Raspberry Pi-Controlled Drone

A Raspberry Pi-Controlled Drone is a DIY unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) powered by a Raspberry Pi, capable of flying autonomously or via remote control. It integrates sensors, motors, and a flight controller to achieve stable flight. The Raspberry Pi acts as the brain, handling data processing, camera streaming, obstacle avoidance, and GPS navigation. This project is ideal for learning about robotics, aerodynamics, and embedded systems.

1. Introduction to Raspberry Pi Drones

Drones or UAVs are flying robots that can be controlled manually or autonomously using onboard systems. By integrating a Raspberry Pi, we can build a smart drone that can be programmed to perform tasks like GPS-based navigation, obstacle avoidance, and live video streaming. Raspberry Pi enhances the capabilities of a standard drone with its computing power and flexibility.

Applications of Raspberry Pi Drones:

  • Aerial photography and videography.
  • Surveillance and security monitoring.
  • Search and rescue operations.
  • Agricultural monitoring and crop analysis.
  • STEM learning and research projects.

2. Components and Tools Required

Required Components:

  • Raspberry Pi 3/4 (Model B recommended)
  • MicroSD card (16GB or more) with Raspberry Pi OS
  • Quadcopter frame with propellers
  • Brushless DC motors (4 units)
  • Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs) – 4 units
  • Lithium-Polymer (LiPo) Battery
  • Flight Controller (like Pixhawk, Navio2, or Raspberry Pi Pico)
  • PWM Hat or Motor Driver (if not using a flight controller)
  • GPS Module (optional for navigation)
  • IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit – Accelerometer + Gyroscope)
  • Camera Module (for FPV or video capture)
  • Radio Controller and Receiver (or use mobile/WiFi-based control)
  • Jumper wires, connectors, and tools

Optional Components:

  • Ultrasonic sensor (for obstacle avoidance)
  • Barometer (for altitude hold)
  • FPV transmitter and goggles
  • Bluetooth module or Wi-Fi dongle

3. Assembling the Drone

Drone Assembly Steps:

  1. Assemble the quadcopter frame and attach the motors to each arm.
  2. Connect each motor to its respective ESC.
  3. Mount the Raspberry Pi and flight controller to the frame.
  4. Connect ESCs to the power distribution board (PDB) or battery.
  5. Connect ESC signal wires to the flight controller or PWM Hat.
  6. Attach propellers (ensure correct orientation).
  7. Connect GPS and IMU sensors.
  8. Secure the LiPo battery to the frame using a strap.
  9. Connect the Raspberry Pi to the flight controller via GPIO or USB.

4. Setting Up Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi Setup:

  1. Flash Raspberry Pi OS onto the SD card and boot the Pi.
  2. Enable SSH and I2C/SPI interfaces using 'raspi-config'.
  3. Update packages using: 'sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade'.
  4. Install drone control libraries like DroneKit, MAVProxy, or Pygame.
  5. Install the camera driver if using the Raspberry Pi Camera Module.

5. Connecting the Flight Controller

Connection Steps:

  1. If using Pixhawk: connect Pixhawk to Raspberry Pi via USB cable.
  2. Install MAVProxy: 'sudo pip3 install MAVProxy'.
  3. Test connection: 'mavproxy.py --master=/dev/ttyUSB0 --baudrate 57600 --aircraft mydrone'.
  4. Configure flight controller parameters (e.g., arming checks, flight modes).

6. Python Code for Controlling Drone

  1. Install DroneKit: 'sudo pip3 install dronekit'.
  2. Write a Python script to control the drone using DroneKit API.
from dronekit import connect, VehicleModeimport time# Connect to vehiclevehicle = connect('/dev/ttyUSB0', wait_ready=True, baud=57600)# Arm and takeoffvehicle.mode = VehicleMode('GUIDED')vehicle.armed = Truetime.sleep(5)vehicle.simple_takeoff(10)  # Takeoff to 10 meterswhile True:    print(f" Altitude: {vehicle.location.global_relative_frame.alt}")    if vehicle.location.global_relative_frame.alt >= 9.5:        break    time.sleep(1)

Run Command: python3 drone_takeoff.py

The drone arms and takes off to an altitude of 10 meters.

7. Adding a Camera for FPV or Recording

Camera Integration:

  1. Connect the Raspberry Pi Camera Module to the CSI port.
  2. Use PiCamera library for video recording or streaming.
  3. You can also stream live video using MJPG-streamer or WebRTC.

8. Safety Measures and Precautions

  • Always test indoors with propellers removed before outdoor flight.
  • Fly in open areas, away from people and obstacles.
  • Use propeller guards to avoid injury.
  • Ensure the LiPo battery is fully charged and balanced.
  • Never fly without knowing local drone laws and restrictions.

9. Troubleshooting

Common Issues and Fixes:

  • Drone not arming? Check GPS lock and safety switches.
  • Unstable flight? Calibrate the IMU and ESCs.
  • No connection? Ensure correct USB/serial ports and baud rates.
  • Camera not working? Check ribbon cable and enable camera in Pi settings.

10. Conclusion: What You’ve Learned

  • How to assemble and configure a drone using Raspberry Pi.
  • How to connect a flight controller and write basic control scripts.
  • How to integrate a camera for live streaming or recording.
  • Basics of drone safety and troubleshooting common issues.

11. Resources and References