
After you connect the four escs’ to a power source(typically a lipo battery),the motors will give a beep to calibrate the esc.

Follow the simple steps to calibrate BLDCs’

1.After motor gives a beep,change the slider to the maximum value(In my case it’s 255).
2.The motor detects it and gives second beep for the low throttle.This time move the slider to the lowest value i.e., 0
3.The motor will give beep twice stating that the calibration is done and change the value of the slider to change the speed of the motors.

You are done.!