Manfred
Member
After having been playing with my very humble Syma X25PRO for some time, learning the basics, I'm considering a bigger project: Assembling a quadcopter from individual parts, reasonably optimized for my purposes. And since there are so many options available, I would very much appreciate suggestions and help.
I want the following features:
- GPS-stabilized flight control, stable, safe
- Low latency FPV with goggles, modest video resolution is OK
- Telemetry (at least for battery status) displayed on-screen in the goggles
- Normal remote control. No automatic piloting needed except for return-to-home function
- Enough flight time to play for a good while without having to worry about flat battery. 20 minutes minimum, the more the better
- Radio links (remote control and video + telemetry) should provide at least 1km range in free space
- GoPro clone on 2-axis gymbal as main payload
- A cargo hook with a servo for in-flight release, as alternative payload (in place of the GoPro clone and gymbal)
I'm not aiming at building the best quad in the world, nor am I trying to build the cheapest quad in the world. But I am cost-sensitive and performance-sensitive, so I want best "bang per buck".
My main source of parts will likely be AliExpress, because that company has a shipping method that works well to my country and specific location.
My present concept revolves around these parts:
- F450 frame
- 2212 motors, KV ~930 (which brand is good? Which isn't?)
- 1045 props
- Which ESCs?
- Naza M lite? Pixhawk 2.4.8? Or which controller?
- Akaso V50 Pro camera, or similar
- 3S 5000mAh battery (which brands are any good? Which are fakes?)
The other parts are still completely undefined at this stage. I do have an old, never-used 7-channel Futaba RC set, the kind that runs at 72MHz and uses PWM in FM, but this seems inconvenient in the modern drone world. Too heavy receiver, too long antenna, too much interference from onboard electronics, and the flight controller might not support PWM. So, which radio to buy?
Should I use a flight controller from the NAZA line, probably the lite version, or a Pixhawk? If a Pixhawk, then is a 2.4.8 OK, or is there a real advantage in using the much more expensive version 4? Is there some other controller I should look at? It needs to control just 4 ESCs, possibly the gymbal, and have a pass-through of one RC channel for a servo. Maybe a telemetry output. Inputs for RC receiver and a GPS/compass unit, not much else. I'm not interested in flashing lights, local displays, expansion buses, and so on.
I see lots of FPV cameras, transmitters, and goggles. I have spent several days searching for specs, which are often very scarce. Can anybody help me in finding an FPV system that will fill my needs? The goggles need to be roomy enough to accomodate normal glasses, the latency should be low, the range should be ample (1km is my goal), and if at all possible I would like the FPV system to also perform the function of telemetry, even if it is as basic as showing just the battery voltage. If it can transmit full telemetry from the controller, via OSD, so much better. And of course, it shouldn't be too expensive. 640x480 resolution is OK. Analog video is OK too. So, where should I start looking?
I have seen many reports of ESCs burning up. So, which suitable ESCs are reliable, and work correctly with Pixhawk, or Naza, or whichever controller I should use?
What gymbal can I use? I was shocked to see many gymbals weighing around 200 grams! That's 3-4 times as heavy as the camera. They use rather powerful motors in direct-drive, and massive metal structures. There must be something lighter!
Being very aware that every gram of weight I can save will extend the flight time, I'm looking closely at the weight of each component. Which raises the question: Is there a frame available that's about as large but much lighter than the F450, which is rated at around 280 grams? I would expect a frame made from modern materials to be "featherlight" relative to its size, made from thin-walled but strong molded shells. Not a coarse gridded fiberglass structure.
I'm open to all suggestions at this stage, and grateful for any help.
I want the following features:
- GPS-stabilized flight control, stable, safe
- Low latency FPV with goggles, modest video resolution is OK
- Telemetry (at least for battery status) displayed on-screen in the goggles
- Normal remote control. No automatic piloting needed except for return-to-home function
- Enough flight time to play for a good while without having to worry about flat battery. 20 minutes minimum, the more the better
- Radio links (remote control and video + telemetry) should provide at least 1km range in free space
- GoPro clone on 2-axis gymbal as main payload
- A cargo hook with a servo for in-flight release, as alternative payload (in place of the GoPro clone and gymbal)
I'm not aiming at building the best quad in the world, nor am I trying to build the cheapest quad in the world. But I am cost-sensitive and performance-sensitive, so I want best "bang per buck".
My main source of parts will likely be AliExpress, because that company has a shipping method that works well to my country and specific location.
My present concept revolves around these parts:
- F450 frame
- 2212 motors, KV ~930 (which brand is good? Which isn't?)
- 1045 props
- Which ESCs?
- Naza M lite? Pixhawk 2.4.8? Or which controller?
- Akaso V50 Pro camera, or similar
- 3S 5000mAh battery (which brands are any good? Which are fakes?)
The other parts are still completely undefined at this stage. I do have an old, never-used 7-channel Futaba RC set, the kind that runs at 72MHz and uses PWM in FM, but this seems inconvenient in the modern drone world. Too heavy receiver, too long antenna, too much interference from onboard electronics, and the flight controller might not support PWM. So, which radio to buy?
Should I use a flight controller from the NAZA line, probably the lite version, or a Pixhawk? If a Pixhawk, then is a 2.4.8 OK, or is there a real advantage in using the much more expensive version 4? Is there some other controller I should look at? It needs to control just 4 ESCs, possibly the gymbal, and have a pass-through of one RC channel for a servo. Maybe a telemetry output. Inputs for RC receiver and a GPS/compass unit, not much else. I'm not interested in flashing lights, local displays, expansion buses, and so on.
I see lots of FPV cameras, transmitters, and goggles. I have spent several days searching for specs, which are often very scarce. Can anybody help me in finding an FPV system that will fill my needs? The goggles need to be roomy enough to accomodate normal glasses, the latency should be low, the range should be ample (1km is my goal), and if at all possible I would like the FPV system to also perform the function of telemetry, even if it is as basic as showing just the battery voltage. If it can transmit full telemetry from the controller, via OSD, so much better. And of course, it shouldn't be too expensive. 640x480 resolution is OK. Analog video is OK too. So, where should I start looking?
I have seen many reports of ESCs burning up. So, which suitable ESCs are reliable, and work correctly with Pixhawk, or Naza, or whichever controller I should use?
What gymbal can I use? I was shocked to see many gymbals weighing around 200 grams! That's 3-4 times as heavy as the camera. They use rather powerful motors in direct-drive, and massive metal structures. There must be something lighter!
Being very aware that every gram of weight I can save will extend the flight time, I'm looking closely at the weight of each component. Which raises the question: Is there a frame available that's about as large but much lighter than the F450, which is rated at around 280 grams? I would expect a frame made from modern materials to be "featherlight" relative to its size, made from thin-walled but strong molded shells. Not a coarse gridded fiberglass structure.
I'm open to all suggestions at this stage, and grateful for any help.
