Docs Hardware Setup

Hardware Setup Guide

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Overview

This guide covers the complete hardware setup for the AI-powered FPV drone system.

Components List

Core Drone Components

Component	Specification	Purpose
Frame	FPV Racing Frame	Structural foundation
Flight Controller	(Model TBD)	Flight stabilization and control
ESC	Electronic Speed Controller	Motor speed regulation
Motors	Brushless Motors x4	Propulsion
Propellers	(Size TBD)	Lift generation
Battery	LiPo Battery	Power supply
GPS Receiver	GPS Module	Position tracking

AI & Computing

Component	Specification	Purpose
Single-Board Computer	Raspberry Pi Zero 2 WH	Main computing unit
AI Accelerator	Google Coral USB Accelerator	AI inference acceleration
Camera	(Model TBD)	Visual input
A/V Video Grabber	USB Video Capture	Video processing

Control & Communication

Component	Specification	Purpose
Remote Control	ELRS Compatible	Manual control
ELRS Receiver	ExpressLRS Receiver	RC signal reception
FPV Transmitter	Video TX	Real-time video transmission
FPV Goggles	(Model TBD)	Pilot video display

Assembly Instructions

Step 1: Frame Assembly

• Assemble the drone frame according to manufacturer instructions
• Ensure all screws are properly tightened
• Check frame alignment

Step 2: Motor Installation

• Mount motors to frame arms
• Connect ESC to motors (pay attention to motor direction)
• Secure wiring with zip ties

Step 3: Flight Controller Setup

• Mount flight controller at center of frame
• Ensure orientation is correct (arrow forward)
• Connect ESCs to flight controller

Step 4: Raspberry Pi Integration

• Mount Raspberry Pi securely on frame
• Connect camera module to Pi camera port
• Connect Google Coral USB Accelerator to Pi USB port

Step 5: Power Distribution

• Connect battery connector to PDB (Power Distribution Board)
• Wire power to flight controller, Raspberry Pi, and FPV transmitter
• Use appropriate voltage regulators (5V for Pi, etc.)

Step 6: GPS & Receiver

• Mount GPS receiver on top of drone (clear view of sky)
• Install ELRS receiver
• Connect to flight controller

Step 7: FPV System

• Mount FPV camera
• Connect A/V video grabber
• Wire to FPV transmitter
• Configure video channels

Wiring Diagram

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   Battery (LiPo)                │
└──────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┘
                   │
          ┌────────▼─────────┐
          │  Power Dist.     │
          │  Board (PDB)     │
          └┬─────┬─────┬────┬┘
           │     │     │    │
    ┌──────▼┐  ┌─▼──┐ ┌▼──┐│
    │ ESC 1 │  │ESC2│ │..││
    └───┬───┘  └─┬──┘ └┬──┘│
        │        │     │    │
    ┌───▼───┐  ┌─▼──┐ ┌▼──┐│
    │Motor1 │  │M2  │ │.. ││
    └───────┘  └────┘ └───┘│
                            │
         ┌──────────────────▼──────┐
         │   Flight Controller     │
         │  (Betaflight/ArduPilot) │
         └──┬─────────┬─────────┬──┘
            │         │         │
     ┌──────▼──┐  ┌───▼───┐ ┌──▼────┐
     │  ELRS   │  │  GPS  │ │ RasPi │
     │Receiver │  │Module │ │Zero 2 │
     └─────────┘  └───────┘ └───┬───┘
                                 │
                          ┌──────▼───────┐
                          │ Google Coral │
                          │ Accelerator  │
                          └──────────────┘

Safety Considerations

⚠️ Important Safety Notes:

1. Battery Safety
   • Never leave LiPo batteries unattended while charging
   • Store in LiPo safe bags
   • Check for swelling or damage before each use
2. Propeller Safety
   • Remove propellers during testing
   • Wear eye protection
   • Keep hands away from spinning props
3. Electrical Safety
   • Double-check wiring before powering on
   • Use proper gauge wires for current ratings
   • Insulate exposed connections
4. Flight Safety
   • Test in open areas away from people
   • Follow local drone regulations
   • Maintain visual line of sight

Testing & Calibration

Initial Power-On Tests

1. Power on without propellers
2. Check all LED indicators
3. Verify flight controller boot sequence
4. Test Raspberry Pi connection
5. Check camera feed

Sensor Calibration

1. Accelerometer calibration
2. Magnetometer calibration
3. GPS initialization
4. ESC calibration

Range Test

1. Test RC signal range
2. Verify video transmission range
3. Check telemetry connection

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Problem: Motors not spinning

• Check ESC connections
• Verify battery voltage
• Check flight controller configuration

Problem: No video feed

• Check camera connections
• Verify FPV transmitter power
• Match video channels on goggles

Problem: Raspberry Pi not booting

• Check power supply (5V regulated)
• Verify SD card installation
• Check for loose connections

Problem: GPS not acquiring signal

• Ensure clear view of sky
• Wait 2-3 minutes for initial lock
• Check GPS module orientation

Next Steps

Once hardware is assembled and tested:

1. Configure Software
2. Set up Flight Controller
3. Install AI Framework

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