Hey there! When you want to learn more about FPV drone and build your own drone yourself, then you must understand the parts of a FPV drone. There are three main categories of parts: the flight system, the power system, and the FPV system. The flight system includes motors, propellers, electronic speed controllers (ESCs), a flight controller, and a radio receiver. The power system consists of a battery and a power distribution board. This guide will explain in detail what makes up a FPV drone and exactly what the parts are.
Without a doubt, beginners can absolutely build FPV drones even without any experience! If you want to build one and are unsure about how to choose from so many parts for FPV drone, you’ll understand it all after watching this video: How to Choose FPV Drone Parts.
- When selecting a frame, ensure the mounting holes match those of the flight controller.
- Pay attention to the KV value of the motor and choose the appropriate power according to your needs.
- When choosing an Electronic Speed Controller (ESC), make sure its maximum current rating is higher than that of the motor.
- Select the appropriate flight controller (FC) and video transmission equipment (VTX) based on the type of drone.
- For FPV VTX and goggles, choose between analog and digital systems depending on your flying needs and interests.
- Consider the features of ELRS and TBS Crossfire protocols when choosing receivers and VTX modules.
- When selecting a radio controller, opt for one priced above $100 and ensure it fits your hand size and preferences.
Important Parts of FPV Drone
FPV drone consists of several components, each of which plays a key role in its performance. Major components: frame / flight control / motor / ESC /battery / camera / antenna / receiver / propeller / map transmission / remote control / In the following sections, we’ll take a closer look at these components, how to pick these parts when you’re building your FPV, and what different brands you can choose from.
FPV Frame
A drone rack is basically a frame that lets pilots see the drone in flight on live video. These racks are usually made of carbon fibre, aluminium, and other materials that support the drone’s electronics, batteries, and cameras, as well as protecting them from collisions and other damage. FPV drone frame usually have four arms and a central plate that supports the drone’s propellers and motors. The size and shape of the frame can affect the stability, speed and maneuverability of the drone. Therefore, choosing the right frame is key, and it should match the intended use and configuration of your drone. There are many different types and sizes of FPV drone frame on the market to choose from. The following factors need to be considered when selecting the right frame: weight of the drone, expected flight time, usage environment, reliability and price.
What Brands of Frame are Available
There are more common brands of FPV drone frame on the market, five of which are listed below as mainstream brands.
- iFlight
- GEPRC
- AOS
- TBS
- Speedybee
FPV Flight Controller
FPV (First Person View) flight control is an important part of , it is the core device that controls the flight of the FPV. The flight control mainly consists of a controller, sensors and software, which work together to stabilize and control the flight of the drone. The controller is the main component of the FPV flight control, which is usually a microcontroller or microprocessor with all the functions needed to calculate and execute the UAV flight mission.
The controller collects data about the drone’s attitude, acceleration, rotation speed and position through sensors and uses built-in algorithms to calculate appropriate flight control commands to keep the drone stable. Sensors are another important component of flight control, and they help the controller make decisions by collecting data about the drone’s environment and state. Sensors include devices such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, and GPS (GPS is external and not available on the flight control).
What Brands of Flight Controller are Available
- MEPS
- foxxer
- datsun
- tmotor
- rush
- hobbywing
Just a heads-up: the product features and how they apply to different situations can vary from brand to brand. So, it’s important to choose the right brand and model for your needs and the situation.
FPV Motors
FPV drones typically use brushless motors. Brushless motors are high efficiency, high power output motors and they use an electronic controller to control the speed and direction of the motor. Brushless motors have a longer life and higher efficiency than traditional brushed motors, but they are also more expensive.
The choice of drone motor is usually related to the size, weight and expected flight speed of the drone. Typically, the larger and heavier the drone, the more powerful the motor needs to be to ensure it can fly steadily through the air. Likewise, drones that need to fly at higher speeds require more powerful motors.
When choosing a drone motor, you also need to consider the motor’s KV value, which indicates the motor’s speed per minute for every 1V of voltage. A higher KV value is usually suitable for lighter drones, while a lower KV value is suitable for heavier drones. Also, it’s important to make sure the motor can handle the maximum power and current it’ll need to fly the drone.
In short, choosing the right brushless motor for the size, weight and flight speed of the drone is an important factor in ensuring stable flight and performance of the drone. Propellers are responsible for generating lift and propelling the drone forward. They come in different sizes and shapes and are designed to be compatible with specific motor types.
