RCCanada - Canada Radio Controlled Hobby Forum

General RC Heli Discussion Discuss general topics on rotary wing aircraft, including construction, Servo's, Gryo's and Stabilizer discussions.

Thread: Newbie interested in quadcopter AP -am I crazy? Reply to Thread

Title:

Message:

Additional Options
Miscellaneous Options Automatically parse links in text Automatically embed media (requires automatic parsing of links in text to be on).

Topic Review (Newest First)

11-02-2012 02:56 PM

Graydon

Re: Newbie interested in quadcopter AP -am I crazy?

Sure would like to get my hands on a state-of-the art WooKong M c/w GPS but haven't been able to yet due to some USA reseller bottlenecks and firmware/hardware setbacks etc. Where did you buy yours and when? I'm apparently stuck on the fringe, i.e., Canada where commercial grade MulitKopters remain a rarity.

11-02-2012 02:49 PM

Graydon

Re: Newbie interested in quadcopter AP -am I crazy?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DK77

Hello everyone!

I'm an amateur photographer and I had this crazy idea to use an RC aircraft for AP on my next trip to Iceland, to get fresh perspectives of some of the more famous landmarks.

The thing is, I have no experience flying RC aircraft and I don't have a big budget. So I'm probably crazy to consider this.

Nonetheless, here are my questions for the fine folks in the forum:

Is it possible to buy a RTF quadcopter like the Gaui 330x, complete with everything I need to get off the ground, for under $500, and hook up a lightweight camera to the bottom of it (less than 200-300g)?

As a beginner, is this kind of quadcopter easy to learn with?

Is it feasible that I could learn decent control of it within a few hours of practice, or would it be weeks or months of training before I might feel comfortable flying it around rocks and over cliffs and other tricky situations? I realize everyone learns at a different pace, but I'm just looking for a general idea of how hard these things are to fly.

Normally I would spend hours and hours of research before even asking questions on a forum, but in this case I thought it would be wise to find out right away if this is too crazy an idea to pursue.

Thanks!

Be careful... the Multicopter world is still a hobby but tries to promote itself into commercially viable businesses...... with too much hype and not enough substance you can get stuck with a several hundred dollars of "capital investment" with little or no return on investment. Case in point is the severe bottleneck on DJI -Innovations products especially the WooKong-M systems which has had it fair share of setbacks with hardware and firmware issues requriring returns to the Asian factory. Here in Canada we have to patiently wait for weeks and months for USA suppliers to release Asian shipments into Canada......it is a stinking nightmare...... just avoid it for now!!!!

Give it another year or two and avoid the Bleeding Edge of Technology"!!!!

03-03-2012 10:58 PM

gi1mo2

Re: Newbie interested in quadcopter AP -am I crazy?

If you click on my nickname on the left, you can select to send me a private message. Portably too late to reach, but we have a general meeting at 9am this Sunday at the Gatineau Executive airport.

Gilles

03-03-2012 08:13 PM

DK77

Re: Newbie interested in quadcopter AP -am I crazy?

gi1mo2, apologies for the delay in my response!

Thanks for sharing those videos, it's nice to know there are RC clubs around here, and people like you using copters for AP.

I may be looking in the wrong place, or perhaps it's a limitation of my status as a new poster, but I can't find a personal messaging system on the forums here?

02-20-2012 09:01 PM

gi1mo2

Re: Newbie interested in quadcopter AP -am I crazy?

Having flown a Gaui 330X for one season now with camera, I can say that it can be fairly stable, but I also have to say that you must have flown on a simulator or other helicopters (not planes) before you can safely take it up and land it.

I live in Gatineau. You can send me a PM and we can exchange contact information and have a chat. I have posted a video our flying field which was taken with my Gaui 330X and a GoPro Hero (I built a tray to move the camera forward so as not to capture the landing legs or propellers).

+ YouTube Video

I have just finished building a Gaui 500 which will be more stable and will be able to carry a heavier camera. I have a Gaui GU-INS unit on it (GPS).

+ YouTube Video

I have created a new JAG club internet site (in French).

Gilles

02-20-2012 02:28 PM

DK77

Re: Newbie interested in quadcopter AP -am I crazy?

That's very good to hear....

I tried the FMS sim yesterday, with a Logitech gamepad, and...wow, it's tricky (keeping in mind I've never flown an aircraft in this fashion before). But I started to get the hang of it. I don't know how realistic this sim is, but I'm hoping the particular model of quad was more difficult than in real life. Nonetheless, it makes me seriously question some of the places I was hoping to shoot in Iceland - cliffs and waterfalls in a notoriously windy environment. If I could find an experienced pilot living there...

At what point does wind become a big problem? Can you fly in a slight breeze, or do you need absolute calm to be safe?

I'm intrigued by flight controllers. I don't understand exactly how they work, but I'm assuming some are smarter than others, can self-stabilize and even fly on autopilot. Maybe this Naza you speak of will be easy enough for me to start with...

Thanks for the help, guys! I've always wanted to fly model planes, but till now it's been impracticable. Whether I buy something now or in the next couple of years, AP might be the excuse that finally gets me an aircraft.

02-20-2012 02:08 PM

Shaunrbell

Re: Newbie interested in quadcopter AP -am I crazy?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DK77

Thanks for the suggestion, Buffy, I like your setup and I'll keep those in mind if I decide to buy one.

Wow, those simulators are expensive, serious software. I think I'll start with FMS to get my feet wet, especially since I'll need to buy a radio before even using a sim like Phoenix. But it's a great way to learn!

If you go with the Naza, you can save your money and forget the sim. I use a DJI Wookong M, but it's pretty much the same except for GPS and IOC functions. I can put the transmitter down and take a coffee break it's so stable lol! It's actually easier to fly than the sims.

02-19-2012 12:34 PM

DK77

Re: Newbie interested in quadcopter AP -am I crazy?

Thanks for the suggestion, Buffy, I like your setup and I'll keep those in mind if I decide to buy one.

02-19-2012 09:56 AM

buffythesaint

Re: Newbie interested in quadcopter AP -am I crazy?

I would go for the DJI Naza flight controller, $220US. It has atltitude hold and can control a camera gimbles roll and pitch. A big purchase is the radio also. This is usually a one time buy so get one that will adapt to new projects, 7+ channels. Here is my naza quad using a gopro with pitch stabilization.

02-19-2012 12:32 AM

jackheli

Re: Newbie interested in quadcopter AP -am I crazy?

Yes, you can travel with lipos in an airplane as long as they are on your carry on.

DK77: I use my quads for FPV which is almost the same. My suggestion is that you pick a good simulator that has a quad on their roster (like the Phoenix) and practice there.

After mastering that, if you still feel interested, come back and we will point you in the right direction into purchasing a real one.

This thread has more than 10 replies. Click here to review the whole thread.

Posting Rules
You may post new threads You may post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts BB code is On Smilies are On [IMG] code is On HTML code is Off Forum Rules

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:43 PM.