How to Make Drone with Camera – A Beginner’s Guide by Aasma Aerospace

Have you ever looked up at the sky, spotted a drone, and thought: “I wish I could build one of those myself”? Well, you can—and it’s not as complicated as it seems. In this detailed guide, we’ll show you how to make a drone with camera from scratch using easily available components. Whether you’re a hobbyist, student, or aspiring UAV engineer, this blog is designed to get you flying with your very own custom drone.

Why Build Your Own Drone with a Camera?
Building your own drone isn’t just about saving money or showing off your skills (though both are perks). It teaches you core principles of:

• Aerodynamics
• Electronics and soldering
• Flight control systems
• Wireless transmission and FPV (first-person view) setups

And if you’re adding a camera, you’ll also learn how to capture aerial footage, stream live video, or even enter the world of drone photography and videography.

Understanding the Basics Before You Begin

Before diving into how to make a drone with camera, it’s important to understand the core parts involved:

 Essential Drone Components:

• Frame: Holds everything together. Choose carbon fiber or plastic for strength and weight balance.
  
• Brushless Motors (×4): Powers the propellers to lift the drone.
  
• Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs): Regulates motor speed.
  
• Flight Controller: The brain of the drone (e.g., KK2, Betaflight F4).
  
• Propellers (×4): Converts motor power into thrust.
  
• Battery (LiPo): Powers all electronics. Usually 3S (11.1V) or 4S (14.8V).
  
• Transmitter & Receiver: Your remote control and the link to the drone.
  
• Camera: Either an FPV cam or a lightweight action camera (like RunCam or GoPro clone).
  
• FPV Transmitter (Optional): Sends live video from the drone to your goggles/screen. 

Step-by-Step: How to Make Drone with Camera

Step 1: Choose Your Frame

Start with a 250mm or 450mm quadcopter frame. These sizes are ideal for beginners and provide enough space to mount a camera securely.

Tip: Use a modular frame to easily swap out damaged parts later.

Step 2: Install Motors & ESCs

• Mount one brushless motor on each arm.
• Solder each motor’s three wires to an ESC.
• Attach the ESCs to the arms with zip ties or double-sided tape.
• Make sure each motor is spinning in the correct direction by doing a quick power-on test (without propellers). Adjust the wiring if needed.

Step 3: Mount the Flight Controller

• Place the flight controller on vibration-dampening foam or gel pads.
  
• Connect ESC signal wires to the corresponding motor outputs on the board.
  
• Connect the battery power through a power distribution board or directly to the controller (based on design).
  

Use configuration software like Betaflight or INAV to load firmware and calibrate the sensors.

Step 4: Add Your Propellers

Don’t attach propellers until you’ve confirmed motor direction! When you do:

• Use clockwise (CW) and counter-clockwise (CCW) propellers on opposite corners.
  

Tighten them snugly but avoid over-torquing.

Step 5: Power Up with Battery

• Connect your battery using an XT60 connector.
  
• Secure the battery under or over the frame with a strap.
  
• Make sure the center of gravity is balanced before flight.

Step 6: Install the Camera

Now we get to the exciting part of how to make drone with camera:

Option 1: FPV Camera

• Lightweight and real-time streaming.
  
• Mount to the front of the frame.
  
• Connect to a video transmitter (VTx), which then transmits to goggles or screen.
  

Option 2: Action Camera (HD)

• Use for high-quality recordings.
  
• Secure it with a vibration pad or anti-slip mount.
  
• Some budget cameras support Wi-Fi streaming.
  

If your drone supports both, you can fly FPV while simultaneously recording in HD.

Step 7: Bind and Configure Transmitter

• Bind your transmitter and receiver according to the manual.
  
• Connect receiver outputs to the flight controller.
  
• Assign channels for throttle, pitch, yaw, and roll.
  

Test all controls before flight using Betaflight’s receiver tab.

Step 8: Calibration and Safety Check

• Calibrate the ESCs, accelerometer, and gyroscope using flight controller software.
  
• Perform a test run without propellers to check all systems.
  

Once confirmed, attach the props and prepare for your first takeoff.

 Capturing Footage from Your Drone

Once your drone is airborne, it’s time to capture those stunning views:

• Use a gimbal (if supported) for smoother footage.
  
• Fly during golden hour for beautiful lighting.
  
• Practice slow, steady maneuvers to avoid jerky video.
  

If you’re using an FPV cam, make sure your goggles or screen can record the feed for playback.

 Troubleshooting Tips

• Drone flips on takeoff: Incorrect motor direction or propeller placement.
  
• No camera feed: Check VTx frequency/channel or power connection.
  
• Short flight time: Try a higher-capacity LiPo or optimize weight.
  

Vibration in video: Add dampeners or balance your props.

Advantages of Building Your Own Camera Drone

• Customization: Choose the camera, controller, and software that suits you.
  
• Learning Opportunity: Understand every system in your UAV.
  
• Cost Efficiency: DIY drones can be cheaper than commercial ones with similar specs.
• Upgradeable: Add GPS, autonomous flight, or object detection later.

Learn More with Aasma Aerospace

At Aasma Aerospace, we empower tech enthusiasts to design, build, and optimize high-performance UAVs. Whether you’re a student or a drone startup, our tutorials and CFD-optimized designs help you push the limits of what drones can do.

Explore more DIY drone builds, flight tests, and tutorials on our
🎥 Aasma Aerospace YouTube Channel
and visit our Product page for deep dives on tuning, design, and camera integration