My Project: An ESP32 Mini Drone

My project is a custom-designed, open-source PCB for a mini, four-motor quadcopter powered by an ESP32 microcontroller. The goal is to create an affordable and accessible drone that is easy for hobbyists and students to assemble, program, and fly. The entire design, from the flight controller to the frame, is integrated onto a single PCB to keep it compact and simple. The project is heavily based on another open source project using a very similar PCB outline.

Why I Decided to Make It

I make PCB projects for my youtube Channel called the "Engineering Experience" and wanted to create a tutorial series for KiCAD 9. For the series I decided to create this Drone PCB. I was inspired to create this project to bridge the gap between simple electronics projects and complex, expensive drones. By using a readily available and powerful microcontroller like the ESP32, and designing a streamlined PCB, I wanted to provide a project that is not only educational but also practical and fun. It serves as a great introduction to topics like flight stabilization, motor control, and wireless communication.

How It Works

The heart of the drone is the ESP32, which acts as the flight controller. It processes data from an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensor MPU-6050) to understand the drone's orientation in space. My custom PCB integrates the necessary components, including the motor drivers (MOSFETs), power regulation, and connectors for the motors and battery. The ESP32 uses a PID control loop to adjust the speed of the four motors independently, stabilizing the drone and allowing it to be controlled via a remote control (or a mobile app) that communicates with the ESP32's built-in Wi-Fi module with an external Bluetooth controller.