The SkyByte Mini is a simple, miniature drone powered by the ESP32-WROOM-32 WiFi and Bluetooth module, and comprised of an MPU6050 inertial measurement unit, coreless motors, and plastic propellers.
The Espressif ESP32-WROOM-32 module on the board provides a wireless connection that can be used to control the drone from a mobile app. The printed circuit board uses an “all-in-one” design that removes the need for 3D-printed parts and makes for a more compact final product. The drone’s functionality can be extended with external sensors to suit desired applications. It can be used for hobbyist and educational purposes.
SkyByte Mini drone specifications:
- Wireless Module – ESP32-WROOM-32 module, dual-core Tensilica processor, with integrated Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.2 LE
- Motor control – 4x SI2302 N-Channel 20V MOSFET
- USB – USB-C port for power and programming
- Sensor – TDK Invensense MPU6050 IMU 3-axis gyroscope and 3-axis accelerometer
- Misc- 3x debugging LEDs, 1x power LED, 1x charging LED
- Power Management
- Microchip MIC5219 low-drop regulator for voltage regulation
- TP4056 charge controller IC
It runs the ESP32-Drone firmware, an open-source mini drone/quadcopter solution for ESP32 chips. The ESP32-Drone firmware makes it possible to control the drone via an open-source mobile app (Android/iOS) or gamepad over a wireless connection.
The SkyByte is live on Kickstarter and has raised over $3,500 with 25 days to go. Available rewards include a single SkyByte Mini drone for $54 (Super Early Bird offer), one SkyByte Mini Drone for $65 (Kickstarter Special), and five drones for $295 (Saver Pack), The drone comes semi-assembled, but the battery must be purchased separately. Add-ons are also sold via the Kickstarter page. You can buy the assembled version for $33 extra, a propeller for $5, and a coreless motor for $7. More details are available on Kickstarter.
Frankly, it is the same thing as the Circuit Digest DIY ESP32 drone that you can build yourself with some effort, but less money (BoM cost: about $12) and with any upgrades you prefer. The PiWings 2.0 drone is another alternative that uses a dual-microcontroller setup with a Raspberry Pi Pico and an ESP8266 Wi-Fi module.
[CNXSoft: Update: The Kickstarter campaign now reads:
Important Announcement – We have temporarily removed all images from the campaign for certain reasons. The images of the SkyByte Mini will be republished soon..
The actual reason is that they copied all images and even parts of the videos from the Circuit Digest project mentioned above]
Tomisin is a writer specializing in hardware product reviews, comparisons, and explainers. He is very passionate about small form factor and single-board computers.
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Please remove this news. They’re using our content to run that bogus crowdfunding campaign.
Please contact Kickstarter to ask them to take down the project.
I reported it to Kickstarter. So lazy to just cut-and-paste all of your stuff.
Thank you. I have done the same, but no response from Kickstarter.
I wish this existed when I did my bachelor thesis. Basically did this board and wrote all the software…
What sort of battery life did you get? Did you enter it as part of the IMechE UAS Challenge?
This just seems expensive for what it is.
Also the MPU6050 which was very common for hobbyists has been EOL or discontinued for a while now (years if I remember correctly), why are they using it for a new product?
This is the “DIY ESP32 drone costs about $12 to make” posted here 3 months ago. The board layout and most of the images for the kickstarter are identical, the only question is whether it’s the same creator, or someone being shady and making claims to work that isn’t theirs.
The Kickstarter campaign is a scam. They copied everything from my original project including images, videos and even project documentation.
Joshua Bardwell Set esp32 has been taken down for good