Multirotor pilot v1

3D Print your own FPV Quad... We show you how

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ESTES PROTO X T Q U A D I N T H E U NI

VOL 1, SUMMER 2014

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RADIO CONTROL & ROBOTICS!

Maplegate Media Group n 42 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury, CT 06810 n Phone (203) 826-7557 n maplegatemedia.com

WHAT’S INSIDE. FEATURES

PILOT REVIEWS

Legalities regarding the use of UAV’s —by Lucien Miller

Big fun in a micro package!

—by Chris Reibert

20 Regulations and

34 A closer look at Empire Hobby with Jack Burnside —by the editors of MultiRotor Pilot

63 Inside Atlanta Hobby with Cliff Whitney —by the editors of MultiRotor Pilot 80 Multirotors for Precision Agriculture —by Gene Payson

HOW TO

18 3 Quick Tips for getting into Multirotors —by Alex Zvada

56 Install and set up a GPS/Compass Unit for a DJI Naza-M V2 —by Petr Hejl

12 Blade Nano QX 16 Estes Proto X A full-function Quad that’ll fit in your pocket…literally!

—by Tony Phalen 22 Lynxmotion/Robotshop Hunter V-Tail 400 Aggressive looks with performance to match!

—by Matt Maziarz 36 BLADE 350 QX Feature-rich, easy-to-fly GoPro compatible quadcopter —by Joe Cannavo 40 HobbyKing X900 Tricopter with RC Logger FPV System A highly maneuverable, easy-totransport FPV camera machine —by Joe Cannavo 46 Gaui 840H Hexacopter

59 Winter Flying Tips and Tricks —by Petr Hejl

with DJI Wookong-M Flight, Camera, Action!

—by Erick Royer

36

52 DJI Innovations Phantom 2 Vision HD video,FPV and more!

—by Jacob Clackey

22 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

70 SONY Compact POV Action Cam The new aerial video/FPV camera on the block —by Joe Cannavo 79 Go Professional Custom Xtreme Cases DJI Phantom —by Erick Royer

PRODUCT REVIEW

26 DJI Innovations Data Link and iPad Ground Station Portable control platform enables autonomous flight —by Joe Papa 60 DJI A2 Flight Controller —by Joe Papa

79

COLUMNS

66 RC Logger RC Eye One Extreme Hold steady and look out!

—by Greg Vogel

8 Editorial An RC Industry First —by Erick Royer

72 Feiyu Tech FY-G3 2-axis

10 From the .com

GoPro 3 gimbal Rock-steady camera footage —by Joe Cannavo

70

82 Return to home —by Matt Maziarz

60

74 Hextreme 550 FPV Hexacopter High quality, fun to fly FPV hex —by Matt Maziarz

56 CUSTOM PROJECT FIRST LOOK

64 Eagle Tree Systems Vector FPV Controller A flight controller built for pilots… by pilots —by Joe Cannavo

6 MULTIROTOR PILOT

28 Foldable 3D Printed FPV Quadcopter Inexpensive FPV fun you can take anywhere —by Erick Royer

46

LIFT.OFF An RC Industry First You are holding in your hands the world’s first magazine dedicated to multirotors, UAVs, FPV, aerial video and photography and more. We have assembled a team of experts in all facets of the multirotor hobby and together we worked around the clock to bring you reviews, how-tos, custom projects and more. It has been an exciting few months putting this issue together and we hope you enjoy it.

MULTIROTOR EXPLOSION Every day there are new multirotor products coming to market and trying to decide what to include for you in this first issue of Multirotor Pilot magazine was not an easy task. When you couple that with all of the functional (and controversial) uses for multirotors, we could fill an entire magazine simply outlining them. Since our focus is on all areas of multirotors from the World’s smallest to the most expensive camera machines, from agricultural uses to FPV fun, we packed this first issue with the latest and greatest content with something for everyone. In fact, we had so much material to share with you that we had to spill it over to our website, multirotorpilotmag.com. There you will find exclusive web-only material as well as bonus supporting content for the articles within this issue.

LOTS OF 3D PRINTING The multirotor hobby lends itself to endless custom applications, machines, accessories and more. 3D printing has open opened up to the masses with lower priced machines coming to market almost weekly. There is nothing better than sitting with a CAD program and in minutes designing a custom component for your multirotor, or as I did with the Custom Foldable FPV Quad (page 28), designing your own flying machine, then hitting ‘print’ and in a short time, your idea becomes a reality. The use of a 3D printer was invaluable in this issue and we made the files for everything we designed available to you on the web… for FREE!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU I wanted to give a special “thank you” to everyone who contributed with this issue. Three people really went above and beyond and if it was not for their unbelievable efforts I am not sure how we could have done this; Joe Papa, Petr Hejl and Matt Maziarz… Thank you!!

We are anxious for your feedback, ideas and requests for what you would like to see in future issues; please email me at erickr@maplegatemedia.com.

Additionally, please share your experiences, photos and video with us and we will try to use then in future issues and on our website.

Thank you and Happy Flying

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 2014

EDITORIAL Editor-In-Chief GREG VOGEL Executive Editor ERICK ROYER Associate Editor MATT MAZIARZ Associate Editor TONY PHALEN Technical Editor JOE PAPA Chief Test Pilot PETR HEJL Copy Editors SIRI WHEELER, JENNIFER RUSSELL Editorial Coordinator CINDI VANDEMARK

CONTRIBUTORS JOE CANNAVO, JACOB CLACKEY, LUCIEN MILLER, GENE PAYSON, CHRIS REIBERT, ALEX ZVADA

ART/DESIGN Design Director ALAN PALERMO Art Director VICTORIA HOWELL Corporate Photographer WALTER SIDAS Staff Illustrator DAVID BAKER Web Developer and Design TONY PHALEN Web Content Manager JEFFREY WARNER

MARKETING Consumer Marketing Director NED BIXLER Marketing Manager SIRI WHEELER Hobby Shop Manager WHIT CAMPBELL

ADVERTISING Account Executives LISA BLUMENSCHINE, KEVIN ELSTON, GREG SMITH Advertising Coordinator CINDI VANDEMARK

PRODUCTION Production Manager BOBBI-JO BALDWICK

PUBLISHING Publisher SHARON WARNER Associate Publisher NED BIXLER Editor-in-Chief GREG VOGEL Executive Assistant to Publisher SIRI WHEELER

CORPORATE CEO SHARON WARNER President & Chief Financial Officer ELLEN BALL Corporate Editorial Content Director GREG VOGEL Multirotor Pilot (ISSN 2334-0827) Copyright 2014, all rights reserved

by Maplegate Media Group, 42 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury, CT06810, USA.

facebook.com/multirotorpilot

Erick Royer Executive Editor facebook.com/multirotorpilot PRINTED IN THE USA

8 MULTIROTOR PILOT

FROM THE .COM

W

e packed as much multirotor content into this issue as we possibly could, but we were still left with much more to share with you. There are a lot of bonuses on

multirotorpilotmag.com including 3D printer files, additional photos and video, FAA information and some exclusive web-only content that did not make the magazine. Please visit the website and “LIKE” our Facebook page facebook.com/multirotorpilot.

.INTERVIEW

.REVIEW

Petr Hejl talks with Rich Hanson, the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) Director of Government Relations about the AMA’s role in working with the FAA and Congress on behalf of everyone that flies model aircraft to keep regulation away from the activity.

Tarot T-2D Brushless Gimbal. Matt Maziarz takes an inside look at Tarot’s amazing and affordable brushless gimbal that is designed to work with multirotors like the DJI Phantom and Blade 350 QX.

multirotorpilotmag.com/richhanson

multirotorpilotmag.com/t2d Rich Hanson

.BONUS CONTENT The HobbyKing X900 Tricopter is a great flying machine, but Erick Royer designed some custom 3D printed parts to make it even better.

Additionally he shares the settings that he ended up with for the HKPilot Mega 2.5 flight controller. Lastly, watch some video that was shot from the RC Logger FPV camera system.

multirotorpilotmag.com/x900

The Gaui 840H Hexacopter is an amazing machine for aerial photography and videography.

We made video shot from this machine available online as well as more information on the Sony NEX 6 and DJI Zenmuse 3-axis gimbal. We also have information on retract options for this machine on the page as well. We set this up as a Blog so we will be updating this page often as we use the 840H on different shoots.

multirotorpilotmag.com/840h Download the files for the 3D printed FPV monitor mount for the Spektrum DX18 transmitter

multirotorpilotmag.com/dx18mount

The Foldable 3D Printed FPV Quadcopter project turned out awesome.

We made the .STL files available so you can print your own if you have access to a 3D printer. We also arranged with a local 3D printing service so you can order the parts if you don’t have access to a printer.

Erick also has several accessories and mods in the works for this copter so please check out this page often for updates.

multirotorpilotmag.com/fpvquad Read the FAA Advisory Circular AC 91-57 which explains the operating standards of radio control aircraft for recreational purposes.

multirotorpilotmag.com/faa

10 MULTIROTOR PILOT

PILOT REVIEW

by Chris Reibert

Author’s Opinion

Big fun in a micro package!

The Nano QX is a really fun micro quad that anyone can learn to fly basically anywhere. The Nano QX weighs a little more than half an ounce and is small enough to fly in spaces no bigger than an office cubicle. If you have never flown a quadcopter before, the Nano QX is just right for you. With its SAFE Technology system it gives any beginner stability control to allow it to virtually fly by itself.

If you get into trouble, well just let go of the sticks, and relax. The SAFE Technology system will bring the Nano QX back to a hover all by itself. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can switch the SAFE system to agility mode for faster flying speeds and more maneuverability.

Coming in at just $69.95, all I had to do was charge the battery and bind and fly!

BLADE

NANO QX

By Horizon Hobby

Flip, roll, and zoom around any room of your house with the incredibly fun and agile Blade Nano QX. At just 18 grams it’s one of the lightest quads in its class. At the center of this micro quadcopter is the proven AS3X Artificial Stabilization System that gives the Nano QX its perfect balance of agility and stability for any pilot’s skill level. It’s unbelievably durable too, (my cat loves to aĴack it) so you can fly aggressively without worrying about costly repairs if you are just learning to fly.

OUT OF THE BOX

The Blade Nano QX BNF comes in a smaller box than the RTF version. When you open the box you find the Nano packed in a formed plastic insert to prevent shifting during transportation. The box serves as a great travel case for the Nano QX. In the BNF ver12 MULTIROTOR PILOT

sion you will find a 1S USB LiPo baĴery charger, E-flite 1S 3.7V 150mAh 25C LiPo baĴery, extra canopy and blades, and the manual. The RTF version comes in a bigger box housing the additional Spektrum MLP4DSM 4-channel DSMX transmiĴer and four “AA” baĴeries.

» NEED TO KNOW MANUFACTURER: Blade DISTRIBUTOR: Horizon Hobby TYPE: Micro quadcopter FOR: Everyone

Includes: • Fully assembled and flight-ready Blade Nano QX • 1S 3.7V 150mAh 25C LiPo baĴery • Compact USB LiPo baĴery charger • Assortment of extra rotor blades • Spare green Nano QX body SETUP

I chose the BNF version of the Nano QX because it allows me to use my own DSMX/ DSM2 radio so I will be able to fine tune the

PRICE: BNF $69.99, RTF $89.99

quads flight characteristics. I chose to use my new Spektrum DX9 as my flight radio.

After charging the baĴery it was time to bind the quad to the radio, which was as easy as plugging the flight baĴery into the quad, turning on my radio while holding the bind buĴon until you see the blinking light go solid and then releasing the buĴon. The entire process takes less than a minute. Con-

Powerful 6mm brushed motors

4-in-1 DSMX Receiver/ESCs/mixer/ SAFE sensor unit

Object bumpers

SPECS

sult your manual if you have any questions about the binding process. With the radio bound it was time for the initial test flight to make sure all the motors were moving in the correct direction. I slowly increased the thro le and got the micro quad into a hover to test all directional controls. I was quite impressed with how stable it was right out of the box and how very li le trimming it needed. Everything seemed smooth and, with li le adjustment, you can get a handsfree hover. This is due to the 4-in-1 board that incorporates the DSM2/X RX, ESC, servos, and AS3X 3-axis MEMS gyro. The AS3X system is an exclusive electronic and setup enhancement that combines multi-axis sen-

sors and state-of-the-art software that helps make flight smoother and more stable.

SAFE TECHNOLOGY

SAFE stands for Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope and is the central nervous system to the excellent performance the Nano QX offers.

Even new pilots will feel comfortable with the Nano QX in stability mode because SAFE will make sure the Nano is always in control and in an upright orientation. You will feel an immediate sense of confidence and be flying around like a pro in no time. After one battery, my brother was a pro behind the sticks of the Nano because SAFE makes RC flight easier than ever before. Far beyond stability, progressive performance options mean pilots can choose to develop with a greater degree of security and flight control. The result is that beginners have a far more relaxing learning experience and experts get outstanding control with protection benefits accessible at the flip of a switch.

Stability Mode – In this mode, you will get auto self leveling to keep the Nano QX flying upright for beginners. How it works is that it monitors pitch and bank angle limits to prevent any extreme

FLYING WEIGHT: 0.63 oz. (18 g) LENGTH: 5.5 in. (140mm) HEIGHT: 1.18 in. (30) ROTOR DIAMETERS: 1.97 in. (50.0mm) RADIO: Spektrum DX9 ON-BOARD ELECTRONICS: 4-in-1 DSMX Receiver/ ESCs/mixer/SAFE sensor unit MOTORS: Powerful 6mm brushed motors BATTERY: 1Sl 3.7V 150mAh 25c LiPo battery CHARGER: USB LiPo charger 350mAh DURATION: 4-6 min MINIMUM FLYING AREA: Office cubicle NEEDED TO COMPLETE: BNF requires a DSM2/ DSMX transmitter

FEATURES

Exclusive SAFE Technology with Stability and Agility modes

Small enough to fly in any room or office

Tough, lightweight airframe with blade guards

Powerful brushed motors that provide smooth and powerful lift

4-in-1 DSMX Receiver/ESCs/mixer/SAFE sensor unit

Includes E-flite 1S 3.7V 150mAh 25C Li-Po Battery

Includes compact USB LiPo battery charger

PROS

Fully assembled

Inexpensive

Two flight modes

SAFE technology

AS3X Artificial Stabilization Technology

CONS

Plastic is thin so beware of hard crashes

Brushed motors won’t last forever

Requires USB power source for charger

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 13

PILOT REVIEW I BLADE NANO QX

or unusual aĴitudes changes when the sticks are released. Not only will the Nano QX return to level flight but it actually slows the quad and returns it to a stable hover.

Agility Mode – This mode is a fun “3D type” mode. Choose this to perform loops, rolls, flips and graceful aerobatics. Agility

IN THE AIR This little micro has the look of a flying spider. It hovers very smooth and with normal flying you can get a four-minute flight out of the small 1S LiPo. At $2-$6 per battery, the Nano QX can give you flight after flight without breaking the bank. This little bug has the flight characteristics as its bigger quad siblings as to how it is controlled. I was doing circuits all around my living room and kitchen, driving my cat crazy just minutes after opening the box.

Forward Flight – It tracked straight and true right out of the box. I have flown a few FP type helicopters over the years and, bar none, this is the most responsive and yet aggressive trainer to date. Stable when you want a slow solid hover and right into fast forward flight with the push on the cyclic stick.

Tricks – Don’t let its small size fool you. With confidence and the help of agility mode you will be spinning and flipping in no time. I was impressed how quick it would flip and roll. With its small size it is also fun to try different types of take offs, like kicking it into the air like a hacky sack or throwing it like a Frisbee and flying away. It doesn’t matter how it is put into the air, even thrown inverted, the SAFE Technology will upright it into a hover in just seconds.

Flight Times – Flight times averaged around 4-5 minutes with the stock 150mAh battery packs but I was able to stretch out a little more flight time and power using the Hyperion 160mAh 30c packs.

The packs are very inexpensive and having a handful will not break the bank. I tried number of different batteries and all held up well in the Nano QX.

mode removes all flight envelope protection and the Nano QX can be flown more aggressively. There are no limits on pitch and bank angles and no self-leveling. That means game on.

THE LAST WORD

This liĴle quad comes in a small package but packs a big punch. I was impressed from the second I put it into its first hover in my hobby room. I really enjoy flying this micro around the house and would highly recommend it to anybody looking to make the transition from a coaxial helicopter to something more maneuverable. It is very fast and responsive in agility mode but when you want it dialed down, kick it back into stability mode for a great docile trainer.

If you feel you want something a liĴle bit bigger and more stable, check out the Blade 350 QX, Blade’s new camera-carrying quad which is great for aerial photography. Enjoy and see you at the field. = CONTACTS BLADE bladehelis.com PERFORMANCE HOBBIES performance-hobbies.com SPEKTRUM spektrumrc.com For more information, please see our source guide on page 81.

14 MULTIROTOR PILOT

PILOT REVIEW

by Tony Phalen

When trimmed out properly on a fully charged pack, the Proto X will hover in place with almost no stick commands.

That’s pretty impressive for a $40.00 quad!

ESTES

PROTO X

A full-function Quad that’ll fit in your pocket ...literally!

The little quadcopter is easy to fly, even for the most novice pilots.

Case in point…car guy with trigger finger up and flying great in no time flat!

16 MULTIROTOR PILOT

Lifting off for a quick jaunt around the dining room table. “Ma…..can you please pass the mashed potatoes or do I have to land this thing on your dinner plate?”

To illustrate its size, the Proto X is parked right next to a quarter along with its controller.

» NEED TO KNOW MANUFACTURER: Estes DISTRIBUTOR: Hobbico, Inc. TYPE: Quadcopter FOR: Beginners MINIMAL FLYING AREA: Indoor small spaces PRICE: $39.99 NEEDED TO COMPLETE/GEAR INCLUDED: 2 “AAA” batteries for the transmitter

Upon initial inspection of the Proto X when it arrived at my house, I was amazed at just how small it actually was. I read some pre-release specs and reviews of it, and was anxious to see how well it would perform given its small size. The quality and construction of this diminutive quad is very good considering its price. The transmi er on the other hand, left a li le to be desired since it was so small, but I reserved my final judgment until I had completed a flight or two.

IN THE AIR

Being a fella who is not terribly dependent on his PC, I wasn’t all that happy about a USB-only charger, but after flying the quad, it was worth the effort trekking back to my PC to recharge. Within 15 minutes or so, the li le red light on the cord went out, signaling that it was time for the maiden flight.

Powering up the transmi er first, I flipped the switch on the Proto X and was instantly dazzled by the LED lights that adorn the four corners as well as the front of the canopy. Blue lights up front and reds in the rear offer a highly visible way to gain orientation of the li le machine. Once the lights went from blinking to solid, it was ready to go.

Since the Proto X is so small, I thought I might have a tough time dealing with ground effect, so I mashed the thro le. Surprisingly, the li le quad lurched upwards and almost rebounded off of the ceiling in my living room. The micro quad was perfectly trimmed right out of the box and would hang in place with almost no corrections. A few piroue es had me quickly grinning at the stability it offered. I was amazed at how well this li le Estes machine performed. Not only were figure eights and funnels predictable and easy, but they were fun as well and had me smiling from ear to ear.

Another aspect of the Proto X that surprised me was the overall flat-line speed.

It may be small in size, but it’ll turn a large room into a closet if you’re not careful with high-speed maneuvers. In this aspect, I quickly gained a good deal of respect for its durability. A few brushes with the wall and even a slow spinning ceiling fan had me chopping the thro le, sending the little buzz saw tumbling to the ground. Each time, the li le quad brushed off the crash and was right back up in the air. I did manage to send one of the props flying across the room, but a quick press fit and she was back in action. Estes provides a spare set of props in the box. If you need to change the props, be sure to note the le er markings on each of them so as to use the proper rotation when replacing one.

SPECS FLYING WEIGHT: 11.5g LENGTH: 45 x 45mm HEIGHT: 24mm PROPELLER DIAMETER: 30mm RADIO: Estes four-channel 2.4GHz MAIN MOTOR: (4) micro brushed BATTERY: 100mAh 3.7V LiPo CHARGER: USB charge cord DURATION: 3-4 minutes

PROS Tiny size means flights can be performed in the most confined spaces

Multi-colored LED lights to gain orientation as well as cool factor

THE LAST WORD

I have to admit; when I first saw the Proto X I did not imagine that it would do any of the things it was advertised to do so well.

Boy was I wrong! This li le bugger is a hoot to fly, is durable as any quad out there and is backed by a full line of replacement parts.

The transmi er is a bit on the small side, making minute adjustments a li le tricky at first, but I got used to it in no time. An additional bonus to the Proto X was the fact that I could use the transmi er that Estes includes with its larger sibling, the Dart, making the feel of the sticks much more familiar than the stock transmi er. All in all, I’d say Estes knocked this one out of the park and I’m sure there will be many, many of these li le machines flying off the shelves!

CONTACTS ESTES estesrockets.com HOBBICO hobbico.com For more information, please see our source guide on page 81.

At forty bucks RTF, you really can’t go wrong

Available replacement parts for everything except the main frame/board

CONS

USB-only charge lead included Teeny, tiny transmitter

Author’s Opinion When I first saw the images of the Proto X prior to its release, I couldn’t believe that the little machine was for real and if so, that it would actually fly well and/or be any fun to operate. Seriously, the spy shots that Estes released featured the tiny machine next to a quarter (as in a quarter dollar) for size comparison. The transmitter looks like a cheap knock-off video game controller as well, but hey, it’s forty bucks so there’s really nothing to lose either way.

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 17

HOW TO

by Alex Zvada

Alex Zvada is a product specialist and graphic designer at FliteTest.com He is responsible for managing and maintaining their product stock, packaging, quality assurance, online marketing, creative design solutions and even runs a camera for the show. He is also heavily relied on for product testing due to his rigorous “tests” that he puts all of his RC products through. Alex has been focusing hard on learning to shoot aerial video for the show, which he really loves.

3 Quick Tips for Getting into Multirotors Considering I am fairly new to the RC hobby, I figured a good article topic for the first issue of Multirotor Pilot magazine would be tips on choosing your first multirotor. I am rather experienced in this area considering that I have been building and flying multirotors for a liĴle bit over a year.

Luckily for you, I have made all the common mistakes that a novice can encounter and I have compiled three of my top tips for geĴing started and to keep in mind as you embark on your multirotor journey.

1

START SMALL While working at FliteTest. com, I am often asked the question, “I want to build an FPV/GPS-equipped super awesome long range aerial cinematography multicopter, but know nothing about flying or RC. What should I do?” Instead of trying to answer such a loaded question, I simply respond by recommending that they start small. One of the main things to keep in mind when geĴing into multirotors is that they are not very forgiving. There is no glide slope, there are a lot of vari-

Blade Nano QX quadcopters are a great machine for learning how to fly.

ables, and if anything goes wrong there is a 99 percent chance that your multirotor is going to plummet to the ground like a rock…a very fragile rock.

