- Research indicates that modifying a foam hand-thrown airplane requires careful integration and testing of components.
- Safety, weight management, and balance are essential for achieving successful flight.
- Evidence supports using an ESP32 for control, with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi enabling interaction via a mobile app.
The LZ-Explorer-2 project modifies a 17.5-inch foam airplane using components such as a 3.7V lithium battery, a 20A brushed ESC, 9g micro servos, and an ESP32 for control. Ensure all materials listed in the table below are prepared for a seamless modification process.
| Item | Quantity | Detailed Function |
|---|---|---|
| 17.5-inch Hand-Thrown Foam Airplane | 1 | Lightweight foam fuselage serving as the structural base of the airplane. |
| 3.7V Lithium Battery | 1 | Powers the ESC, motors, servos, ESP32, and FPV camera; 1000mAh capacity ensures stable power delivery. |
| 20A Brushed ESC | 1 | Regulates the speed of two 8520 hollow cup motors; includes BEC for 5V power output. |
| 9g Micro Servos | 4 | Manage control surfaces (elevon/aileron, elevator, rudder, direction adjustment); require PWM signals. |
| Servo Control Board | 1 | Provides precise PWM signal control for synchronized servo movements. |
| Servo Mounts (Brackets) | 4 | Secure servos to control surfaces, with spares for replacements. They are used to control the aircraft's control surfaces: left right 3 in 1 ailerons flaps spoilers boards, left right elevators/boards, rudder, and motor angle rudder (for vertical takeoff). Each servo requires a PWM signal to ensure precise control to achieve the desired flight attitude and vertical takeoff functions. |
| 8520 Hollow Cup Motors | 4 | Deliver thrust for propulsion. |
| 58mm Propellers | 4 | Convert motor rotation into forward thrust, paired with the motors. |
| Arduino/ES Development Board (e.g., ESP32-WROOM-32) | 1 | Central control unit; receives Bluetooth signals and generates PWM for ESC and servos. |
| FPV Camera with Transmitter | 1 | 5.8GHz camera for real-time video streaming to a ground monitor or computer. |
| FPV Video Receiver | 1 | Receives video signals for live monitoring on a computer or display. |
| Hot Glue Gun / Fiber Adhesive Tape | 1 | Secures components like motors and servos for stability during flight. |
| Utility Knife | 1 | Cuts foam or materials to adjust fuselage shape and dimensions. |
| Wire / Rope | 10+ | Reinforces the structure and connects components for added stability. |
| Jumper Wires and Connectors | 30+ | Connect ESP32 PWM pins to ESC and servos for reliable signal transmission. |
| Android Phone | 1 | Ideally foldable with split-screen capability for viewing camera feed and control; use ESP-Drone_0.7.3.apk for testing. |
Modify your foam airplane by following these steps:
- Prepare the Airframe: Cut or adjust the foam to accommodate motors, servos, and other components.
- Install Motors and Propellers: Securely attach motors and propellers to the airframe.
- Mount Servos: Connect servos to control surfaces using mounts and linkages.
- Set Up the ESC: Link the ESC to the motors and battery for power distribution.
- Integrate the ESP32: Connect the ESP32 to the ESC and servos for control functionality.
- Add the FPV Camera: Install the camera and transmitter, ensuring proper power and connections.
- Wire Components: Use jumper wires to connect all parts, verifying correct wiring.
- Program the ESP32: Upload control code, setting it up for Bluetooth or Wi-Fi commands.
- Ground Test: Check motor response, servo movement, and FPV feed before flight.
- Flight Test: Conduct initial flights in a safe area, adjusting trims and settings as needed.
This section offers an in-depth guide to transform the LZ-Explorer-2 hand-thrown foam airplane into a remote-controlled, FPV-capable aircraft using an ESP32, complete with reminders, procedures, code, and references.
The LZ-Explorer-2 project converts a 17.5-inch foam airplane into an RC plane with FPV features. Key components include a 3.7V 1000mAh lithium battery, a 20A brushed ESC with BEC, four 9g micro servos, four 8520 hollow cup motors with 58mm propellers, and an ESP32-WROOM-32 board. Additional tools and items like an FPV camera, servo control board, hot glue gun, and utility knife complete the setup. An Android phone with split-screen capability is recommended, using the ESP-Drone_0.7.3.apk app for control and monitoring.
References include a primary Bilibili tutorial (Bilibili Video), a YouTube ESP32 drone video (YouTube Video), and additional Bilibili videos on airplane modifications (Bilibili Video, Bilibili Video).
Consider these critical points during modification:
- Safety: Handle batteries, electronics, and propellers carefully to prevent injury.
