How do you calibrate a FPV?

Calibrating your FPV (First-Person View) drone is a crucial process that ensures stable, predictable, and safe flight. It involves setting up your drone's various components—such as the flight controller's sensors, electronic speed controllers (ESCs), and radio receiver—to accurately interpret their environment and your commands.

Calibration is essential for a wide range of FPV drones, from racing quads to cinematic platforms, preventing issues like drift, inconsistent motor performance, and incorrect flight mode behavior.

Why FPV Drone Calibration is Essential

Proper calibration provides several benefits:

Enhanced Stability: Prevents your drone from drifting unexpectedly in level flight modes (e.g., Angle, Horizon).
Accurate Control: Ensures your stick inputs translate precisely to motor movements, leading to better maneuverability.
Consistent Performance: Synchronizes motor responses for smooth, balanced thrust.
Reliable Autonomous Features: Crucial for GPS-enabled drones using position hold or return-to-home functions.
Safety: Reduces the risk of crashes due to misaligned sensors or uncontrolled motor behavior.

Types of FPV Drone Calibration

There are several key calibration procedures for an FPV drone, each addressing a different component:

1. Accelerometer Calibration (Level Horizon Calibration)

The accelerometer helps the flight controller understand its orientation relative to the ground. This calibration establishes the "level" reference for your drone.

Purpose: To teach the flight controller what a flat, level surface looks like, which is vital for stable flight modes like Angle and Horizon.
When to Calibrate: After initial build, if you notice drift, or if the flight controller's physical orientation has changed within the frame.

Step-by-Step Accelerometer Calibration:

Connect to Configurator: Plug your FPV drone into your computer via a USB cable. Open your preferred flight controller configurator software (e.g., Betaflight Configurator, INAV Configurator).
Navigate to Setup Tab: In the configurator, go to the "Setup" or "Sensor" tab.
Place Drone on Level Surface: Place your drone on a perfectly flat and level surface. Use a spirit level if necessary for precision.
Initial Calibration: Click the "Calibrate Accelerometer" or "Calibrate" button in the software. The software will take a reading for the level position.
Multi-Orientation Calibration: To achieve a more robust calibration, especially with some flight controller firmware, you will need to move the flight controller into different orientations.
- Carefully move your drone, and therefore its flight controller, into six distinct orientations. This typically includes:
  - Level (as done in step 4)
  - Nose up
  - Nose down
  - Left side up
  - Right side up
  - Upside down
- After moving the drone into each new orientation, hit the "Calibrate" or "Accept" button in the software or follow the on-screen prompts. Repeat this process until all six steps are complete. This method ensures the flight controller has a comprehensive understanding of its position across all axes.
Verify & Save: Once completed, the 3D model of your drone in the configurator should accurately reflect its physical orientation. Save your settings if prompted.

2. ESC Calibration (Electronic Speed Controller)

ESC calibration ensures that all your motors respond identically to the same throttle input from the flight controller, preventing uneven thrust that can lead to unexpected rolls or flips.

Purpose: To synchronize the minimum and maximum throttle signals between the flight controller and each ESC, ensuring all motors receive the same "start" and "full speed" commands.
When to Calibrate: Typically required if you are using analog ESC protocols like OneShot125, MultiShot, or DShot300/600 (though DShot often doesn't need manual calibration due to its digital nature). It's also needed if you change ESCs or motors.

Step-by-Step ESC Calibration (Manual Method - for Analog Protocols):

⚠️ SAFETY WARNING: ALWAYS REMOVE PROPELLERS BEFORE PERFORMING ESC CALIBRATION!

Disconnect Battery: Ensure your drone's LiPo battery is disconnected.
Connect to Configurator: Plug your drone into your computer via USB.
Go to Motors Tab: In your configurator (e.g., Betaflight), navigate to the "Motors" tab.
Raise Master Throttle: Arm the motors (if applicable in the configurator) and slide the "Master" throttle slider all the way to the maximum (typically 2000).
Connect LiPo Battery: While the master throttle is at maximum, plug in your LiPo battery. You should hear a series of beeps from your ESCs, indicating they have detected the maximum throttle signal.
Lower Master Throttle: Quickly slide the "Master" throttle slider all the way down to the minimum (typically 1000). You should hear another set of beeps, indicating the ESCs have learned the minimum throttle.
Disconnect LiPo & USB: Once the beeping stops, disconnect your LiPo battery, then disconnect the USB.

