It seems like the widespread use of delivery drones by companies like Amazon and Wal-Mart has been perpetually just out of reach. Of course robotics is a tricky field, and producing a fleet of these machines reliable enough to be cost effective has proven to be quite a challenge. But on an individual level, turning any drone into one that can deliver a package is not only doable but is something [Iloke-Alusala] demonstrates with their latest project.
The project aims to be able to turn any drone into a delivery drone, in this case using a FPV drone as the platform. Two hitch-like parts are 3D printed, one which adds an attachment point to the drone and another which attaches to the package, allowing the drone to easily pick up the package and then drop it off quickly. The real key to this build is the control mechanism. [Iloke-Alusala] used an ESP32 to tap into the communications between the receiver and the flight controller. When the ESP32 detects a specific signal has been sent to the flight controller, it can activate the mechanism on the 3D printed hitch to either grab on to a package or release it at a certain point.
While this is a long way from a fully autonomous fleet of delivery drones, it goes a long way into showing that individuals can use existing drones to transport useful amounts of material and also sets up a way for an ESP32 to decode and use a common protocol used in drones, making it easy to expand their capabilities in other ways as well. After all, if we have search and rescue drones we could also have drones that deliver help to those stranded.
Finally, no more asking for permission from DJI to fly it anywhere!
Perhaps because it would have so little value. It’s a solution in search of a problem. A really annoying solution.
Emergency services might in those kinds of situations.
If your emergency is bubbletea, then i would suggest you to visit Shenzhen, the delivery drones seem quite popular for that over here it seems …
Couldn’t you just ask your dad to sort things out?
It’s been very useful for both sides in Ukraine – for delivering grenades from the air.
Do a search on drop mechs on 3d printer sites there’s literally 100s.
Come on, Ardupilot has function to AUTONOMOUSLY place payload for years! I will automatically descend, detect it is touching ground, release payload (with different types of grips) and fly back up. Without human touch.
This is Betaflight, so manual control.
People have no idea how advanced Ardupilot is. Like the arguments about off line mapping I’ve been having are nuts. And Ardupilot has had offline mapping for over a decade. People think it’s was invented yesterday
In France, drones delivery is very common to deliver cell phones and drug in prison.
In soviet Russia, DIY drones deliver YOU!
I’ve had an inexpensive third party drop mechanism for my Mavic Air 2 for years. Several similar versions are sold on Amazon. It responds to the downward facing LED that can be triggered from the controller and it works fine.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08GFXHCBB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The way its done in Ukraine is they tap into DJI Aux Light.
cons – slow to pick in menu and click, leves ugly semi transparent popup for few seconds, Make supe dupe sure Aux Light is not set to ‘Auto’ when you lift off :-)
pros – very fast and easy mod
You sure mate? I’ve been there twice a year since war started and most front line pilots hate DJI. They want ELRS and a servo. Proved 10k drones so far that’s dropped dramatically since start of 2024 since the industry set up shop in Ukraine to help develop there industry
Sure I can believe nobody wants his DJI to be primarily used for drops when there are much better options, but everyone and their dog wants DJI over Skydio or homegrown for observation duty. And since you already have that Mavic in the air it doesnt hurt much to have backup package hanging under.
I guess I’m confused on this one. There are so many different payload attachments that you can buy cheap ones all over the likes of Amazon and Ebay nowadays. I see a poorly made video and an ESP32 being used for something that could be accomplished with the simplest of microcontroller. Was the goal of this project to take something simple which already exists, and complicate it? And why does he crash the drone in the end of the video? Lol
Or just use a servo. People don’t understand drones or AI it crazy the arguments I have with people who say they work in the industry. Guess my 20 years Trump’s their DJI…LOL