- Weight Management: Keep added weight minimal (target ~50g total flying weight) to maintain foam airplane balance.
- Balance and CG: Adjust the center of gravity to 20%-25% of chord length, using battery placement for tuning.
- Component Testing: Verify motors, servos, and ESC functionality individually before assembly.
- Secure Connections: Use jumper wires (30+) and reinforce with glue or tape to ensure reliability.
- Calibration: Follow ESC and servo calibration steps (e.g., ESC sequence: 0, 180, 0) for smooth operation.
- FPV Camera Positioning: Mount the camera for a clear view, securely powered and connected.
- Local Regulations: Check laws for RC and FPV flight compliance.
- Decalage and Incidence: Set wing-stabilizer angle near zero, with 1-2° motor downthrust.
- ESC Cooling: Provide ventilation to prevent ESC overheating.
- Elevator Angle: Adjust glider-specific up angles for powered flight.
These tips draw from community advice, such as Reddit discussions (Reddit Post).
Follow these detailed steps:
- Prepare the Airframe: Cut foam with a utility knife to fit components, reinforcing with wire/rope (10+).
- Install Motors and Propellers: Mount four 8520 motors with 58mm propellers, securing with glue/tape.
- Mount Servos: Attach four 9g servos for elevon/aileron, elevator, rudder, and direction, using brackets.
- Set Up the ESC: Connect the 20A ESC to motors and battery, ensuring BEC powers other components.
- Integrate the ESP32: Wire the ESP32 to the ESC and servos via PWM pins, using 30+ jumper wires.
- Add the FPV Camera: Install the 5.8GHz camera and transmitter, connecting to the battery or ESP32.
- Wiring: Ensure correct power (3.5V~3.0V) and signal connections with insulated jumper wires.
- Programming: Upload ESP32 code for Bluetooth ("ESP32_RC_Plane") or Wi-Fi (SSID: ESP-DRONE_XXXX, PASSWORD: 12345678).
- Testing: Ground-test motors, servos, and FPV, adjusting settings like RSSI (-85 dBm) and voltage alerts (<3.7V).
- Flight Testing: Launch at 60% throttle, level at 20-25%, and adjust CG/elevator for smooth flight.
These steps are inspired by guides like the Instructables WiFi plane project (Instructables Guide).
Basic Bluetooth control code managing the ESC and servos:
#include <BluetoothSerial.h>
#include <ESP32Servo.h>
// Define pins
#define ESC_PIN 18
#define SERVO1_PIN 19
#define SERVO2_PIN 21
#define SERVO3_PIN 22
#define SERVO4_PIN 23
BluetoothSerial SerialBT;
Servo esc;
Servo servo1, servo2, servo3, servo4;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(115200);
SerialBT.begin("ESP32_RC_Plane"); // Bluetooth device name
// Attach ESC and servos
esc.attach(ESC_PIN);
servo1.attach(SERVO1_PIN);
servo2.attach(SERVO2_PIN);
servo3.attach(SERVO3_PIN);
servo4.attach(SERVO4_PIN);
// Initialize ESC
esc.write(0);
delay(1000);
esc.write(180);
delay(1000);
esc.write(0);
}
void loop() {
if (SerialBT.available()) {
String command = SerialBT.readStringUntil('\n');
// Example format: "THR:50,SRV1:90,SRV2:90,SRV3:90,SRV4:90"
int thr = parseValue(command, "THR");
int srv1 = parseValue(command, "SRV1");
int srv2 = parseValue(command, "SRV2");
int srv3 = parseValue(command, "SRV3");
int srv4 = parseValue(command, "SRV4");
esc.write(thr);
servo1.write(srv1);
servo2.write(srv2);
servo3.write(srv3);
servo4.write(srv4);
}
}
int parseValue(String command, String key) {
int start = command.indexOf(key + ":") + key.length() + 1;
int end = command.indexOf(",", start);
if (end == -1) end = command.length();
String valueStr = command.substring(start, end);
return valueStr.toInt();
}For Wi-Fi, adapt the ESP-Drone firmware (GitHub - ESP-Drone) and use the ESP-Drone_0.7.3.apk (ESP-Drone APK).
- Main Tutorial: Bilibili Video - DIY foam airplane modification.
- ESP32 Drone: YouTube Video - Smallest ESP32 drone with phone control.
- Modification Tutorials: Bilibili Video, Bilibili Video - Airplane and foam board guides.
- Technical Resources: ESP-Drone Documentation, Instructables Guide, GitHub - ESP32 RC Plane, HowToMechatronics Tutorial.