Final Project¶

Final Project Idea¶

This section describes my final project idea.

🚁 Educational Drone

The idea is to create a tiny drone that’s safe for indoor use, particularly in classrooms. The goal is to develop a hands-on educational tool that makes learning STEM concepts more interactive and engaging. It will come with a training kit, enabling students to explore topics like aerodynamics, electronics, basic coding, and sensor integration — including components like a gyroscope. The focus is on creating an affordable, user-friendly, and effective learning experience for both teachers and students.

Sketch1

Key Features¶

Compact and Safe Design: Small, lightweight, and safe for indoor use — ideal for classroom environments.
Training Kit Included: Comes with a complete kit that includes tools, components, and learning materials to support interactive learning.
Classroom-Ready Operation: Designed to minimize noise and power for a safe and comfortable indoor learning experience.
Wireless Control: Can be controlled via a smartphone application, allowing easy and intuitive operation.
Affordable and Accessible: Built using low-cost components, making it accessible for schools, workshops, and individual learners.

Why This Idea?¶

This project aims to bridge the gap between theoretical quadcopter concepts and hands-on learning. Many students study topics like physics and aerodynamics without experiencing how these concepts function in real-world systems. This educational drone provides a fun and practical way for students to apply what they learn. It promotes curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving while introducing them to modern drone technologies — all within a safe, classroom-friendly environment.

Block Diagram & Components¶

✅ Components Required¶

XIAO ESP32-S3
4x Brushed Coreless DC Motors (1900KV)
4x Motor Driver (MX1508)
MPU6050 (gyroscope + accelerometer)
LiPo battery (850mAh-1100mAh)
Propellers (CW & CCW)
Wires, connectors, headers
Filament

Connections Diagram Overview¶

MPU6050 to XIAO (I2C)¶

MPU6050 Pin	XIAO Pin
VCC	3.3V
GND	GND
SDA	GPIO 5
SCL	GPIO 6

Motor Driver to XIAO¶

MX1508 Pin	XIAO Pin	Motor Position
IN1	GPIO 44	Front Left
IN2	GPIO 7	Front Left
IN3	GPIO 8	Back Left
IN4	GPIO 9	Back Left
-------	-------------	----------------
IN1	GPIO 1	Front Right
IN2	GPIO 2	Front Right
IN3	GPIO 3	Back Right
IN4	GPIO 4	Back Right

Drone Block Diagram¶

                     ┌─────────────────────────┐
                     │     LiPo Battery (3.7V) │
                     └──────────┬──────────────┘
                                │
               ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
               │     Motor Driver (MX1508)               │
               │                                         │
               │   ┌──────┐  ┌──────┐  ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ │
               │   │M1 FL │  │M2 FR │  │M3 RL │ │M4 RR │ │
               │   └──┬───┘  └──┬───┘  └──┬───┘ └──┬───┘ │
               └──────┼─────────┼─────────┼────────┼─────┘
                      │         │         │        │
                      ▼         ▼         ▼        ▼
                ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐
                │Motor 1 │ │Motor 2 │ │Motor 3 │ │Motor 4 │
                └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘ └────────┘

                                ▲
                                │ PWM Control
                    ┌────────────────────────────┐
                    │      Xiao ESP32S3 MCU      │
                    │                            │
                    │  ┌──────────────────────┐  │
                    │  │  MPU6050 (IMU Sensor)│  │
                    │  └────────┬─────────────┘  │
                    │           │ I2C (SCL/SDA)  │
                    └───────────┴────────────────┘