AR drone

Target Audience

Someone who has the AR.Drone 1.0 and wants to fly and repair them.

Starting Point

Own an Android or Iphone

Replication Goals

Fly drone through some obstacles indoors with height limit set in the software and repair the drones.

Setup Videos

AR.Drone 2.0 Tutorial video #1 : Setup

AR.Drone 2.0 Tutorial video #2 : Pilot

AR.Drone 2.0 Tutorial video #3 : Record

Mount Replacement

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  The bottom plate has been removed from the Quadcopter by removing the four attaching screws
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  A closer view of the internal circuitry with the bottom removed
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  The first chip and the two black spacers have been removed from the quadcopter after removing a second set of four screws which held the first chip to the small brackets
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  The optics cable needs to be removed first before the removal of the second chip
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  A view of the small breakage in the optic cable of Ji's Quadcopter
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  The removal of the second chip with the first chip adjacent for size comparisson
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  A close up view of the mounting bracket after the circuitry has been removed

Frame Replacement

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  The propeller mount's plastic midsection has completely split in half due to its fragility compared to the carbon fiber in the rest of the frame.
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  A close up of the midsection of the split propeller mount. In this view you can see how the main bunch of wires splits off into the four motors.
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  The new propeller mount that will be placed into the AR drone
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  Using the disc is removed by placing the tool at the open part of th.e disc and then pressing hard. The disc will most likly fly off so it is recommended to have a second hand ready to prevent this.
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  The propeller assembly is removed in the order of disc, propeller, gear, rod.
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  The screws on the bottom of the motor will need to be removed using a Phillip's head screwdriver and are located at the bottom and top of the motor circuitry and hold the motor circuitry to the mount.
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  The screw on the top of the motor also require a Phillip's head screwdriver.
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  After the motor's screws have been removed the wiring needs to be carefully pulled out if it cannot be grabbed using fingers a pair of tweezers or needle nose pliers is recommended.
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  On the new mount, the wires must be attached to the motor first.
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  The motor is put in place laying on top of the wires bending them underneath of it.
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  The top three screws are put in first because they ensure that the main part of the motor will be put in straight, afterwards the bottom three screws are screwed into the motor circuitry.
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  The propeller rod is inserted from the bottom of the mount.
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  The correct propellers and gears are placed on the rods, A and B propellers in front, and C and D propellers in back.
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  Using the flipped side of the tool the disc is placed back on the notch in the rod.
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  All Circuitry should be removed from the body of the AR drone.
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  The main board should first be connected to the propeller mount like shown.
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  The propeller mount should be placed in the slots of the foam siding then the circuitry reassembled inside of the body.
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  The green lights from the motors show that all motors are responsive and connected to the propeller mount meaning the quadcopter is now ready to fly.

Repair Broken Frame

Printed a replacement cross piece to repair AR Drone frame found on thingiverse.

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  MakerBot printing in 3-D. It makes a 3-D shape by layering thin lines on top of each other. This leg piece is at about 50% completion.
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  MakerBot's finished product. This is the central cross piece.
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  The central cross member for the quadcopter printed using the MakerBot. The piece is not solid plastic. It has a honey-comb design on the inside reducing weight while maintaining strength.
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  Quadcopter Central cross Diagonal
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  Quadcopter Central cross Side
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  The bottom is completely flat.

Replace Motor

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  The working motor is the cylinder in the middle of the page directed vertically.
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  The motor is the cylindrical tube in the middle of the page that is slanted. It should be vertical. The motor's misalignment caused the gear at the top of the motor shaft to come off.
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  The smaller of the two gears, the bronze-colored gear, is the gear that is attached to the motor's shaft.
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  There should be a small bronze-colored gear at the top of the motor's shaft. This is can be seen by looking at the round space next to the black gear. It is missing the smaller gear.
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  Broken motor left by previous group. The bronze gear needs to be removed from the shaft. Tried prying with a small flathead. Did not work. Not enough leverage.
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  Top view of motor after three screws retaining the cover have been moved.
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  Motor's core being taken out of the motor housing.
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  Using a hammer and vice-grip wrench, force was applied in opposite directions. The motor's cover was used to both protect the soft metal gear and to allow the nail remover to grasp on to it. A good pull was required to free the gear from the shaft. No damage to gear.
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  Motor after removal of gear.

Pylon Operation

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  The hoop had a leak, and thus was unable to remain inflated.
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  Two of the Quadcopters and the equipment used to inflate the pylons and the hoop.

The inflatable obstacles used with the Quadcopter are the pylons, and the hoop. In order to maintain them upright, the bases of the hoop and the two pylons were filled with water.

The setup for the obstacle course takes approximately 15 minutes. The two pylons take approximately four minutes each, and the hoop takes approximately seven minutes to inflate. Two or three air-mattress pumps running of 4 D cell batteries each would speed things up.