Quadcopter Workshop

I recently ran a build-your-own-quadcopter workshop in Canberra (Australia), where 9 people learned how to construct, tune and fly quadcopters based on the Pixhawk flight controller.

This workshop is the second one I've run (1st workshop here). There have been several improvements this time around: A stronger frame, pre-soldered connectors and usage of the Pixhawk.

There were of course minor technical difficulties (such as not ordering enough standoffs!) along the way, but we got there in the end and everyone had a great time!

For those that want to run their own workshops, I've published the documentation for this workshop here. It includes a full workshop manual, APM:Copter parameters file, materials list and useful links.

Views: 3100

Comment by mP1 on February 7, 2014 at 4:47am

Why is everyone using only green props and not green and gold! 

Comment by John Githens on February 7, 2014 at 9:49am

I think this sets a standard for quality documentation. Phenomenal work. I really appreciate the attention to clarifying terminology like "APM", and how the options for ground control station software are described. I added a link to this blog post here. Thanks for sharing!


MR60 Comment by Hugues on February 7, 2014 at 10:57am

+1 Stephen

Congratulations, this is excellent and very pro. Excellent documentation and good synthesis.

Comment by Sam Ley on February 7, 2014 at 12:06pm

Sounds like a great workshop! Your workshop documentation all by itself makes for a pretty great tutorial on all the major aspects of building one of these quads.

How did you manage the workshop costs and parts? Did you provide parts, or expect the participants to buy on their own? Did you pre-purchase lots of sets and then seek registrations, or vice versa?

Comment by Thomas Robinson on February 7, 2014 at 3:32pm

This is excellent work! I know how long it can take to write documents like these! Great build manual!

Comment by Stephen Dade on February 7, 2014 at 3:49pm

Sam: I got people to register/pre-pay for the workshop and then bought all the parts in bulk. Managed to get some decent discounts too :)

Comment by Owen Niese on February 7, 2014 at 6:59pm

Can Ardupilot 2.6 be used instead of Pixhawk? It would money saving and Ardupilot seems like a pretty good autopilot program. 

Comment by Stephen Dade on February 8, 2014 at 3:13am

Owen: Either will work, as they both run the APM code.


T3 Comment by Richard Boyhan on February 10, 2014 at 4:15pm

Nice work!  Do you charge for the workshop?  I tried to put together a workshop here in South Florida, but got no takers.  I used your manual and notes and they were very helpful, thanks a bunch.  I think my advertising needs to be better.

Comment by Stephen Dade on February 11, 2014 at 12:21am

Richard - I'm running the workshops as a hobby for now, so I'm only charging for parts. I advertised the workshop through my local hackerspace/makerspace.

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