Build a Drone Using Daspilot Plugfly Flight Controller (Complete Guide)

Building a drone doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. With the Daspilot Plugfly Flight Controller, you can assemble, calibrate, and fly your quadcopter with minimal effort—even if you’re a beginner.

This guide walks you through the complete process—from selecting components to your first flight.

🔧 Recommended Components

For this build, we recommend the following setup:

• Motors: 1400KV Brushless DC Motors

• Propellers: 8-inch

• ESC: 30A ESC with 5V BEC

• Frame: F450 Quadcopter Frame

• Battery: 3S 2200mAh 25C LiPo

• Flight Controller: Daspilot Plugfly

• Receiver & Transmitter: PPM-supported system (Flysky FSi6)

  
  

🛠️ Step-by-Step Assembly

Step 1: Assemble the Frame

Start by assembling your F450 frame. Ensure all arms are tightly secured and aligned properly.

Step 2: Mount the Motors

Fix all four motors onto the arms of the frame using screws.

Step 3: ESC & Power Connections

• Solder the ESC power wires to the frame’s Power Distribution Board (PDB)

• Connect each ESC to its respective motor

  
  

  

  

Step 4: Install Plugfly

Use foam double-sided tape to mount the Daspilot Plugfly on the top side of the frame.

👉 Make sure it is:

• Firmly fixed

• Properly oriented (follow arrow direction on board)

  
  

  

Step 5: Connect ESCs to Plugfly

Connect the ESC signal wires to the 4 motor channels on Plugfly as labeled on the board.

Step 6: Connect Receiver

Use the provided cable to connect your PPM receiver to the Plugfly PPM port.

⚙️ Calibration Process

Plugfly simplifies calibration using onboard buttons:

• R Button → Radio Calibration

• E Button → ESC Calibration

• A Button → Accelerometer Calibration

  
  

📡 1. Radio Calibration

1. Center all trims on your transmitter

2. Enable PPM mode

3. Keep sticks centered, throttle low

4. Hold R button for 5 seconds

👉 Yellow LED will flash → calibration in progress👉 Do NOT move sticks during this

✅ Verification

Input	LED
Roll Right	Green
Pitch Up	Green
Yaw Right	Green
Throttle Up	Green
Roll Left / Pitch Down / Yaw Left	Red
Throttle Down	No light

👉 If incorrect → reverse that channel in transmitter

After completion → Restart Plugfly

⚡ 2. ESC Calibration

1. Hold E button for 5 seconds → solid white light

2. Disconnect and reconnect battery

3. Flashing white light = full throttle signal

4. Press E button again → low throttle

👉 ESCs will complete calibration tones👉 Wait for green light

Restart Plugfly again.

📏 3. Accelerometer Calibration

1. Keep drone on a flat, level surface

2. Hold A button for 5 seconds

👉 Red light = do not move warning👉 Flashing red + blue = calibration in progress👉 Green light = complete

Restart Plugfly.

⚠️ Important Boot Behavior

• Red light after power ON: Do NOT move drone (gyro calibration happening)

  
  

• Flashing red + blue: Normal operation (ready to use)

👉 Calibration buttons only work after full boot (blue blinking state)

🎮 Arming & Disarming

• Arm: Hold Yaw Right for 2 seconds

• Disarm: Hold Yaw Left for 1 second

👉 Auto-disarm occurs if idle for 5 seconds

🔄 Motor Direction Check

Correct motor rotation:

• Front Left → Clockwise (CW)

• Front Right → Counter-Clockwise (CCW)

• Rear Right → Clockwise (CW)

• Rear Left → Counter-Clockwise (CCW)

👉 To reverse motor direction: swap any two ESC wires

🚀 Final Steps Before Flight

• Install propellers (tighten properly)

• Double-check all connections

• Ensure battery is charged

Now you’re ready to fly! Always test in an open area.

🧯 Troubleshooting

🔴 Red Light After Radio Calibration

• PPM not enabled

• Incorrect wiring

• Receiver/transmitter not PPM-compatible

  
  

⚙️ 1–2 Motors Not Spinning

• ESC calibration incomplete

• Low-quality ESCs not supporting 250Hz refresh rate

  
  

🌀 Drone Drifting After Takeoff

• Drone moved during startup (gyro miscalibration)

• Uneven surface during calibration

• Poor-quality propellers causing vibration