Getting Started with Drones: Build and Customize Your Own Quadcopter

The book's stated goal on page vii is to provide the reader with basic working knowledge of aerial robotics. The authors do an excellent job of this describing the history of drones and RC aircraft, as well as providing a clear description of the systems and avionics of these devices. Woven throughout this is an articulate description, and well as clear photo documentation of the build of a basic quadcopter. This is a good book and one that I may be using as a reference if I decide to build a drone. While I do rate this book as 5-star and quite good, I did find myself wanting to read more in "Chapter 4.) Flight Controllers" about computer vision and onboard processing of visual data in real time. There are some prepackaged devices on the market, (eg the Parrot AR.Drone) that have shown a high level of sophistication. NASA as well as universities have used these specific units in their exploration of autonomous aerial robots. Builders of homemade devices may want to incorporate some of these abilities in their drones, as well as possibly expand on these capabilities.

This is a great book; I am new to drones, have purchased a couple of Ready to Fly budget models and intend to move up to a kit model with auto pilot, GPS, etc.. This book takes the mystery out of all of the major components and accessories for a done with autopilot, GPS, and radio telemetry. It also has some introductory information on video and cameras with references to additional information. It is arranged around putting together a specific quadcopter drone kit with each chapter detailing the installation of a specific component (frame, power board, electronic speed control, motors, receiver, flight controller, etc..) Each assembly step is preceded by detailed background information on purpose and selection of the component. Just chock full of information presented clearly and understandably.What this book is not is a tutorial on how to fly your drone, of which there are many. It is an excellent tutorial and reference book.

I like the info, though it is really geared to readers who are building specific quads.. which is fine, but just be aware. If you are making a custom quad, you might, like me, use this for reference, and adopt many principles to your build. I am happy that I have it to use as a reference.

This book is ok. It's usefulness is limited, however, by the fact that the drone kit it uses as an example is difficult to impossible to find or buy anymore. This book isn't terribly useful without the drone kit. I would guess there's a better introduction out there.

Not bad but starting to be dated

Good read.

This is THE book to pick up if you have no background in robotics, like me. Plus if I have any questions, I can just call the Author, since he's a friend of mine!!

IT WAS OKAY AND HAD GOOD INFORMATION BUT A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY OF INFORMATION.

The book is nice but it is out of date, the book was written in 2015 and now we are 2023.

well written, good review.*****

For a strater, there is information and a good place to start

Really good book to get you up and running.. Gives you just the right amount of background without getting too technical. I found this book to be more easy to digest during my building/learning process that the other one I bought... "teach ardunio to fly" which is good too.. But can get hung up in too much theory which is badly explained in places. Leading to the inevitable "whut?"..This book has lots of pictures outlinng the build process and what to do which is great when you do come down to actual building.Despite not being able to source a 250 little dipper frame, I applied whats in this books to a 450 frame instead.. I found the 450 frames to be easier to work with too.. Lots of space for mistakes or bad wiring which happens to newbies like me.

There are a few building drone books on the market and to be honest none of them are that good. Make: getting started with Drones is a good attempt at producing something that is useful to someone who would like to attempt to build a quad.The book is based on an open source quad design called Little Dipper although it states many of the principles can be used in other quad designs. The first chapter gives a little theory on lift, drag, thrust, throttle, yaw, pitch and roll while the rest of the chapters are devoted to airframes, power train, flight controllers/GPS, transmitters, telemetry and ardupilot software.It has small chapters on types of camera and FPV although I think these are kept small so that the builder can concentrate on getting a flying quad. At the time of writing this review a full kit of parts is promised although was not available. Of all the books on building a drone this is perhaps the most useful.