Flying Mosquito

CHANGES AND LESSONS

The design is not locked yet. Once Dad approves the requirements and the budget, every change after that gets a change order (MOC), the same way as Dusty and the MS-2000. The first one will be MOC-001.

Project history

One line for every decision or change, newest first.

Sep 18, 2026PlanBuild guide: 18 steps in six parts (check and print, Can it fly?, fly by itself, hit sensor, control box, test), wiring maps, the Python, Arduino and MakeCode programs, and a fixing-it table.
Sep 18, 2026PlanCan it fly? experiment: our own thrust, safety-margin and battery math (about 120 g of push, a 1.4 push-to-weight ratio at the rated 25 g, 5.5 minutes predicted with our 26 g), a prediction, and two tests for Dec 7 to 13.
Sep 18, 2026DesignRev A 3D design: prop guard with legs (6.9 g), mosquito body with a 40 mm white hit window (8.1 g), launch pad, control box, fit check. 7 print plates, about 5 hours 45 minutes and 205 g.
Sep 18, 2026PlanSchedule: order by Nov 13, build Dec 1 to Jan 24, freeze Jan 25. MS-2000 work always comes first.
Sep 18, 2026DecisionRadio plan: the control box micro:bit sends GO, HIT and STOP on group 7, the same messages the MS-2000 wand sends, so the turret needs no changes.
Sep 18, 2026DecisionThe drone is a LiteWing (ESP32-S3) with its positioning module. A Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W in the control box flies it with Python. A XIAO ESP32-C3 in the body sends hits.
Sep 18, 2026DecisionDesign A, the Free Flyer, picked. Design C, the Boom Flyer, is the fallback.
Sep 18, 2026PlanFour designs compared: Free Flyer, Crazyflie, Boom Flyer, and micro:bit Drone.
Sep 18, 2026PlanFirst requirements written, using lessons from Dusty and the MS-2000.
Sep 18, 2026PlanProject started as its own project, to build after the science fair.

Lessons we are using

What Dusty and the MS-2000 taught us, used before anything gets built.

MS-2000
The laser and the camera only line up at 3 feet
The test zone runs 2 to 4 feet, so the dot can land about 13 mm from the camera aim. The window has to be at least 40 mm wide.
MS-2000
Keep the radio the same
The turret already listens for GO, HIT and STOP on group 7. Speaking the same way means no turret changes.
Dusty
Measure the space before picking a part
The drone can only carry about 25 g. Every printed part got weighed in the 3D model before anything else.
Dusty
Every number needs a reason
Each requirement says why it has its number.
Dusty
Think about using it, not just building it
Where does it charge? Who presses the button? What happens when it crashes? That is why there is a pad, a box outside the net, and three batteries.
MS-2000
Test your own design
The flyer test counts the same things as the MS-2000 test, so the results compare.
Both
Look at the real part
The board outline and motor spots came from the drone makers’ own design files, not a guess.
Dusty
Print a small test first
A 10 minute fit check picks the motor collar size before the guard is printed.
MS-2000
Get the school dates first
The flyer schedule is built around the fair dates, and the MS-2000 wins every conflict.

How a change order works

  1. 1Say what you want and whyOne or two sentences.
  2. 2Check what it touchesWeight, space, wiring, the radio, safety, cost, the schedule. Measure, do not guess.
  3. 3Pick the partsReal parts, real sizes, a backup store.
  4. 4Get a yes, then lock itDad approves. Any new change starts a new change order.
  5. 5Update everything and test it3D model, print files, parts list, these pages. Then the tests that prove it works.