I learned about flight controls and the characteristics of multirotors on a Syma X1, which is an inexpensive quadcopter that can be found for less than $40. Currently, my favorite micro quad is by far the Blade Nano QX (see the review in this issue). The main reasons I recommend starting small is because the smaller the copter, the more forgiving it is. Yes, it still will drop like a rock if you have any kind of malfunction; however, these micro quads are extremely lightweight and durable, meaning they are designed to take a hit. Also, the RTF and BNF micro quads come right out of the box perfectly dialed in and require no tuning. This is important because it lets you feel how a properly-tuned multirotor should feel when it is flying. This leads me to my next tip.

dles include learning to build a multirotor, learning to dial in a multirotor and learning to fly a multirotor; all of which are fairly overwhelming. That being said, I think it’s safe to say that most people want to get in the air as soon as possible. Starting with a small, out-of-the-box quad eliminates you from having to worry about learning building techniques and seĴing parameters like P and I limits and gains and lets you focus on learning flying techniques and characteristics. Then once you are comfortable with flying the micro quad, you can focus on learning how to build and tune a custom or kit-based multirotor. When it comes time to maiden your custom craft, you will have an idea of how it should perform. I am not going to sugar-coat this either; you will fail and perhaps often. But this is a good thing because you learn the most when you fail. The more you have to repair, the more you learn.

2

3

PICK YOUR BATTLES As far as I am concerned, there are three main learning curves you will need to overcome when geĴing into the great hobby of multirotors. These hur-

18 MULTIROTOR PILOT

LEARNING TO FLY I would recommend learning to fly “line of sight” before you even worry about geĴing into FPV. Even though I find FPV easier to fly then LOS, it is still a good idea to be able

The FliteTest guys are having a blast flying the Blade Nano QX. From left to right: Chad Kapper, Josh Bixler, David Windestal and Alex Zvada.

to fly a paĴern, towards yourself, and away. That way if you have an FPV failure, you will be able potentially save your craft and bring it in for a landing. Take it slow on your maiden and also as you get more comfortable flying your quad.

Start out by hovering, then once you can hold a hover, start experimenting with pitch and roll by using the right stick (on a mode 2 transmiĴer) and only use the rudder to keep the front of the craft facing away from you. This will get you familiar with all of the controls without having to worry about orientation. Use the rudder as needed

to keep it facing away from you.

Once you get comfortable flying this way, you are ready to begin learning how to fly in a paĴern.

If you haven’t crashed yet, this is more than likely when you will.

Begin by leaving your hover and gaining forward momentum. Then when you are ready to make your first circle paĴern, use both sticks simultaneously to roll and yaw the multirotor at the same time while maintaining pitch to continue in smooth forward movement. Continue to maintain your pitch roll and yaw until you have completed a full circle. If you feel that you are

starting to lose orientation, quickly apply rudder to yaw the copter back to facing away from you and then back it back to you as you should be comfortable flying away from yourself at this point.

you crash; consider each crash a learning experience and you will come away a much beĴer pilot.

Share your experiences and memories with someone you care about!

Happy flying friends. =

THE LAST WORD

CONTACTS BLADE bladehelis.com FLITE TEST flitetest.com

There are lots of other things to learn as you progress but these are my top three tips, from one noob to another, that will ensure you have a successful start on your journey into radio control multirotors. Don’t get discouraged when

For more information, please see our source guide on page 81.

The Nano QX may be small but it offers big fun!

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 19

Regulations and Legalities

by Lucien Miller

T

here is a tremendous amount of discussion these days regarding the regulations and legalities surrounding the use of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The biggest problem thus far is that the technology is advancing so quickly, that it is virtually impossible to keep up with it. Advancements in flight controller boards, GPS systems, data-link telemetry and in-flight camera systems have come about so rapidly in the past five years that it is now possible to build a fully autonomous UAV for under $1000. Figure 1 shows a small multirotor aircraft that fits this description. For hobbyists and budding entrepreneurs, this is an amazing time of technological opportunity, but for regulatory agencies such as the FAA, it is akin to the opening of Pandora’s Box! Before anyone straps a camera on their multirotor, airplane or helicopter and decides to start making a living doing commercial aerial photography, there are a few things you need to know about the rules and regulations that govern the operation of these aircraft.

First and foremost, when any radio controlled model is operated under the guidelines of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) it must be done for “Recreational Purposes Only.”

This means for the fun and enjoyment of flying only. FAA Advisory Circular AC 91-57 (view at multirotorpilotmag. com/faa) explains all of the operating Figure 1 standards of model aircraft for recreational purposes. The moment you get paid for flying, or perform flight in the furthering of a commercial enterprise, you are no longer doing it for recreational purposes and fall under the guidelines of a commercial operator.

Many pilots make the mistake of thinking that if they do not get paid for the services they are providing then they are operating legally.

Unfortunately, this is not the way the FAA sees it. If you are providing a service for someone as part of a commercial venture, even if you do not get paid, the FAA considers it a commercial operation. For example, if you do some aerial photography of a home for a real estate agent and that agent then uses those photos or videos in the promotion of the property, even if you did not get paid to take the pictures, the real estate agent is in the process of conducting a commercial transaction, thus making the flight illegal under FAA guidelines.

As far as the FAA is concerned, in order to “Fly for compensation,” you must possess a commercial pilot’s certificate and be operating in compliance with Part 119 of the Federal Air Regulations. Current regulations of the FAA do not recognize a difference between manned and unmanned aircraft, but there are some differences 20 MULTIROTOR PILOT

that need to be noted. First is the fact that to be able to operate a UAV or sUAS in the United States, you must apply for and receive a Certificate of Authorization or COA through the FAA. As of right now, these certificates are only granted to federal, state or local government agencies and they restrict flight to specific geographical areas. Each COA granted is exclusive to the aircraft being flown and to the geographical location where the operations will take place. In most cases flights are performed below 400 feet above ground level (AGL), limited to Visual Line of Sight (VLOS), limited to daytime operation under visual flight rules (VFR conditions) and must be conducted at least five miles away from any active airports.

As many people know, the FAA and the AMA have been working together for several years to establish a completely new set of rules and guidelines to govern the use of the smaller segment of UAV and sUAS aircraft. There are discussions currently taking place that split the smaller aircraft into four distinct categories based on flying weight. At the bottom end of the scale are the machines that weigh less than two kilos (4.4 pounds). Next are the machines that are above two kilos but below five kilos (between 4.4 and 11 pounds). Above that are the machines that weigh between five kilos and 25 kilos (between 11 and 55 pounds) and the largest class that weigh between 25 and 150 kilos (between 55 and 330 pounds).

Anything above 330 pounds is no longer considered a Small Unmanned Aerial System.

The majority of the machines that any modelers will be flying will be in the bottom two categories, weighing less than 11 pounds.

However, many people today are flying large Octocopters with cinematography-grade cameras and large battery packs, tipping the scales in the 25 to 30 pound range when fully outfitted. An example of this type of craft is shown in Figure 2. Something of this size could cause serious and potentially lethal injuries to people on the ground if something failed causing the craft to fall out of the sky and hit someone. Likewise, if a craft of this size got to above 500 feet in altitude and came into contact with a light plane or helicopter that was flying at the minimum recommended altitude under FAA guidelines, the results could be catastrophic.

For several years now, people have been operating “Under the Radar” here in the United States concerning commercial uses of RC helicopters, airplanes and multirotors. The primary use of these aircraft has been for aerial photography and video purposes in a wide range of applications including, roof inspections, real

Regarding the use of UAV’s estate photography, motion picture filming, TV commercials, agricultural inspections and infrastructure inspections as well as a multitude of other uses. Many people have been quietly operating this way for years, but we have all heard of cases were someone gets caught performing these operations; quickly eliciting a cease and desist letter from the FAA. In order to avoid these issues, most motion picture companies and TV producers are simply operating outside of the United States, where the regulations are either more relaxed or nonexistent, in efforts to use this technology to their advantage.

One of the main stumbling blocks in the furthering of this technology is the fact that the FAA has been extremely slow in making rulings on these issues. Several years ago, the FAA stated that they would release their Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in October of 2011. It was then pushed back to January of 2012.

Later, after much debate, the NPRM was pushed back once again to December of 2013. That date has now come and gone resulting in the NPRM being delayed again until September of 2015. On February 5th, 2014, the FAA admitted that they would not be able to meet this deadline either. This continual delay of getting the FAA to make decisions on the subject has not only stifled progress in the industry, but has also lead to an increasing number of people operating in the absence of regulations.

Earlier this year, on January 11th, The AMA and FAA entered into an agreement to establish a platform on which the AMA and FAA would work together to ensure continued safe operation of model aircraft in the National Airspace System (NAS). On the main stage at the 2014 AMA convention in Ontario, California, James Williams, Executive Manager of the FAA Unmanned Systems Integration office and AMA President, Bob Brown, signed the memorandum of understanding and pledged to work together to resolve the safe integration of aircraft into the NAS. Figure 3 shows James Williams and Bob Brown after signing the documents at the AMA Show.

One thing that we all need to do during this time is to heavily police ourselves, making sure that nothing is done to cast a negative light on the operation of small UAV systems here in the United States. If a radio control model is used to film a large sporting event and something happens that causes the craft to crash into a crowd of people severely injuring or killing someone, all the hard work that has been done so far concerning flight regulations could be Figure 3 reversed in an instant.

Figure 2

From a personal perspective, I believe that in order to go forward, a new class of commercial pilot licenses needs to be created by the FAA. Something such as a “UAV Operators Permit” or “Commercial UAV Pilots License” would be a great way of weeding out the true professionals from the weekend warriors. This license would need to include all of the airspace, weather and regulatory knowledge required for a traditional commercial pilot’s license, but without requirement for actual in-cockpit flight time. Instead, the pilot would need to show flying competence, and maintain a logbook with a minimum required number of flight hours to be able to qualify. In addition to the basic Commercial UAV Pilots License, there should also be “Type Ratings” based on the various types of aircraft that would be flown such as helicopter, multirotor and fixed-wing type aircraft. The fact that each of these aircraft types requires different flying skills, it would be important that the pilot be checked out in each type of aircraft in order to operate commercially. Pilots would need to show competency in flying the type of aircraft and be reviewed on a regular basis, similar to the bi-annual flight reviews that private pilots must undergo in order to keep their pilots licenses current. Operating in this manner would establish a set of standards that the FAA should be comfortable with.

The only way that the FAA is going to accept operation of small UAV’s in the National Airspace System is if they can be assured that it will be done in a safe and well regulated manner that does not create any hazards to manned aircraft that may be operating in the general vicinity, or to bystanders that are on the ground, under the craft being flown. Going forward, we all must work together to insure that our aircraft are operated in a safe and ethical manner and that nothing is done that may jeopardize the many years of hard work that have already taken place.

Hopefully, the AMA and FAA can work together and iron out a program that will allow a slow controlled integration of our small UAV systems into the NAS in a way that works for everyone involved. Only time will tell. =

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 21

PILOT REVIEW

by Matt Maziarz

LYNXMOTION/ROBOTSHOP

Hunter V-Tail 400 Aggressive looks with performance to match!

Âť NEED TO KNOW MANUFACTURER: Lynxmotion/RobotShop DISTRIBUTOR: Lynxmotion TYPE: V-Tail quadcopter FOR: Advanced pilots MINIMUM FLYING AREA: Any outdoor flying area PRICE: $369.00 (Base combo kit including everything except props, battery, charger and radio system) NEEDED TO COMPLETE: Minimum five-channel transmitter, receiver, battery, charger and props (using the base combo kit). Lynxmotion also offers the Hunter as an airframe only or with all the electronics minus the control board.

In late 2011, a fella referred to as Bledi (his screen name on a multitude of multirotor forums) contacted Eric Nantel at Robotshop.com. Bledi had designed a prototype V-tail platform that he was already flying, but was seeking assistance for a professional design to bring his quadcopter to the masses. After days, weeks and hours of design, DialFonZo (Eric Nantel)

came up with the Hunter V-tail 400. The unique compilation of a G-10 fiberglass frame coupled with the V-tail configuration and reversed motors in the rear oered a platform that widened the flight envelope possibilities of multirotor flight. Up to this point, the industry had widely been concentrating on the stability aspect of multi-prop machines, focusing on the arena of aerial photography platforms.

PHOTOS BY WALTER SIDAS

22 MULTIROTOR PILOT

Author’s Opinion The Hunter V-Tail 400 is a futuristiclooking machine that brings to mind visions of sci-fi movies and/or video games. The unique design of the V-Tail features bottom facing, diagonally opposed props in the rear and a streamlined frame. This quad lends itself more towards aerobatics than an aerial photography platform. Aggressive looks coupled with a lightweight frame means I’ve finally got my hands on a machine that will perform a host of maneuvers that most multirotors can only dream of.

Bledi and Eric worked together to come up with a machine that would offer aerobatic abilities while still retaining the stability of such earlier designs courtesy of a multi-function control board.

Marketing such a design was made possible through the merger of two distinct robotics companies. In 2012, RobotShop acquired Lynxmotion, combining what were essentially the two largest names in consumer robotics in North America. To that point, the joint union focused solely on surface-based machines that included rovers, bipeds and robotic arms to name a few.

Mario Tremblay, owner of RobotShop then reached out to DialFonZo-Copter owner and designer, Eric Nantel, to expand the company’s offerings to include multirotors of various design, thus solidifying their spot near or at the top of the UAV realm.

SETUP

Upon opening the box for the Hunter V-tail 400, my first impression was one of amazement that they could fit such a complex machine, complete with almost all the electronics in such small packaging.

The sandwich style, modular frame allows for a small box, but had me

SPECS FLYING WEIGHT: 31 oz. (879g) LENGTH: 309mm HEIGHT: 98mm WIDTH: 340mm ROTOR BLADE LENGTH: 8 in. (206mm) MOTORS: (4) Maytech 1000Kv brushless outrunners ESC’S: (4) Maytech 12amp ESCs RADIO: Spektrum DX7S transmitter and Spektrum AR600 receiver FLIGHT CONTROLLER: Multiwii Flip 1.5 BATTERY: Thunder Power 11.1V 2250mAh 45C LiPo DURATION: 5-6 minutes

PROS Awesome looks coupled with great performance Double-deck frame and arms with a simplistic design means durability Lightweight for aerobatic maneuvers and high speeds Airframe will accommodate a multitude of electronics and motors

CONS

Small platform offers little room for camera mounting…if you’re into that sort of thing Instructions are a bit lacking

process. He suggested that there is a steep learning curve when trying to navigate the software for the Multiwii based boards, but once you’ve done it a time or two, the setup tools basically take you through the process step by step. It is also important to reiterate the fact that a comprehensive

fretting at the prospect of the build. Further review revealed no printed instructions, but a handy cheat sheet was included that clued me in to the fact that the build instructions were easily downloaded from the Lynxmotion website. While not comprehensive, the online manual is easily expanded for detailed view, making for a quick and easy assembly of the main frame.

Right below the link for the mechanical build of the airframe, there is a section for the electronics setup, which was not an active link at the time of writing this review. As I mentioned before, this machine is so new, that Mr. Nantel was in the process of writing

the online manual concerning the electronics portion of the build at the same time I was assembling his machine. He graciously forwarded me the prototype manual as well as his contact info so that he would be able to provide me with the necessary insight, wherever the manual might be lacking.

I must admit, I had a great deal of trouble trying to get the Flip 1.5 control board programmed initially, but Nantel was Notice the orientation of the Flip 1.5 control board. The USB port is facinstrumental in guiding ing forward and is easily accessed from the nose of the machine even with the top deck in place. me through the setup

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 23

PILOT REVIEW I LYNXMOTION/ROBOTSHOP HUNTER V-TAIL 400

IN THE AIR

Aesthetic value is something often lacking in the multirotor world, but the V-Tail 400 looks plain awesome just sitting on the shelf.

We Used TRANSMITTER Spektrum DX7S (SPM7800)

RECEIVER Spektrum AR600 (SPMAR600)

BATTERY Thunder Power 2250mAh 11.1V LiPo (THP22504SPR45)

The V-Tail 400 looks lean and mean just sitting on the ground and I was anticipating similar flight characteristics once I got it into the air. With the throttle at zero, giving full right rudder arms the motors and brings the props up to idle. Gradually increasing the throttle had the machine gently lifting off the ground and into a stable hover. Being as cold as it is in these parts in the winter months, I opted for testing my machine in an empty office space in the same building as our office. While the initial flight seemed good and the V-Tail was stable, the tail seemed a bit twitchy in that it was bobbing up and down a bit. I powered it down and re-established a USB connection between the board and my PC, using the Multiwii configuration table to lower the gain on the board.

Problem solved, the Hunter was now rock solid when in the air, requiring very little input to keep it in place. Time to pack on a few more layers, grab a fully charged pack and bribe someone into heading out with me for camera duty.

I popped the V-Tail into the air to get familiar with its flight characteristics before any pics would be captured. Hovering twenty feet or so in the air, I gave it full down elevator while compensating for the decreased lift with a bit more throttle. The machine took off like a cannon ball, quickly achieving speeds of an F1 pylon racer from a dead stop. Thankfully a backdrop of snow-covered hills allowed for some long-distance runs without fear of losing orientation. I put the machine through its paces while keeping it right side up, not wanting to attempt any 3D maneuvers until some decent photos had been taken.

Once the obligatory shots had been captured and catalogued, I went back out for another flight. This time, I had increased the travel on all the cyclic channels as well as increasing the necessary gains using the configuration program on my PC. Let’s just say I was amazed at how well the machine performed. Forward and backwards loops and flips were easily achieved as well as barrel rolls and side to side flips. If my Blade 300X and my E-flite QQ 540 were to mate and spawn an offspring, it would most definitely turn out performing like the Hunter V-Tail 400. While I’m not sure if it’s the design of the machine, the capabilities of the Flip 1.5 control board or a combination of both; this nifty little multirotor is a joy to fly. It has all the stability of a purpose built aerial photography platform, but can achieve much higher speeds as well as perform stunts usually only performed by purebred 3D helicopters. I would like to eventually strap a camera to its belly for recording purposes, but FPV might be out of the question unless, of course, a heavy dose of anti-nausea medication is administered to whoever might be sporting the goggles.

electronics guide was still being produced at the time of my build and that this was also my first attempt at programming a multirotor control board of any kind.

Rest assured that Eric and the folks at RobotShop will have a manual for the electronics assembly and setup procedures readily available by the time you are reading this article. A printed version will most likely not be included with their machines as hard copies are not as easily modified as the online versions.

ASSEMBLY TIPS

• Do not fully tighten any screws until each subassembly has all the necessary hardware in place.

• Use thread locker on all metal to metal contacts using a toothpick to coat the female threads.

• Be sure to file down any rough edges on the frame plates that might wear on the wires.

• Take notice of the USB port on the board when installing your radio gear, you want to make sure to leave it accessible.

THE LAST WORD

While the programming of the Flip 1.5 control board did have me sweating a little, I eventually figured it out with the help of the V-tail’s chief designer, Eric Nantel. By the time this article is on the market, the fine folks at Lynxmotion will have a full electronics support guide on their website, so fear not if you might be scared of PCs like I am. The Hunter v-Tail 400 might not be as large as some build-it-yourself multirotor kits, but Lynxmotion does offer the platform in a 500mm as well as a mini size. The aerobatic capabilities of the machine are simply astounding and while I first put off the idea of strapping a camera to it, I think there are certain aspects of photography that might warrant the use of such a nimble and fast platform. If you are thinking of getting into multirotor platforms, but have to this point been hesitant because of the lack of agility, this machine should be right up your alley. Couple that with the fact that the whole setup is a steal at just under 400 bucks and I’d say just about anyone with fixed or rotary wing flight experience will have a blast with a V-tail. = CONTACTS LYNXMOTION lynxmotion.com

The Maytech brushless motors provide plenty of power for pitch ups, loops rolls and high speed runs.

24 MULTIROTOR PILOT

The rear props are mounted upside down at a 45 degree angle. Such design lends itself well to the acrobatic capabilities of this machine.

ROBOTSHOP robotshop.com SPEKTRUM spektrumrc.com THUNDER POWER thunderpowerrc.com For more information, please see our source guide on page 81.

PRODUCT REVIEW

by Joe Papa

Portable control platform enables autonomous flight

DJI INNOVATIONS

Data Link and iPad Ground Station The iPad Ground Station is DJI’s latest iteration of their PC-based waypoint software. In the past, waypoint functionality was an option for DJI customers, but adding this capability was only possible with the Wookong-M, and cost thousands of dollars. Today, waypoints are available for only $199.00 and you can program them from your iPad. HARDWARE

you become very familiar with the Ground Station operation before attempting to use it for actual flight.

Fortunately, there is a simulation mode, and this lets you practice without actually flying.

Installation is very simple. The transmitter, which has the dual antenna wires, requires only a single CANbus cable and some mounting tape to install. It is recommended to have the antenna wires installed at 90 degrees from each other for maximum range. On the ground end, plug the Bluetooth module into the receiver; connect power and your done. As always, prior to operation, ensure that all DJI components are running with the latest software and firmware. This is often overlooked, but must be done to ensure compatibility between all components. Install the app on your iPad, pair the Bluetooth, and installation and setup are complete.

Included in the package is the data link transmitter, Bluetooth FEATURES transceiver, receiver, CD with Supports iOS devices with iOS 6.0.1 or above (iPad 3, 4, and iPad Mini) software, CANbus cable, power User-friendly interface wire and antenna.

It’s helpful to know that Joystick control with touch screen although many people are Single waypoint function – click and go concerned about having more Waypoints function allows you to edit a route and go than one component on the same Three customizable flight route templates frequency band, there is no need Voice guidance functionality for concern, as the channel that Auxiliary Flight Control supports Home point and automated Go Home the ground station uses will not as well as one key take off and landing interfere with your radio transmitter used for flight. This is the exact OPERATION reason why radio control car racing There has been some confusion in is possible with multiple drivers all using the same type of radio. online forums regarding the effective range. The Bluetooth module, The DJI Ground Station is designed to extend the functionality located on the ground, is connected to the receiver via CANbus. of your DJI flight controller significantly, improve safety and The iPad connects to the Bluetooth module, but the Ground Station provide valuable in-flight telemetry data. Since DJI has in-depth communicates with the multirotor with 2.4GHz, which is rated for videos and tutorials outlining each function in detail, we suggest 1.5 kilometers of range. In the event range is exceeded or is lost, failsafe is engaged and return-to-home is triggered.

It’s also nice to know that when flying waypoints, the iPad has already told the craft where to go.

When active, the iPad will display telemetry data in the upper right corner. This is tremendously helpful in determining flight pack voltage, number of satellites and signal strength.

The top left shows flight time, flight mode and LED indicators. One great benefit of the ground station is that in the event of a crash, the location of the multirotor on the map can be utilized to PHOTOS BY JOE PAPA

26 MULTIROTOR PILOT

Programming waypoints is as easy as touching points on the map.

pinpoint its location. Across the top is a small area dedicated to waypoint functions, take off, returnto-home and joystick mode.

WAYPOINTS

Depending on your flight controller, you will have up to 50 waypoints that can be used simultaneously to plan a simple or intricate flight missions. By simply touching the screen, waypoint indicators are dropped, and details regarding altitude, speed and heading can be entered. As an option, you can edit this data for several points at once if all the settings are the same.

Flight paths can be set to run once or loop repeatedly. If the flight should ever be calculated to take longer than the maximum flight time possible, the ground station will terminate the mission and return to home in time.

One of the most valuable waypoint functions is presets. Common shapes like grids, circles, squares, etc., can be selected to help you quickly and efficiently cover a specific area. The geometric shapes can be easily resized or moved with intuitive finger gestures you’re already used to.

Pinch, zoom and drag are all useable to make setting your waypoint mission easier.

