About

Welcome to the largest community for amateur Unmanned Aerial Vehicles! 

This community is the birthplace of ArduPilot, the world's first universal autopilot platform (planes, multicopters of all sorts and ground rovers). Today the Pixhawk autopilot runs a variety of powerful free and open UAV software systems, including:

  • PX4, a pro-quality open source copter, plane, rover and VTOL software stack from the Linux Foundation's Dronecode Project
  • ArduCopter, open source multicopter and heli UAV software
  • ArduPlane, open source software for planes of all types
  • ArduRover, open source software for ground-based vehicles

Drone-assisted on-demand incident responses have been gaining traction in recent years, and one standout champion in this field is the Drones for First Response (DFR) program. They have transformed emergency response, keeping both the public and our brave responders safe.

If one had to highlight benefits, with DFR programs, response times have reduced, situational awareness has improved, and operational effectiveness has increased. Equipped with thermal imaging, drones can see through smoke, fog, and even darkness, helping locate people when every second counts. As soon as an incident (911 equivalent) is reported, a drone can be dispatched to the scene, providing live video feeds to responders and incident commanders.

With autonomy in the mix, DFR programs have been able to…

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Gremsy, a leading provider of advanced gimbal solutions, has recently unveiled their latest innovation for drone developers - the Two-Axis Mio Gimbal. This front-mounting gimbal is specifically designed for industrial applications, offering exceptional performance and versatility.

One of the standout features of the Two-Axis Mio is its impressively lightweight construction, weighing less than 30% of the original Mio gimbal. This reduction in weight ensures minimal impact on overall payload, allowing drone developers and integrators to optimize their equipment and maximize flight capabilities.

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The Two-Axis Mio Gimbal boasts excellent camera compatibility, accommodating a wide range of camera models commonly used in industrial settings. This flexibility enables professionals to capture…

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Tried and True Platform

The E-flite Apprentice STS 1.5m is based on one of the very best platforms ever designed for learning to fly radio controlled (RC) airplanes—the legendary Apprentice S 15e. That model's large size made it an ideal choice for better visibility and the ability to handle more wind while learning to fly at an RC club flying field, and its inherently stable design plus exclusive SAFE (Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope) technology made it easy to fly successfully.

The Apprentice STS 1.5m is a modern-day evolution of the world's favorite club trainer that includes all the same great features while adding Smart components , along with the option to add SAFE Plus GPS-enabled technology and the all-new Landing Assist Sensor (LAS), to make learning to fly easier—and more fun—than ever before! 

Key Features:…

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Hi all. I recently used Air Duct Cleaning Philadelphia to service my A/C unit and have been absolutely delighted with the results. The employees of the company showed high professionalism and performed their work qualitatively. They thoroughly cleaned my air ducts and air conditioner, removing all the accumulated dust and dirt. I noticed a significant improvement in the air quality in my home after the work was done. Now the air is fresh and clean, which is very important for the health of my family.

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The new 2023 version of the Freewing Eurofighter comes with basic decals pre-applied, however the tiger decals are UNAPPLIED. This allows our customers to have more freedom to choose their own custom decals if so desired.

More info:https://www.freewing-model.com/freewing-eurofighter-v2-90mm-edf-jet-pnp-rc-airplane.html

The Freewing Eurofighter is one of the most unique EDF jets in both looks and function, and now it's available in this all new 6S version for 2023 and beyond. This is not a retool of the old version. This is a 100% new Eurofighter. There were two big goals for this model. This model had to be fast and it had to be significantly more scale than the old version from 4 years ago. In order to achieve speed and efficiency, a 100% new power…

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Latest Activity

Eric Matyas replied to Eric Matyas's discussion Free Music / SFX Resource for Drone Videos - Over 1800 Tracks
"Does anyone need some custom music created? I can do it very affordably...hit me up!
https://soundimage.org/custom-work/

In the meantime, here's a new looping track on my Fantasy 12 page:

