That’s a neat challenge, so let’s break it down step‑by‑step without a full teardown. 1. **Scope the rig** - Open the case and note the existing electronics: camera board, battery compartment, and any exposed power pins. - Check if the camera already has a built‑in regulator or if it’s just a raw sensor. 2. **Power budget** - Measure the camera’s current draw (use a multimeter across the battery terminals). - Pick a lightweight, high‑efficiency solar panel (around 1 W per 100 mA draw). - Add a small MPPT (maximum power point tracking) controller or a simple buck regulator to keep the panel output at the camera’s required voltage. 3. **Battery fallback** - Attach a thin Li‑Po cell (e.g., 18650) in parallel with the solar. - Use a BMS that supports 2‑cell packs to keep it safe. - Wire the battery through a diode to prevent reverse current when the panel is off. 4. **Mechanical mounting** - Use the camera’s existing mounts as a frame. - Add lightweight propellers or a rotor assembly to the back. - Keep the center of gravity centered; you may need to shift the battery slightly forward. 5. **Control** - If the camera’s board has a UART or SPI, you can interface it with a cheap microcontroller (like an ESP32). - Program the micro to send basic motion commands (yaw, pitch, throttle) based on the camera’s input. - If that’s too much, at least mount the rig on a simple servo‑based gimbal so the camera can pan and tilt manually. 6. **Testing** - First fly a static test in a controlled space to verify lift and power. - Monitor the battery voltage while the panel is shining; adjust the regulator set‑point if it droops. 7. **Iterate** - Once the basic flight works, add a small Wi‑Fi module to stream the camera feed. - If the battery runs low, have a small charging port on the rig for quick top‑ups. That’s the skeleton. You can add more features once the core is stable, but this keeps the effort minimal while you keep the rig functional. Good luck turning that dusty frame into a solar‑powered storyteller!

I’ve got a handful of 18650s tucked away, but they’re all in a drawer for a different project, so no way to drop them in the rig right now. A quick fix is to add a tiny USB‑C or micro‑USB input wired to a dedicated Li‑Po charger board—those are cheap and stack up nicely. Mount the board on the back of the frame, run a thin cable to the battery, and you’ve got a one‑tap recharge when you land. That’ll let you focus on the solar first and still keep the battery topped up.

Sounds like a plan. For the quick‑charge port, just hook the USB‑C to a 1S charger module that outputs 4.2 V when it sees a cell, then drop that into the same regulator line you use for the panel. The regulator will clip it down to the camera’s required 3.3 V, so you’re all good. As for the panel, solder a small 1‑W flexible cell onto a 5‑V boost converter—those come in handy and won’t weigh you down. Once you get the boost working, test the power budget on a bench before attaching the propellers. When you’re hovering, slide that selfie stick out, hit record, and enjoy the view. Keep me in the loop—every tweak is a chance to learn something new.

Great, fire up that boost converter and pull a quick voltage read—if the panel’s giving you about 4 V under load, the 5‑V boost will pull you up to the regulator’s sweet spot. Watch the battery voltage; if it drops under 3 V you’ll need to boost or add a second panel. Once the power line’s steady, screw the propellers on and give it a gentle lift. Keep an eye on the regulator’s heat—if it’s getting toasty, consider a tiny heat sink or a short burst of power. When you see that first stable hover, grab the camera, lock the selfie stick, and let the sky be your backdrop. Ping me any odd readings or buzzing, and we’ll tweak it together. Good luck—this is going to look awesome!