IN THE AIR

I took my S800 Evo out to a huge open space and powered everything up. With my Futaba 14SG ready for traditional control, I enabled GPS mode, which must be active for the Ground Station to work. At any time during flight, you can instantly take control of the model by toggling out of GPS mode. To take control back with the iPad, you will have to resume the mission on the screen.

I waited until I had more than seven satellites and cautiously began to touch the screen to create a waypoint path. After I decided that all points would have the same altitude, speed and heading, I pressed “done” and then “GO” button. My Octo spooled up and gently went up to a safe altitude and hovered. After a few seconds it rotated toward the first point and started to fly its mission. I watched both the iPad as the copter completed each waypoint on its own. It is simply amazing to see this in action! The last waypoint was back to where I was standing, and I decided to test the take over function on the Futaba. I moved the flight mode to Atti, and instantly was flying myself. Despite taking control from the iPad, the display still tracked my movement, and I landed my

The on-screen joysticks allow you to fly the copter directly from your iPad. An OSD gives you real-time flight data.

maiden voyage as a success. Since then, I have spent a considerable amount of time experimenting with other features, and while the iPad joystick mode does work well, I do prefer the Futaba for its tactile and familiar control. I did find that the sun did make it difficult to see my iPad 3 at times, but a simple shade would alleviate that. I can easily see how flights beyond visible range are completely possible with this tool, however, as of now, the FAA is asking us to stay with in visual range.

In addition to the iPad functionality and convenience, the package also includes the PC software version. With even more features and power, the uses are almost endless.

THE LAST WORD

Even if you aren’t planning on flying waypoints, the iPad Ground Station from DJI is a fantastic and large on screen display, and truly worth its weight in gold should you ever need to find your rig after an unfortunate incident. The interface is easy to use, very intuitive and works like a charm. = CONTACTS DJI INNOVATIONS empirerc.com EMPIRE RC empirerc.com FUTABA futaba-rc.com For more information, please see our source guide on page 81.

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 27

CUSTOM PROJECT

by Erick Royer

Inexpensive FPV fun you can take anywhere

Foldable 3D Printed FPV

Quadcopter

PHOTOS BY ERICK ROYER AND WALTER SIDAS

28 MULTIROTOR PILOT

GET THE FILES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE WEB multirotorpilotmag.com/fpvquad

I love flying FPV (first-person view), as it is the closest that many of us will ever get to experiencing the thrill of full-scale flight. I also love taking photos and video from the air. Learning to fly FPV has its challenges; the primary one being crashing, which you will do often as you learn. You lose your spatial awareness when you are flying with goggles and it is not uncommon to have an occasional run-in with a tree or the ground. After spending some time looking at many of the commercial quadcopters on the market that could be a great platform for FPV, I found shortcomings with several and decided to design my own.

When I sat down at my computer, I had a few things and design elements that I wanted to incorporate into this design.

First, I wanted to keep it to 400mm or less in size. I was going to go smaller, but I wanted enough mass so it would be stable and less affected by wind. I wanted to be able to carry a GoPro Hero 3 (or similar) camera to take HD aerial video and photos. I wanted it to be foldable so it could fit in a backpack for days that I go hiking and arrive at a place where getting aerial photos would be ideal, like a the top of a mountain or along a river.

Since I have a lot of 2200mAh 3S LiPo batteries for various planes and other aircraft, I wanted it to be able to get at least 12 minutes of flight time from these battery packs.

SPECS WEIGHT: 2 lb. 2 oz. (ready-to-fly) WIDTH: 400mm (between front motor shafts) HEIGHT: 95mm LENGTH: 300mm MOTORS: (4) NTM Prop Drive 28-26 1000Kv ESCS: (4) AFRO 30A Multirotor ESC PROPS: (4) 9x4.7 slowflyer RADIO SYSTEM: Spektrum DX18 and a Spektrum AR6115e receiver FLIGHT CONTROLLER: HKPIlot Mega V2.5 with NEO-6M GPS module BATTERY: Turnigy 2200mAh 3S LiPo

MUST-HAVE FEATURES • 400mm or less • Ability to carry a GoPro Hero 3 (or equivalent camera) • Foldable for easy transport • Runs on a 3S 2200mAh LiPo battery • Gets at least 12-15 minutes of flight time • Be easy and inexpensive to repair • Have GPS capability with position hold and return to home

• Quad X and Spider arm layout I also wanted it to be inexpensive and easy to repair. Since all the frame parts are printed from my 3D printer, the cost is very inexpensive.

The design allows you to change out any of the four arms, along with the respective motor and ESC in less than three minutes.

My original plan was to use HobbyKing’s KK2 flight controller board as it is easy to use, does not require a computer and works very well once setup. However after realizing how much I enjoyed watching new pilots have success with machines like the Blade 350 QX and the DJI Phantom, I decided that my machine was going to need GPS capability with features like position hold and return-to-home. As a new pilot is learning to fly line-of-sight, these features are invaluable to help when they get disoriented. But when learning to fly FPV, you have additional challenge`s and I wanted the pilot to be able to have failsafe mode in case they got into trouble. Lastly, since I also planned to use this as a photo and video platform, I wanted the position hold (or loiter) function so I could concentrate on framing my shots rather than fighting to hold position, especially on windy days.

There are a lot of options available for GPS-enabled flight controller boards including the DJI Naza Lite, MultiWii and others. I decided to use HobbyKing’s HKPilot Mega V2.5, which is based on 3DRobotics APM 2.5 platform. This controller gave me all of the features I needed for around $100.

My last design requirement was that I wanted the front arms to be positioned in either a quad-X layout or wider in the “spider” layout. I did not want the props in the camera’s vision so having the ability to keep the front arms wider helped me keep the field of view uninterrupted. However, for those pilots that prefer a typical X configuration, I made accommodations for that as well.

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 29

CUSTOM PROJECT I FOLDABLE 3D PRINTED FPV QUADCOPTER PARTS LIST 4 – AFRO 30A Multirotor ESC ($13.97 each) 4 – NTM Prop Drive 28-26 1000Kv motors ($15.99 each) 4 – NTM Prop Drive 28 Accessory Pack ($1.85 each) 4 – 9x4.7 slowflyer props (2 CW and 2 CCW) ($2.86 for pkg. of 4) 1 – XT60 to 4x3.5mm bullet power distribution cable ($3.36) 1 – Turnigy 2200mAh 3S LiPo battery ($12.97) 1 – HKPilot Mega V2.5 flight controller ($75.79) 1 – NEO-6M GPS Module ($17.95) 1 – Receiver of your choice (at least 6 channels) 1 – Transmitter 1 – LiPo charger

IN THE AIR I printed and assembled the final parts one night at about 2:30 am, but I was determined not to go to bed until I saw it fly. Thankfully I have a very high ceiling in my living room so I was able to fire it up and get a few test hops in without venturing outside. I wish I could tell you that everything was perfect but I could not. I followed a wiring diagram that I found which showed how to wire up the APM 2.5 controller for a quad and followed it to a T. However when I applied power it would flip over on its back. I spent about two hours adjusting software settings before finally retiring for what little night I had left. The next day, I connected it back to the computer and checked the software settings and I noticed that there is a way to test the prop rotations using the TERMINAL function of the APM Planner software (which is a free download from 3DRobotics.com). The software indicated that the motors would spin for a couple seconds in a clockwise rotation in order during the test. Mine did not. They spun in the order which I connected them according to the diagram. Top right was 1, bottom right was 3, bottom left was 2 and top left was 4. After seeing this, I swapped the two bottom ESC wires and tried it again…it flew perfect!

Later in the day I took it outside with an FPV camera from Fatshark installed to see how well it would perform as an FPV quad. It was very stable in the air, even with the breeze.

The GPS lock feature for position hold (loiter) was very good as well. Return to home also worked as expected. With this power system, the quad has a ton of power and can build up speed very quickly. If you program it in manual mode with higher gains, this machine will flip and roll with authority as well. I guess this is a bonus as flying aerobatics was not part of my design criteria.

When I added a GoPro Hero 3 to the nose, the video quality was very good but not terribly stable. I am going to design a brushless gimbal for it as an add-on which I will post on the website with the rest of the files. That will give me the fully-stabilized video quality that I love from all of my other multirotor machines but since this quad is portable, I can get that awesome video from just about anywhere.

THE DESIGN PROCESS

My software of choice to design this quadcopter is SketchUp. It is free and very powerful. SketchUp is easy to learn and there are a lot of online support communities, as well as hundreds of videos on YouTube to help you along. I will also make the SketchUp files available online so you can feel free to make modifications to this design to customize it to your needs.

To design this quadcopter, I 30 MULTIROTOR PILOT

This is the bottom frame plate in SketchUp.

HARDWARE LIST For Arms 4 – 4mm x 35mm socket head screws 4 – 4mm washers 4 – 4mm lock washers 4 – 4mm wing nuts 4 – 4mm x 26mm socket head screws 4 – 4mm locknuts For Motor 8 – 3mm x 6mm socket head screws For Legs 4 – 4mm x 25mm socket head screws 4 – 4mm locknuts For Cover 4 – 2.5mm x 6mm self-tapping screws FLIGHT CONTROLLER 4 – 2.5mm x 6mm socket head screws PLASTIC FILAMENT & ESTIMATED PRINT TIME (based on 3mm filament) Top plate – 6.69 meters (3 hours, 53 minutes) Bottom plate – 6.63 meters (4 hours, 10 minutes) Legs (each) – 1.34 meters (44 minutes) Arms (each) – 2.61 meters (1 hour, 46 minutes) Cover – 8.17 meters (4 hours, 37 minutes)

first started out with a HobbyKing SK450 quadcopter that I had from a previous project. I looked at its design elements and starting making design changes on paper using this machine. I designed the arms to be about 60 percent the size but I set the infill on the printer, as well as the webbing, to keep the arms light but still

The HKPilot Mega board is attached to the standoffs that are molded into the top frame and the GPS module and receiver are attached to the inside of the electronics cover.

retain strength. I also wanted the motor mount to be integrated as I wanted as few parts as possible for the design.

I designed the center frame to be wider in the front, again so the front arms could be placed further out thus keeping the props out of the camera view.

You will notice that I designed curved slots for each arm so all you need to do is loosen the wing nut on the bottom of the frame and the arms would fold down. If you prefer to set this up in an X configuration, I added two separate holes for the front arms. You will still be able to fold the arms back but you have to remove the screw first. I did this because I did not want the operator to be concerned about the arm’s angle. In the spider layout, just slide the arms out all the way and you automatically have the correct angle on each side. In the X layout, it only takes a few more seconds to remove the bolt since I used wing nuts on the bottom.

I also incorporated a platform for the camera on the front. You can mount it above or below depending on the camera you choose. I have notches in the side to accommodate Velcro straps or elastic bands to secure it.

The landing gear legs mount to the bottom plate with two screws and locknuts each. The area in between the legs is properly spaced for a typical 3S 2200mAh LiPo battery pack, which is held

in place with a Velcro strap.

The top frame has mounting pegs specifically for the HKPilot Mega (APM 2.5) control board. The pegs allow the wires to come up from underneath to keep the overall wiring neat. I will make a plate available without the pegs as well for those of you who do not wish to use this controller.

The last design element was a cover to enclose the electronics and wiring to give the machine a much cleaner overall look. The cover is removable with screws or you can fasten it with Velcro.

After running several calculations, I decided to run four NTM Prop Drive 28-26 1000Kv 235W brushless outrunner motors with 9x4.7 slowflyer props. I used four 30A AFRO ESCs with SimonK I made a custom firmware. Using my requirement mount to hold the of a 3S 2200mAh battery with Fatshark camera on these props and based on my the nose. The file for this part will be availestimated weight range, I was able on the website, expecting flight times of around multirotorpilotmag.

14 minutes with this power com/fpvquad. system. All of these power system components were purchased from HobbyKing and the cost kept this machine very aordable.

PRINTING THE PARTS

The GoPro Hero 3 camera fits nicely on the camera plate that is integrated into the lower frame.

These are the upper and lower frame plates fresh off the 3D printer.

A wing nut is used to secure the arms in place.

It can be easily loosened to fold the arms for transport.

I used two printers to print this machine to save time; a Leapfrog Creatr and an Ultimaker 2. The orange parts were printed on the Ultimaker 2 and the white parts on the Creatr. Both printers are amazing and each has its strengths and weaknesses.

Ironically both companies are located in Sweden.

The Leapfrog Creatr is a very rugged, mini-industrial machine that has dual extruders allowing you to print two types of plastic or two separate colors within one job. It also has a large print volume; 230x270x200mm (LWH) or 9.05x10.62x7.87 inches. It can print a wide variety of plastics including ABS, PLA, PVA, Laybrick and nylon. It has a heated build platform, which is necessary for ABS prints. It has a .35mm extruder that is capable of resolutions from .05mm to .35mm (50 to 350 microns). The Creatr weighs around 70 pounds which makes it diďŹƒcult to move from place to place. It is best set up in one spot on your workbench.

The Ultimaker 2 is a much smaller printer that, unlike the Creatr, is designed to run untethered from a computer. It has an SD card slot and onboard LCD display so you can run jobs right from the printer.

CUSTOM PROJECT I FOLDABLE 3D PRINTED FPV QUADCOPTER The Ultimaker 2 has a print volume of 230x225x205mm (LWH) or 9.05x8.85x8.07 inches. The Ultimaker 2 also has a heated print bed and was designed to print with ABS and PLA plastics. One unique feature of the Ultimaker 2 is that is has the highest resolution out of any sub-$2500 printer on the market with the ability to print as fine as 20 microns (.02mm). Its resolution ranges from .02mm to .2mm (20 to 200 microns), making it perfect for finer and more intricate parts. Since it weighs just 24 pounds, you can easily transport it from one location to another.

All of the parts on this quadcopter are printed with PLA plastic. PLA stands for Polylactic acid, which is a plastic substitute made from fermented plant starch (usually corn). It is much easier to use, does not emit the odor that ABS does and is more environmentally friendly, as it is biodegradable. If the parts are properly designed, PLA can be just as strong as ABS. The main reason that I chose PLA for this machine was because the top and bottom frame plates are large and flat. ABS plastic has a tendency to curl on large flat prints. While there are things you can do to keep the prints flat with ABS, I wanted to keep this simple.

The cover is attached keeping the wiring clean and protecting the electronics in the event of a crash. It was printed with a very thin infill so you can see the LEDS from the board through the cover.

ASSEMBLY AND SETUP

Assembling this quadcopter takes about 30 minutes and if you use the components listed above then no soldering will be required. The motors and ESCs come with bullet connectors already soldered on.

There can be some confusion with setting up the wiring on the HKPilot Mega board as there are a lot of diagrams online that were not accurate. I outlined my wiring setup, as well as the software settings that gave me the best results, with this quadcopter.

To save space here, I have a page set up on our website with photos of the assembly process. Please visit multirotorpilotmag.com/fpvquad for more information.

In the bottom view of the quad you can see the legs and battery strap.

THE LAST WORD

This was my first custom-designed multirotor and after all of my planning and research, I was extremely happy with the final results.

The quad ended up having excellent flying characteristics and the HKPilot board with GPS module gave me the electronic conveniences

that I was looking for. The quad folds up and stores easily in a backpack so I can take it with me anywhere and get in some FPV flying or aerial video whenever I get the urge.

I hope you will take the time to download and build this quad.

If you do, please email me and let me know your experience with it at erickr@maplegatemedia.com.

For those of you who would like to build this quad but don’t have access to a 3D printer, we will oer a short kit on the website, so please go to multirotorpilotmag.com/fpvquad for more details.

CONTACTS 3D ROBOTICS 3drobotics.com FATSHARK fatshark.com HOBBYKING hobbyking.com LEAPFROG lpfrg.com SPEKTRUM spektrumrc.com ULTIMAKER ultimaker.com

For more information, please see our source guide on page 81.

Here is the quad all folded up for transport. It looks like a Transformer toy.

32 MULTIROTOR PILOT

EMPIRE HOBBY with Jack Burnside

A closer look at

By The Editors

Jack Burnside and his team at Empire Hobby have worked closely with Maplegate Media Group and our publications for many years. Their support and belief in our vision to produce the world’s first magazine dedicated to multirotor aircraft, pilots, aerial photography and videography, FPV and more has been amazing. With their help, we were able to bring some very exciting product to you in this issue. Empire Hobby has a lot of exciting things happening as we write this and we wanted to give our readers a closer look inside the company.

MULTIROTOR PILOT: How long has Empire Hobby been in business?

JACK BURNSIDE: Empire Hobby is coming up on our 10th anniversary this May 24th. This question sure takes me back to the days of NiCd batteries, the GWS Pico Stick and the first grey Align T-Rex 450; the industry sure has evolved (laughing).

MP: How did you become the U.S. distributor for DJI Innovations product line?

JB: As a wholesale-only company, we have always looked for products that will be “the next big thing” as well as companies that are on the cutting edge. My business partner, Dave Sobel, and I met DJI at the Nuremberg Toy Fair a few years back and having been familiar with their products, we promptly set up a meeting to discuss distribution.

We were grateful that they were familiar with Empire Hobby and our support of the RC community. After moving a lot of product into the hobby market, we were afforded an exclusive agreement on the DJI hobby line products. DJI has been great to work with and it has been refreshing to see the speed at which they develop and evolve their product line. We are excited about the future of DJI and Empire Hobby.

MP: Can you tell us about your relationship with Sony and how it impacts the hobby?

JB: Empire Hobby is a distributor for those Sony products related to aerial photography. Sony truly realizes how our industry is changing the way we view the world. As an iconic industry leader, Sony is committed to building this sector. We have actually started the Sony Professional Flight Team with a few of the leaders in the RC aerial photography sector. Right now we are carrying the Alpha series and Action Cam line, but this is growing as we speak. We are currently testing the new A6000, A7R and the new video goggles that have the highest resolution on the market. We look forward to the world of 4K in the new Sony FDR-AX100 camcorder that was announced at the 2014 CES. You can see a video sample from the AX-100 by searching ‘’Sample Video for 4K Handycam FDR-AX1’’ on YouTube. The future is bright indeed.

34 MULTIROTOR PILOT

MP: How do you see the distribution landscape changing?

JB: The distribution model is being compressed and you must have quick inventory turnaround and plan for things to change rapidly. This is where my partner, Dave, really shines. We have also seen a huge surge in what I’ll call ‘’import retail.’’ Many times, while ordering online, your product will be coming directly from overseas and you are not even aware of it. This puts our retail dollars offshore and is eroding our domestic dealers’ bottom line. I believe this trend will continue to grow, but in an area such as multirotors, many users need the help and experience that the local dealer can provide. There is quite a learning curve for people just starting out in multicopters and information is essential for the new pilot.

We realize not all dealers can have the newest products on their shelf the day they hit U.S. soil and we have created a unique solution for this. When the end-users shop on our site, upon checkout, they are requested to select a dealer to ‘’process’’ their order. What that really means is that you select the dealer to pay and that dealer is then responsible for your customer service needs but Empire ships directly from our warehouse to the end-user. It really is a win-win situation and allows our domestic dealer to receive sales for the newest products the day they hit our warehouse. We call it the North American Dealer Support System or NDS for short.

MP: How do you see the multirotor sector evolving?

JB: Wow! That is a big question. Every day we see new uses for these vehicles and I believe we have only scratched the surface. We will continue to see smaller and lighter components, more energydense batteries, more powerful video transmission equipment and lighter cameras. Multirotors have been a game changer for this industry. I really think we will see phenomenal growth over the next five years and the multirotor sector of the RC industry will carry us for the foreseeable future. It is a very exciting time in the world of RC. For more information please visit www.empirerc.com.

PILOT REVIEW

by Joe Cannavo

Feature-rich, easy to fly GoProcompatible quadcopter

BLADE

350 QX

By Horizon Hobby

36 MULTIROTOR PILOT

Author’s Opinion With the popularity of the GoPro camera systems and their ability to shoot HD-quality video and photos from just about anywhere, the Blade 350 QX serves as the perfect platform to capture stunning aerial footage. Between Blade’s SAFE technology and the QX’s GPS and Altimeter technology, this machine is extremely easy to fly so you can focus on getting the shots you need.

» NEED TO KNOW MANUFACTURER: Blade DISTRIBUTOR: Horizon Hobby TYPE: GoPro compatible quadcopter FOR: Beginner to advanced multirotor pilots MINIMUM FLYING AREA: Baseball field PRICE: $419.99, BNF; $469.99, RTF NEEDED TO COMPLETE: BNF version requires 5+ channel DSM2/ DSMX compatible transmitter and four “AA” batteries for the transmitter. RTF version does not require anything.

We Used TRANSMITTER Spektrum DX9, SPMR9900

In my personal experience, it seems as though there are two types of hobbyists that are interested in multirotor machines – the sport flyers who like the small and micro quads and fly for fun, and the pilots who want to a ach a camera on their machine to get aerial photos and video. When the Blade 350 QX was recently released to the market, they actually combined both desires into one machine along with the addition of some pre y awesome technological features.

The 350 QX comes in both bind-n-fly (BNF) and ready-to-fly (RTF) versions. Both versions come with the fully-assembled 350 QX, battery and charger. The RTF version also comes with a Spektrum DX5e transmi er and four “AA” ba eries. The 350 QX is a very a ractive quadcopter with a futuristic look to it. When you take it out of the box, all you need to do is charge the ba ery and fly.

The 350 QX gets its lift from four powerful 1100Kv brushless motors and a 3S 2200mAh LiPo ba ery. This is plenty of power to lift a GoPro camera with its protective case and still have relatively long (8-12 minute) flight times.

Common occurrences that you often find on multirotor machines equipped with a GoPro is a shake and blur known as “Jell-O Effect.” One way to avoid (or minimize) this is to fabricate a dampening system. Blade took this problem into consideration and included four dampeners, which work very well.

Up until this point, the 350 QX looks just like any other multirotor machine; a body, four arms and four motors/props. However, it is what you cannot see that makes the Blade 350 QX such an amazing machine.

FEATURES GALORE

The Blade 350 QX has some of the most advanced electronics that I have seen in a flying machine at this price point. The heart of what makes it so great is the Blade SAFE (Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope) technology.

SAFE is a revolutionary electronic flight envelope protection system that offers smoother flight capability which makes flying in windy conditions much easier. It offers multiple flight modes so you can fly with the level of protection and assistance that best matches your flight conditions. There are seven main features that I will outline that make the Blade 350 QX one amazing machine.

Smart Mode While in Smart Mode, SAFE technology prevents the 350 QX from pitching or rolling past a certain angle, thus making it very difficult for the pilot to over-control the aircraft, even with full stick deflection applied.

SPECS LENGTH: 18.3 in. (465mm) WIDTH: 18.3 in. (465mm) MAIN ROTOR DIAMETER: 22.8 in. (580mm) MAIN ROTOR BLADE LENGTH: 8.27 in. (210mm) MAIN MOTOR SIZE: Four 1100Kv brushless outrunners FLYING WEIGHT: 24 oz.