"FOREST WEDDING"
https://soundimage.org/fantasy-12/

You…"
17 hours ago
tracyberge posted a discussion
Donkey Kong is a 1981 arcade video game developed and published by Nintendo. As Jumpman, the player runs and jumps on platforms and climbs ladders to get to a construction site and rescue Pauline from the giant gorilla. It was the first game in the…
Monday
game online updated their profile
Monday
EB, Vineeth Jacob, mehmet and 3 more joined diydrones
Monday
Kavindu Gimhan Zoysa posted a discussion
Hi all,Is it possible to build a mini quadcopter using the following components?1. MCU - ATmega 328P2. DC motors - Coreless motors3. IMU - MPU60X0 
Sunday
John Molnar replied to Chinahobbyline's discussion What batteries are used in Traxxas cars?
"Advertisement...nothing drone related here..."
Saturday
Eric Macri replied to Nico's discussion DCL - the Game
"Many people recommend different casinos but they are not verified and I would like to recommend you a really reliable place that brings you real money. Save the site https://online.casino/europe/ this is the top online casino if you want to try to…"
Saturday
Chinahobbyline posted a discussion
Traxxas is a well-renowned name in the world of remote-controlled cars. They highly regarded for their exceptional quality off-road vehicles that offer a thrilling driving experience. However, to enjoy the full capability and performance of these…
Friday
Ricardo Ortiz posted a discussion
Hi everyone,I and a friend are planning to build our own drone for this summer but have no experience in building one. We are looking to build a small, simple fixed-wing type drone. Any advice on which materials, motors, and other parts to use and…
Thursday
Vivek Dwivedi posted a blog post
Drone-assisted on-demand incident responses have been gaining traction in recent years, and one standout champion in this field is the Drones for First Response (DFR) program. They have transformed emergency response, keeping both the public and our…
Jun 1
Vineeth Jacob updated their profile
May 31
Eric Matyas replied to Eric Matyas's discussion Free Music / SFX Resource for Drone Videos - Over 1800 Tracks
"A lot of folks don't realize that I have 15 pages full of free sound effects on my site. Just like my music tracks, they're free to use with attribution. Links to my sound effects pages are listed on the right side of every page on my site below the…"
May 30
Jessica Ma posted a blog post
T-MOTOR XU8 drone arm set can!!!Consult: info@tmotor.com
May 29
kevin rodriquez updated their profile
May 28
Piotr Fr, Paul, De Wet Steynberg and 3 more joined diydrones
May 27
Gremsy posted a blog post
Gremsy, a leading provider of advanced gimbal solutions, has recently unveiled their latest innovation for drone developers - the Two-Axis Mio Gimbal. This front-mounting gimbal is specifically designed for industrial applications, offering…
May 23
Eric Matyas replied to Eric Matyas's discussion Free Music / SFX Resource for Drone Videos - Over 1800 Tracks
"Hi Everyone,

This week's new free-to-use-with-attribution tracks are:

On my Fantasy 12 page:

"ZOMBIE ARCADE"
https://soundimage.org/fantasy-12/

On my Puzzle Music 7 page:

"CRYPTIC CLUES"
https://soundimage.org/puzzle-music-7/

And on my Sci-Fi…"
May 23
Chinahobbyline posted a blog post
Tried and True PlatformThe E-flite Apprentice STS 1.5m is based on one of the very best platforms ever designed for learning to fly radio controlled (RC) airplanes—the legendary Apprentice S 15e. That model's large size made it an ideal choice for…
May 23
Assembly Dronenthusiast posted a discussion
With the development of technology, drones are widely used in Civil field, such as police officers, firefighters. And flight time has become one of the key factors to be considered.X6120 as a mountable flight platform it is commonly used in training…
May 23
Darius Jack replied to alfonso riccardo analfino's discussion ASV Hydrographic project in ArduBoat User Group
"Excellent project.
I would like to test fish sonar attached to a GPS-enabled boat to collect and process data.
Visiting Aliexpress I get many fish sonars but technical specifications are missing.
 …"
May 22
More…

Site Rules

"Because $10,000 $5,000 $1,000 is too much to pay for an autopilot, especially one that doesn't do exactly what you want."

An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV, colloquially known as a "drone") is basically an aerial robot. As we define it, it is capable of both remotely controlled flight (like a regular RC aircraft) and fully-autonomous flight, controlled by sensors, GPS, and onboard computers performing the functions of an autopilot. Our UAVs include airplanes, helicopters, quadcopters and blimps. Most of them are under five pounds, and some of them (especially the blimps) can be used indoors.

We are focused on non-commercial ("recreational") projects by amateurs, although pros are always welcome too. Reasons to make your own UAV range from a fun technical challenge, student contests, aerial photography and mapping (what we call "GeoCrawling"), and scientific sensing. We are primarily interested in civilian, not military, UAV uses here.

If you're new to all this, start here.

DIY Drones is a community based on the Ning social networking platform, and anybody who registers (it's free and easy) can post their own blog entries like this one on the front page, along with starting discussions in the sidebar at left or uploading videos below that. Your registration gives you the ability to do a lot on the site--so feel free to post anything you think will be of interest to this community!

There are other amateur sites out there, from the discussion forums of RC Groups to individual blogs, but DIY Drones is explicitly built as a social network, which means that the community is as important as the content. We're also focused on the most accessible end of the amateur UAV world, with the aim of potentially including high school students.

This means we emphasize amateur UAV projects that are:

  1. Simple: The aim of this project is to create new amateur UAV platforms, including those that could be used for a FIRST-like contest appropriate for students. While we're at it, we'll make amateur UAV development easier for everyone.
  2. Cheap: The target cost of all of our platforms is less than $1,000. You can buy a very good autopilot system for $10,000, but that's not our approach. Cheaper is better, especially with students and schools.
  3. Safe: We follow the current interpretation of the FAA guidelines on small UAVs. Recreational use (non-commercial), under 400 ft altitude, line of sight, "pilot in the loop" and onboard safety systems that always allow for manual control in the case of malfunction. We're building experimental platforms that demonstrate autonomy and the capacity to do real useful UAV work, but we test them in controlled settings. If you want to fly miles out of sight or map cities, we're going to assume you've got the proper FAA clearance or we don't want to know about it.
  4. Participatory: Share and others will share with you. That means that whenever possible, we open source our code and post it online. Everything on this site is published under a Creative Commons "attribution" license, which means that anyone can use or repost it, as long as they give credit to the original author.
  5. Civil: This is a community site of peers helping each other. Bad behavior, from rudeness to foul language, will be deleted. Generosity and kindness is often rewarded with reciprocal behavior and help.

