First Post, First Build, First Questions - go easy on me.

JeremyMcG1

JeremyMcG1

New Member
Greetings - Jeremy from Las Vegas checking in.

I've been coerced into building a quadcopter. I am coming from this from a complete non-existent knowledge base regarding quadcopters, but I am a licensed pilot and know a little about flight dynamics and such - but I learn quickly and I tend to dive into things head first and learn how to swim later - just my personality...

Anyway, I decided not to start small and purchased a Tarot Ironman 650 FPV frame to start my build with.

After approximately 3 days and nights of studying, learning math, power curves, propeller efficiencies and such, I've come up with a list that I ---believe-- to be what I want that can perform the way I want it to:

Tarot Ironman 650 FPV
-- extended 500mm arms for added width
Sunnysky x4110S 340kv motors
DYS BL30A Speed Controllers
1 Lion Power 6S 25C 10400 mAh battery
Pixhawk PX4 + NEO-MN8 Telemetry OSD (will utilize mission planner)
Fatshark 600TVL 100 degree CMOS camera
Boscam TS832 for Video TX

What I haven't picked yet are the propellers - and I won't until the quadcopter is ready to fly as I am preventing myself from either cutting off a finger, being stupid and flying it in my living room, or being too anxious and flying outside before --I-- am ready to fly it.

My questions should be easy, if not, my apologies in advance:

1) All of my math is saying that I will have +/- 40 minutes of flight time (18" propellers) with this configuration - does that sound correct for the parts list above?

2) Did I goof by using a 30A speed controller instead of a 40A? Seeing as how this will primarily be used with programmed missions and very little joystick control I opted for the 30A...was that a mistake?

3) Are there known issues in communication with the Pixhawk and the DYS BL30A that I haven't found yet?

4) I am planning on running 18" propellers, which is why I stretched the arms to 500mm. With the 340kv motors, will I, in the real world, see an increase in efficiency by moving to 20" blades, or just stick with the 18"s?

5) I am also looking for an object avoidance module and have run across the eBumper, but no integration for custom builds. Other than a very expensive LIDAR solution, what other object/crash avoidance modules exist that will effectively communicate with the Pixhawk controller?

Thanks in advance and again, apologies if my n00b questions are annoying.
 
So, after you get this built, what are you going to do with it? See, I'm one of these guys that like to have a quad fly right out of the box. I am not an Aeronautics Engineer nor someone that wants the complexity of building an unproven machine and the first time out smashing it into something that was less fragile. I want it to fly the first time and if it crashes, the worst damage will be to a rotor. Good luck in you endeavor though...
 
That's a great question, and one I've not developed an answer to as of yet.
I have no idea (other than the normal GoPro type photography) as to what I will do with this.

I do have one idea where I use a 10watt LED coupled with the GPS so that I can flash the LED at specific GPS points and with my DSLR on the ground, do long-exposure night photography and do light painting with the drone...but that will be later on.
 
There's lots of different makers of object-avoidance modules. And they're not that expensive. As for your build, it would probably take me a couple hours of research and calculation to give you any kind of educated reply (and I'm too lazy) but I have a feeling you'll end up going with 20" props in fact you might be a little overpowered for a 650 frame.
 
There's lots of different makers of object-avoidance modules. And they're not that expensive. As for your build, it would probably take me a couple hours of research and calculation to give you any kind of educated reply (and I'm too lazy) but I have a feeling you'll end up going with 20" props in fact you might be a little overpowered for a 650 frame.

This is a handy tool to calculate the results of your setup
http://www.ecalc.ch/index.htm
 
Well, the frame is together, minus one singular screw.
I bounced a screw off my desk - one that holds the landing gear on... can't find it anywhere.
:(
 
RENOV8R said:
There's lots of different makers of object-avoidance modules. And they're not that expensive. As for your build, it would probably take me a couple hours of research and calculation to give you any kind of educated reply (and I'm too lazy) but I have a feeling you'll end up going with 20" props in fact you might be a little overpowered for a 650 frame.

This is a handy tool to calculate the results of your setup
http://www.ecalc.ch/index.htm
Click to expand...

Well, on the 650 frame, I've actually extended the standard arms with 500mm. That significantly increased the "wheel base" of this frame to accommodate the 20" props. Since I'll be running 340kv motors, I figured the 20" would actually be more efficient than 18"s but I'm not entirely sure as of yet.

On another note, I'll be doing some early testing on this single ESC - a 4 in 1 30A. That will significantly reduce the number of wires I needs, reduce weight and probably provide a slew of issues I hadn't planned on.
I have standard ESCs on standby as well, but If this works, it could be awesome

http://www.goodluckbuy.com/4-in-1-3...ware-2-6s-w-usb-programmer-for-rc-models.html
 
On another note, I'll be doing some early testing on this single ESC - a 4 in 1 30A. That will significantly reduce the number of wires I needs, reduce weight and probably provide a slew of issues I hadn't planned on.
I have standard ESCs on standby as well, but If this works, it could be awesome

http://www.goodluckbuy.com/4-in-1-3...ware-2-6s-w-usb-programmer-for-rc-models.html[/QUOTE]
I've ordered the Emax 4 in 1 30 amp and calibration is very simple. The only issue you'll have is motor connection orientation and it's not so much an issue as knowing which wires go where. Here's a video which explains it.
 
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