Note on DShot: If your drone uses a digital ESC protocol like DShot (DShot600, DShot1200), manual ESC calibration is generally not required as the digital communication is highly precise and doesn't suffer from analog signal inconsistencies.

3. Magnetometer Calibration (Compass Calibration)

Less common for pure freestyle/racing FPV drones due to their high speed and reliance on pilot input, magnetometer calibration is critical for GPS-equipped drones that need to know their absolute heading for navigation.

Purpose: To correct for magnetic interference from other components on the drone and provide accurate directional information, essential for features like GPS position hold or return-to-home.
When to Calibrate: After initial build, if you move components, or notice erratic compass readings on a GPS drone.

Step-by-Step Magnetometer Calibration:

Connect to Configurator: Plug your drone into your computer via USB.
Navigate to Sensor/Compass Tab: In your configurator (e.g., INAV), go to the "Sensor" or "Compass" tab.
Start Calibration: Click the "Calibrate Magnetometer" or "Start Calibration" button.
Rotate Drone: You will be prompted to rotate your drone through all axes (like drawing a figure-eight in 3D space). Rotate it slowly and smoothly to capture data from various orientations. Watch the values in the configurator to ensure they are being recorded.
Complete & Save: The software will indicate when calibration is complete. Save your settings.

4. Radio Calibration (Transmitter Calibration)

This ensures your radio's stick movements are accurately read by the flight controller.

Purpose: To set the correct minimum, maximum, and center values for each control channel (roll, pitch, yaw, throttle, and auxiliary switches) transmitted from your radio to the flight controller.
When to Calibrate: After binding a new radio, changing transmitter settings (endpoints, sub-trims), or setting up a new drone.

Step-by-Step Radio Calibration:

Connect Drone to Configurator: Plug your drone into your computer via USB.
Power On Radio: Turn on your FPV radio transmitter and ensure it's powered on and bound to your drone's receiver.
Go to Receiver Tab: In your configurator (e.g., Betaflight), navigate to the "Receiver" tab.
Move Sticks: Move each stick (throttle, yaw, pitch, roll) through its full range of motion several times.
Verify Values:
- For each axis, the minimum value should typically be around 1000, the maximum around 2000, and the center point around 1500.
- If your values are not correct, adjust the endpoints and sub-trims on your radio transmitter until they fall within these ranges.
Test Auxiliary Channels: Flip all your switches (Arm, Mode, Beeper, etc.) to ensure they register correctly in the configurator.
Save Settings: Save any changes in the configurator if applicable, although radio calibration usually adjusts directly via the radio.

Summary of FPV Drone Calibration

Calibration Type	Purpose	Key Steps	When to Do It
Accelerometer	Establish level reference for stable flight.	1. Place drone level. 2. Calibrate in configurator. 3. Repeat calibration in six distinct orientations (nose up, nose down, sides, inverted).	Initial build, noticeable drift, FC re-orientation.
ESC	Synchronize motor throttle ranges.	(Propellers OFF!) 1. Max throttle in software. 2. Connect LiPo (wait for beeps). 3. Min throttle in software (wait for beeps). 4. Disconnect LiPo. (Not needed for DShot).	New ESCs/motors, analog protocols, inconsistent motor spin.
Magnetometer/Compass	Provide accurate heading for GPS navigation.	1. Start calibration in configurator. 2. Rotate drone in 3D space (figure-eight motion).	Initial build (for GPS drones), erratic compass readings.
Radio	Ensure precise translation of stick movements from transmitter to drone.	1. Power on radio & drone. 2. Move all sticks through full range in receiver tab. 3. Adjust radio endpoints/sub-trims until min (1000), center (1500), and max (2000) values are correct.	New radio, new drone, changed radio settings.

Regular calibration, especially for the accelerometer and radio, is a fundamental part of FPV drone maintenance. By following these steps, you can ensure your drone performs optimally, giving you a smooth and enjoyable flying experience.