Drone Bee

A build log by Shreyan · IIT Roorkee

Building a 4 cm flying camera from zero

Seven stages, from a breadboard on my desk to a swarm of bee-sized drones that recharge themselves. I'd never soldered anything when I started. Everything goes here as it happens: the maths, the mistakes and the measurements.

Read the build logSpin the 3D model

The seven stages

  1. v0
    Egg in progress
    Bench + simulator. Nothing flies yet, on purpose.
  2. v1
    Larva
    First custom board, first flights (≈ 7 cm).
  3. v2
    Worker
    Camera, height laser, floor camera: hovers by itself.
  4. v3
    Scout
    Knows the room: markers, follow-me AI, gestures.
  5. v4
    Forager
    Outdoors: GPS map missions, long-range radio.
  6. v5
    Queen
    True 4 cm. A chip-level board made by the factory.
  7. v6
    Hive
    Three Queens, formation flight, a self-charging dock.

Why it starts at 7 cm and not 4: four props in a box of side B can each be at most B/2 across, and smaller props burn more power per gram (P ∝ 1/D). So the software gets proven on a forgiving size first. The physics →

Latest

First post coming soon.

The master planAll seven versions, the physics, the electronics, a 76-block schedule. The 3D modelEvery version at true mm scale. Click any part to see what, why and how. Egg playbookThe current stage, day by day: parts, learning path, setup.