DRONES: From Zero to Flight — A Complete Beginner-to-Intermediate Guide to Drone Technology
DRONES: From Zero to Flight takes you from knowing nothing about UAVs to planning, assembling, wiring and configuring a real GPS quadcopter. It's written by the team at NEXALT Drone Technologies, who run hands-on drone workshops for engineering students, so it teaches the way we train: understand each part, see how the parts work together, build the aircraft, then fly it safely and legally. You follow one build all the way through: the NX-450 Trainer, a 450 mm ArduPilot quadcopter. By the time you reach the build chapters, you already know every part inside it. What you'll learn • What a drone is, where it came from, and the main types and weight categories • Motors, ESCs, propellers, LiPo batteries, flight controllers, sensors, GPS and radio links • How thrust works, roll/pitch/yaw, flight modes and PID control loops, explained simply • How to choose compatible parts, assemble the frame, wire everything and solder properly • ArduPilot setup in Mission Planner: calibration, flight modes, failsafes and arming checks • Pre-flight checks, your first hover, training drills, troubleshooting and maintenance • India's Drone Rules 2021: weight categories, Digital Sky, UIN registration, Remote Pilot Certificate and green/yellow/red zones, with a separate comparison against FAA and EASA rules • Real uses in agriculture, mapping, inspection and delivery, plus where AI and autonomy are heading What's inside • 161 pages · 27 chapters in 6 parts · 7 appendices • 73 original technical diagrams and illustrations • 26 NEXALT Workshop activities; most need only paper, a phone or free software • Worked calculations for thrust, battery energy, flight time, current and tilt • Printable pre-flight checklist, component checklist, troubleshooting tables, equation sheet and glossary • Review questions and references in every chapter Who it's for Engineering and diploma students, drone hobbyists, robotics enthusiasts, workshop participants and anyone starting a career in UAVs. No prior drone knowledge needed.
