FPV DRONE 101: WHAT IS FPV DRONE? THE WIZARD AND HIS VESSEL
If you've been left spellbound by those mesmerizing flying cardboard contraptions with spinning fans on social media platforms like Instagram or Reddit, or if you're a budding sorcerer cracking the code of their magic and eagerly loading up your cart to build your very own FPV (First-Person-View) drone, hold your broomsticks for a moment and let's unravel what you truly need and why you need it.
What is a FPV Drone?
So, what exactly is this FPV drone enchantment? Picture this: a drone equipped with a camera that beams a real-time video straight from its point of view. And guess what? The drone pilot gets to witness this fantastical spectacle through their extra-thick FPV goggles, steering the drone like a bonafide real-life dragon rider.
How is it different from a normal drone?
Now, you might wonder, what sets an FPV drone apart from its mundane counterparts? You might think, "Oh, it's like playing Call of Duty in first-person mode, right?" Well, hold onto your wizard hats because the truth goes much deeper than that. Your average drone, like the DJI Mavic, comes ready-made or partially assembled, designed to minimize headaches and offer reasonable durability, so you can flaunt your beach escapades on Instagram, making your non-drone-owning pals green with envy.
But the FPV pilot's life is far from ordinary. Their week kicks off by building a drone from scratch while hoping their house doesn't inadvertently turn into a fiery spectacle when plugging in the battery. Then comes the rigorous training—a whopping 40+ hours in the simulator, ensuring they don't transform their drone into a heap of broken dreams within the first minute of takeoff. And let's not forget the constant repairs and troubleshooting, whether it's out on the field or back at the workstation, with the agonizing wait for the next opportunity to fly lasting an entire week.
While some manufacturers now offer complete FPV drones to simplify the process, building your own drone still holds significance among the FPV pilot community. Even with a ready-to-fly option, it's beneficial to have a solid understanding of electronics for troubleshooting and repairs (crashes are inevitable!). It's recommended to start with a smaller drone, like a "tiny-whoop," to gain flying experience before venturing into larger builds. Regarding factory-built FPV drones, some pilots find them lacking expand-ability for experimental purposes, but overall, they don't receive many complaints. However, it's important to note that I have not personally flown a DJI FPV drone, so it's advisable to gather more information and make an informed decision based on your specific needs.
If building and maintenance are challenging, why not just fly a regular drone without the fancy goggles and spare yourself the pain?
Well, as the famous quote goes, "Without pain, without sacrifice, we would have nothing. Like the first monkey shot into space." The tradeoff with FPV drones is enhanced agility and control, allowing you to shape the drone's performance characteristics to your liking. You can customize it to maneuver through the sky like a falcon, dance in the air like a hummingbird, or even take a daring plunge into the ocean like a torpedo gannet. By mastering the art of building and taming FPV drones, you become a wizard in the FPV realm.
FPV drones find their use in various applications, including racing, capturing breathtaking video sequences, and even long-range flying or surveying.
What do you need to build an FPV drone?
Now, let's discuss what you need to build an FPV drone. Patience is key, especially if this is your first time embarking on such a project. Here's a spoiler: you'll need a basic understanding of electric circuits, circuit boards, and radio signal transmission. Don't worry if you feel inexperienced; the FPV community is welcoming and filled with helpful individuals who continuously share their knowledge (shout-out to Joshua Bardwell!). With patience and persistence, you can overcome the initial learning curve and successfully build your first FPV drone.
In terms of physical components, a flying drone structure consists of brushless motors, rotating propellers, and a frame. These components are powered by a battery, while speed controllers (ESC) ensure consistent torque distribution among the motors, allowing the drone to take flight. Other essential components include the flight controller and power distribution board (PDB), responsible for flight control and stabilization. The receiver (RX) captures signals from the radio controller, forming the crucial link between the pilot and the drone. With these components, you have a controllable drone that responds to your commands via the radio controller.
To transform a regular drone into an FPV drone, you'll need a camera, video transmitter (VTX), and antenna integrated into the drone to transmit the video signal. Likewise, the pilot requires a video receiver and goggles to view the transmitted video feed.
In summary, the essential components for building a practical FPV drone include:
Drone Frame
Battery
Brushless Motors
Propellers
Speed Controllers (ESC)
Flight Controller
Power Distribution Board (PDB)
Receiver (RX)
Video Transmitter (VTX)
Antenna
For the pilot's setup:
Radio Controller
Goggles
Video Receiver (VRX)
In the upcoming parts of this series, I will delve into more details about the types of components available and offer guidance on selecting the appropriate subcategories of components based on your specific use-case.
