12/22/2025 - Day 1! LET'S BEGIN!!!

understood the technical working of a quadcopter drone and the engineering concepts behind its flight and control. I focused mainly on how hardware and software work together to achieve stable and controlled movement in the air.

I studied the role of the flight controller, which is the core component of a drone. It processes data from sensors like the gyroscope, accelerometer, and sometimes a magnetometer to determine the drone’s orientation. Using control algorithms such as PID (Proportional–Integral–Derivative), the flight controller continuously adjusts the speed of each motor to maintain stability and respond to inputs.

I also researched the manuever system, which includes brushless DC motors, electronic speed controllers(ESCs), and propellers. The ESCs receive signals from the flight controller and regulate the power supplied to the motors. I learned that propeller size, pitch, and motor KV rating directly affect thrust, efficiency, and flight time. Battery selection, usually Li-Po batteries, is also critical because voltage and discharge rate (C-rating) determine how much current can be safely delivered to the motors.

In addition, I looked into communication and control systems. Most drones use radio transmitters and receivers operating on 2.4 GHz for control, while telemetry modules and GPS are used for real-time data, navigation, and features like return-to-home. Safety features such as failsafe modes and low-voltage cutoffs are important to prevent crashes and damage.

12/24/2025 2 PM - Lets design Flight controller

Finally, it is time to start building the flight controller PCB for the drone. This stage is very important because the flight controller acts as the brain of the entire drone, handling all calculations and controlling its movement in the air. For this project, I have planned to use the ESP32 as the main CPU since it offers high processing power, fast response time, and built-in wireless features, which are useful for future upgrades and tuning. Along with this, I will be using the MPU6050 as the IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit). The MPU6050 provides accurate data for acceleration and rotation, which helps the drone maintain balance and achieve better stability during flight. Together, these components will form a reliable and efficient flight controller system for smooth and controlled drone operation.

12/24/2025 5 PM - Routed the ESP32-Based Flight Controller PCB

After planning the core components and starting the flight controller PCB design earlier, I made significant progress by completing the routing of the PCB. This step was crucial because routing determines how all the components are electrically connected and how reliable the board will be during real-world operation.

While routing, I focused on keeping the connections between the ESP32 and MPU6050 clean and efficient, especially for power, ground, and communication lines. Since the MPU6050 plays a major role in stability and balance, extra care was taken to avoid unnecessary noise and messy trace paths. There were a few moments where the layout felt tight, but adjusting component placement helped everything fit properly.

Seeing the PCB fully routed made the project feel much more real than just working with schematics. The image attached shows the completed routing, which represents the transition from just an idea to a manufacturable hardware design.

At this stage, the design work is almost complete. The only thing remaining now is to get this PCB printed at a local manufacturing centre. Once the board is fabricated, the next phase will be assembly and testing, bringing this DIY ESP32-based flight controller one step closer to actual flight.

12/24/2025 8:00 PM - ordered pcb on pcbway YEYYYYY

Placed the order on PCBWay. It feels great to move from the design stage to actual fabrication. Now I’m waiting for the boards to arrive so I can start soldering and testing the circuit in real life.

PS: It sucks to pay ~90usd for a pcbs to arrive yes they are arriving within 3days but still :(

PERSONAL INFO REDACTED

12/24/2025 8:08 PM - Let's Fast Forward the build time.

to build the final drone first we need multiple parts to acquire them i have planned to visit local hobby electronics shop to purchase those parts but before i need a BOM so lets work on it.

found this really cool image on insta

12/24/2025 9:43 PM - BOM Ready

<!--StartFragment-->&lt;!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--&gt;
F450 Frame | 8 | USD
-- | -- | --
A2212 1000KV motor X 4 | 16 | USD
SimonK 30Amp ESC X 4 | 12 | USD
FlySky Fs-i6 | 70 | USD
LI-Po Battery | 55 | USD
Power Distribution Board | 4 | USD
Li Po battery charger | 23 | USD
TOTAL | 188 | USD

12/24/2025 9:45 PM - [IGNORE PREVIOUS POST] Journal Update – BOM Ready

The Bill of Materials (BOM) for my project is now finalized. I carefully reviewed all components, verified part specifications, and ensured compatibility with the design. With the BOM ready, I’m set to move forward with ordering parts and starting the assembly phase.

F450 Frame | 8 | USD
-- | -- | --
A2212 1000KV motor X 4 | 16 | USD
SimonK 30Amp ESC X 4 | 12 | USD
FlySky Fs-i6 | 70 | USD
LI-Po Battery | 55 | USD
Power Distribution Board | 4 | USD
Li Po battery charger | 23 | USD
TOTAL | 188 | USD

12/24/2025 10 PM - Ordered Drone Parts From A local vendor

I’ve officially placed the order for all the required components listed in the BOM. This marks a big step forward, as the project is now moving from planning to actual building. Once the parts arrive, I’ll start with assembly, testing, and integration of the system.

*### And yess as they are from local vendor i will get those by tomorrow *

Sorry but i have to redut my private information

12/26/2025 - Build The frame, just flight controller shipment is remainin

Today I worked on building the drone frame, assembling the main structure and checking the overall fit and alignment. Most of the major hardware is now in place, and the frame is starting to look like a complete drone. The only thing remaining is the flight controller shipment, after which I can move ahead with electronics integration and testing.

Also, apologies for no update yesterday—I was busy working on CAD designs for another project, which took more time than expected. Now that the frame build is done, I’m back on track and looking forward to completing the next steps once the flight controller arrives.