FPV Flight
Overview
Section titled “Overview”Now that you have learned how to turn the drone into a sky artist, let’s give it a pair of eyes! In this project you will learn how to install a camera on the drone, watch the drone’s perspective on your phone, and experience the fun of first-person-view (FPV) flight.
What You’ll Learn
Section titled “What You’ll Learn”- How to install a camera module
- How to connect a camera to the ESP32
- How to implement First-Person View (FPV)
- Real-time video streaming
Materials Needed
Section titled “Materials Needed”| Item | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Assembled drone | 1 | The drone built in Project 03 |
| OV2640 camera module | 1 | For first-person view |
| USB cable | 1 | For firmware flashing |
| Computer | 1 | For downloading and flashing firmware |
Step 1: Install the Camera
Section titled “Step 1: Install the Camera”1.1 Mount the camera
Section titled “1.1 Mount the camera”- Use double-sided tape to secure the OV2640 camera module on the front of the drone’s frame
- Make sure the camera lens faces forward, slightly tilted downward (about 15 degrees)
1.2 Camera wiring
Section titled “1.2 Camera wiring”Connect the OV2640 camera module to the ESP32 development board:
- Camera VCC → ESP32 3.3V
- Camera GND → ESP32 GND
- Camera SCL → ESP32 GPIO 22
- Camera SDA → ESP32 GPIO 21
Step 2: Flash the Camera Firmware
Section titled “Step 2: Flash the Camera Firmware”2.1 Download the camera firmware
Section titled “2.1 Download the camera firmware”- Go to the resource download page and download
fpv.binto your desktop
2.2 Flash the firmware
Section titled “2.2 Flash the firmware”- Hold down the “BOOT” button on the ESP32 board while plugging the USB cable into the computer
- Open
flash_tool.exeand select thefpv.binfile - Click “Flash” and wait for the process to complete (about 10 seconds)
- After the tool shows “Flash successful”, unplug the USB cable
Step 3: Experience First-Person View
Section titled “Step 3: Experience First-Person View”3.1 Connect to the drone
Section titled “3.1 Connect to the drone”- Turn on the drone power (the lithium battery switch)
- Connect your phone to the drone’s Wi-Fi (SSID:
ESP-Drone, password:12345678) - Open the
Drone Controlapp
3.2 View the camera feed
Section titled “3.2 View the camera feed”- Tap the “Camera” button in the app
- The screen will show what the drone sees!
- Control the drone and feel like you are actually flying it!
3.3 Flight test
Section titled “3.3 Flight test”- Try flying the drone indoors and watch the camera feed
- Mind the flight safety — avoid hitting obstacles
- Enjoy observing your surroundings from a new perspective
Step 4: Challenge Tasks
Section titled “Step 4: Challenge Tasks”4.1 Ceiling exploration challenge
Section titled “4.1 Ceiling exploration challenge”- Fly the drone up toward the ceiling
- Use the camera to capture the ceiling
- See what interesting details you can find!
4.2 Obstacle traversal challenge
Section titled “4.2 Obstacle traversal challenge”- Set up simple obstacles indoors (chairs, tables, etc.)
- Use the first-person view to fly through the obstacles
- Practice precise control and spatial awareness
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”No camera feed
Section titled “No camera feed”- Check the camera wiring
- Confirm the firmware has been flashed successfully
- Check whether the camera is damaged
Video is laggy
Section titled “Video is laggy”- Make sure the battery is sufficiently charged
- Reduce Wi-Fi interference in the flight environment
- Keep the phone close enough to the drone
Achievement
Section titled “Achievement”Congratulations! Your drone now has a pair of eyes! By installing a camera and experiencing first-person view, you have entered a new realm of drone flight. You can now see the world from your drone’s perspective like a real pilot — it’s an amazing experience.
Next Steps
Section titled “Next Steps”In the next project, you will learn how to make the drone automatically track a red ball, becoming your “tagalong” and experiencing smarter flight features.