DIY Thermal Cameras for Drones, RC & FPV - a quick tutorial - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: VanDusen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2023, 08:08:55 pm
content: DIY Thermal Cameras for Drones, RC & FPV - a quick tutorialhttps://youtu.be/JYp3dDWWEJ4* overview* schematics* software installation* camera driver test* test flight* drones - DJI, Parrot, Autel, .. & thermal cameras example* RC helicopter & thermal cameras example* RC cars & thermal cameras example* FPV & thermal cameras exampleThis is just a quick hack. Goal is an inexpensive thermal camera which already supports composite out (576i, PAL, 4:3) by adding an additional MCU or using the onboard MCU. It should add less than $20. Any inexpensive FPV camera ($10+) supports composite out.weight without battery & camera: 15 g (P2 Pro: 9.5 g; Compact (Pro): 14.5 g)drivers: Seek cameras - libseek-thermal; InfiRay P2 Pro (v4l2, like a web cam); MLX90460: Tom Shaffner's script (patched)FPV Thermal Cameras - Seek Compact - quick test flight:https://youtu.be/MMFlseGx4XIFPV Thermal Cameras - Seek Compact Pro - quick test flight:https://youtu.be/C35rru15i0kFPV Thermal Cameras - InfiRay P2 Pro:https://youtu.be/2cKUCA-EBAoFPV Thermal Cameras part 1 - MLX90640 - test flight:https://youtu.be/JImprXh4hTIPlaylist IR Thermal Cameras for Drones, RC & FPV:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTY4osYDsm1o-pnuJv2AmEbx6t5KEQvSh

author: VanDusen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2023, 07:14:19 pm
content: DIY Thermal Cameras for Drones - Parrot Anafi test flights - day & nightVideo:https://youtu.be/BTbsvgiypa8Pretty amazing flight at night. The new inexpensive high frame rate thermal imaging cameras are perfect for FPV low light flights, because they don't need visible light. Flight time about 18 minutes on a 3 years old Anafi battery.weight circuit & camera (Infiray P2 Pro): 25 grange: 7 km (on 25 mW with a $20 patch antenna); 20+ km on 400 mW - see video 7 km out on 25 mW (VTX):https://youtu.be/lpIYSVbiiIU

author: VanDusen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2023, 10:26:50 am
content: RunCam Night Eagle 3 vs Thermal Camera InfiRay P2 Pro - Full Moon Flighthttps://youtu.be/Wqdx2HIysGIAmazing performance of the RunCam Night Eagle 3 low light FPV camera and of the InfiRay P2 Pro IR thermal camera.

author: VanDusen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2023, 05:50:36 pm
content: FPV Night Vision Goggles mod - tutorial & schematicsSame principle, but without VTX. Connected via composite or HDMI to FPV goggles.https://youtu.be/KAHy4lMCWPkcompatible FPV goggles:DJI FPV V1 & V2Fatshark HDO2HD ZeroSkyzone Sky04X, Cobra X, 03X, 02X, ..& goggles with AV- or HDMI input

author: VanDusen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2024, 04:06:06 pm
content: DIY thermal cameras for Drones, RC & FPV - NEW VERSION v003 coming soon - streaming, Seek app, Infiray, UVChttps://youtu.be/HzHmOIQ72Uc

author: VanDusen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2024, 05:27:13 pm
content: DIY thermal cameras for Drones, RC & FPV - Seek Compact Series - a quick tutorial

author: VanDusen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2025, 11:12:24 pm
content: DIY FPV Thermal Cameras - via DJI Vista/Air Unit - a quick test - digital FPV

author: VanDusen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2025, 03:47:35 pm
content: DIY Thermal FPV Cameras - DJI Vista/Air Unit tutorial - DJI dev board

author: VanDusen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2025, 12:17:58 pm
content: AxisFlying Thermal Imaging FPV cameras & compatible cameras: controlling camera via receiver (firmware for Arduino, ESP32-C3/OLED)quick test switching color maps/palettes:

author: VanDusen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2025, 12:18:55 pm
content: thermal cameras:Axisflying 256 Thermal Imaging Camera For FPV Drones - 9.7 mm - 18° x 14° (FOV)no name 256 Thermal Imaging Camera For FPV Drones - 4 mm - 45° x 30° (FOV)microcontroller:ESP32-C3 OledThe firmware works with Axisflying 256, 384, 640 thermal cameras and many other compatible thermal FPV CVBS cameras. There are a lot of clones on Ebay and Aliexpress: thermal camera 256

author: VanDusen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2025, 07:23:13 pm
content: The web application can change color map (color palette), brightness, contrast, "mirroring" and can save the settings to the camera. Firmware release probably this week or next weekend.

