Back to Hub
EN
LIGHT

3-Inch FPV Drone

HARDWAREFPV Drone2025-10-09
3-inch FPV drone overview
Baby Ape CF frame — DJI O3 MacGyvered on
Front view of 3-inch drone
Side view of 3-inch drone
3-inch FPV drone overview
Front view of 3-inch drone
Side view of 3-inch drone
3-inch FPV drone overview
Front view of 3-inch drone
Side view of 3-inch drone
3-inch FPV drone overview
Front view of 3-inch drone
Side view of 3-inch drone
3-inch FPV drone overview
Front view of 3-inch drone
Side view of 3-inch drone
3-inch FPV drone overview
Front view of 3-inch drone
Side view of 3-inch drone

Technical Objective

The objective was the integration of a high-definition DJI O3 digital transmission unit onto an ultra-compact sub-250g 3-inch carbon fiber chassis. The project required a non-standard component stack to achieve the desired visual fidelity in a micro-scale form factor.

Structural Interfacing

The chosen flight controller (Cinelog 20 derivative) was physically incompatible with the DJI O3 air unit's mounting pattern. To resolve the geometric conflict, a series of custom FDM-printed structural standoffs were engineered. These standoffs functioned as a structural bridge, ensuring precise vertical alignment and mitigating mechanical stress on the components during high-G maneuvers.

Operational Deployment

The system was assembled within a constrained 120-minute operational window. Despite the rapid integration, the platform demonstrated stable flight characteristics. The integration of high-definition digital video onto a 3-inch chassis significantly improves situational awareness compared to legacy analog systems while maintaining a minimal operational footprint.

Built at 16 years 7 months