RADIO: Requires 5+ channel DSM2/DSMX compatible transmitter for the BNF version. Flown with Spektrum DX9. RTF version includes Spektrum DX5e transmitter DURATION: 10-14 minutes BATTERY: 11.1V 3S 2200mAh 30C LiPo (included)

Technical Specs MAXIMUM YAW ANGULAR VELOCITY (ROTATIONAL SPEED) SMART/STABILITY MODE: 200º/sec; 3-axis mode: 380º/sec MAXIMUM TILT ANGLE STABILITY MODE: 45º Stability + Pressure sensor (Mode 0 without GPS): 30º Smart Mode (Mode 0 with GPS): Position controller allowed up to 30º Agility Mode: No limit MAXIMUM ASCENT/DESCENT SPEED SMART MODE: 2 m/s Stability Mode + Pressure sensor: 3 m/s MAXIMUM FLIGHT VELOCITY ONLY APPLICABLE IN SMART MODE: 4 m/s

PROS

SAFE Circle technology prevents the 350 QX from flying too close to the pilot

GPS Position Hold keeps the QX in a fixed position in space without pilot input

Agility mode allows the 350 QX to fly aerobatic maneuvers

Attractive looking design

Includes an integrated anti-vibration GoPro camera mount

CONS

If using a Spektrum DX5e with a two-position flight mode switch, you cannot access all three flightmodes

The 350 QX will also return to a stable and level hover as soon as you return the sticks to the center position. GPS/A itude Hold, SAFE Circle and Stick Relativity are all available in this mode.

Stability Mode In Stability Mode, the 350 QX will have a very limited flight envelope with self-leveling capability for consistMULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 37

PILOT REVIEW I BLADE 350 QX

IN THE AIR As we were anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Blade 350 QX, I made a list of tests that I wanted to put the quad through once I got the controller in my hands. I was very intrigued with all the technology features and wanted to see if they lived up to the hype. Additionally, I wanted to attach a GoPro Hero 2 camera and see how well this platform worked to capture aerial video and photos.

Before putting a couple hundred dollar camera on the quad, I made several flights around our field testing each of the three modes (Smart, Stability and Agility). My first flight was using Smart Mode and I was especially interested in the SAFE Circle. Prior to flight, I measured a 30 foot circle and using powdered lime, I drew the circle. I stood in the center of the circle and flew the 350 QX about 75 to 100 feet away from myself. Every attempt to fly within the realm of the circle were thwarted by the system. I tried from various speeds and altitudes and I could not get it to fly inside that circle. Impressive!

The Stick Relativity function was another feature that intrigued me. One common problem with multirotor machines is maintaining orientation. Since they are symmetrical machines, you can quickly lose track of what is the front or back if you are not paying attention. When this feature is enabled, the left and right stick movement will move the 350 QX to the left or right in relation to the pilot regardless of which direction it is facing. With SAFE Circle activated and using Stick Relativity, a left or right stick movement will continually move the quad in a circle around the pilot. This is a very cool feature that adds another level of enjoyment to flying the 350 QX. The GPS Hold did just that. Once activated, the 350 QX stayed within a designated area in space and would remain there regardless of the wind. In fact, we even put the controller down and the 350 QX remained right where we activated GPS Hold.

The Return Home feature was also very cool. When you spool up the 350 QX for your initial flight takeoff, the system remembers its location. At any time in flight you can simply hit the Return Home switch and it will fly right back to that exact starting point with no control input from the pilot. This is a great feature for new pilots as it will save the machine from damage due to hard or uncontrolled landings.

The last thing I wanted to do was see how responsive the 350 QX is in Agility Mode. I am not a huge fan of flying aerobatics with a multirotor in the first place. That is not what my helicopters are for, but I did want to see how well this machine could flip or perform a roll. I was surprised at how snappy it was and I actually found myself really enjoying flying these maneuvers. You do need to make sure that you have some altitude because the blades are all fixed pitch and when you go inverted, they are pushing air in the direction that will the 350 QX directly towards the ground. Even in a fast flip or roll, you might lose a couple of feet of altitude. The increased forward speed and responsiveness of the controls made this machine feel like a whole new animal.

Now that I was comfortable flying the 350 QX, it was time to attach my GoPro and get some aerial footage. I was really happy to see how smooth the video was. The dampeners really work well. The only way to get a flawlessly smooth video would be to add a brushless gimbal, but I honestly was very happy with the results. When locked in GPS mode, I was able to easily pan the unit using the left stick to get a very smooth 360 degree view from the air.

38 MULTIROTOR PILOT

ent level flight and optional GPS Hold. This mode is the best choice for capturing video as the QX will fly smoothly, and when GPS Hold is enabled it will remain in a fixed position in space while the video records.

Agility Mode The Agility Mode is designed for more experienced pilots, allowing aerobatic maneuvers to be performed. The AS3X flight characteristics, coupled with an unlimited flight envelope, will allow the 350 QX to perform maneuvers such as flips and rolls.

You will also experience an increase in speed and response time for all control inputs.

SAFE Circle While in Smart Mode, the 350 QX will oer the pilot protection in the form of a 30-foot-diameter invisible barrier called SAFE Circle. SAFE Circle prevents the 350 QX from entering this airspace, thus preventing pilots from flying too close to themselves.

Stick Relativity This is a very unique feature which is incredibly helpful, especially with novice pilots. When activated, as you move the cyclic stick to the left or right, the 350 QX will move left or right relative to the pilot regardless of which way the machine is pointing.

GPS and Altimeter Technology The integrated GPS and Altimeter sensors are designed to keep the 350 QX in a stable hover position regardless of wind conditions. This feature is always on in Smart Mode and it allows you to concentrate on panning the 350 QX or slightly moving it for seamless video capture.

Return Home With the flip of a switch on the transmi er and no stick input from the pilot, the 350 QX will automatically return to the position where its motors started for that particular flight.

THE LAST WORD

The Blade 350 QX is one very unique and feature-rich quadcopter. If you are looking for a solid all-in-one solution for capturing photos and video from the air using your GoPro camera, then you will be very happy with the results using the 350 QX. The three different flight modes allow any user, novice to expert, a chance to really have some fun with this machine. The SAFE Circle is one of my favorite features to help keep the pilot safe.

The best part of the 350 QX is that you do not need to add anything additional to be able to shoot great aerial footage right away. = CONTACTS BLADE bladehelis.com HORIZON HOBBY horizonhobby.com SPEKTRUM spektrumrc.com For more information, please see our source guide on page 81.

PILOT REVIEW

by Joe Cannavo

HOBBYKING

X900 When you are looking to capture video from the air, especially when chasing a moving object like following an automobile or another plane in the air, a tricopter is the perfect platform because it has all the stability of a quad or hexcopter, but its in-flight characteristics are more like a plane than a typical multi-

» NEED TO KNOW MANUFACTURER: HobbyKing TYPE: Foldable tricopter FOR: Intermediate to advanced pilots MINIMUM FLYING AREA: Ball field

PRICE: $32.16 (frame only); $240 (frame, power system and controller w/GPS)

40 MULTIROTOR PILOT

Tricopter with RC Logger FPV System

rotor. Tricopters use a tilting mechanism on the tail rotor to control the yaw axis of the machine, which allows the aircraft to sweep and bank smoothly in forward flight, providing very dramatic video without the use of a motorized gimbal. If you are familiar with Flitetest.com’s videos, most of the aerial video where they chase other airplanes in flight is done with a tricopter.

There are many tricopters on the market, most of which are sold as frames or in kits, and there are just as many plans and adapter plates that you can acquire that will allow you to make one with the use of wooden square stock or aluminum tubing for the arms. When I was looking to build my own tricopter as an aerial video and FPV platform, I had two requirements…it had to be foldable so it was easy to transport and it had to be able to outfit the FPV camera system from RC

Logger, which I love and wanted to feature on this machine. That is when I discovered the HobbyKing X900 tricopter.

X900 FEATURES AND POWER SYSTEM

The X900 features a nicely finished fiberglass plate main frame, shock-absorbing landing legs and best of all, it is foldable. The tail servo mount is also made from fiberglass and uses a mini servo for yaw control. The rear motor mount is installed on dual ball bearings which gives very smooth and precise yaw movement.

The X900 is a good size too, with the front arms measuring 420mm and the rear arm at 450mm, giving an overall foot print of 31 x 33 inches.

They even include spring-loaded feet to absorb impact from hard landings.

When it came to choosing a power system for the X900, I wanted to make sure I

FPV SYSTEM MANUFACTURER: RC LOGGER TYPE: 720P HD 5.8GHz video system ANTENNA: RC Logger Clover Leaf 5.8GHz RECORDING CAPABILITY: Yes MAX RESOLUTION: 1280x720 MONITOR RESOLUTION: 320x240 (4:3) BATTERY DURATION: Video RX (4 hours); Detachable Monitor (3 hours) OUTPUT POWER: 25mW NUMBER OF RF CHANNELS: 8

SPECIFICATIONS WEIGHT: 2 lb. 14 oz. flight ready LENGTH: 31 in.

HEIGHT: 5.75 in.

WIDTH: 33 in.

PROPS: 10x4.5 slow flyer (1 CCW, 2 CW) RADIO: Flown with Spektrum DX18 transmitter and a Spektrum AR610 receiver SERVO: Turnigy TGY-S306G Ultra-Fast High Torque MG Digital FLIGHT CONTROLLER: HKPilot Mega V2.5 w/GPS MOTORS: (3) NTM Prop Drive 28-30S 800Kv (short shaft) brushless outrunner ESC: (3) HobbyKing BlueSeries 40A brushless speed controller MAX LIFT CAPACITY: 4.5 lbs. (at full throttle) BATTERY: Turnigy 2200mAh 3S 35C LiPo DURATION: 12 minutes

A highly maneuverable, easy to transport FPV camera machine had plenty of power to carry additional payload (cameras, video transmi ers, etc.), so I installed three NTM 28-30S 800Kv 300W brushless outrunner motors with three HobbyKing BlueSeries 40A ESCs. With 10x4.5 slowflyer props, these motors each produce 45 ounces of thrust at full power.

Since most of my flying will be at 50 percent power, that means I will have a total effective lifting capacity of around 4.5 pounds.

The total weight of the X900 as I set it up, including the FPV system and ba ery, is two pounds and 14 ounces, leaving me with plenty of power to spare.

CONTROL SYSTEM

There are plenty of options when it comes to controlling the X900, from a simple, inexpensive KK2 board to the full-blown DJI Naza line of controllers. Since I was using

this machine for FPV, I wanted some safety features like position hold and return to home just in case I needed to use them. It is not uncommon to initially get disoriented when flying with FPV goggles until you get used to them and the aircraft. So I chose to use an HKPilot Mega V2.5 autopilot flight controller, which is basically a version of the open source APM 2.5 project from 3D Robotics. The APM 2.5 has a huge online community and support system in place so ge ing help online is very easy and there are tons of websites detailing how to use the controller and related software.

The HKPilot Mega is an Arduino-compatible controller that uses an ATMEGA2560 processor with an ATMEGA32U-2 USB. The board features a 3-axis gyro, accelerometer, magnetometer and a high-performance barometer, which provides a full six degrees of

I custom-printed an enclosure to protect the controller, receiver and GPS module. It also made the wiring look much neater. You can download the files to print your own case at www.multirotorpilotmag.com/x900.

The RC Logger FPV Pro’s camera lens can be adjusted to change the recording angle from straight ahead to straight down. It is controlled via a micro servo and a slider on the transmitter.

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 41

PILOT REVIEW I HOBBYKING X900 TRICOPTER WITH RC LOGGER FPV SYSTEM

IN THE AIR

The RC Logger video system is very neat and compact. I custom-printed a mount for the DX18 which slides directly over the transmitter’s antenna. This allows for easy removal and keeps the monitor in position to see easily while flying.

Flying the X900 was actually much easier and more enjoyable than I thought.

I have flown a lot of multirotors but this was my first tricopter. When I got to our flying spot, I powered on and tested the video system and once that checked out, I armed the motors by moving and holding the rudder stick (with throttle down) to the right for five seconds. Once armed, the motors will all spin slowly.

To disarm the motors, you hold the rudder stick (with throttle down) to the left for five seconds. As I powered up the X900, I advanced the throttle and it held in a rock-solid hover at about half stick. I had the HKPilot Mega in stabilize mode to start so it was working hard fighting the 10-plus mph wind we had that day.

I flew around a bit and everything I read about flying a tricopter was true; it had a mixed feel between a quad or hex and an airplane. It was very smooth in forward flight and watching the live video, I really loved the banking effect that you get when you fly. It is similar to having an FPV camera on a plane but you have the ability to hover and move side to side and backwards which you can’t with an airplane. The yaw control was much more responsive on the X900 than it is with a quad or hex with the pivoting tail rotor.

I was very impressed with how well the HKPilot Mega controller board did its job. The model was very stable and easy to control. Switching into loiter (position hold) mode locked the tricopter in space where it received its last input. Having flown systems with advanced controllers like the DJI Wookong or the new DJI A2, the Mega did not have as tight of a GPS hold, but then again the controller and GPS module cost less than $100, so I was not expecting it to perform like a $1,300 unit. It had no problem maintaining a 5 to 6 foot box in space.

The return-to-home feature also worked well. When activated, the model stopped in flight for a few seconds before flying itself back to where it took off. This is great if you are flying with no obstructions, because the controller will fly in a straight line back to the starting point. It does not have any way of detecting obstacles like trees or buildings. You can also program the failsafe mode so if your battery gets too low or you lose transmitter signal, the model will fly itself back, thus saving you from a crash.

The RC Logger FPV system worked flawlessly. I flew line-of-sight while using the monitor to frame the video I was recording and I also attached Fatshark FPV goggles via a video output cable on the monitor so I flew full-on FPV. I was also able to use the slider on my transmitter to adjust the tilt of the camera so I could get video from angles that you normally can’t get from a standard FPV system without the use of a gimbal. However, I did find it very difficult to fly with goggles while moving the tilt, as you really need to pay attention to what is in front of you.

42 MULTIROTOR PILOT

freedom (DOF) with precise position sensing capability. A Honeywell HMC5883L-TR Digital Compass is also integrated into the board.

I combined the HKPilot Mega with a Neo-6M GPS module to take full advantage of its capabilities. One very cool feature of this controller is that you can program in waypoints for fully autonomous control to preset locations. Additionally you have the standard GPS controller features, like return-to-home and position hold which allows the craft to remain stationary in the air when you release the sticks.

Since the HKPilot Mega controller (APM 2.5) can be set up for many different types of models, I had to search for specific wiring instructions for a tricopter. The following illustrates the proper wiring for this board.

APM PLANNER 2.0 SOFTWARE

3D Robotics has two different software programs for the APM 2.5 that you can download for free; Mission Planner for a PC laptop or desktop computer and APM Planner 2.0 for a Mac, PC or Linux-based system. Since I have a MacBook, I installed APM Planner to configure and program my controller. The APM Planner 2.0 is an open-source ground station that allows you to configure an airplane, helicopter, multirotor or ground-based vehicle with the autopilot to become fully autonomous. The AP2 is also used to calibrate and configure the controller, plan and save missions and view live data in flight.

The first thing to do when you connect your controller and run the software for the first time is to select the appropriate firmware for the model that you are using it with. This will load in the appropriate controller software so your model operates correctly. From there you can begin the calibration process for compass, accelerometer and the radio system. There are many different flight modes that you can program and assign to switches on the radio. I set up a three-position switch to select from stabilize, loiter (position hold) and return home.

Once done with the configuration, it was time to test fly to see if any further fine-tuning would be needed. I made some minor adjustments to the gains to get the tricopter to feel how I wanted it. At the time of this writing, we did not have the ability to try the waypoint programming mode, but we will cover that in depth in a future issue of Multirotor Pilot magazine.

To keep the wiring neat and to protect the controller board and receiver in the event of a crash, I used my 3D printer to make an enclosure. I designed posts to secure the controller board so it can be fastened with four screws. I also molded in a spot to secure the GPS module. If you are interested in downloading the STL files for this enclosure, you can for free at multirotorpilotmag.com/x900.

We Used TRANSMITTER Spektrum DX18

MOTORS NTM Prop Drive 28-30S 800Kv (short shaft) brushless outrunner

ESC HobbyKing BlueSeries 40A Brushless Speed Controller

MOTOR WIRING Output side: Pin 1 connects to the ESC for motor 1 (front right) Pin 2 connects to the ESC for motor 2 (front left) Pin 4 connects to the ESC for the tail motor Pin 7 connects to your yaw servo

RC LOGGER FPV SYSTEM

As with tricopter frames, power systems and controller boards, there are also a lot of FPV camera systems on that market that you can use for your multirotor. I had some specific requirements that I wanted for this aircraft’s FPV system, including the ability to record a minimum of 720p video to a memory card, the ability to tilt the camera from straight ahead to straight down using a slider on my transmiĴer and I wanted to use a small monitor on my transmitter with an output for goggles. I was introduced to the RC Logger FPV camera systems at a trade show a few months back and decided that it would be perfect for this machine.

There are several other advantages to the RC Logger system that I did not even realize until I got my hands on it. First, the camera and monitor both have an internal rechargeable baĴery, so I would not need any additional wiring for power on my transmiĴer or on the tricopter. The camera has a lens with a servo arm aĴached to it so you can use a small servo to tilt the camera lens while in flight. The transmiĴer on the tricopter gets its power from receiver so again, no special wiring is needed. And lastly, the system comes with cables that are already terminated for the system so there is no need to solder and make custom cables.

The monitor is 3.5 inches with a crystal-clear full-color display. To eliminate the need for any wires, the video receiver aĴaches right to the side of the monitor and there are integrated contact points for power and the video signal. If you want to use the receiver with another monitor or video goggles you can, since it has its own built-

Input side (connections from receiver): Pin 1 connects to the aileron channel Pin 2 connects to the elevator channel Pin 3 connects to the throttle channel Pin 4 connects to the rudder channel Pin 5 connects to the gear channel Pin 6 connects to the Aux 1 channel

in rechargeable baĴery. I made a custom holder for the monitor to mount on my DX18 transmitter with my 3D printer. You can download the files at multirotorpilotmag.com/x900.

Overall the system is very clean and works perfectly right out of the box. The reception is excellent, especially when you replace the stock antennas with Clover Leaf antennas.

PROPS (3) 10x4.5 slow flyer counter-rotating

FLIGHT CONTROLLER HKPilot Mega V2.5

RECEIVER Spektrum AR610

THE LAST WORD

The X900 is a machine that I will be using much more often. I am excited to try out the waypoint features of the APM 2.5 system, of which I will report back in a future issue. The recorded video quality was very good. While not full 1080p HD, it was very high quality and considering my main living room TV is only a 720p, a higher resolution would not have maĴered any more to me. I loved the ease of use of all the components that are in this multirotor. From box to first flight only took about two to three hours including setting up with the software.

If you want to get into tricopters for less than $35, you can save the time that it would take scratchbuild and enjoy a very rugged and durable machine that folds for easy transport. = CONTACTS 3D ROBOTICS 3drobotics.com HOBBYKING hobbyking.com RC LOGGER rclogger.com SPEKTRUM spektrumrc.com For more information, please see our source guide on page 81.

SERV0 Turnigy TGY-S306G Ultra-Fast High Torque MG Digital

BATTERY Turnigy 2200mAh 3S 35C LiPo

CAMERA RC Logger Pro

VIDEO SYSTEM RC Logger 5.8GHz TX RX Set

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 43

PILOT REVIEW

by Erick Royer

Flight, Camera, Action!

GAUI

840H

HEXACOPTER

WITH DJI WOOKONG-M

Aerial video and multirotors seem to go together like chocolate and peanut butter, and in today’s market there is no shortage of options if recording the world with a bird’s eye view is your passion. Mainstream machines like the Blade 350 QX and the DJI Phantom make this easy right out of the box; just add a GoPro and fly. However what if you want more? What if you are looking for the ability to capture video with pan and sweeps that you only see in big-budget motion picture films? To get these amazing shots you need a bit more. You need a high-resolution camera with a large image sensor and the ability to interchange lenses. These SLR cameras are larger and much heavier than a GoPro-type camera and they provide much higher quality video and still photos. You can capture video that is on par with the big boys in Hollywood.

Of course if you want to run one of these cameras, then you need more than a 2-axis gimbal.

The DJI Zenmuse is one of the highest quality systems on the market for cameras of this size.

The Zenmuse is a full 3-axis gimbal that not only stabilizes the camera, but also allows the operator to adjust the pan, and tilt and roll from the transmitter as well. When you consider the weight of the Zenmuse is 3.3 pounds, and in our case we are using the amazingly high resolution Sony NEX 6N camera that weighs another 14 ounces with the battery and lens, you need a machine that is capable of handling some serious payload. The Gaui 840H is the machine to do the job…and do it well.

In the world of aerial video multirotors, I MANUFACTURER: Gaui would consider the Gaui 840H a mid-size machine. One of the most DISTRIBUTOR: Empire RC sought-after cameras to fly TYPE: Hexacopter on a multirotor is the Red FOR: Advanced pilots to aerial Epic which, when fully photographer outfitted, can weigh over 20 pounds and cost well MINIMUM FLYING AREA: Any outdoor flying over $25,000. To carry a camera like this requires a area heavy lift machine, which can range from 1100mm PRICE: $1,799.00 (Super Combo Kit with motors, to over 2000mm with a ready to fly weight of 30-40 ESCs, props and DJI Wookong-M with GPS) pounds. These machines are in a class of their own

» NEED TO KNOW

PHOTOS BY WALTER SIDAS AND ERICK ROYER

46 MULTIROTOR PILOT

SPECS and are typically seen on big budget movie sets.

On the opposite end, you have multirotors like the DJI Phantom up to 550-size machines like the DJI Flame Wheel F550, which commonly carry smaller cameras like a GoPro and have the ability to fly in tight quarters. The Gaui 840H is a larger machine which can fly a considerable payload, as we are with the Zenmuse gimbal and Sony NEX 6N camera. The larger size means greater stability, especially on windy days. The 840H with the setup that we have in this review is capable of obtaining some very impressive video and since our machine is set up for two operators (pilot and

cameraman), you have the ability of framing shots that you simply cannot with a smaller machine.

ASSEMBLY

The assembly process on this machine was much easier than many smaller multirotors that I have put together. The quality of the parts as well as the fit and finish were excellent. The kit I am reviewing is a Super Combo Kit, which comes complete with motors, speed controllers and props so everything is pretty much plug and play.

I am not going to rewrite the manual here but there are some notes that I made as I put the 840H

WIDTH (motor shaft to motor shaft): 840mm PROPELLER SIZE: 15 in. (included in Super Combo Kit) MOTORS: (6) Gaui 320Kv, 46mm brushless outrunners (included in Super Combo Kit) ESCS: Gaui Special-made 25A for 23mm boom (included in Super Combo Kit) FLIGHT CONTROLLER: DJI Wookong-M with GPS module (included in Super Combo Kit) OSD: DJI OSD Mark 2 MAXIMUM FLYING WEIGHT: 17.63 lbs.

WEIGHT AS FLOWN: 13.8 lbs.

BATTERY: (2) MaxAmps 6S 5450mAh 22.2V 120C LiPo GIMBAL: DJI Zenmuse Z15-N 3-axis brushless CAMERA: Sony NEX 6 16.1mp w/12mm lens VIDEO TRANSMITTER: Immersion RC 600mW 5.8GHz RADIO SYSTEM (for flight): Futaba 14SG with Futaba R6208SB eight-channel S.Bus receiver RADIO SYSTEM (for camera): Spektrum DX18 with Spektrum AR6210 six-channel receiver VIDEO GOGGLES (for camera operator): Fatshark Predator V2

together that are worth mentioning. First o, the motor mounts are machined aluminum and they are keyed so they lock into the proper position on the booms. The motors and ESCs come with bullet connectors already soldered on, thus saving a lot of assembly time. The ESCs are custom designed for this machine.

