What if a drone the size of a coin could still deliver precise flights and capture smooth video? A maker has turned that idea into reality by building what appears to be the world’s smallest FPV drone capable of stable flight. The project pushes the boundaries of micro-aviation and spotlights how far hobbyists can push hardware with modern 3D printing and off‑the‑shelf components.

The unit packs a 25 gram frame and about 22 millimeters across, enabling flight that rivals larger builds in a package that fits on a fingertip. It borrows a brushless motor from the BetaFPV Air65, a 5.8 GHz analog video transmitter, a high‑precision gyro (ICM42688P), and a compact STM32 G473 microcontroller. The frame is a custom 3D‑printed shell designed to cradle the components with millimeter precision.

According to Yanko Design, the project is the work of Hoarder Sam, a DIY engineer who proved the community wrong by shrinking a 65 mm platform down to less than one third of its size with a custom frame printed on a Bambu Lab A1 Mini at 0.12 mm layer resolution.

To keep control, Sam reworked the firmware with Betaflight Configurator, re‑tuning flight parameters to suit the new geometry. The work required multiple flight tests and precision calibration; the result is a drone that can hover and maneuver with surprising steadiness for its size.

Even with a tiny camera and battery, the craft squeezes under three minutes of flight. The lack of protective landing gear and prop guards makes the micro quad fragile on rough landings, a tradeoff many builders accept for size and efficiency.

smallest FPV drone

Designers focused on a careful balance of weight, strength and control. The 0.12 mm layer resolution achieved with a Bambu Lab A1 Mini allowed a frame that remains millimeter‑tight without adding unnecessary mass. In practice, this means better rigidity and less flex during aggressive maneuvers, both of which contribute to stable flight in a package that previously lived only as a concept.

Design choices that unlock micro flight

Key decisions included reusing a compact motor from an existing micro platform, selecting a high‑quality gyroscope, and printing a frame that leaves just enough room for the flight controller and wire harness. The Betaflight Configurator was essential to tweak the flight controller parameters so the tiny craft responds predictably to input, even when the air is noisy and gusty.

What makes this build notable

For makers, the lesson is practical: you can shrink a drone and still keep controllable flight if you optimize layout, use precise 3D printing, and lean on open firmware. The project demonstrates how the drone ecosystem is moving toward ultra‑compact, modular designs that emphasize customization over mass production.

Industry implications and next steps

This micro‑drone story resonates beyond a one‑off curiosity. It underscores a broader trend: affordable desktop 3D printing, plus a hobbyist’s toolbox of compact components, are accelerating the pace at which new ultra‑compact drones enter the market. As more builders publish their experiments, suppliers may offer even smaller sensors, more efficient micro‑VTX options, and firmware upgrades designed for tiny airframes. The BetaFPV and Betaflight ecosystems stand to gain as more pilots experiment with stable flight at sub‑centimeter scales.

For enthusiasts, the big takeaway is practical: if you can design a frame that minimizes weight while preserving rigidity and tune the flight controller for the geometry, you can push the frontier of micro aviation. The next wave of ultra‑compact drones could power new education kits, covert inspection tools, and pocketable reconnaissance platforms for hobbyists and professionals alike.

Conclusion

The tiny FPV drone proves you do not need a big platform to accomplish big things. It highlights how clever hardware choices, precise 3D printing, and open‑source firmware combine to unlock flight in a form factor once thought impossible. For the drone industry, it is a reminder that the race to smaller, smarter, and more accessible machines is far from over, and that makers will keep pushing the envelope.