author: VanDusen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2025, 08:29:34 pm
content: FThermal Control - WiFi, PWM app for AxisFlying thermal FPV cameras - test builddownload test build v002b with docs:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R2aPukKT_2u1gkOo1jPHONmtmOmXUeoa/view?usp=sharingcontrol via WiFi: phone/computer - WiFi - microcontroller - RX, TX - cameracontrol via PWM: radio - receiver or flight controller - PWM - microcontroller - RX, TX - camera- firmware starts in WiFi access point modeSSID: FThermal-Controlpassword: cvbsthermalcameraURL: 192.168.1.1- hold "PWM in" on 1800+ uS for 3 seconds to unlock the PWM functions - turns WiFi offdefault PWM settings:"PWM in" mode: dualbigger than 1800 uS: color map+less than 1200 uS: color map-- change default functions in PWM dual mode1.) connect via WiFi and open browser URL 192.168.5.12.) PWM tab3.) function PWM in - dual mode4.) just select the functions from the dropdown menues for 1800+ mS & 1200- mS5.) hold "PWM in" on 1800+ uS for 3 seconds to unlock the PWM functions - turns WiFi off6.) have funpower cycling will reset the functions to default in this test build (save ESP32 settings is disabled)Axisflying cameras: 256, 384, 640TC256 256x192, 9.7 mm, FOV 18° x 14° n/a (tiny field of view!)TC384 384x288, 9.7 mm, FOV 26° x 20° n/aTC640 640x512, 9.1 mm, FOV 48° x 39° n/acompatible cameras:256 256x192, 4 mm, FOV 45° x 33° $210256 256x192, 6.8 mm, FOV 26° x 20° $200256 256x192, 9.7 mm, FOV 18° x 14° $180384 384x288, 9.7 mm, FOV 26° x 20° $550640 640x512, 9.1 mm, FOV 48° x 39° $820

author: VanDusen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2025, 05:20:38 pm
content: A quick 2 mi range test/test flight and a quick FThermal Control (WiFi, PWM app) tutorial (at 7:27).0:05 range test1:36 manual shutter calibration (in-flight)3:15 1 mile out4:33 color maps6:14 "angle mode", last 300 m7:27 tutorial: configuring, adjusting thermal camera settings via WiFi & PWM (FThermal Control)Micro FPV build (NanoScout 3"):- EMAX NanoScout FC & VTX- FPVCycle Babytooth frame- NewBeeDrone 1202/11420KV motors- thermal CVBS FPV camera (AF compatible)- Foxeer Pico Razer camera- Flysky FTr16S receiver- Foxeer M10Q GPS (modified)- ESP32-C3 Super Mini microcontroller- Gemfan Hurricane 3018-2 propeller- Vifly Finder Mini- 2 x GNB 600 mAh battery parallelThermal camera app FThermal Control:https://youtu.be/ld-Cd-H66uYweight: 81 g (without battery)

author: VanDusen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2025, 11:37:09 am
content: DIY Search & Rescue FPV quadcopter with thermal FPV camera - changing, testing cameras & test flightGoal of this build is an inexpensive, small and lightweight long range FPV quadcopter with one or two thermal cameras (or mixed with a regular FPV camera). Build costs with one 256 thermal FPV camera is probably less than $500 US.Search and Rescue means you can find persons, animals and objects day and night. This build works better at night or with lower temperatures. A thermal camera works best with bigger temperature differences between the environment and the object you're trying to find.Most of the current available thermal FPV cameras have still a tiny field of view (less than 50°) and that makes the job finding an object with a thermal FPV camera more time consuming. Even a more expensive 640x512 camera has a FOV of less than 50°. A normal FPV camera has usally a FOV of 100+°.a 4 mm 256x192 camera with nearly 50° FOV can detect a person in 200-300 m distance (that's about 4 "pixels"/°). The detection range would be obviously less with 100 or more degrees FOV, but you get a fully usable FPV camera, instead of looking to a tiny window. And you can compensate the FOV by flying lower to the ground or with a second thermal FPV camera with a different smaller FOV (which works like a tele lens). And you would expect that an expensive 640x512 camera with a 4 times bigger sensor has already at least a FOV of 100+°.There is no logic in a thermal FPV camera with a field of view of just 50° or less!build overview:- Flywoo Explorer LR4 - $170- DIY Gimbal- thermal FPV camera (AxisFlying compatible) - $180- ESP32-C3 microcontroller - $5- RushFPV Tiny Tank VTX - $30- Flysky FTr16S RX - $30- Pololu 3A voltage regulator - $18- 9g metal servo - $10microcontroller firmware:https://youtu.be/ld-Cd-H66uYproblems: Vifly camera switcher injects noise in the feed, it's fine without the switcher (with one camera)Axisflying cameras: 256, 384, 640TC256 256x192, 9.7 mm, FOV 18° x 14° (tiny field of view!)TC384 384x288, 9.7 mm, FOV 26° x 20°TC640 640x512, 9.1 mm, FOV 48° x 39°compatible cameras:256 256x192, 4 mm, FOV 45° x 33° $210256 256x192, 6.8 mm, FOV 26° x 20° $200256 256x192, 9.7 mm, FOV 18° x 14° $180384 384x288, 9.7 mm, FOV 26° x 20° $550640 640x512, 9.1 mm, FOV 48° x 39° $820

author: Funn_Indication
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 03, 2025, 07:50:14 am
content: I’ve flown both Seek Compact and InfiRay P2 modules on small quads, and one tip I’d add is to make sure the camera is mounted with some vibration damping foam. Without it, you can get rolling shutter artifacts when the motors spin up.If anyone’s looking for a slightly higher-resolution option but still keeping weight under 30 g, the Thermal Master P3 dongle works surprisingly well — I’ve used it with a small USB host board and streamed video over Wi-Fi to the ground station. The manual focus is handy for getting a clear picture whether you’re looking at a warm building or spotting hot spots in the field.