What Brands of Motors are Available
- T-Motor
- EMAX
- BrotherHobby
- MEPS
- Lumenier
All of these brands are well-known brands in the FPV drone motor market, and their motors have a certain level of performance and quality assurance. Among them, T-Motor, EMAX, BrotherHobby and MEPS are among the most popular brands in the market. The motors of these brands all have high performance and stability and can provide a better flying experience. In addition, all of these brands have different models and specifications of motors to choose from for different types of FPV drones. Users can choose the most suitable motor according to their needs and budget.
Electronic Speed Controller (ESC)
The electronic speed controller (ESC) of the FPV UAV is an important component that connects the motor to the UAV flight control.The role of the ESC is to convert the commands from the flight control into the current and voltage signals required by the motor to control the speed and direction of the motor.
When choosing the best ESC for racing quadcopters, it’s important to consider things like the maximum power, maximum current and KV value of the UAV motor. It’s also essential to match the current and power rating of the ESC to the motor to ensure a good match between the motor and the ESC. Usually, the rated current of the ESC should be greater than the maximum continuous operating current of the motor to ensure that the ESC can withstand the operation of the motor at maximum throttle.
In addition, the ESC refresh rate, which is the number of signals the ESC sends to the motor per second, needs to be considered. A higher refresh rate can improve the response speed and control accuracy of the motor, thus improving the stability and performance of the UAV. Common ESC refresh rates range from 50 Hz to 500 Hz, and higher-end UAVs may require higher refresh rates. In short, when choosing an ESC for FPV UAVs, it’s important to make sure the motor and ESC are a good match so the UAV can fly stably and perform well.
What Brands of Electronic Speed Controllers (ESC) are Available
- T-Motor
- Hobbywing
- MEPS
- Foxxer
- EMAX
All these brands are well-known brands in the FPV drone ESC market, and their ESCs have certain performance and quality assurance. Among them, T-Motor, Hobbywing and Spedix are one of the most popular brands in the market. All of these brands of ESCs have high performance and stability, which can provide a better flying experience. In addition, all these brands have different models and specifications of ESCs available for different types of FPV drones. Users can choose the most suitable ESC according to their needs and budget.
FPV Batteries
The FPV drone’s battery is an important part of providing the drone’s energy. Choosing the right battery allows the drone to get the best flight time, stability and performance. A common type of FPV drone battery is the lithium polymer battery (LiPo). This type of battery has the advantages of high energy density, light weight and high discharge rate, making it ideal for FPV drone applications. There are several factors to consider when choosing a battery for FPV drones.
- Voltage: FPV drones typically require a battery voltage of 12V to 22.2V. The battery voltage needs to match other components such as the flight controller, motor and ESC.
- Capacity: The battery capacity determines the flight time of the drone. The higher the capacity, the longer the flight time. However, the higher the capacity, the heavier the battery, which has an impact on the flight performance and stability of the UAV.
- Discharge rate: The higher the battery discharge rate, the higher the battery output current. When selecting a battery, you need to consider the maximum current required by the battery and the current rating of the ESC to ensure that the battery can meet the needs of the UAV.
- Size and Weight: The size and weight of the battery will also affect the performance and stability of the drone. Typically, larger drones require greater battery capacity, but this can also increase the weight and drag of the drone.
In short, when choosing batteries for FPV drones, you need to consider the voltage, capacity, discharge rate, size and weight of the battery to ensure that the drone gets the best flight time, stability and performance.
What Brands of Batteries are Available.
- Tattu
- Gens Ace
- Turnigy
- Bonka
- CNHL
- Acehe
- Thunder Power
- Venom
All these brands are well-known brands in the FPV drone battery market, and their batteries have certain performance and quality assurance. Among them, Tattu and Gens Ace are among the most popular brands in the market. The batteries of these brands have high performance and stability, which can provide a better flying experience. In addition, these brands have different models and sizes of batteries available for different types of FPV drones. Users can choose the most suitable battery according to their needs and budget.
Antennas
The antenna of an FPV drone is one of the key components for transmitting video signals from the graphical transmission to the remote control or display. Choosing the right antenna can improve the quality and stability of the video transmission. When choosing an FPV drone antenna, several factors need to be considered.
