I’m completely new to drone building and need help. I’m working on a school project where I have to build an FPV drone to fly through an obstacle course, pick up small plastic dinosaurs (about 7 inches long and 100-200g in weight), and drop them on a target.
I’ve already designed a claw for this, which will be 3D printed and powered by a D89MW Servo connected to the LED channel. The claw will be mounted on the drone with longer screws on the flight controller stack.
I was looking at this 5" DIY drone kit: link. The kit looks good, but after adding goggles, a camera system, and a controller, the total cost is way out of my budget for a one-time project.
Here are my questions:
Can this kit carry the claw and dinosaur without losing too much stability or power?
Are there cheaper camera systems that can stream video to an iPhone or Oculus VR headset? I only need something basic since I’ll be flying in line of sight most of the time.
Is there a more affordable but reliable drone controller option?
If you have any tips on how I can cut costs while still making this work, I’d really appreciate it. The drone needs to fly for around 8 minutes and handle light impacts without falling apart. Any ideas?
For saving money, try a Happymodel Fyujon receiver/VTX combo and a basic analog camera. You can get a video receiver that connects to your phone or a standalone 5.8GHz screen.
For a transmitter, look into the Jumper T-Lite (ELRS) or the Radiomaster Pocket. Both are affordable and reliable.
@Rory
You could also look for a cheap 5" drone kit on AliExpress. If you’re trying to save on video gear, you can build a basic receiver setup and hook it to a monitor with RCA input. Betafpv goggles might be even cheaper, though.
Analog video systems are your best bet for saving money. Digital (HD) options cost a lot more, even though they have better image quality. Many Ready-To-Fly quads come with analog video setups.
Streaming directly to devices like phones or VR headsets adds latency, which makes it hard to fly. Analog is simpler and cheaper.
About your drone: can you use a lighter payload? A 5" quad is powerful and noisy, with spinning blades that can cause damage if it crashes. Something like a Mobula 7 or 8 carrying a lighter object (like a Lego figure) would be safer and more affordable.
Also, aiming for 8 minutes of flight time is a bit much for a racing drone. They’re designed for speed and agility, not long durations. Most race drones need new batteries after about 4 minutes. If you want longer flights, look into drones built for long-range flying—they have slower motors and bigger props for efficiency.