Max shared a video clip showcasing his latest technical innovations with the world, as he succeeded in building a very small, customized drone capable of flying at speeds exceeding 108 kilometers per hour. In building his fast aircraft, this innovator relied on the ESP32 microcontroller, which is distinguished by its low economic cost and superior capabilities in data processing and precise control.
Max was inspired by the idea of this ambitious project from two engineering teams specialized in building radio aircraft: Benjamin Page’s team on the one hand, and the Bell family team, which includes Luke and Maximo on the other hand. Over the past few months, these two teams have been breaking each other’s records in remote-controlled quadcopter races, as their latest aircraft succeeded in reaching an amazing speed of 411 miles per hour.
To ensure the success of this exceptional project, Max used Benjamin’s extensive experience in designing high-speed aircraft to guide him throughout the work. The total cost of all the components Max used was approximately $155, which included the purchase of the fans, microcontroller, ESCs, barometer, GPS unit, and other essential parts.
The construction of the airframe required the use of modern 3D printing techniques to ensure light weight and durability required to resist air friction. The engineer relied on the Eligo Neptune 4 Plus printer, which is currently available at a price of $349.99 on the Amazon platform, and used the strong and durable PETG material to print all parts of the basic structure to withstand possible shocks during fast flights and harsh experiences.
After completing the stages of assembly, testing, and exposure to some crashes and repairs, the small aircraft, called ESP-Blast, successfully achieved speeds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour. This aircraft, which weighs only 136 grams, derives its power from a 450 mAh battery that is sufficient to keep it in the air for approximately five minutes, while Max plans to launch future versions modified to push the aircraft’s speed to unprecedented limits.
