09 / PCB design / Embedded systems
ESP32 Drone Platform
A custom ESP32-S3 control-board design for a compact brushed-motor drone.
01 / Context
The problem
A compact drone controller must fit sensing, computation, motor drive and power distribution into a small, electrically coherent board.
02 / Engineering
The approach
Develop the custom controller PCB, resolve connectivity and design-rule issues, then approach hardware bring-up and controlled subsystem testing before any flight evaluation.
A KiCad flight-controller design built around the ESP32-S3, a 1S LiPo supply and 8520 brushed motors. The existing work addresses controller and sensor integration, motor-drive stages, USB connectivity and power circuitry. A complete flying platform depends on resolving electrical design checks, validating the hardware and developing and testing flight-control behavior.
03 / Toolkit
Technologies
- KiCad
- ESP32-S3
- 1S LiPo
- 8520 motors
- Motor drivers
- Embedded control
04 / Purpose
Intended contribution
Build practical understanding of integrated control electronics and the constraints of a lightweight battery-powered platform.
Development record
What has been established
The last recorded native design-rule audit did not pass. Routing, electrical verification and hardware bring-up remain unfinished; the board is not manufacturing-ready and the platform has not been flight-validated.
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