If you help me review my parts list then I will love you

Zexesy

Zexesy

Member
Im looking for a solid aerial photography drone to help me back up semi-trailers.

I'm completely new to flying. I want to make sure everything is squared away before I make the purchase.

Please help me select parts as it is hard for me to tell what is important to have and what isn't.

Here is what I have so far:
Frame: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/hobbyking-h4-copter-multi-rotor-quadcopter-frame-470mm.html
Flight Controller: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/shark-x6-multi-rotor-flight-control-and-autopilot-system-w-gps.html
Distrobution Board: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/gep-xt60-pdb-bec-5v-12v.html
Motors: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/turnigy-d3536-5-1450kv-brushless-outrunner-motor.html
Speed Controllers: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/hobbywing-x-rotor-esc-40amp-opto.html
Battery: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/graphene-3000mah-3s-65c-w-xt90.html
Propellers: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/carbon-fiber-propeller-11x4-7-black-cw-ccw-2pcs.html
Propeller Protectors: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/11-inch-universal-multi-rotor-propeller-guard-1pc.html
Gimball: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/hobbyking-go-pro-camera-gimbal-with-pan-and-tilt-1pc.html

Now the only parts I think I still need are a transmitter, receiver, and camera.

Oh, one more thing; I want to wire in a car light bulb to this thing incase i need to backup a trailer during the night. Anyone here know how to do that?
 
If you are going for aerial photography I would recommend a hexacopter. But if you insist on a quadcopter then use an F450 frame(or any other which resembles an 'X', They are more stable); with 900KV motors and 1245 props. You are going to need more battery for a decent flight time. I recommend using PixHawk as the flight controller or Seppuku with dronin (dronin is very simple to set up, and autotune is amazing, I assume that you don't want to spend hours getting your PIDs right. You might need additional GPS module but having AutoTune is worth it) you might want to add a flight camera for FPV to see where your drone is going and with Seppuku and its inbuilt OSD you don't have to worry much. And soft mounting motors is a must it makes a huge difference(I checked). And as for the bulb, you are going to need a really big one so I recommend yet another battery and you can configure it in almost any FC.
 
You'll need lower kv motors for 11 inch props. Like in the 800kv-1000kv range.

If you are using Windows 10 you might have issues recognising the USB connection to the Shark X6. a guy on rcgroups couldn't get it to work. DJI Naza M lite, APM or Pixhawk are popular alternatives.

How good do you want your shots to be for photography ? because the gimbal you linked to, doesn't have any stabilization of the camera, except the rubber balls but they won't do much.

The XT90 connector on the battery won't fit the XT60 connector on the PDB board. One of those will need to be swapped, or you need to use an adaptor.
 
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Yog Dharaskar said:
If you are going for aerial photography I would recommend a hexacopter. But if you insist on a quadcopter then use an F450 frame(or any other which resembles an 'X', They are more stable); with 900KV motors and 1245 props. You are going to need more battery for a decent flight time. I recommend using PixHawk as the flight controller or Seppuku with dronin (dronin is very simple to set up, and autotune is amazing, I assume that you don't want to spend hours getting your PIDs right. You might need additional GPS module but having AutoTune is worth it) you might want to add a flight camera for FPV to see where your drone is going and with Seppuku and its inbuilt OSD you don't have to worry much. And soft mounting motors is a must it makes a huge difference(I checked). And as for the bulb, you are going to need a really big one so I recommend yet another battery and you can configure it in almost any FC.
Click to expand...

This hexcopter frame looks good to me https://www.ebay.com/itm/332399513627 . Do you recommend the same motor and prop setup for this?

Yea I dont want to setup PIDs. I dont even know what that is.

If I get a PX4 will i need a GPS module? I was told by someone at a local hobby store I might need a GPS module but now i'm not sure of the importance of it at all.

SLFLY said:
You'll need lower kv motors for 11 inch props. Like in the 800kv-1000kv range.

If you are using Windows 10 you might have issues recognising the USB connection to the Shark X6. a guy on rcgroups couldn't get it to work. DJI Naza M lite, APM or Pixhawk are popular alternatives.