- Bandwidth: Bandwidth refers to the range of frequencies that the antenna can transmit. The higher the bandwidth of the antenna, the better the quality and stability of the video signal that can be transmitted.
- Gain: gain refers to the signal amplification ability of the antenna. The higher the gain, the longer the distance of the video signal can be transmitted.
- Polarization mode: The polarization mode of FPV drone antenna is horizontal polarization (HP), vertical polarization (VP) and circular polarization (CP). Different polarization antennas are suitable for different environments and scenarios, so you need to choose the right antenna according to the actual situation.
- Antenna types: The types of FPV drone antennas are directional antennas and omni-directional antennas. Directional antennas can enhance the signal, but can only transmit the signal in the direction in front of the antenna. Omni-directional antennas can transmit signals in all directions, but the signal strength will be relatively weak.
- Weight and size: The weight and size of the antenna are also factors to consider when choosing an antenna. Smaller antennas can reduce the weight and air resistance of the drone, improving its performance and stability.
To sum up, when choosing an antenna for FPV drones, you need to think about things like bandwidth, gain, polarization method, antenna type, weight and size. This is so that the antenna can provide high-quality video transmission and meet the needs of the drone.
What Brands of Antennas are Available
- Foxeer
- TBS (Team BlackSheep)
- Lumenier
- Menace RC
- TrueRC
- Aomway
Receiver
The FPV drone receiver is a device that receives and converts wireless signals into digital signals, and its role is to receive instructions from the remote control and then communicate them to the flight control. When choosing a receiver for FPV drones, the following factors need to be considered.
- Frequency band: There are several frequency bands available for the receiver of FPV drones, such as 5.8Ghz, 2.4Ghz, etc. You need to choose the right receiver band according to the camera and transmitter band of the drone.
- Receiving sensitivity: The receiving sensitivity determines the strength and clarity of the signal received by the receiver. Generally speaking, the higher the receiver’s receiving sensitivity, the better the signal can be received.
- Receiving distance: The receiving distance is the distance between the drone and the remote control. An appropriate receiver needs to be selected to ensure adequate signal reception at the desired distance.
- Power consumption: The receiver of FPV drones consumes a certain amount of power, so the power consumption of the receiver needs to be considered to ensure that it will continue to work during use.
- Features: Some high-end FPV drone receivers may have additional features, such as automatic channel search and automatic frequency adjustment. These features can improve the performance and reliability of the drone, but they can also increase the cost of the receiver.
In short, when choosing a receiver for FPV drones, you need to consider the frequency band, reception sensitivity, reception distance, power consumption, features and other factors to ensure that the receiver can provide stable, high-quality signal transmission and meet the needs of the drone.
What Brands of Receivers are Available.
- Fat Shark
- TBS (Team BlackSheep)
- ImmersionRC
- FuriousFPV
- Eachine
- Aomway
Propellers
The propellers of FPV drones are one of the core components of drone flight, and they convert the power generated by the motor into lift to enable the drone to fly through the air. When choosing a propeller for an FPV drone, the following factors need to be considered.
- Diameter and length: The diameter and length of the propeller are key parameters, and they directly affect the lift and thrust of the drone. In general, the larger the diameter, the more lift the drone will have, but it will also increase flight drag and power consumption. Length, on the other hand, affects the torque and responsiveness of the propeller, with longer propellers providing higher torque and slower responsiveness.
- Propeller type: There are two types of propellers, two-blade propeller and three-blade propeller. Two-blade propellers are suitable for drones that fly at high speeds and need longer endurance, while three-blade propellers are suitable for drones that need higher lift and more agility.
- Material: The material of the propeller has a great impact on its strength and stiffness. Common materials available in the market today are fiberglass and carbon fiber. Carbon fiber propellers are usually lighter and stronger, but are more expensive.
- Rotation direction: Since FPV drones require more than two propellers to work, you need to pay attention to the rotation direction of the propellers to ensure that the drone can fly smoothly. Under regular circumstances, FPV drones usually use relative rotation directions, that is, two adjacent propellers rotate in opposite directions.
So, when you’re picking out propellers for FPV drones, you’ve got to think about things like diameter and length, propeller type, material and direction of rotation. That way, you can be sure the propellers will give the drone enough lift and thrust to get the job done.
