Like many tech enthusiasts, the thrill of First Person View (FPV) multi-rotor racing recently captured my imagination. The high-speed, low-altitude flights instantly sparked a connection to the iconic speeder bike chase scene from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. This realization ignited an exciting project: building a functional, flyable version of the Imperial Speeder Bike, merging my passion for RC flight with the beloved Star Wars universe. It was time to bring a childhood fantasy to life in my workshop, creating a unique Dron Bike that could actually take to the skies.
The foundation of this project began with a 1:6 scale Hasbro Power Of The Force series Speeder Bike body. For those versed in Star Wars lore, this model is officially known as the “74-Z Speeder Bike” or “Imperial Speeder Bike”. Hasbro, revisiting the nostalgia of the 80s, re-released these toys in the late 90s, utilizing much of the original tooling. My particular model bears a 1999 stamp, part of a series that included Scout Trooper, Luke, and Leia variations. The appeal of these older Hasbro toys lies in their lightweight and easily disassembled construction, primarily made of affordable and hollow plastic. Interestingly, the more delicate components, designed to withstand childhood play, are crafted from a seemingly vinyl material, offering surprising durability for its weight. These models are still accessible on platforms like eBay for around $50, making it a readily available starting point for a dron bike conversion.
Close-up of the Hasbro 1:6 scale Speeder Bike toy body, highlighting its detailed design and lightweight plastic construction, perfect for a dron bike project.
The primary hurdle was engineering lift for the entire structure without resorting to an ungainly, tacked-on quadcopter appearance. Leveraging CAD software, I meticulously planned rotor placements based on overhead images of the model. My focus was on configurations that maintained clearance around the rider and bike, kept the center of lift aligned with the center of gravity, and provided sufficient lift – around 600 grams. The optimal solution emerged as a quad-rotor setup employing four 7-inch rotors powered by 880kv 28mm motors. Typically, these motors are paired with 10 or 11-inch two-blade propellers on an 11.1v Lipo battery. To compensate for the reduced rotor diameter dictated by the Speeder Bike’s form, I opted for three-blade propellers, energized by a 14.4v 2200mAh Lipo battery. While not the most energy-efficient configuration, this setup allowed for a compact quad design capable of lifting the somewhat heavier frame of the speeder bike dron.
CAD design layout of the dron bike, showing rotor placement and component integration within the Speeder Bike model for optimal lift and balance.
The dron bike’s structural integrity is built upon 10mm carbon fiber tubes, coupled with stick-mount style motor mounts. To ensure level flight during forward motion, both the autopilot system and rotors were angled forward by approximately 10 degrees. This forward tilt compensates for aerodynamic forces, maintaining a stable and level attitude for the dron bike in flight.
Angled motor mounts on carbon fiber booms of the dron bike frame, illustrating the 10-degree forward tilt for stable forward flight.
Control of the dron bike is managed by a 3DRobotics PixHawk autopilot. While the PixHawk offers advanced capabilities, various other flight controllers such as Naze32 or kk2 would also be suitable for this project. Fine-tuning the PixHawk proved somewhat challenging due to the close proximity of the front and rear rotors. However, with careful adjustments, smooth and responsive flight characteristics were achieved, demonstrating the dron bike’s agility despite its unique form factor.
Close-up of the 3DRobotics PixHawk flight controller integrated into the dron bike, highlighting the electronic heart of the drone's control system.
Various angles of the assembled dron bike frame showing carbon fiber booms, motor mounts, and overall quadcopter structure integrated with the Speeder Bike body.
Front view of the dron bike revealing the rotor and motor placement relative to the Speeder Bike model, emphasizing the compact design.
Rear view of the dron bike showing the clean integration of the drone components with the Speeder Bike aesthetics.
Side profile of the dron bike in a workshop setting, displaying the overall form and scale of the project.
Overhead view of the dron bike highlighting the quad-rotor configuration and the Speeder Bike body integration.
With a power system capable of handling approximately 600g of additional weight, and the bike itself weighing around 475g, the payload capacity for a rider was limited. The original rider figure, with its Barbie-doll style construction, exceeded 200g without armor or clothing. To minimize weight, a custom rider body was fashioned from pipe cleaners and repurposed Nerf darts (any similar foam material would suffice). A 6mm carbon tube running through the skeletal frame securely mounts into a drilled hole in the bike seat. This lightweight skeleton dramatically reduced rider weight to a mere 15g and offered greater flexibility compared to the stock figure. The rider’s boots and legs are zip-tied to the bike, a practical measure to prevent entanglement with the rotors during flight.
Lightweight custom rider skeleton made from pipe cleaners and foam, demonstrating the weight-saving modifications for the dron bike project.
Comparison of the custom lightweight rider skeleton and the original heavy Hasbro rider figure, emphasizing the weight reduction achieved.
For an immersive flying experience, the rider’s helmet can be interchanged with an FPV camera mounted on a styrofoam ball. This setup utilizes a Spektrum combination camera and video transmitter unit, paired with FatShark Dominator video goggles and a compact security camera DVR for recording ground-level footage. This FPV system transforms the dron bike into a true aerial speeder, allowing for exciting first-person flights.
FPV camera mounted on a styrofoam ball replacing the rider's helmet, ready for first-person view flights with the dron bike.
Close-up of the FPV camera unit and wiring integrated with the dron bike, showing the technology enabling first-person flight.
Side view of the dron bike with FPV camera installed, ready for flight, showcasing the integration of FPV technology with the Star Wars speeder bike model.
Rear view of the dron bike with FPV setup, highlighting the camera placement and overall aesthetic of the completed dron bike project.
Looking ahead, plans are underway to construct a second dron bike, a Luke Skywalker version, for exhilarating races through wooded areas. Furthermore, the success of this project has opened up possibilities for adapting other Hasbro Star Wars vehicles into unique flying drones. The dron bike project successfully blends the excitement of FPV flight with the iconic imagery of Star Wars, delivering a truly unique and engaging DIY experience.
