Stamp Fly is an open-source DIY drone kit born from Shenzhen's agile hardware ecosystem and reborn through the passion and expertise of Japanese engineers.Initially developed by M5Stack, the original prototype faced critical challenges, but a collaborative effort between Shenzhen manufacturers and Japanese engineers revived and transformed it into a platform for learning, prototyping, and innovation.
The first version, Atom Fly, struggled with hardware fragility — its PCB frame was too delicate for repeated flight training, and limited I/O on the Atom Lite microcontroller prevented the addition of essential sensors like ToF and optical flow modules.Despite improvements, it became clear that minor fixes wouldn't overcome the fundamental issues.Atom Fly with additional guards. Despite many improvements, it still failed to achieve the desired durability.GOROman’s idea of combining existing drone frames with the control unit sparked the concept of Stamp Fly.
The breakthrough came when developers reimagined the drone using a BETAFPV 65mm frame, a more robust and widely available standard in Shenzhen.
At the same time, the newly released M5Stamp S3 microcontroller offered more power, lighter weight, and additional I/O pins for sensor expansion.Japanese contributors, including educators and experienced drone hobbyists, worked closely with Shenzhen’s flexible supply chains to redesign the Stamp Fly for both durability and expandability.Additionally, a new controller, M5ATOM Joystick, was developed to streamline user operation and battery management.
The result is Stamp Fly, an open-source drone kit ideal for learning multirotor flight control, sensor integration, and IoT prototyping.
The project was driven by the needs of Professor Kohei Ito at Kanazawa Institute of Technology, who sought a durable, programmable drone platform for education.Although M5Stack initially lacked deep experience in flight control, they leveraged Shenzhen’s agile supply chain to rapidly iterate and improve the hardware.At the M5Stack factory where Stamp Fly is assembled, M5Stack devices are used to make... more M5Stacks. A true maker-style factory!
By making the firmware open-source, Japanese university professors and Shenzhen startups were able to collaborate across borders.https://github.com/M5Fly-kanazawaAs a result, Stamp Fly not only complies with Japanese drone regulations but is also being embraced by global communities like ArduPilot, proving the value of open hardware innovation.
Already adopted in university-level courses and promoted through maker communities like Nico-Tech Shenzhen, Stamp Fly empowers the next generation of engineers, students, and DIY enthusiasts.Its open-source firmware and hardware encourage users to customize, hack, and explore freely.
Stamp Fly demonstrates how cross-border collaboration can turn challenges into opportunities.We invite makers, educators, and hardware innovators worldwide to dive into DIY drones, explore open-source development, and help shape the future of accessible, hands-on hardware innovation.Let's fly and build together!
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