The Brands of Propellers that are Available
- Gemfan
- HQ Prop
- DALPROP
- T-MOTOR
- APC Propellers
- MEPS
All these brands are well-known brands in the FPV drone propeller market, and their propellers have certain performance and quality assurance. Among them, Gemfan and HQ Prop are one of the most popular brands in the market, and their propellers are widely used in FPV flights. The propellers of these brands have good aerodynamic performance, durability and balance, and support a wide range of diameters, inclinations and material options. In addition, these brands of propellers are available in different models and specifications for different types of FPV drones and flight scenarios.
Graphics System
The map transmission system of FPV drone refers to the system that transmits the real-time video signal captured by the camera on the aircraft to the remote control or other devices. Choosing a good graphical transmission system can help pilots better grasp the flight status and environment, and improve flight efficiency and safety. Common FPV drone VTX include.
- Digital mapping systems: Digital mapping systems transmit video data through digital signals, which provide higher picture quality and less signal interference than traditional analog mapping systems. Currently, there are some common digital mapping systems in the market, such as DJI’s HD digital mapping system and Caddx’s Nebula Pro digital mapping system.
- Analog mapping system: Analog mapping system uses analog signal to transmit video data, which has the advantages of low latency and easy debugging. Commonly used brands of analog mapping systems include TBS, Foxeer, Runcam, etc.
The following factors need to be considered when choosing a graphics system for FPV drones.
- Picture quality: The picture quality of the graphical transmission system determines the quality of the real-time video seen by the pilot, so you need to choose a graphical transmission system with high picture quality and good clarity in order to observe clearer images while flying.
- Transmission distance: Transmission distance refers to the farthest distance that a map transmission system can transmit video signals. The appropriate transmission distance needs to be selected according to the actual flight requirements.
- Anti-interference: The map transmission system may be interfered by other electromagnetic signals. It is necessary to choose a map transmission system with better anti-interference to reduce the possibility of signal interference and dropouts.
- Stability: The map transmission system must be reliable and resistant to interference to ensure the signal is not interrupted during flight.
In short, when choosing a map transmission system for FPV drones, you need to consider factors such as picture quality, transmission distance, anti-interference and stability, and choose a suitable map transmission system according to your actual needs.
What are the Brands of the VTX
- DJI
- Caddx
- Foxeer
- RunCam
- TBS (Team BlackSheep)
All of these brands of VTX products have certain performance and quality assurance, and have a wide user base in the market. Users can choose the most suitable products for them according to their needs and budget. Among them, DJI has become the market leader with its digital map transmission products, which are widely recognized for their image clarity and stability. Caddx, Foxeer and RunCam are well-known analog map transmission brands in the market, whose products have high image quality and adaptability. TBS, on the other hand, is a brand that offers both digital and analog mapping products with excellent performance, which is favored by FPV pilots. 
Remote Control
Often referred to as a remote control, a drone remote control is a device that controls the flight of a drone. It sends control signals from the user to the drone by communicating wirelessly with the drone to control parameters such as the drone’s flight direction, altitude, speed and attitude. A remote control usually consists of two parts: a mainframe and a remote control. The host usually contains a built-in battery, as well as circuitry and antennas to process user input signals and send them to the drone. The remote control usually contains control elements such as control sticks and buttons that the user can use to control the flight of the drone. Many remotes also have displays that show video images of the drone and other important info. When choosing a remote control for your FPV drone, you need to consider the following factors.
- Reliability and stability: The remote control must be able to operate reliably in a variety of environmental conditions and provide stable signal transmission.
- Ease of operation: The control elements of the remote control should be well laid out, easy to operate, and comfortable in your hand.
- Compatibility: The remote control should be compatible with the drone you are using.
- Functionality:The remote control should do what you need it to, like if you need an autopilot function, you need to choose a remote control that has that function.
- Price: The price of the remote control is also an important factor, and you need to find a cost-effective remote control.
What Brands of Remote Controls are Available
- Radiomaster
- Futaba
- Spektrum
- FlySky
- Radiolink
- Jumper
All of these brands of remote controls have a certain following and user base in the market. FrSky is one of the most popular brands in the FPV drone remote control market, and its products are well-known for their performance and reliability. Futaba and Spektrum are also well-known remote control brands, used in the drone and modelling fields. Their products are known for their excellent quality and accuracy. FlySky and Radiolink are the more cost-effective brands, and their products are suitable for entry and mid-level users. Jumper is a new brand that emerged in recent years, and its remote control products have good performance and various functions, which are loved by some FPV pilots.