How good do you want your shots to be for photography ? because the gimbal you linked to, doesn't have any stabilization of the camera, except the rubber balls but they won't do much.

The XT90 connector on the battery won't fit the XT60 connector on the PDB board. One of those will need to be swapped, or you need to use an adaptor.
Click to expand...

I want to shoot some video feed footage clear enough to see fluidity of motion and some space between objects.
 
Zexesy said:
This hexcopter frame looks good to me https://www.ebay.com/itm/332399513627 . Do you recommend the same motor and prop setup for this?

Yea I dont want to setup PIDs. I dont even know what that is.

If I get a PX4 will i need a GPS module? I was told by someone at a local hobby store I might need a GPS module but now i'm not sure of the importance of it at all.



I want to shoot some video feed footage clear enough to see fluidity of motion and some space between objects.
Click to expand...

Hate to ask being as this is a form for quadcopters and I understand that this would be a cool solution. Is this the most practical solution to your problem? Would a camera on the trailer or a camera on the trailer that could boom out be better in this case? Even a tripod camera that you could throw out and have transmit to your monitor in your truck (it could use the same equiptment as a quadcopter minus the flight part).

As for the lighting I would suggest LED as they are more efficient and brighter. You could easily add a PWM switch that would plug into your receiver, or you could run the LED off your flight controller and have it switched by your radio.

Here are some considerations that could affect your build or whether you build: Are you going to be backing somewhere that you will have a lot of time to setup or will it be somewhere you need to get out of the way quickly? Are you going to need to pilot it to a vantage point and then have it hold position while you backup or will you have a second pilot/autopilot?
 
Zexesy said:
This hexcopter frame looks good to me https://www.ebay.com/itm/332399513627 . Do you recommend the same motor and prop setup for this?

Yea I dont want to setup PIDs. I dont even know what that is.

If I get a PX4 will i need a GPS module? I was told by someone at a local hobby store I might need a GPS module but now i'm not sure of the importance of it at all.



I want to shoot some video feed footage clear enough to see fluidity of motion and some space between objects.
Click to expand...


I wouldn't recommend the same motors because they have very high KV rating (more KV implies more vibration), plus you can use larger props if you use a 700KV motor. You will need a GPS (it helps in a stable flight, especially in a photography drone) you can add it on Seppuku and PX4 both but I would recommend Seppuku because you are not a professional. GPS allows you features like return to home and position hold and a lot more. You will need 30A ESCs. And a battery with lower C-rating(15C).
 
GJH105775 said:
Hate to ask being as this is a form for quadcopters and I understand that this would be a cool solution. Is this the most practical solution to your problem? Would a camera on the trailer or a camera on the trailer that could boom out be better in this case? Even a tripod camera that you could throw out and have transmit to your monitor in your truck (it could use the same equiptment as a quadcopter minus the flight part).

As for the lighting I would suggest LED as they are more efficient and brighter. You could easily add a PWM switch that would plug into your receiver, or you could run the LED off your flight controller and have it switched by your radio.

Here are some considerations that could affect your build or whether you build: Are you going to be backing somewhere that you will have a lot of time to setup or will it be somewhere you need to get out of the way quickly? Are you going to need to pilot it to a vantage point and then have it hold position while you backup or will you have a second pilot/autopilot?
Click to expand...

Jackson said:
Why so fancy for such a mundane task?
Click to expand...

In certain situations it helps to have a bird's eye view of everything, like when attempting passenger side backups.

Yog Dharaskar said:
I wouldn't recommend the same motors because they have very high KV rating (more KV implies more vibration), plus you can use larger props if you use a 700KV motor. You will need a GPS (it helps in a stable flight, especially in a photography drone) you can add it on Seppuku and PX4 both but I would recommend Seppuku because you are not a professional. GPS allows you features like return to home and position hold and a lot more. You will need 30A ESCs. And a battery with lower C-rating(15C).
Click to expand...

I heard the higher the C rating, the longer the battery will last on one charge (given same capacity)
 
Actually, there is no relation between C-rating and flight time(until you are overloading your UAV) and I assumed you will be 2 * 3000mAh batteries then it will be perfect to have two 15c batteries.
 
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