They are sized to slide inside the booms with the appropriate length wires to reach the center frame. The design of the ESCs uses the metal booms to act as a heatsink to keep them running cool.

When you connect the ESCs to the motors, pay close attention to the chart in the manual to ensure that each motor is wired for the correct rotation. Three motors will spin clockwise and three counterclockwise. Failing to get them in the correct locations will result in an unflyable machine.

There is an arrow cut out of the top center frame that denotes the front of the machine. From that point you can properly position each boom with the motor running in the correct direction. Again the booms are keyed so they lock into the center frame correctly.

One of my favorite features of this machine is the lower center frame. It doubles as a power distribution board and has bullet connectors already soldered in place for the motors. This is one of the neatest installations that I have seen in a multicopter.

Additionally there are contact points on the board where you can solder power wires for optional devices such as FPV and LEDS. The lower center plate has integrated power contacts which leaves a lot of room between the center frames and on the top frame to mount the electronics. Since I was not familiar with setting up the Wookong-M, my friend (and fellow contributor)

FEATURES Very rigid steel boom construction.

Metal CNC motor mounts help dissipate heat.

Power distribution board is integrated into the lower center frame plate with bullet connectors for quick and easy power connections.

High-performance 320Kv 46mm brushless outrunners produce low noise and very little vibration for increased stability.

The ESCs are hidden inside the metal booms. They use the boom as a heatsink to dissipate heat and provide a very clean installation.

Large center frame that will accommodate any flight controller system and all of your additional electronics like FPV gear, OSD, and more.

Simple, easy and fast mounting and removal of main landing gear.

Streamlined canopy reduces wind noise and protects the electronics from light rain.

Can accommodate a lot of payload, which includes additional batteries for longer flight times, a heavy-duty camera gimbal and larger SLR-type cameras.

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 47

PILOT REVIEW I GAUI 840H HEXACOPTER

IN THE AIR Our first test flight with the 840H was at exactly 4:05am. After spending all day and night making everything perfect, we were not going to get some shut-eye until we saw her fly. Moving out to my driveway, we performed the “Naza dance” to calibrate the Wookong and then activated the motors by moving both sticks down and towards the center of the transmitter and after a few deep breaths, we advanced the throttle.

The 840H came off the ground and went right into a stable hover; no trim required. We brought it up to about 15 feet and switched to GPS mode and let go of the sticks.

The Wookong-M did a fantastic job of keeping the copter locked right where we put it. The most it drifted was a couple feet in either direction, which is basically nothing when taking aerial footage from the air. That was it, time to get some sleep as the next day was the big test and photo shoot.

Our photo shoot day was not exactly optimal. It was very breezy with 15+ mph, winds with the mercury reading a balmy 8 degrees. Not optimal for the pilot but these conditions were perfect for testing the copter as well as the gimbal/camera combo to see how they perform in extreme conditions. So we put a fresh memory card into the Sony and my friend (and fellow contributor), Petr Hejl, took the pilot controller while I had the goggles and camera transmitter. I have used many brushless gimbals and even designed a couple for use with GoPro cameras and I am always impressed with the stability and video quality. However, the Zenmuse/NEX 6 combo completely blew me away. Petr took the 840H up to about 50-60 feet and I could see how badly the wind was blowing it around as I panned the camera to look at the airframe, however looking at the video, you would think the camera was on a tripod. The Wookong-M held the copter right where he put it and handled the wind as if it were a calm day.

The motors and props that come with the Super Combo were ultra-quiet, which will make this machine perfect for taking aerial video in places where you don’t want to make the world know of your presence. The power to climb and quickly move from one location to another was excellent. One thing that I feel is very important to note was the batteries. The MaxAmps 6S 5450mAh 120C LiPo packs were amazing. They are only three ounces heavier than the 5000mAh packs we normally use but with the additional 900mAh of capacity meant we got an extra two to four minutes of flight time between charges. MaxAmps is really focused on developing the best batteries for the multirotor market and after running these packs a half dozen times and comparing our normal packs, I would say they are succeeding.

48 MULTIROTOR PILOT

Joe Papa came over to pull an all-nighter with me to get this machine ready. He is very meticulous and spent a lot of time making the electronic installation look pristine.

He installed the Wookong’s main controller in the center of the lower frame, which made it easy to install the rest of the components around it, and left a lot of room on the top frame for future additions. When he was done, very few wires were visible. In fact, I think all you really see are the DJI CANbus wires and the S.Bus wire for the receiver as well as the battery power leads. Overall this is one very clean install.

The 840H has a foldable boom design, making transportation easier. To fold the booms you need to remove two screws per boom mount. The design is clever, but you need to make sure you don’t lose the screws.

The 840H comes with a fixed landing gear that provides enough clearance for a GoPro camera and 2-axis gimbal, but since we were going to install the Zenmuse 3-axis gimbal, we needed more clearance under the frame.

Thankfully we had an extended fixed landing gear on hand so we opted to put them on instead.

Editor’s note: We are in the process of getting a retractable landing gear for this machine as it is needed to take full advantage of the 3-axis gimbal’s ability to pan 360 degrees and not have the gear in the camera’s view. When we do, we will make the update and report available on our website at multirotorpilotmag.com/840H. We will be updating this page often with photos and video that we shoot from this machine as well as any other additions or modifications that we make.

INSTALLING THE ZENMUSE

The Zenmuse Z15 gimbal comes completely assembled and tested from the factory. All you need to do is attach it to the frame and connect the wiring. Gaui offers a rail system that attaches to the lower center frame with stand-offs and the Zenmuse attaches to the rails.

The process is very easy. The gimbal is suspended from eight rubber dampeners. Since the camera and gimbal weigh almost five pounds total, I did not trust all that weight riding on rubber, so I attached four zip ties thought the four outermost dampeners. I left them relatively loose so they won’t affect the dampening affect, but in the event that a

dampener fails the gimbal will remain on the aircraft.

The Zenmuse has its own controller and power harness that makes the installation easy and neat. No soldering was necessary for the installation. The HDMI cable attaches to the Sony NEX 6 and provides a live video feed, which was wired directly into an

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 49

PILOT REVIEW I GAUI 840H HEXACOPTER Immersion RC 600mW video transmitter so the camera operator had live video for controlling the gimbal and framing the shots.

A Spektrum receiver was connected to the Zenmuse to allow the camera operator to control the pan, roll and pitch of the camera as well as remotely activate the shutter.

The Zenmuse Z15-N is made specifically for the Sony NEX 7 camera which uses the same body as the NEX 6 so the included brackets were a perfect fit. It is amazing how precisely balanced the gimbal is with this camera on it.

Without power applied I centered the camera and it remained right where I put it. I then put a single 5-inch zip tie on the top edge of the camera and the gimbal started to tilt in that direction‌talk about precise.

To remove the camera, there are two thumbscrews that need to be removed; one attached to the hot shoe and the other for the tripod mount. The only complaint that I have about this Zenmuse setup is that it is hard to access the power switch on the camera while it is attached to the gimbal and you need to remove the camera to charge it and to remove the memory card.

FLIGHT CONTROLLER

The Super Combo Kit comes with the DJI Wookong-M and GPS module. Up until the recent release of the A2, the Wookong was the flagship flight controller in the DJI line. The installation is easy if you follow the instructions to ensure everything is connected to the proper location. There are two things to keep in mind when you are installing the Wookong; first, the main controller needs to be mounted near the center of the model and must face the front of the machine and second, the GPS antenna needs to be mounted also facing forward. It gets installed on a mast to keep it away from any RF interference that might come from the rest of the electronics.

To program the Wookong you have a couple options. You can download the Wookong-M Assistant software from the DJI website. It is available for both Windows and the Mac. Second, if you have a Bluetooth LED from DJI, then you can download the app for the iPhone and set up the machine, as well as make adjustments right from your smartphone. The Assistant software is very easy to understand and use. It took only a matter of minutes to have the system calibrated and set up.

The latest version of the Wookong-M firmware unlocks the possibility of using up to 50 waypoints to autonomously fly the multirotor. However to use this functionality, you need to purchase and install the DJI Ground Station (also reviewed in this issue).

50 MULTIROTOR PILOT

We Used TRANSMITTER (for flight): Futaba 14SG

TRANSMITTER (for camera): Spektrum DX18

FLIGHT CONTROLLER: DJI Wookong-M with GPS module

OSD: DJI OSD Mark 2

BATTERY: (2) MaxAmps 6S 5450mAh 22.2V LiPo

GIMBAL: DJI Zenmuse Z15-N 3-axis brushless

CAMERA: Sony Nex 6 16.1mp w/12mm lens

VIDEO TRANSMITTER: Immersion RC 600mW 5.8GHz THE LAST WORD

VIDEO GOGGLES (for Once you get bit camera operator): Fatshark by the multirotor Predator V2 and aerial photography bug and cut your teeth on a smaller, action cam-equipped machine, the next logical progression is to get a machine that is capable of flying an SLR camera. With that, you will want the ultimate in stability, which is where the DJI Zenmuse gimbal comes in. If you build the system to fly with a pilot and a camera operator, you will effectively have a system that can capture very high quality and stable footage. The Gaui 840H is an excellent platform for this.

It is made from high-quality components, is very rugged and is very easy to assemble. When you couple the 840H with the DJI Wookong-M or A2 flight controller, you have a machine that is easy to fly, stable, and very reliable. = CONTACTS DJI INNOVATIONS empirerc.com EMPIRE RC empirerc.com FAT SHARK fatshark.com FUTABA futaba-rc.com GAUI gaui.com.tw IMMERSION RC immersionrc.com MAXAMPS maxamps.com SONY sony.com SPEKTRUM spektrumrc.com For more information, please see our source guide on page 81.

PILOT REVIEW

HD Video, FPV and more!

by Jacob Clackey

DJI INNOVATIONS

Phantom 2 VISION The Phantom 2 Vision is the newest and most advanced DJI consumer-grade aerial platform. The Vision provides a real-time live view on your mobile device, which allows you to take photos and videos and then share them on a variety of websites such as Facebook and YouTube. The video is transmitted to your mobile device via a 2.4GHz WiFi connection with a maximum range of up to 300 meters. It also transmits realtime telemetry data and flight parameters as well. The Vision’s camera records in full 1080/30p or 1080/60i resolution with a wide 140 degree field of view and it takes 14 megapixel stills. One of the best features of the Vision is the long, 25 plus minute flight times with the included battery. The flight controller is the Naza-M V2 with GPS autopilot system, which gives you unparalleled stability and performance with features like position hold and return to home.

Âť NEED TO KNOW MANUFACTURER: DJI Innovations DISTRIBUTOR: Empire RC TYPE: Quadcopter FOR: Beginner flyers interested in advanced aerial photography MINIMUM FLYING AREA: Any outdoor flying area PRICE: $1,199

OUT OF THE BOX

It takes just a matter of minutes to get the Vision ready for flight. Simply screw on your propellers, insert batteries into the transmitter, and attach the range extender and smartphone holder onto your remote. Finally, apply the provided decals and you are good to go. This whole process takes less than 20 minutes, and everything you need, including the tools are in the box.

THE BRAIN

The Phantom 2 Vision is built around the

Naza-M controller, which is at the heart of this aircraft. The Naza-M has integrated GPS, which allows the Phantom to be extremely stable and easy to fly, while having the speed and agility that would impress most hobby enthusiasts. This Naza-M features an impressive Return-To-Home (RTH) feature PHOTOS BY WALTER SIDAS

52 MULTIROTOR PILOT

SPECS

that has saved many Phantoms, including mine, from perilous disasters.

When you are in the air pushing the boundaries of the transmitter distance, you want to have a fallback plan.

If the Phantom ever goes out of range of the transmitter, or if your remote battery fails, the RTH feature will automatically fly the Phantom back to you and land within two feet of the original takeoff spot. You must remember to wait for a GPS lock before taking off each time to ensure this feature works properly.

the free DJI app, you can view live video coming from your Vision, along with OSD (On Screen Display). This means that not only will you be viewing the live feed; you will also be able to see battery life, altitude, make camera parameter adjustments (white balance, ISO, etc.) and

AIRCRAFT WEIGHT: 2.56 lbs.

DIAGONAL LENGTH: 350mm BATTERY: 5200mAh LiPo HOVER ACCURACY: Vertical: 0.8m; Horizontal: 2.5m MAX TILT ANGLE: 35 degrees MAX ASCENT/DESCENT SPEED: 6m/s MAX FLIGHT SPEED: 15m/s AVERAGE FLIGHT TIME: 25 minutes TRANSMITTER OPERATING FREQUENCY: 5.8GHZ TRANSMITTER EFFECTIVE DISTANCE: 300-500m BATTERIES: 4 “AA”

CAMERA

CAMERA RESOLUTION: 14 megapixels WI-FI REPEATER DISTANCE: 300m FOV: 140/120/90 degrees SENSOR SIZE: 1/2.3

FUNCTIONALITY Supports multi-capture, continuous capture and timed capture Supports HD recording (1080/p30 or 1080/60i) Supports both RAW and JPEG picture format

THE EYES

The next most important feature on this new bird is its eyes. The Phantom 2 Vision’s camera has some impressive specs. DJI manufactures The Vision comes with a smartphone mount and a Wi-Fi repeater that attaches to the handle of the transmitter. this camera, which takes 14 megapixel photos and shoots choose when to start and stop video or photos. In addition, you can in 1080p at 30 fps. The camera has a microSD view a radar screen from the app that will help guide you home if card on the side to store the pictures and video you lose sight of the Phantom. Also from the DJI app, you can control and they even include a 4GB microSD card. One camera tilt up or down and wirelessly transmit photos and video of the best features however, is the capacity to shoot from the Phantom to your smartphone, then from the app to social in RAW format. By definition, RAW means “in its natural state, not media. processed.” You can bring the 14MP RAW photo into a program such as Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom or Creative Cloud and use the builtTHE ENERGY in lens profile support provided in most of these programs to take One of the best new features of the Phantom 2 Vision is the DJI away the fish-eye look. You can also easily add color corrections.

Smart Battery system. The battery that comes with this Vision is a 5200mAh lithium polymer battery (LiPo) that gives the Phantom THE FPV EXPERIENCE 25 minutes of flight time, much longer than the 10-12 minute flights The biggest separating factor between the Phantom 2 Vision and DJI’s of the Phantom 1. The battery is called “smart” because it has built-in other consumer-grade aircraft is the built-in FPV (First Person View) charge protection and maintenance reminders. However, the feature experience. Here’s how it works: The Phantom connects wirelessly I am most excited about is the easy battery lock-in system. With to the Wi-Fi repeater that connects to your smartphone device. Using the Phantom 1, you had to connect two wires by squeezing them MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 53

PILOT REVIEW I DJI INNOVATIONS PHANTOM 2 VISION

LOWER BUDGET? GET THE PHANTOM FC40 SPECS AIRCRAFT WEIGHT: 2.2 lbs.

DIAGONAL LENGTH: 350mm BATTERY: 2200mAh LiPo HOVER ACCURACY: Vertical: 0.8m; Horizontal: 2.5m MAX TILT ANGLE: 35 degrees MAX ASCENT/DESCENT SPEED: 6m/s MAX FLIGHT SPEED: 15m/s AVERAGE FLIGHT TIME: 12 minutes PRICE: $499.00 TRANSMITTER OPERATING FREQUENCY: 5.8GHZ TRANSMITTER EFFECTIVE DISTANCE: 300-500m BATTERIES: 4 “AA” CAMERA CAMERA RESOLUTION: 720p/30fps WI-FI DISTANCE: 100m FOV: 100 degrees So after reading this review, I am sure you are jazzed up and wanting to get your hands on a Vision, however if the $1,200 price tag is keeping you from pulling you the credit card, then the Phantom FC40 might be a great option.

With a retail price of only $499, the FC40 comes with its own camera with a 720p/30fps HD resolution with an Android or iOS app to control it, just like the Vision. The video is transmitted using a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection providing a full FPV experience at distances up to 100 meters. The app/camera combo allows you a 10X digital zoon from the app with a low latency live preview. Many of the app

together very firmly. The cords become harder to connect over time, and are fairly difficult to disconnect, tearing the wires slowly. The Phantom 2 batteries are self-locking. You simply push the battery into the phantom and when it clicks, it’s ready to go. Taking it out is just as easy. With the Phantom 1, when you connect the battery it starts and when you disconnect, it turns off. With the Phantom 2, you press a button on the outside, then press again to start, and the same to turn off. The new battery saves you time and hassle. “There must be a catch,” you say? Well, yes. For these features you pay $159 for each battery, compared to $23 on the Phantom 1.

THE THRUST

features are the same as the Vision; with the exception of the tilt control as the FC40’s camera does not have the tilt function. The mount is adjustable so you can preset the angle prior to flight.

The FC40 also uses the Naza-M V2 flight controller so it has all of the same flight functionality as the Vision including position hold and return to home.

If you are looking to get started with FPV and aerial video but don’t want to spend the $1200 for the Vision, the Phantom FC40 is a great machine with tons of features and excellent video quality.

more information on this. Another problem with the camera is the fish-eye effect. You get this same effect with the GoPro where the object in view looks like the edges are curved. This problem can be solved while editing in Adobe Photoshop or other programs.

A third problem is that there is no microphone on the camera so you cannot get the ambient sounds of the motors. The final area of weakness is with file management. You can only get files from the Vision’s camera to another device by wirelessly transferring photos and videos to your smartphone. You cannot easily get them to a computer except by ejecting the microSD card and using a card reader to get the files. The card reader is also the only way you can delete files off the card.

Another important aspect of this new aircraft is the self-tightening props. Compared to the Phantom 1, where you had to place the props on then screw on the cap, these props are a dream. You simply set the props on the motors, then spin the prop and it’s locked on, that way it can never come off during flight. The caps on the Phantom 1 could come loose during flight and the prop would fly off and you were guaranteed a crash.

UPGRADES

HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE CONS

As with any product, there are also some minor problems. First, there is no gimbal on the Phantom 2 Vision. Therefore when you are recording video, the video will not be as stable as it could be. This problem can be solved with a third party Vision camera gimbal. Check the upgrades section for 54 MULTIROTOR PILOT

The Vision uses a custom 5200mAh LiPo battery that has an integrated power button and battery level meter.

As with most products there are always some things that can be improved or upgraded to meet specific needs of the owner/pilot. Sources like phantompilots.com and RCgroups.com come to the rescue. On these sites, you can get help with problems and get cool upgrades. Here are just a few of the most popular upgrades you can do on your Phantom. Be sure to check YouTube and other forums before attempting.

The first upgrade to try is antenna range improvement. Just install an antenna onto your Vision Wi-Fi repeater for as little as $50- $100 and extend the range of your link from about 1,000 feet to over 3,000 feet. Another opportunity for upgrade is with the camera. While the camera is great for photos, the Vision does not have a gimbal

Below: The Phantom 2 Vision comes with a Wi-Fi repeater and smartphone mount that install directly onto the transmitter’s handle.

so the video is not very stable. While there have been rumors about DJI releasing a gimbal for the Phantom 2 Vision, none have been confirmed. A few manufactures stepped up and made one of their own. The two most popular gimbals are the Rotorpixel (rotorpixel.com) and the DRONExpert (dronexpert.nl) The Rotorpixel gimbal costs $389 and the DRONExpert costs $570, which includes a case. There are many tests and reviews on the internet for both gimbals. Another upgrade option is the purchase of a lens kit. DJI sells a lens adapter for the Vision camera that attaches onto the Vision lens and allows you to affix any 46mm filter on your camera. The adapter costs $15. One final, but expensive upgrade, is waterproofing. DSLRPros.com has a deal with Liquipel where you send your Phantom to DSLRPros and

they get it waterproofed. Your Phantom is treated with an invisible water-safe layer. If your Phantom falls in the water or mud, everything will still work perfectly. You can even throw your Vision in the pool, pull it out and fly in 30 seconds. This service costs $400, but it may be worth it if you fly above water often.

THE LAST WORD

The Phantom 2 Vision is a big step in the right direction for DJI and for the aerial hobbyist. This product integrates FPV, OSD, aerial photography and several new technologies in one simple, elegant device. The price point might be high for the average consumer hobbyist. In my opinion, the Vision is best for someone who is getting started in aerial video and photography and is looking for an all-in-one kit. It’s particularly suited for people who prefer great photos to great video.

If you fit these categories, this may be the best choice of aircraft for you at this time.

However, if great photos and FPV are not as valuable to you as the cash you would spend, and you want to save some money, then the Phantom FC40 is the way to go. =

CONTACTS DJI INNOVATIONS empirerc.com EMPIRE RC empirerc.com For more information, please see our source guide on page 81.

HOW TO

by Petr Hejl

Petr Hejl uses multirotor aircraft as a way to combine things that he is passionate about into a new way of capturing a moment or telling a story.

He uses his multirotor machines to capture amazing aerial video and photos and enjoys flying in many unusual places.

Petr is an advocate for commercial and safe use of multirotor aircraft and has been recently highlighted on CNN’s iReport. You can contact him or see some of his work on his website www.NOTaDRONE.com.

Install and setup a

GPS/Compass Unit for a DJI Naza-M V2 A GPS and compass module is a must-have enhancement that enables the use of a few very useful functions of the Naza-M flight controllers. With this module, the controller is capable of GPS position hold, return-home failsafe, intelligent orientation control (home lock and course lock), and ready to be used with the ground station module.

The module’s GPS sensor and compass are depended on by the flight controller to accurately determine the correct position and heading of your multirotor, and proper installation and calibration of this module is very important for a problem-free and smooth operation of the machine. Taking time to learn how to set up this module correctly may prevent a few very tense moments, crashes, or fly-aways.

Collapsible masts are worth considering if you’re looking to travel with your multirotor, since they make it easy to put the copter into a transport case.

56 MULTIROTOR PILOT

Lift the copter at the tips of opposing pairs of arms and see if it stays balanced.

INSTALLATION

Choosing a proper location for the GPS module is perhaps the most important thing in the process. The unit comes with a small carbonreinforced mast and some 3M VHB tape to help with the install. There are also other masts available.

Collapsible masts are worth considering if you’re looking to travel with your multirotor, since they make it easy to put the copter into a transport case.

The module needs to be kept as far away from any sources of magnetic interference as possible, and our machines laden with wires, motors, and other “noisy electronics” are not exactly a friendly environment for them. As great of an idea as some shorter masts and mounts are, I can’t recommend putting the module closer to the top of the frame than at the length of the factory mast.

If your ba ery is mounted to the top of the center plate, choose a location as far away from the ba ery as possible; best near the edge of the frame on either side of your ba ery pack. Leave at least three inches of

distance between the module and the ba ery. If the module is installed too close to the ba ery, the copter will behave very unpredictably and will be extremely difficult to control.

Clean the mounting surfaces with a small alcohol pad and use the 3M VHB tape to a ach the bottom of the mast to the frame. This is my preferred method of mounting because I find that things survive be er in crashes if they’re allowed to pop off. Alternatively you can use screws to fasten the bo om of the mast to the frame.

Before taping the GPS “puck” to the top of the mast, run the cable to the PMU and make sure that this cable is not pressed against any sharp edges on the frame so it does not get cut.

The arrow on the GPS unit should be pointed at the front of the copter, but its exact direction should be adjusted for magnetic declination (the angle between magnetic north and true north) in your area.