Here are the full set of Site Policies:
 
  1. Civility is paramount. Treat others with respect, kindness and generosity. Some of our most expert members are people who were once total n00bz but were helped and encouraged by others, and are now repaying the favor with the next generation. Remember the Golden Rule. Don't be a jerk to anyone, be they other members, moderators or the owners. This is not a public park, and you have no constitutionally-mandated right to free speech. If you're creating a hostile or unpleasant environment, you'll be warned, then if it continues you'll be suspended.
  2. No discussion of politics or religion. This is not the place to discuss your views on the wisdom of military use of UAVs, any nation's foreign policy, your feelings about war, or anything else that is inclined to turn into a political debate. It is our experience that the rules for good dinner party conversation--no discussion of politics and religion--apply to online communities, too. DIY Drones aims to bring people together, and we find that discussions of politics and religion tend to polarize and drive people apart. There are plenty of other places to discuss those topics online, just not here.
  3. Ask questions in the discussion forum; inform others in blog posts. Submitted blog posts that are just questions and should have been posted in the discussion forum will not be approved. The moderators may or may not message you with the text so you can repost in the right area. To avoid losing your post, put it in the right place from the start.
  4. Blog posts are for informative topics of broad interest to the community. They must start with a picture or video, so the image appears on the front page on the site and gives a sense of the topic as well as inviting people to click in for more. Videos should be embedded (paste the embed code in the HTML tab, not the Rich Text tab). The post should also include links where appropriate. Don't make people do a Google search for what you're talking about if you can provide a link. 
  5. The Discussion Forum is for questions and tech support. We prefer to do all tech support in public, so that others can follow along. If you have a problem, please describe your particular system setup completely, ideally with a photograph, and pick the right forum tags so that others can find the thread later.
  6. No discussion of military or weaponized applications of UAVs. This site is just about amateur and civilian use.
  7. No discussion of illegal or harmful use of UAVs will be tolerated. Responsible use of UAVs is at the core of our mission. That means conforming with all laws in the United States, where this site is based, and insisting that our members elsewhere follow the laws of their own countries. In addition, we feel that part of our responsibility it to help the relevant authorities understand what's possible with amateur UAVs, so they can make better-informed policies and laws. So we have encouraged all relevant regulators, defense agencies and law enforcement agencies to become members here and even participate to help them do that, and many have. In addition, if we see any discussion of UAV use that we feel is potentially illegal or intended to do harm, we will bring it to the attention to the relevant authorities, and will comply with any legal request they make for information about users (although we don't know much that isn't public; see the next item).
  8. Promote safe flying. Moderators may delete postings that they decide are unsafe or promote unsafe activity. This is a judgement call, since it is also healthy to have public discussion about why certain activities are unsafe, but the decision as to whether to leave a post or edit/delete it is at the moderators' discretion. 
  9. Your privacy is protected, up to a point: This is a social network, so everything you write and post here is public, with certain exceptions: 1) Your private messages are private. Administrators are unable to see them, nor can anyone else other than the recipient. Members must not make private messages public without the explicit permission of everyone involved. 2) Your IP address is private. We are hosted on Ning, which controls the server logs. DIY Drones administrators can only see your username and email address; they cannot see your password and do not have access to your account.
  10. Do not publish personal emails or PMs without permission. This is a violation of expected confidentiality (that's why they're called "personal messages") and is grounds for banning.
  11. Do not type in ALL CAPS. It's considered SHOUTING. Posts in all caps will be deleted by the moderators.
  12. Absolutely no personal attacks. It's fine to disagree, but never okay to criticize another member personally.
  13. Share. Although we are not limited to open source projects, the ones that tend to get the most participation tend to be open source. Don't wait until your code or design is "finished"--post it as it is, and you may find that others will help you finish it faster. The best way to contribute is with your creativity--we love data, code, aircraft designs, photos of UAV projects, videos of flights and build logs. Post early and often!
  14. Keep comments open: Authors of blog posts and discussion threads technically have the option to close their comments or approve them before they appear, but we ask members not to do that. We want to encourage a free flow of conversation and blocking or delaying comments only interferes with that. The Moderators are standing by to ensure the conversation remains on-topic and civil, so please leave your comments open and let them do their job.

Game Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong is a 1981 arcade video game developed and published by Nintendo. As Jumpman, the player runs and jumps on platforms and climbs ladders to get to a construction site and rescue Pauline from the giant gorilla. It was the first game in the…

Read more…
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