The declination slightly changes with area and time and the compass adjustment is necessary for the aircraft to fly straight. The best website

Clean the mounting surfaces with a small alcohol pad and use the 3M VHB tape to attach the bottom of the mast to the frame.

I found to determine the magnetic declination in your area is ngdc. noaa.gov/geomag-web. This website also has a mobile version that uses your smartphone’s location and displays a picture of a compass adjusted for declination on your phone’s screen. Turn the GPS (clockwise for positive, counter-clockwise for negative) so that the arrow on the GPS points in the same direction as the magnetic north in the picture on your phone. There are four tiny adhesive strips in the box that can be used to mark the true and magnetic north directions on the unit. Check the declination and readjust it if you travel further away from your usual flying area. Slightly adjusting the direction of the module can also help resolve situations in which the copter does not track straight (it turns right or left when moving forward, also known as a “toilet-bowl effect”). In cases when compass calibration and checking the mounting location parameters in the assistant software (both procedures described further) don’t resolve this issue, simply turn the unit (very slightly) in the direction opposite to the direction it’s trying to track in. For proper operation, compass calibration (known

positive or negative; use the diagram in the assistant software as a guide. If your machine is very bo om-heavy, or the flight controller is mounted too far above the CG, you can account for this by adding more distance on the Z-axis; on most copters I found it to be no problem to simply measure the Z-axis from the center of the bo om plate.

Next, open the IMU calibration menu under Tools tab.

This menu helps you calibrate the IMU sensors and the compass. It is advisable to check the mod values and re-calibrate after the initial install, any software upgrades, or any IMU or GPS re-installs (change of location). Hover your mouse over the “question mark bubble” on the IMU calibration screen to

“cool off” may appear. For some reason this message always appears during advanced calibration (up to the 2.20 assistant software), no ma er what the temperature of the unit is. The IMU calibration will still proceed (watch the green progress bar in the assistant) and the message disappears after it.

ENHANCED FAILSAFE AND INTELLIGENT ORIENTATION CONTROL

If you haven’t yet, you may now set-up the failsafe under Advanced-F/S. The failsafe setting decides what the copter does in case the transmi er signal is lost, and the GPS module enables the use of Go-home&Land feature. Please, read the failsafe instructions on the assistant

as “Naza dance”) must to be done every time you adjust the direction the GPS module is pointed in.

SETTING UP YOUR GPS IN THE NAZA-M ASSISTANT

Before se ing up the GPS in the assistant, add all gear on your copter (the camera, ba ery, etc.), and make sure that the aircraft is balanced. Simply lift the copter at the tips of opposing pairs of arms and see if it stays balanced. If it tips to one side, shift the gear (electronics, ba ery) around until it’s balanced. For ideal performance, the Naza-m flight controller unit should be mounted as close to the center of gravity as possible, with the usual mounting location being the middle of the center plate, and the arrow on it pointed at the nose of the copter.

You’ll need to measure and enter the distance from the center of the GPS module to the center of gravity in the assistant software, under the Basic-Mounting tab. Use a ruler to measure the distance along the three axis (the value needs to be entered in centimeters, 1 cm = 0.39 in.), and enter the measured values into the X, Y, Z fields. Be sure to correctly enter whether the value is

Turn the GPS (clockwise for positive, counter-clockwise for negative) so that the arrow on the GPS points in the same direction as the magnetic north in the picture on your phone.

reveal a box that explains what the normal and abnormal mod values are, and when the basic or advanced IMU calibrations should be performed. Keep the unit away from any magnets or large metal objects when performing the calibration. A message informing you that the “MC temperature is too high” and instructing you to let it

screen, and learn how the failsafe operates before you use it.

You can also enable the orientation lock modes under the Advanced/IOC tabs. These are a great help especially in aerial videography. Get yourself familiar with the home/course lock functions by reading the description on the assistant screen, and practice flying in these modes in open areas.

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 57

SAVE MONEY AND MODIFY YOUR OWN WIRING!

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SASI is a stocking supplier for many types of wire & cable and specializes in silicone insulated wire that has extreme flexibility.

This wire is perfect for radio control enthusiasts: • Increase voltage • Modify power sources • Make your own Y harness (see the how to in this issue on page 50).

SASI has a variety of sizes and colors available; cut packages or by the foot.

Call us to find out more

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INSTALL AND SETUP A GPS/COMPASS UNIT FOR A DJI NAZA-M V2 seconds, switch your copter from the GPS to the ATTI mode, land it, and calibrate it.

To perform the compass calibration, bring the copter outside, away from any possible sources of magnetic interference (cars, steel reinforcement, wires above or underground, magnetite), and remove any ferromagnetic materials from your pockets (keys, cellphone).

Measure and enter the distance from the center of the GPS module to the center of Turn the transmi er gravity in the assistant software, under Basic-Mounting tab. and the copter on, and then quickly toggle the flight mode switch 6-10 times between its two end positions (GPS/ Failsafe or GPS/Manual, depending on your se ing). The LED will turn on constant yellow, indicating the calibration mode. Grab the copter by two opposing arms, lift it slightly off the ground (keep it level), and rotate it slowly 360 degrees clockwise until the LED Hover your mouse over the “question mark bubble” on the IMU calibration screen turns constant green (the to reveal a box that explains what the normal and abnormal Mod Values are, and easiest way to do this is to when should the basic or advanced IMU calibrations be performed. walk around in the small circle while holding the machine in the middle, thus the Naza-dance). Set the machine back down (LED still solid green) and lift it again, this time with the nose of the copter pointing straight Grab the copter by two opposing arms, lift it slightly off the ground (keep it level), and rotate it slowly 360 degrees clockwise until the LED turns constant green to the ground. Rotate (the easiest way to do this is to walk around in the small circle while holding the the copter slowly 360 machine in the middle, thus the Naza-dance) degrees clockwise again until the LED turns off, COMPASS CALIBRATION, and you’re done. If the LED keeps blinking AKA THE NAZA-DANCE red, flip the flight mode switch to exit the The basic compass calibration (sometimes called calibration mode and start over. “the Naza-dance”) is an important procedure done outside of the assistant software (and not to THE LAST WORD be confused with the IMU calibration). Perform Take time and care when se ing up your a compass calibration every time you: 1) Fly in GPS/compass and you will be rewarded with a different location, 2) Change or re-position an amazing flying machine with some very any electronic or mechanical components on useful functionality. = the machine, 3) Change the direction the GPS module is pointed in, 4) When the flight direction CONTACT is not straight (shifting to right/left) and 5) When DJI INNOVATIONS empirerc.com the LED module indicates GPS abnormality by EMPIRE RC empirerc.com flashing alternately yellow and red. It is ok for NOTADRONE notadrone.com this code to flash occasionally, but if the unit For more information, please see our source flashes this code continuously or every few guide on page 81.

58 MULTIROTOR PILOT

H

Winter Flying Tips and Tricks

As someone living in the Northeast, I did not want to sit idly through the winter and envy our friends down south their flying-friendly climate, so I figured out a few handy tricks to help me fly in winter. Flying in snow and freezing temperatures presents a few challenges: limited battery life, brittle materials (prop plastic, arms, etc.), and a real difficulty to “keep it smooth” with fingers frozen to the bone.

WINTER-PROOF THE PILOT

Put on some layers and good boots when planning to stay outdoors and fly for prolonged periods of time. There are various transmitter mitts available for you to put over the transmitter and just slip your hands in through the sleeves. Choose one that fits your transmitter and be aware that you may need to slightly modify it if you use a monitor bracket on your transmitter. It is not necessary to use gloves in the mitt; the only setback is that the mitt tends to fog up a bit. I keep a silica gel pack inside to help with that.

To keep your hands protected outside of the mitt, I recommend using thin, touch-screen-friendly gloves (i.e. North Face e-tip). They work on touch screens, which is important if you’re using your smartphone or tablet as a part of your setup, and you can do almost all flyingrelated tasks (changing batteries, small repairs, even flying) without ever having to take them off.

If your hands are still cold, you can stick a couple of self-adhesive warmer pads to the sides of the transmitter, or even place some small warmer pads inside of your gloves.

WINTER-PROOF YOUR MACHINE

Some flight controllers will just simply refuse to take off when the ambient temperature is below their operating range.

The key to keeping the machine warm (inside of a car) until it’s time to fly is to find the sensors/components that are most effected by low temperatures and keep them “warm” by placing a warmer pad

Story and photos by Petr Hejl

over them (loosely, be careful not to obstruct any sensor openings). I do this by inserting a small warmer pad in between the center plates, just over the PMU and the MC. On very cold days, I stick another adhesive warmer pad to the top plate. Put all warmer pads in place before you leave to go flying, so you don’t freeze your fingers trying to set all this up outdoors.

Plastic parts become very brittle in freezing temperatures. Keep that in mind during “spirited flights” that the props are easier to snap. I find softer plastic props to perform better than their carbonreinforced counterparts. The gimbal and camera wires get stiff and can cause image “wobbles” by putting too much pressure on gimbal motors. Wrapping the wires around a screwdriver to shape them like a telephone cord helps with that. Consider wrapping your gear skids with thicker (wider) insulation foam to ease the landings in soft snow; your gimbal and camera will thank you.

WINTER-PROOF THE BATTERIES

The flight time tends to decrease quite a bit in the freezing temperatures. Wrap your batteries before you leave to go flying and try keeping them in a warm place unless they’re on the copter. Stick a body warmer pad (the kind with one slightly self-adhesive side works the best) on the battery, and put it in a bottle koozie with zipper. Leave the battery like that throughout the day, whether in use or transport and you’ll experience no decrease in flight time.

THE LAST WORD

Don’t let the cold weather stop you from enjoying multirotor model flight. These tips will help keep you and your aircraft comfortable and make even the most frigid temperatures tolerable. Most of all, just keep reminding yourself that spring is coming! =

About the Author Petr Hejl uses multirotor aircraft as a way to combine things that he is passionate about into a new way of capturing a moment or telling a story. He uses his multirotor machines to capture amazing aerial video and photos and enjoys flying in many unusual places. Petr is an advocate for commercial and safe use of multirotor aircraft and has been recently highlighted on CNN’s iReport. You can contact him or see some of his work on his website www.NOTaDRONE.com.

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 59

PRODUCT REVIEW

by Joe Papa

DJI A2

Flight Controller

Choosing a flight controller for your multirotor can be an overwhelming decision. Often, many enthusiasts or professionals are left to scour forums with thousands of posts or rely on reviews from hobby retailers. In the past, when the ultimate in reliability and performance was paramount, most considered the DJI Wookong-M as the go-to controller. With stunning flight performance, simple configuration, rock-solid stabilization and incredible reliability, the Wookong-M represented the pinnacle of technology. Although many users, like me, were very satisfied, those using multirotor frames plagued with vibration-related issues pushed the limits of even the mighty Wookong-M. In August 2013, DJI responded by raising the bar with the technological marvel called the A2.

COMPONENTS

When unboxing the A2, the first impression is that the images online simply do it no justice. With all components CNC-milled from billet aluminum, the A2 floods the senses with its jewel-like appearance and stunning craftsmanship. The GPS antenna/ compass now sports “Pro” in the name, and is substantially larger than before. The IMU and PMU have been updated with additional CANbus connection ports, which allow you to connect more accessories than ever. The LED module has Bluetooth functionality for easy configuration changes via smartphone or tablet and a USB port should you need to connect via computer.

Naturally, a GPS mount, a myriad of cables, wires and other items are included for installation in any multirotor.

The A2 is installed on my octocopter.

60 MULTIROTOR PILOT

» NEED TO KNOW MANUFACTURER: DJI Innovations DISTRIBUTOR: Atlanta Hobby TYPE: Multirotor flight controller with GPS FOR: Advanced pilots PRICE: $1399.00

FEATURES

Supports nine types of multirotors and a customized motor mixer

Intelligent orientation control

Point of interest capability

Intelligent landing gear function

Auto return-to-home/one-key go home

One motor fail protection

Futaba S.Bus support

Spektrum satellite support

2-axis and 3-axis gimbal support

DJI Ground Station support

External receiver support

FEATURES

The main controller now includes a builtin Futaba-compatible receiver with S.Bus support, as well as support for external receivers. Spektrum radio fans will appreciate the ability to plug small Spektrum satellite receivers directly into the main controller if desired. The internal receiver does lend to a tidier and cleaner installation, but the biggest advantage to the A2 in this department comes from channel support.

Where the Wookong only gave you a few channels that you could assign to functions, the A2 is 100 percent customizable and sets you free from these limitations. Simply click “unmapped” on any one of the configurable channels and it will let you assign a function to it. Pick a channel on your radio to correspond to that and you’re done. Now pilots can simultaneously control gains, camera functions, gimbal control, retractable landing gear, flight modes, GPS modes, return to home and even actuate relays to turn devices on or off. There is even a feature which will automatically lower your landing gear when you are less than five meters in altitude if you like. With all your favorite features mapped to your radio, you can

break free from the need or concern of having a laptop with you when you fly.

INSTALLATION TIPS

It’s critical to pay close a ention to the A2’s manual, as the CANbus ports on the main controller are optimized for certain components and are not interchangeable. This is especially important when combining the A2 with optional accessories from DJI like on-screen display modules (OSD), Zenmuse camera gimbals or the iPad Ground Station Data Link.

The IMU should be mounted as close to the center of gravity as possible and the GPS antenna, which is more sensitive and capable than ever, must be located as far from the main ba eries, wires or other magnetic fields as possible. With several components and connections to consider, finding a way to mount things neatly without blocking access to CANbus ports or other important connections can be challenging, especially in smaller frames. I recommend securing all wiring with zip ties to the frame if possible and when you’re completely satisfied with your installation, add a touch of hot glue to the CANbus cables where they enter the main controller. Reliability of these connections is critical, and no wire should be able to vibrate or flap around.

When assembling the mount for the GPS, lightly sand the last half inch of the carbon fiber post before using epoxy to improve adhesion.

Ensure your GPS and IMU point forward.

CONFIGURATION AND SETUP

Although the A2 incorporates an internal receiver, I opted to utilize an external Futaba S.Bus 14-channel receiver that was included with the 14SG. The internal receiver on the A2 as of now does not support telemetry, and I prefer to have flight pack voltage displayed on my radio, as well as vibration alerts when my ba ery reaches about 21 volts. Anything to reduce the risk of a crash or pilot error or other event is an added layer of insurance. If you use an on-screen display or Ground Sta-

tion app, you may choose to use the internal receiver, as flight pack voltage is available there as well.

Connection using S.Bus requires only one wire to the A2.

You’ll need a PC or a Mac to download and install the latest A2 Assistant software and driver.

Without props installed, I powered up the A2 and connected to the LED with the included USB cable. I launched the software and proceeded with installation of the latest A2 updates. After the updates, the software will allow you access to its brilliantly clean and intuitive interface.

Your radio and receiver should be on and if the bind process has been completed, you will be able to see indications of stick and switch movements in real time on the screen. Move through each of the tabs and when in doubt, hover over a function with your mouse and helpful hints appear and guide you along. One important step is to set the IMU and GPS position in relation to the center of gravity. I found the entire process of setup on the A2 to be painless and trouble-free. The software is clean, elegant and easy to understand. Operation on either a Mac or PC is a pleasure, and the app for the iPhone connects every time and works flawlessly. I took my octocopter outside, performed a GPS calibration, performed my usual pre-flight checks and eagerly prepared to get this bird in the air.

INTELLIGENT ORIENTATION, COURSE LOCK, HOME LOCK AND POI

Orientation modes are very important to understand and can lead to confusion if not fully familiar with their characteristics and

The A2’s PMU (Power Management Unit).

The new GPS Compass Pro is much larger than the previous model and is much more accurate.

LED light indicators. While seasoned 3D heli pilots rarely see the need for these features, newer pilots will find course lock extremely valuable and simplifies flight significantly.

With a three-position switch of your choice, you will have the option to have this feature Off, in Course Lock or Home Lock. Wookong owners will be pleased to know that the order of these can be changed, and the POI (point of

DJI’s Bluetooth LED unit.

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 61

PRODUCT REVIEW I DJI A2 FLIGHT CONTROLLER

Mapping channels is very easy and robust with the new Assistant software.

interest) feature can be substituted for course lock or home lock functions. The best description of these functions is as follows: Off – Whatever direction the front of the multirotor faces will be the direction it will fly when you move the right stick forward.

Course Lock – When powering up, the A2 will quickly flash green 10 times when it recognizes the direction it is facing. This direction will be the forward direction for the pilot and the multirotor even if you rotate or yaw the copter. It effectively turns the right stick into a joystick, and makes flying easy, fun and safe.

Main setup screen of the A2 Assistant software.

Nine aircraft type are availble.

62 MULTIROTOR PILOT

Home Lock – This is good for ge ing the multirotor home by moving the right stick forward; the copter will come back to the home point from wherever it is. This mode can be confusing at first, as it is disorienting to move the right stick forward and see the multi move in a direction you aren’t expecting. Because of this, options exist to have the copter come back nose in, or tail. I highly recommend disabling home lock until you are totally and completely comfortable with its behavior or have practiced it in a large open space.

PERFORMANCE

With my Carbon Core Octocopter powered up, I waited for the A2 to lock onto satellites. Much to my surprise, it did so in a fraction of the time I was accustomed to, and while the Wookong-M would routinely acquire approximately 7-9 satellites, the A2 was over 12 in under a minute. In a itude mode, I initiated the motors with my transmi er sticks by moving both to the bottom right corners, and then I slowly moved the thro le up to the mid-point. The Octocopter smoothly lifted off without incident and calmly hovered steadily at about 20 feet elevation. I reached up on the 14SG and utilizing the new functionality, was able to adjust my gains with a simple turn of the left and right dials located in the center. Conditions outside were about 30 degrees F with light wind. As I began to fly some basic patterns, an unfamiliar level of smoothness and refinement that I had never before experienced became evident. I switched into GPS hold and gasped in amazement as the A2 appeared to hold the a itude and position with such precision and authority that the sky, clouds and octocopter appeared as though it were a still photograph in front of

me. The octocopter hovered as if suspended from the clouds by a string.

Since the maiden voyage I have logged over 100 flights on two separate A2 controllers. One is mounted on a 1200mm coaxial hex and the other is a 1000mm flat octocopter with a Zenmuse Z15 and Canon 5D Mark III. I’ve flown the A2 in conditions ranging from calm to 30 mph gusts of wind, light snow, heavy fog, and temps as cold as zero degrees. When switching from GPS to A i, the Wookong would always drop about a foot of altitude, even with the V2 IMU. The A2 makes the flight mode change without a single shred of evidence. In high winds the A2 is relentless at maintaining its position, and the POI function is far more accurate at keeping the object centered in the cameras view. Having the functions I need assigned to the switches I want without compro-

The A2 Assistant software lets you enter your offsets for the location of the IMU and GPS units.

mise justifies the upgrade alone. Factor in the countless other improvements, and it becomes startlingly apparent that the A2 isn’t a Wookong in a pre y package, but a serious tool designed to protect your investment, and perform without incident.

THE LAST WORD

If you are a serious enthusiast looking for more functionality, or a professional looking to fly cameras worth more than some homes, the A2 is completely unrivaled, represents the state of the art and is a masterpiece of engineering—the new standard by which all others will be judged. = CONTACTS ATLANTA HOBBY atlantahobby.com DJI INNOVATIONS dji.com For more information, please see our source guide on page 81.

Inside Atlanta Hobby

WITH CLIFF WHITNEY

By The Editors Atlanta Hobby is one of the largest retailers in the United States with a very heavy focus on multirotor aircraft.

We caught up with Cliff Whitney, the owner, to ask him a few questions about his company and his view of the multirotor market.

MULTIROTOR PILOT: How long as Atlanta Hobby been in business?

CLIFF WHITNEY: I started the business in 1978 as Whitney’s Glider Supply in Charlotte, NC. It was a part-time business, as I was working for a small but growing photo specialty company.

From there I moved the company to Chattanooga, TN, and located the shop on a mountain so we could ridge-soar our gliders, our hang gliders and our full-size sailplanes all we wanted.

Fifteen years ago we moved the business to Atlanta and changed the name to AtlantaHobby.com.

MP: You call yourself the “multirotor experts.” How do you support that market?

CW: I love supporting and working in fast-moving markets. I love industries in change and being an electric-based aircraft shop and a full-size airplane and sailplane pilot, who knew photography and video production, I saw the technology that was starting to happen and I invested heavily in the multirotor business. We eat and breathe this stuff and I am blessed to have formed a stellar team of expert associates to support our endeavors.

MP: What are your main product lines in this market?

CW: We are focused on multirotors and are specialists in the photography and video areas (from my photography background).

We also have in development several fixed-wing aircraft that we are deploying in the agricultural markets.

MP: Some of these systems, especially with FPV and the higher-end flight controllers, can have a steep learning curve; do you provide support?

CW: Absolutely, some of the high-end flight control systems can be daunting but this is what sets our company apart. We have a dedicated staff of specialists for each of our product lines. We will take the time to educate our potential clients and listen to their needs so they get the exact systems for their requirements. We also have a dedicated technical support and repair staff and offer full training programs to be sure clients are fully up to speed as they take delivery of their equipment. We answer the phones and will support customers even if the equipment was not purchased from us.

MP: Do you provide turnkey packages for those customers who don’t want to build?

CW: Yes, that is one of our specialties. We have built systems for the military, the forestry service and almost all major motion picture studios, not to mention thousands of production houses and professional photographers. From smaller systems for hobbyists and real estate agents, insurance adjusters and municipalities to larger ones used in programs that I can’t talk about, we will spec, build, program, test-fly and then train the owners until they are fully up to speed.

MP: Can you tell us about any cool nonhobby applications that you have worked with clients on?

CW: We have worked with one of the major technical colleges with scientists who have developed algorithms to take our photography and calculate complex roof lines for roofing companies to use for estimating material usage prior to construction.

We have also worked with a major software company specializing in the CAD space to take our data/photos and use them for building sophisticated 3D models. Imagine a farmer having a big, oddlyshaped pile of dirt and needing to know the total volume so he can take it to market. We can fly over it and photograph it and then feed it into the software and it will render a 3D model of it and from there any calculation is possible.

We also worked with one photographer on a major motion picture who took a unit we built to Chernobyl in Russia. Very cool footage here, I could go on and on as it is the wild, wild west right now.

MP: Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers?

CW: I love introducing kids to this hobby. Five years ago our average customer was 64 years young. In the past couple of years I have seen it drop dramatically into the 20’s and 30’s. This multirotor side of the industry is allowing us to get kids and young adults off the couch, away from the video games and outside to use this cool new technology. The copters are so easy to fly that I will let any 5-7 year old (with proper supervision) fly the DJI Phantom. They get excited and can understand the computer side of things, they know what a GPS is and how to program a flight path. The kids are our future and they get this stuff and it is very cool to see them take hold of it.

This technology has such a positive aspect for kids in science and math not to mention the benefits to industry. The economic impact for our country is so great with these machines; it is an exciting time to be in this business and to be alive!

For more information visit atlantahobby.com MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 63

FIRST LOOK

by Joe Cannavo

A flight controller built for pilots ...by pilots

Âť NEED TO KNOW MANUFACTURER: Eagle Tree Systems TYPE: Flight control system for multirotors and fixed-wing models FOR: Intermediate to advanced pilots MINIMUM FLYING AREA: Baseball field PRICE: $279.99 ITEMS INCLUDED/NEEDED: Includes the base controller unit, the GPS/ Magnetometer and the Current Sensor/PSU. No FPV equipment is included. You must provide your own FPV system to use the OSD features of the controller.

EAGLE TREE SYSTEMS

VECTOR

FPV Controller

64 MULTIROTOR PILOT

KEY FEATURES

As the world of multirotor platforms expands by leaps and bounds, there remain only a few select manufacturers for the flight control units for such aircraft. We all know who the big names are, as well as a few of the lesser known brands, but the fact of the ma er is that there are very few options when considering a control system for a shiny new multirotor. Eagle Tree Systems looks to change that with the release of their Vector flight control system. Not only does this unit give pilots another option for an all-in-one system, but it also adds a ton of key features that other controllers do not include. Perhaps the coolest part about the Vector is that it can be used in fixed-wing aircraft as well as multirotor platforms.

After glancing over the manual for the Vector system, the thing that stood out the most to me was the fact that a PC is not needed for most of the basic programming.

I can easily recall many, many sleepless nights a ributed to the fact that my limited knowledge of PCs and flight control boards had often ended up with a broken keyboard.

For some systems, it’s nearly impossible to even find a decent manual, much less find a source for tech support. Eagle Tree aims to squash the PC-phobia that is all too relevant in the world of multirotor programming with the release of the Vector system. Most basic programming can be performed via the transmi er on the OSD which is a wel-

come feature, not having to lug my laptop to the flying site. The PC interface for the Vector is also easier to navigate than most other software programs designed to assist the user, so the main intent of Eagle Tree for the transmi er program is really to make onthe-fly adjustments to the system while out in the field. Whatever program features that you might need to change on the controller are displayed in plain sight, right on the OSD. No need for a PC and USB cable.

The OSD seems to be the one facet that the folks at Eagle Tree really focused on when developing this new system. While there is no actual FPV system included with the Vector, pre y much any of the widely available transmi er and receiver combos will work.

The idea behind the key features of the OSD and its interaction with the main flight controller are designed to be easily interpreted at a glance, offer quick tuning and allow the pilot a greater measure of control and safety than ever before. Perhaps the coolest feature of the OSD on the Vector is the addition of color displays. One can choose either numeric data info with flashing alarms or graphs with custom color thresholds. One can also set up what Eagle Tree refers to as “swatches,” whereas there will be a visible alarm blinking over whatever bit of info requires the pilot’s a ention. As with all things in life…everything in moderation. This holds true for the OSD info as well; in that there is so much data that can be displayed, it could make your head spin.

OSD (on-screen display) with color graphics that will continue working even if your camera fails Multirotor and fixed-wing capable with GPS and RTH (return to home) functions Very simple to set up and operate with no PC required for most features Included wire harness simplifies the usual mess involved with wiring a multirotor

Fatshark FPV camera and Predator V2 goggles used with the Vector.

The nice part about the data display is that each individual pilot can simplify it to whatever degree they want or crank up the features available if they so choose.

The other features found on the Vector system are those that most of us are accustomed to from our experience with other flight control systems, except that they will be easier to program when using the Vector. Eagle Tree went a long way, taking two years, to develop this system and they kept ease of use at the top of their priority list. We used our Next Level hexcopter as the test machine for the Vector and let’s just say we were very impressed with how easy the machine is to fly and how simple it is to make tuning adjustments on a whim, without the need for a PC. The price is right in line with most popular flight control systems and the Vector packs a ton of features into its programming that other units do not offer. At the time of writing this article, the production units had not been released, but the Vectors should be available by the time you are reading this.

Got a multirotor or FPV fixed wing? Get a Vector…you won’t be sorry. = CONTACTS EAGLE TREE SYSTEMS eagletreesystems.com NEXT LEVEL MULTIROTORS nextlevelmulti-rotors.com For more information, please see our source guide on page 81.

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 65

PILOT REVIEW

by Greg Vogel

Hold steady and look out!

» NEED TO KNOW MANUFACTURER: RC Logger DISTRIBUTOR: RC Logger TYPE: Micro quadcopter FOR: Beginner to advanced multi-rotor pilots MINIMUM FLYING AREA: Indoor small spaces/outdoor in light wind conditions PRICE: $129.99

RC EYE One X RC LOGGER

66 MULTIROTOR PILOT

SPECS FLYING WEIGHT: 5.54 oz. (without battery) DIAMETER: 7.09 in. (without props) HEIGHT: 3.15 in.

PROPELLER/MAIN ROTOR DIAMETER: 5.43 in. (138mm) RADIO: 4-channel 2.4GHz (included) MAIN MOTOR: Micro brushless (4 installed) POWER SYSTEM: Receiver/ESC/mixer/6-axis gyro/accelerometer (installed) BATTERY: 800mAh 2S 7.4V LiPo CHARGER: USB (included) DURATION: 8 minutes NEEDED TO COMPLETE: nothing GEAR INCLUDED: Assembled RC Eye One Xtreme micro-quad, USB charger, 800mAh battery, Mode 1 or Mode 2 transmitter, decal sheet, , “AAA” batteries and warning instruction manual

PROS

Complete ready-to-fly package when purchasing the ready-to-fly model with transmitter, but can be purchased without radio with OneLink for those who want to install their own radio Quality construction with plastic frame and aluminum tubes extending to the motor supports Beginner mode is super easy to use with thumb controls, making first flights an instant success and the flight level can be altered to appease pros Easily upgradable to hold a camera like the popular GoPro or RC Logger Pro cameras

CONS

Xtreme

Found the trims to wander slightly over the period of a flight

My first experience with RC Logger was at the iHobby trade show and although I took a look at the product, I spent more time talking to the crew behind the U.S. arm of the company. The guys were a wealth of knowledge about the products they represented, but more importantly, they were hobbyists and most important of all, they liked having a good time with the product. Their excitement drew me into the RC Logger line and now I’ve moved on from small low-cost quads to the RC Logger Eye One Xtreme that boasts a lot of features for which I was looking in a next level multirotor. The EOX has several flight modes and an altitude hold that will allow me to take beĴer video, since I had also picked up the optional Aerial kit. The cost is right, the ability is there and this machine has great backing…is it your next quad? I’m aiming to see if it fits my multi-rotor needs.

IN THE BOX

This first thing I did was gaze upon the EOX. It looks preĴy simple yet techy for a multi-rotor under one-hundred and fifty beans. Starting at the center, under the black plastic Reese’s Peanut BuĴer Easter egg-shaped cover are two layers of circuit boards liĴered with the latest electronic components that make up the 6-axis gyro, accelerometer, speed controls, 2.4GHz receiver and altitude hold that you don’t need to worry about unless you plan on tweaking the system to accept an aftermarket Onelink or PPM capable radio. If this is the case you’ll notice a few pins that are used to make the radio install possible with some program work. The circuit boards mount to a plastic frame with aluminum tubes extending from the body to the brushless out-runner motors and mounts. Red legs and a number of colored LEDs help identify the quad’s direction.

An 800mAh 2S LiPo baĴery comes with the kit and its single power connector is basically the balance connector as well. To

Author’s Opinion For those of us starting on or going to the next level of multirotors and wanting the ability to strap on a camera to take full advantage of what these machines have to offer, the RC Logger Eye One Xtreme offers plenty of features, quality and performance that will make flight a success all while capturing the action at an affordable price.

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 67

PILOT REVIEW I RC LOGGER RC EYE ONE XTREME

IN THE AIR

The radio on/off button needs to be depressed and two beeps sound to let you know the radio is ready. I then plugged the battery in the EOX and strapped it to the frame. A small LED on top lets you know there is power to the system. With a small nudge on the throttle, the EOX didn’t spool up, so I went to the box and pulled out a manual deemed “Important Information.” Surely this will have a quick start guide. Step one of the guide, download the manual and the rest of the steps go over safety information. The manual is fairly lengthy and did clue me in to how to arm the EOX for flight, but it’s also filled with useful information that will aid in your success in flying the Eye One Xtreme. Then it was back to the conference room in the MultiRotor Pilot magazine offices. A quick down and left on the throttle stick armed the system and the rotors started spinning at a low rpm. Slowly I throttled up and the EOX separated from the ground ever so gently and actually rather quietly. In beginner mode, the controls were extremely numb and I could slam the all the sticks with the exception of the throttle around without fearing disaster. The ease of use in beginner mode really allowed me to get a feel for the EOX and boosted my confidence enough to head outside in sport mode for a more exciting flight.

Before heading out, I stepped up the excitement a little more by adding the Aerial kit and a GoPro Hero3 camera. The kit requires you to swap out props, landing gear and battery for larger units to accommodate for the camera’s weight. Then you snap the camera deck to the frame and stick the camera to it with some Velcro or two-sided tape and in my case I added an additional Velcro strap. With the EOX decked out and ready to be my eye in the sky, I headed outside and noticed the wind had dramatically picked up…figures. Wind was not going to stop me; I throttled up and set off to get some images of the roof of my house. The winter hasn’t been kind in these parts and I wanted to see if I might need to contact a roofer. When I landed after my video shoot, I did find that unplugging the battery is a bit of a pain with the Aerial kit on and you pretty much have to remove the camera deck to access the battery straps in order to tilt the battery out and unplug it. Back inside, I was impressed with the results of my video taking and on a side note, a little depressed about some shingle damage to my roof.

Finally it was time for extra fun and I headed out in advance of a more sporty flight. The EOX is quick to react to stick input, probably a little to quick for my ability right now, but I did manage to pull off a few flips with success, which made me want to spend more time with the Eye One Xtreme to master its potential.

68 MULTIROTOR PILOT

charge the pack, you simply plug it into the included USB-style charge and plug it into a powered USB socket, such as a computer, and let it dangle as it charges at 1000mAh per charging channel. Red LED lights inside the unit let you know the baĴery is charging and when it goes out, that’s your signal to install the baĴery to play.

The radio is a rather simple video gamestyle unit with minimal frills, not even an LED to let you know the radio is on; that’s what a system of beeps is for and since I like things that beep, I’ll get used to no visual indicators. The radio has a plastic feel, but is comfortable and the gimbals are smooth.

Trim buĴons allow you to adjust the model and the mode buĴon lets you troll through the EOX’s ability, from beginner to sport to advanced flight. On top, buĴons let you do flip tricks once your confidence level is ready.

Beyond the box, you’ll need to go online to get the full instruction manual on everything that is inside the EOX as far as features go, and there you’ll also learn how to operate the quad and get into those functions.

In the event you need help, RC Logger is on hand to help determine an answer to whatever issue may pop up.

THE LAST WORD

As primarily a RC surface guy, the rise in multirotor popularity and technology has quickly gained my interest to take to the skies. Most of my experience has been with basic multirotors, but I was looking for more and when I chose to take that next step with RC Loggers Eye One Xtreme, it was the right step in my progression in this segment. The EOX is easy to use out of the box even for the first time flier and its programming allows the flier to grow into the quad and successfully fly it while performing tricks and even carry a camera payload to get extra entertainment from the platform. The quality is all there with the Eye One Xtreme and support from the RC Logger crew has been fantastic.

CONTACTS RC LOGGER rclogger.com For more information, please see our source guide on page 81.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

by Joe Cannavo

SONY

Compact POV Action Cam The new aerial video/FPV camera on the block The world of hand-held, purpose-built POV cameras is ever expanding and while there are a few names that might be hovering around the top of that game, Sony looks to carve a niche out for themselves with their latest release of the Sony Compact POV Action Cam. The pint-sized camera is capable of still shots up to 11.9 megapixels, shooting and storing hours of HD video, comes with a new, fully waterproof case that is actually able to capture audio while submerged and is GPS enabled.

A host of new design features offers up an easier to use and easier to mount photography platform. Toss into the mix the fact that the Action Cam is also capable of Wi-Fi connectivity and it is readily apparent that Sony has just called out all other camera manufacturers to ante up.

The latest edition of the Sony Compact POV Action Cam, the AS30V/B, is a vast improvement over its predecessor, the AS15. While the camera itself hasn’t necessarily received much of an update, the peripheral accessories and compatibility have grown by leaps and bounds. This newest version of the Action Cam features a new chest mount option, a new universal headband mount, a waterproof case that is audio-capable in addition to having external buttons, and it now includes a car charger and is also capable of connecting to a Wi-Fi device to act as a remote screen.

Not only have the camera’s accessories received a make-over, but so too has the software been revised. The editing platform for videos and pictures incorporates a host of new features such as the ability to capture GPS data to overlay location and/ or speed to video. There is also a new split-screen feature that allows the use of multiple

FEATURES SteadyShot image stabilization Built-in Wi-Fi with one touch NFC connection for remote control and viewing via smartphone Built-in GPS plots location and calculates telemetry Six video modes including 1080/60p HD and 4X slow motion Ultra wide 170 degree pro quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens Exmor-R CMOS sensor with enhanced sensitivity for beautiful images Rugged waterproof housing with universal tripod mount Remote control operation with optional Live View Remote High quality 12MP still images in photo mode Built-in stereo mic Memory Stick Micro and Micro SD/SDHC compatible HDMI output for easy file transfer

CONVENIENCE FEATURES Date/time stamp Media/battery indicator (recordable time and remaining capacity) On-screen main indicators: recording mode; image stabilization; GPS tracking status; shooting mode status Auto image management file repair Fast playback (5-10 times) PRICE: $299.99 camera shots to be displayed on one screen for viewing. The massive 170-degree viewing angle of the Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens is sure to be a potent combo with such software abilities.

MULTIROTOR USE

The market for two-axis gimbals for small, POV-type cameras still remains a fairly small market when considering pre-built and wired units. Such units are surely nice additions to any machine that will be enlisted to aerial photography duties, but they can also rarely be obtained for less than a couple hundred dollars.

The two-axis brushless gimbal is a design that was found on thingiverse.com and employs a Martinez board from HobbyKing as well as two inexpensive brushless motors. Most widely available gimbals PHOTOS BY WALTER SIDAS

70 MULTIROTOR PILOT

SPECS CAMERA today feature a mounting plate for more of a square-bodied camera, whereas the Action Cam is a traditional camcorder barrel shape.

The custom-printed, locking jaw for the Sony cam works perfectly as it is fully adjustable for CG weight balance.

We printed the gimbal on a Lulzbot TAZ 3 3D printer. This printer has proven to be invaluable as we continually work on multirotor projects. After we factor in the cost of the motors and the controller board, we are looking at less than $100 for a very precise gimbal that when coupled with the Sony Action Cam, we have been able to get incredible results and extremely stable video. For more information on the gimbal visit multirotorpilotmag.com/sonygimbal.

CAMERA TYPE: POV action cam

IN FLIGHT

HDMI TERMINAL: Yes (HDMI micro)

The Sony Action Cam was strapped firmly into our printed gimbal body and was mounted securely to the bottom of our Gaui 540H hexcopter for testing purposes. Employing a few sections of silicon fuel line in between the gimbal and battery mounting plate allowed for a bit of vibration dampening, while still remaining securely fastened to the frame of the aircraft should any mishaps occur. The 540H might not be an aerobatic machine, but when flown in manual mode, it can get a bit squirrely, almost to the point of horizontal orientation if pushed hard enough in a banked turn. Putting the gimbal and camera through their paces by tossing the aircraft around aggressively was our sole intent. Surely if we couldn’t get the camera or gimbal to waiver, any weekend warrior should be more than satisfied with such a combo, no matter what they might be applying it to.

Through all of our off-kilter maneuvers, the custom-built gimbal held steady, allowing for wobble-free video to be captured. While the ability to capture audio while recording video is not necessarily sought after when concerning their use in multirotors (largely due to the sound of the props), it is important to point out a few features of the new case for the Action Cam. The original AS15 camera included a case that capable of submerging down to a depth of nearly 200 feet! This might be quite a feat, but the reality is that most users will never, ever approach such a depth and the design of such a case made it a little large and bulky when handling. The new case is only rated for depths down to sixteen feet, but it has two notable features. The first is the inclusion of waterproof membranes to allow for audio transfer to the camera while still in the case. Got a hankering to go swim with some dolphins and record their songs? No problem. The other cool new feature of the case for the AS30V is that it now incorporates external buttons, allowing for the use of the actual camera control functions without removing it from the case. Ever want to capture the beauty of the coral reefs on a scuba expedition without removing your precious camera from its safe housing? No problem.

THE LAST WORD

Sony looks to plant themselves firmly on the map of the POV action camera mountain with the release of their latest model, the Compact POV Action Cam AS30V. Really a refined version of the AS15, the new model features a ton of new software upgrades as well as peripheral accessories that not only make the entire system easier to use, but also expand the capabilities of the camera.

Couple the AS30V with a custom-built gimbal and what you’re left with is a potent combo that is just a competent and capable as any other out there for CONTACTS capturing aerial video, while doing it all for hundreds EMPIRE RC empirerc.com of dollars less. If you’re in the market for a new POV LULZBOT lulzbot.com SONY sony.com camera, no matter what type of trails you might be THINGIVERSE thingiverse.com hitting or toys you might be playing with, the new Sony Action Cam is sure to do everything you ask of For more information, please see our source guide on page 81. it and more. =

COLOR: Black SHUTTER SPEED: Auto control range: 1/30 1/10,000 (30fps) MINIMUM ILLUMINATION: 6 lux SCENE MODE(S): Auto/underwater BACKLIGHT COMPENSATION: Auto NOISE REDUCTION: Yes WHITE BALANCE MODE: Auto PROCESSOR: BIONZ image processor PIXEL GROSS: Approx. 16,800K pixels EFFECTIVE PICTURE RESOLUTION: Approx.

11,900K pixels (16:9) IMAGING SENSOR: 1/2.3 in. (7.77mm) backilluminated Exmor R CMOS Sensor MEMORY CARD SLOT: Memory Stick Micro and Micro SD/SDHC/SDXC compatible HD OUTPUT: HDMI Out (micro) (sold separately) USB PORT(s): micro-B/USB2.0 Hi-speed (massstorage) WI-FI: IEEE 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz band) MULTI/MICRO USB TERMINAL: Yes MICROPHONE INPUT: Stereo mini jack LENS TYPE: Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens FOCAL DISTANCE: f=2.5mm, f=1/8inch APERTURE: F2.8 FOCAL LENGTH (35mm equivalent): f=15.3mm, f= 5/8 inch ANGLE OF VIEW: 170 degrees (without SteadyShot), 120 degrees (with SteadyShot) POWER REQUIREMENTS: 3.6V (battery pack) BATTERY TYPE: NP-BX1 CHARGE ON CAMCORDER (Charging time with supplied battery): Approx. 4 hours, 5 min VIDEO SIGNAL: HD: HDTV 1080/60p VIDEO RESOLUTION: PS:1920x1080 60p (PS), 1920x1080 30p (HQ), 1280x720 30p (STD), 1280x720 60p/- (SLOW), 1280x720 120p/(SSLOW), 640x480 30p (VGA) AUDIO FORMAT: MPEG-4 AAC-LC 2ch MOVIE RECORDING RATE (Average Bit Rate/ VBR): HQ: Approx. 16Mbps / SSLOW: Approx.

24Mbps / SLOW: Approx. 12Mbps / STD: Approx.

6Mbps / VGA: Approx. 3Mbps VIDEO FORMAT: MP4: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 STILL IMAGE MODE: JPEG STILL IMAGE MAX EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION: 11.9 megapixels WEIGHT: Approx.90g (with battery) DIMENSIONS: 31/32 in. x 1 7/8 in. x 3 ¼ in.

(24.5 x 47.0 x 82.0mm)

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 71

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

by Joe Cannavo

Rock-steady camera footage

FY-G3 FEIYU TECH

2-AXIS GOPRO 3 GIMBAL

72 MULTIROTOR PILOT

PHOTOS BY WALTER SIDAS

SPECS The DJI Phantom is an incredible quadcopter with a lot of innovative features that make it a perfect machine for capturing video and still photography from the air. It comes with a fixed mount for the GoPro camera and uses rubber dampeners to help stabilize the video. The video quality is good, but as the Phantom is bounced around by wind and operator controls, the video will follow the machine which can make for a dizzying experience, depending on how rough the conditions are. If you are looking for smooth and stable, Hollywoodlike video, then the solution is a brushless gimbal.

The Feiyu Tech FY-G3 is a two-axis gimbal designed specifically for the GoPro Hero 3 video camera. It comes with a built-in controller board that is pre-programmed from the factory. This is a huge plus, as a lot of DIY gimbals and even some other commercially-available units require you to attach them to your computer to set them up, which can be a daunting task, especially for the beginner. One of the reasons you most likely purchased the Phantom in the first place was because it is ready to fly right out of the box, so I think it will be safe to say that you will enjoy the fact that you can simply plug in the Feiyu Tech gimbal and start recording video from your Phantom.

The Feiyu Tech gimbal is constructed of machined-aluminum with a beautiful black powder-coated finish. It uses two very powerful brushless gimbal motors that were specifically made for this device.

The mount includes anti-vibration dampeners which greatly reduce the “jello” effect that many people see using a GoPro on a multirotor aircraft without dampeners. The unit also has a high angle of inclination; 55 degrees on the roll axis and -180 to +60 degrees on the pitch axis.

There is a plug on the board to connect a harness to your Phantom’s controller board so that you can manually control the pitch and roll angles of the gimbal. Adjusting the pitch is the most common.

This is handy when you want to aim the camera downward while in the air. This gimbal even allows you to aim the camera vertically so

you can shoot directly under the Phantom.

INSTALLATION

MANUFACTURER: Feiyu Tech DISTRIBUTOR: GotHeliRC.com APPLICATIONS: DJI Phantom, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopter and car

Installing the Feiyu WEIGHT: 178g Tech gimbal is simple POWER REQUIREMENT: 3S-4S LiPo battery and only takes about INPUT VOLTAGE: 8-18V 15 minutes. It attaches ROLL ANGLE: -55 to +55 degrees to the stock mounting holes under the PITCH ANGLE: -180 to +60 degrees Phantom. The real STABILIZATION ANGLE: 0 degrees (roll) and trouble is getting -90 to +30 degrees (pitch) power to the unit. It PRICE: $174.95 comes with a power harness with two bare wires on the ends. You need to connect them I took the Phantom out to the parking lot to your main battery. to test it and had Walter, our photographer, To make it so we can there to get some flight photos. It was a very remove the gimbal windy, a day which I normally would not opt to fly, especially if I wanted stable video. from the Phantom After arming the Phantom and waiting for the without unsoldering Gimbal to initialize, I brought it into a hover, wires, we installed a flying in manual mode, and positioned it JST wire harness to so Walter could do his thing. Since I was in the gimbal’s power manual mode, I was fighting the wind, which harness and the other was a great way to test the gimbal’s stability. end of the JST harness I flew around for about 10 minutes and since to the Phantom’s main I was not flying FPV, I had to wait until I got battery connectors. back into my office to see how the video Rather than splice turned out.

After downloading the video from the the wires into the memory card, I was amazed at how stable Phantom’s power it was. In the past I made my own brushless harness, I opted to gimbal, which worked very well. However, replace the stock this blew mine away in terms of raw stability.

XT60 connector The only other gimbal that I’ve used before with E-flite’s EC5 was the DJI Zenmuse, which offered very connectors, since this impressive video stability, however it costs is what I use on all of almost $200 more than the Feiyu Tech FY-G3. my batteries. I reamed In comparison, after watching video shot a hole in the bottom from both gimbals with the same camera, I honestly could not tell the difference. of the Phantom’s case to allow the JST connector to pass through. So now the power is applied to the gimbal as soon as I plug the battery into the Phantom.

IN THE AIR

THE LAST WORD

If you are looking for an excellent quality, highly stable video from your GoPro 3 camera on your Phantom, and don’t want to break the bank, I strongly recommend the Feiyu Tech FY-G3 Brushless Gimbal.

Since the mount can be changed on the unit, you can easily adapt this gimbal to other models and even to an RC car for some live on-thetrack action. = CONTACTS DJI INNOVATIONS empirerc.com E-FLITE e-fliterc.com FEIYU TECH gothelirc.com GOPRO gopro.com For more information, please see our source guide on page 81.

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 73

PILOT REVIEW

by Matt Maziarz

High quality, fun to fly FPV hex

HEXTREME

550 FPV

Hexacopter

74 MULTIROTOR PILOT

SPECS

» NEED TO KNOW MANUFACTURER: Hobby Express TYPE: Hexacopter

FLYING WEIGHT: 3.8 lbs.

FRAME SIZE: 550mm PROPELLERS: Three 8x5 CW, Three 8x5 CCW RADIO: Flown with Hitec Aurora 9x transmitter and a Hitec Maxima 9-channel receiver POWER SYSTEM: (6) eRC brushless 480 motors, (6) eRC 25 amp ESCs FLIGHT CONTROLLER: DJI Naza-M V2 with GPS (not included) GIMBAL: Tarot 2-axis T2-D Brushless (not included) CAMERA: GoPro Hero3 Black (not included) BATTERY: MaxAmps 4S 14.8V 5450mAh 120C LiPo (not included)

FOR: Intermediate to advanced pilots MINIMUM FLYING AREA: Club field PRICE: $830.00 (Kit with ESCs and motors) NEEDED TO COMPLETE: Minimum sixchannel transmitter and receiver, multirotor control board, propellers, three to four-cell LiPo battery and compatible charger. Extra receiver channels can be used for remote access to gain adjustment and gimbal control.

PROS

Pre-soldered distribution board and ESCs means no fiddling with a hot iron for this build

Rigid alloy arms offer ample support for hauling heavier camera rigs in addition to looking sharp

Super-tall landing gear (legs) allow the user to mount any one of the variety of gimbals and cameras on the market today

CONS Author’s Opinion Upon opening the box for the Hextreme 550 Hex, I was surprised at just how much they were able to cram into such a small package. The idea of a pre-soldered frame, which doubles as a distribution board, as well as the motor leads pre-installed on the arms are sure to save some build time. The kit even comes with LEDs that are pre-soldered and while there are no printed or online manuals to speak of, Hobby Express does feature a how-to build video on the website. I was able to assemble the frame within one short evening and had the electronics installed in another night, eagerly anticipating some warmer weather so I could get the Hextreme 550 up in the air.

Battery box only fits certain height batteries on our test machine, but Hobby Express has already addressed the issue with a larger box on all machines to follow.

No printed or online manual

When Hobby Express decided that they wanted to get into the hexcopter game, they opted to design their own machine rather than distributing those of other manufacturers.

Countless hours of research and testing yielded the Hextreme 550, a purpose-built aerial photography platform. Powered by the company’s own brand of eRC motors and ESCs, the 550 has ample giddee-up while remaining quite stable in any orientation. From the factory, the machine comes with a pre-soldered motor and ESC leads so assembly is a breeze. The unit even includes an FPV camera mount as well as those necessary for the video transmiĴer.

While there are many flight control systems on the market, it is most apparent that the 500 was designed with the DJI Naza-M system in mind as evidenced by the compass mast mounting plate that sits aft of the main frame. The folks at Hobby Express most definitely did their homework while designing the Hextreme 550 and they spared no expense in its construction.

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 75

PILOT REVIEW I HEXTREME 550 FPV HEXACOPTER

The main goal of this platform was to offer aspiring aerial photographers the opportunity to have another option when considering the purchase of a 500-class multirotor for camera mounting. There are literally dozens of options for hexacopters, but the standout difference between the Hextreme 550 and all the rest is in the power. The eRC 480 motors joined to the eRC 25amp ESCs give this hex a power-toweight ratio that is sure to be tops in the game. This setup, coupled with a carefully programmed Naza-M V2, renders a rocksolid platform in the stability department while also offering up vertical climbing power to spare as well as an agility factor that most large multirotors are often lacking. The 8x5 props that are recommended for completion might seem small, but the 1000Kv motors really give the 550 a great deal of power, opening up the envelope of its flight characteristics and subsequently, its ability to capture great video.

IN THE AIR As I tend to do with most multirotor machines, upon arming the motors, I punched the throttle and let the Naza-M V2 do the rest. The Hextreme 550 took off like a rocket and at about twenty feet, I eased back allowing it to settle into a stable hover. To confirm that I had performed the “Naza dance” compass calibration procedure correctly, I took my hands off of both sticks. Even with some moderate winds buffeting the machine, it stayed right where I put it in the sky. Bear in mind that this was done while in GPS flight mode as the compass has no real effect in manual or attitude mode.

Once I was sure that the GPS mode was behaving as expected, I began some slow circuits around my local flying field at RC Hobbies and More in Winsted, CT. At close range, it was easy to gain orientation of the 550, but I had yet to really open it up. Once satisfied that all control systems were working properly, I launched the hex another hundred feet or so to attempt some high speed runs. Again, the vertical prowess of this aircraft is amazing, especially considering the smallish 8x5 props being used for our test flights.

At such an altitude, I was ready and willing to give it some full cyclic commands to see what this machine was capable of.

Initial rollout was awesome as the 550 lurched in whichever direction I chose to point it and while I did have the gains set at a good deal above the default values (something my 3D thumbs were begging for), the machine remained perfectly stable through all of my abuse.

It was a bit harder to gain the orientation of the craft while at such speeds and altitude, but with a thousand feet of wide open space in just about every direction, I was not worried about any mishaps; especially given the fact that the Naza V2 had my back. Future flights will probably feature our machine outfitted with some sort of fins on the aft landing legs to make figuring out orientation a little easier.

The MaxAmps 5450mAh battery provided us with just about 10 minutes of flight time, but I had the cutoff values set fairly high as we were dealing with some abnormally cold temperatures on the day of our testing. I’m sure we could have safely squeezed out a few more minutes with this pack, but there is plenty of lateral room within the battery box to fit another pack in there, wiring it with a parallel connector. MaxAmps also offers custom packs built exclusively for multirotors, featuring huge capacities while remaining short in stature. As was aforementioned, the kit that we received for review was still using the shorter battery box configuration. All newer kits will have an expanded box allowing for bigger batteries.

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The build process, while not difficult, does require a bit of patience as the only instructions are the videos that Hobby Express provides on their website. Said videos are perfectly efficient for completing the build, but for an old-fashioned guy like me, a paper printed version would have been nice. For those that are experienced in the facet of building, programming and flying multirotors, the assembly videos may not even be necessary, but it is always nice to have some sort of reference if the need might present itself. The online videos do not make any mention of cleaning up the frame pieces to avoid any wires shorting out. I feel it is important to note that I did spend a good

market for something to hang a camera off of while still having power to spare, the Hextreme 550 Hex might very well be the best fit for you. The eRC motors and ESCs really push this machine faster and farther than most other comparable platforms available. The alloy and fiberglass construction looks great and provides a rigid platform to mount all the necessary components as well as a few peripherals.

The front of the 550, when flown in “V” configuration, offers a narrow window of unobstructed view for a gimbal mounted camera, but the FPV mounting plate is up

The lower plate of the main frame also doubles as a distribution board, featuring pre-soldered ESCs from the factory, thus expediting the build process. The vast array of wiring is all tucked neatly and out of sight above the battery box once it is mounted.

We Used TRANSMITTER Hitec Aurora 9x (192258)

The Tarot T-2D two-axis brushless gimbal holds the GoPro Hero3 camera in perfect balance, ensuring that any captured shots or video will be jello and wobble-free.

RECEIVER Hitec Maxima 9 Channel (27525)

deal of time rounding certain edges down while covering others with medium-sized nitro fuel line. The one nice aspect of the double deck frame design is that it makes hiding messy bundles of wire very easy.

ASSEMBLY TIPS

• The sandwich style frame means that many of the wires involved with the electronics will be passing between different layers. It is a good idea to smooth out the edges of each opening that will house any wiring. Be sure to always wear a mask when sanding fiberglass or carbon fiber.

• For FPV, the build videos are spot on, but for a gimbal-mounted recording device, a few minor adjustments must be made in order to fly the 550 in “I” formation to keep the legs of the landing gear out of frame.

• Bundle and restrain the wiring for the power cables and ESCs prior to a empting to install the ba ery box. Having the wires out of the way expedites the build process greatly.

• When a aching the ba ery box to the main frame, install all of the retaining nuts on the screws using only your fingers in order to keep the long screws from falling out. Remove each nut one at a time and tighten loosely onto the frame until all nuts are in place.

THE LAST WORD

The vast array of 500mm-class multirotors on the market today allows the buyer many options to choose from, but if you’re in the

The upper deck of the main frame has ample room for mounting whatever electronics you might choose to finish off the hex build. Notice the compass mast is mounted off of the main frame should you choose to use the included acrylic dome canopy.

off of the frame offering full view. If a gimbal is to be mounted, the 550 should most likely be set up in “I” configuration, requiring a li le bit of switching some arms and motors around, but is easily accomplished. If you might be in the market for an aerial camera rig that has power to spare, the Hextreme 550 Hex might be just what the doctor ordered. = CONTACTS

FLIGHT CONTROLLER DJI Naza-M V2

GIMBAL Tarot T-2D (TL68A08)

CAMERA GoPro Hero3 Black edition (CHDHX-302)

DJI INNOVATIONS empirerc.com GEMFAN gemfanhobby.com GO PRO gopro.com HITEC hitecrcd.com HOBBY EXPRESS hobbyexpress.com

BATTERY

MAXAMPS maxamps.com

MaxAmps 5450mAh 14.8v 120C 4S LiPo

TAROT tarot-rc-heli.com For more information, please see our source guide on page 81.

PROPELLERS Gemfan Carbon 8x5 CW, 8x5 CCW

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 77

www.multirotorpilotmag.com

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

by Erick Royer

GO PROFESSIONAL CUSTOM XTREME CASES

DJI Phantom FC40

Do you love the new DJI Phantom FC40 or Phantom 2 Vision? We certainly do! So it was only natural that we wanted to give it the best “home” we can when transporting it from place to place and storing it when not in use. Enter the Phantom P2 case from Go Professional Xtreme Cases. Don’t glance over the “Xtreme” in the company’s name, because this case is most definitely extreme; both in design, durability and functionality.

When you transport your Phantom, you have to bring the copter, charger, transmitter, batteries, tools and spare parts. It is a lot to tote around. The Phantom case is completely and precisely water jet-cut to exacting tolerances so you can ensure the FC40 or Vision fits perfectly with no movement. The foam also has compartments for optional FPV goggles, a charger, six LiPo batteries, the Phantom’s transmitter, four spare props and four “AA” batteries as well as those for miscellaneous cables and tools. The custom foam is housed in a SKB case which is used by military and industrial leaders to meet exacting military standards.

The case itself measures 20.25 x 16.93 x 8.78 inches and weighs in at 13.15 pounds empty. Once your Phantom is safely nestled inside the case, nothing shy of a bulldozer running over it is going to affect your machine. Another nice feature of the case is that it meets all ATA carry-on requirements, so you can easily travel on airlines with your DJI Phantom. Of course if you have to check it with your luggage, you can rest easy knowing that it will be protected from the common abuse that luggage takes from airlines and airports.

The Phantom FC40/Vision case, like all of those made by Go Professional Cases, is made in the U.S.A. and comes with a lifetime warranty. Price–$198.00 = CONTACTS GO PROFESSIONAL CUSTOM XTREME CASES goprocases.com For more information, please see our source guide on page 81.

PHOTOS BY WALTER SIDAS

MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 79

Multirotors for Precision Agriculture

by Gene Payson

operator must practice for several hours before attempting to use the aircraft commercially. It is important to operate safely to protect your investment and avoid injury to yourself and others.

Dozens of companies offer unmanned aircraft available for precision agriculture. The prices range dramatically, so shopping around is helpful. Multirotors have many other uses in smaller areas so having a platform that is flexible may be beneficial to you. Search-and-

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARCHAERIAL (VIA THE WEB)

M

ultirotors are excellent aircraft for small farm areas up to a few hundred acres per crop. They are easy to use and provide excellent aerial information. Since they can fly autonomously, they do not require a lot of operator skill. The information which comes from aerial imagery is extremely helpful in many circumstances. Simply seeing all the same type of crop at one time in one image from the sky using a standard daylight camera can be very revealing.

The information gathered helps the farmer determine how best to run their business. Aerial imagery helps determine which areas of a farm are the most and the least productive for a particular crop. If a particular area grows certain crops poorly, then a business decision must be made as to how to improve that area through the use of pesticides, fertilizer, water, etc. If the remedy is cost justified then it should be performed. If the remedy cannot be cost justified, then other actions can be taken, such as crop rotation or not planting the area in the future.

Multirotors typically have short flight times of 10-40 minutes, which is less than fixed wing aircraft, so they are good solutions for smaller areas. Larger copters can lift a camera(s) more easily than a smaller copter, so larger copters offer better flight times.

A typical camera system is a NIR (near infrared) camera and a daylight camera. Some operate both cameras simultaneously to reduce the flights required. Maxmax upgrades many off-theshelf cameras to operate in the NIR spectrum.

Maxmax also offers software to stitch the photos together and to evaluate the crops. Tetracam offers high-end cameras and software as well.

The NIR camera is most important because healthy plants reflect more NIR than unhealthy PHOTO COURTESY OF AERIAL PRECISION AG (VIA THE WEB) plants. The difference is observed through NIR way before the naked eye can see a difference visually. The advantage of using the NIR image is to determine problems early so that corrective action can be taken before any permanent damage is done. NDVI is the index used to determine the health of a plant. I encourage you to read up on NVDI if you are unfamiliar with it.

Even daylight camera images are quite useful. From the air, it is very easy to see an area where the plants are not as large and vigorous as other areas. From the ground, it can be much more difficult to determine areas of less healthy plants.

It is imperative that the multirotor operator be trained, though training of completely inexperienced people takes only a few hours. An

rescue, situational awareness, surveys, accident investigation, radiation detection, noxious gas detection, security and other uses require different sensors. Some of these sensors are larger and heavier than others, which is another reason to obtain the largest aircraft that your budget will allow.

There are no laws which govern the use of drones at the moment. The FAA is writing laws now. Until the laws are written, the FAA requests that people not use drones for commercial purposes. Rules should be available by the end of 2015. We expect that the rules will be more lenient on small copters. =

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Gene Payson is the Director of Flight Training at the Unmanned Vehicle University. He specializes in handson pilot training courses which are performed on a variety of fixed wing and multirotor aircraft. He also assists students in obtaining employment in the UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) field through contacts made on UAVcomparisons.com, UAV recruiters and LinkedIn. Gene is also involved in non-military/commercial applications but will occasionally fly for the Air Force as an outside contractor.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC NEWS

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Multirotor Source Guide Please check with your local hobby store to find products reviewed in Multirotor Pilot Magazine. Additional sources are listed below.

3D Robotics 7170 Convoy Ct. San Diego, CA 92111 Phone: (858) 225-1414 Fax: (858) 605-4541 www.3drobotics.com

FeiYu Tech www.feiyu-tech.com Email: sales@feiyu-tech.com

Atlanta Hobby Phone: (678) 513-4450 www.atlantahobby.com

Futaba Distributed exclusively

by Hobbico P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61826 www.futaba-rc.com Phone: (217) 398-3630 Available at your local hobby store, or online at www. towerhobbies.com

Blade Distributed by Horizon Hobby 4105 Fieldstone Road Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: (800) 338-4639 www.bladehelis.com DJI Phone: (818) 235-0789 www.dji.com Email: us.sales@dji.com E-flite Distributed exclusively by Horizon Hobby Distributors 4105 Fieldstone Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 Toll Free: (800) 338-4639 www.e-fliterc.com www.horizonhobby.com Eagle Tree Systems 4957 Lakemont Blvd SE Suite C-4 PMB 235 Bellevue, WA 98006 To Order: (888) 432-4744 Information: (425) 614-0450 Fax: (425) 484-4131 www.eagletreesystems.com Empire RC 950 E Baseline Ave, Unit 210 Apache Junction, AZ 85119 Phone: (480) 982-0909 www.empirerc.com Email: info@empirerc.com Estes Phone: (719) 372-6565 www.estesrockets.com Fat Shark RC Vision Systems Distributed by Ready Made RC 7719 Graphics Way, Ste F Lewis Center, OH 43035 www.fatshark.com www.readymaderc.com

Flite Test www.flitetest.com

Gaui Distributed by Empire Hobby P.O. Box 50551 Mesa, AZ 85208 Phone: (480) 982-0909 Fax: (480) 456-1113 www.empirerc.com Email: info@empirerc.com Gemfan www.gemfanhobby.com Email: sales1@ gemfanhobby.com Go Pro Phone: (888) 600-4659 www.gopro.com Go Professional Cases Inc. 7888-B Ostrow Street San Diego, CA 92111 Phone: (855) 223-2932 www.goprocases.com Email: info@goprocases.com Hitec RCD USA 12115 Paine Street Poway, CA 92064 Phone: (858) 748-6948 Fax: (858) 748-1767 www.hitecrcd.com Email: service@hitecrcd.com Hobbico P.O. Box 9021 Champaign, IL 61826 Phone: (217) 398-3630 www.hobbico.com Available at your local hobby store, or online at www. towerhobbies.com

Hobby Express 5614 Franklin Pike Circle Brentwood TN 37027 Phone: (866) 512-1444 www.hobbyexpress.com HobbyKing www.hobbyking.com Horizon Hobby 4105 Fieldstone Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: (800) 338-4639 www.horizonhobby.com Immersion RC www.immersionrc.com Email: info@immersionrc.com Leapfrog www.lpfrg.com Lulzbot Phone: (970) 377-1111 www.lulzbot.com Email: info@lulzbot.com Lynxmotion, Inc. Phone: (866) 627-3178 Fax: (450) 420-1447 www.lynxmotion.com Email: support@lynxmotion.com MaxAmps.com 1015 W Garland Ave Spokane, WA 99205 Toll Free: (888) 654-4450 www.maxamps.com Email: max-info@maxamps.com Next Level Multirotors Innov8tive Designs, Inc. 1495 Poinsettia Avenue, Suite 144 Vista, CA 92081 Phone: (760) 468-8838 Fax: (760) 305-7749 www.nextlevelmulti-rotors.com

RC Logger www.rclogger.com Email: contact@rclogger.com RobotShop Phone: (866) 627-3178 Fax: (450) 420-1447 www.robotshop.com Sony Phone: (212) 833-6849 www.sony.com Spektrum Distributed by Horizon Hobby 4105 Fieldstone Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 Toll Free: (800) 338-4639 www.spektrumrc.com www.horizonhobby.com Tarot Baili Road East Modou Xiaoqv 11-1101 32500 Wenzhou City Zhejian China www.tarot-rc-heli.com Email: zhangdanchen@ hotmail.com Thingiverse www.thingiverse.com Thunder Power RC 4720 W. University Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89103 Phone: (702) 228-8883 Fax: (702) 228-8885 www.thunderpowerrc.com Email: info@thunder powerrc.com Ultimaker www.ultimaker.com Email: info@ultimaker.com

Performance Hobbies 15 W. Main St. Webster, NY 14580 Phone: (585) 872-4990 www.performancehobbies.com

MULTIROTOR ADVERTISER INDEX Academy of Model Aeronautics ............................................ 44-45 Altitude Hobbies ......................................................................... 78 Atlanta Hobby.............................................................................. 78 Blade .......................................................................................... 4-5 Castle Creations, Inc. .................................................................. 35 Eagle Tree Systems..................................................................... 19 Empire Hobby ............................................................................... 9 Futaba .......................................................................................CV2 Go Professional Cases ................................................................ 11 Heli-Max ........................................................................................ 3 Hitec RCD USA, Inc. .................................................................... 39

Hobby Express ............................................................................ 15 HobbyKing .................................................................................CV3 Max Amps ................................................................................... 33 RC Logger ................................................................................... 51 RobotShop Inc............................................................................. 25 Spektrum ...................................................................................CV4 Summit Aerospace Supply, Inc. .................................................. 58 Twisted Hobbys........................................................................... 69 Walkera........................................................................................ 69 Windsor Propeller........................................................................ 69 XHELI ............................................................................................. 7 MULTIROTOR PILOT VOLUME ONE 81

RETURN TO HOME

by Matt Maziarz Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of sitting in traffic has surely dreamt of the day when the daily commute would be greatly expedited by the advent of flying cars.

Such daydreams may also be born from one’s affinity for old Jetson’s episodes.

The engineers at E-Volo are looking to make that dream a reality with their invention, the VC200, or volocopter.

They describe their aircraft as CEO and chief designer, Alexander Zosel (right) stands proudly with drive development engineer, Thomas Senkel (left) within the framework of their ground breaking invention. Not pictured is the third wizard behind the idea of the VC200, software engineer, Stephan Wolf. a revolution in aviation as it is a personal helicopter that is easy to fly and produces but that is exactly the point in this instance. The employees zero emissions; not to mention the fact that it negates any of E-Volo placed pilot safety as their top priority. Bearing this observance of the obligatory stop sign or red light! in mind, by using 18 rotors, the aircraft is more than capable The main design of the VC200 was introduced in 2011 of remaining in flight or at the very least, landing safely, with the concept machine named the VC1. This machine should any one, two or even three of the drive motors fail. The featured a 16-rotor platform mounted on four arms that had prospective pilot is also greatly aided by the VC200’s on board an overall diameter of 17 feet from one opposing prop to avionics system. Generally speaking, the machine is capable the other. The entirely electric design garnered a Lindberg of semi-autonomous flight by programming GPS waypoints Prize in 2012, awarded for innovation and to promote into the computer. It also allows the pilot to control the craft meaningful advancements in green aviation. At this point, the with little other than a joystick. There are no foot levers for engineers and designers set themselves some goals in as far pitch or yaw; everything involving course direction is all as producing a machine that practically anyone could fly, that generated by the slowing down or speeding up of the correct produced zero emissions and provided a safe environment for motor or motors on the multirotor. the two people in the cockpit.

So let us recap. The VC200 is entirely electric, producing The concept of the early VC1 evolved into an 18-rotor zero emissions. It is easy to fly and places pilot/passenger beast that is largely constructed of alloys and carbon fiber. safety above all else. It aims to revolutionize the way that we Constructed by DG Flugzeugbau (DG aircraft construction) travel, at least for short distances anyway, though I am sure at their factory in Bruchsal, Germany, the VC200 is capable that someone locked of sustained in a lab somewhere speeds of up to is coming up with a 100 kilometers long range version of per hour, a a similar machine. My flight ceiling only question for the of more than ingenious engineers one mile, a and designers at E-Volo maximum is exactly when can we take-off expect to be receiving our weight of 450 own VC200 for review at kilograms and the magazine? = a maximum flight time of one hour. The idea of having An early test shot of the first flight using a remote control so many rotors to fly the machine results in for one aircraft celebratory cheers from the might seem designers and their staff. redundant,

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