[Recursion]

No important changes, but I went FPV flying tonight on 4S again. Quickly edited together some of the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGBmLGGfKkE

Starting to get the hang of it. The video signal could use some improvement I think so I need to start measuring the Chinese antennas I have to see how well they are tuned.

[Recursion]

Finally got an opportunity to fly with some awesome guys today (I'm upper right). I've confirmed my cheap Chinese antennas are completely crap (untuned) and perform like there is no antenna. So I'll order a decent set, while I'll see if I can desolder and resize the cheapos ones to retune and salvage them (since I really want backups). Stock performed a hell of a lot better, so you're better off keeping stock.

[Recursion]

Not a lot of changes. Added an aprox 35 degree angle to both cameras. Probably need a bit more eventually but this is okay for now.




Edit: A video of some dive practice I was doing today. The ending is the best :P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA5a-SsYhOc

[Recursion]

So I've now successfully tested what happens when the quad is smashed into a concrete curb head on at about 80kmph. The 'bang' was spectacular. Unfortunately the SD Card was ejected from the back of the camera (which along with the battery was shot about 20m forward) so there is no footage available.



The full damage consisted on a delaminated front section of the frame, a busted motor (warped the bell), broken nylon posts (the flight controller ripped them while flying forward), a broken Mobius camera (the USB port was crushed), and what I'm going to attribute a broken FPV CCD camera (it technically died when I tested the rebuild tonight, but I suspect it was due to previous damage). I'm not pleased I don't have a video of the crash, but I've been waiting wondering when I'd get the opportunity to do some rebuild improvements.

My goal is that every time I need to rebuild a quad (or significantly repair it), I want to make at least one improvement in the process.

1. I replaced the bottom plates (this wasn't really required, but I'm planning on cutting the front/back of the plates off of one of these frames for a future LOS acro quad anyway.
2. I extended the LED system to have LEDs in the front of the frame to assist with orientation and potentially night flying.
3. I removed the USB connector and hard wired the USB power to the board inside of the camera, fixing the camera. This actually removes about 1g of weight as well, so bonus I guess.
4. Replaced the broken CCD camera with a 500TVL CMOS Camera I had as a backup. I have another CCD camera almost here for a future build, so I'll get this replaced shortly.
5. Cleaned up the wiring a bit more securing it everything better internally.
6. New antennas.
7. New PID controller (Okay this had little to do with the rebuild, but I've been meaning to try Luxfloat after they recently fixed some bugs with it).

Here is the camera image I made for future reference:



Final rebuild:



I re-maidened it tonight but I didn't get footage because the mobius was still broken at the time. It was extremely windy and the performance was steller (increased rates for double the speed for flips as well). So far I think I'm liking luxfloat better.

[bcsaltchucker]

nice build thread! look forward to some crazy videos!

I have been working on tuning my cloned-MXP250 (very similar to the clone-out you have here) for 6 months now, LOL. OK I am easily distracted by my 20 other FPV planes. finally getting it closer to what it should be. Decided to build a 2nd identical one so a crash doesn't end my day at the field. I run Cobra, RG, and 3S system, with Boscam FPV. from today

[Recursion]

Nice location for flying. Is that local to you? You should consider trying 4S batteries on that. If you're making TPA adjustments does that mean you're using PID controller 0? If so you might want to consider trying out the others (assuming cleanflight).

One upgrade I'm making soon will be attaching an Openlog data logger to the FC . Should help with seeing the actual gyro/correction values for things like punch oscillations and help with further PID tweaking. The visualization software made for it is incredible.

I've already got almost all of the parts for my next build. I agree that having at least one spare is a good idea to keep us up in the air between crash repairs. Most of the cost is in the ground gear (e.g. googles/transmitter/chargers/etc..), so incremental builds doesn't hurt as much.

[bcsaltchucker]

I just changed to multiwii 3 PID controller. slowly learning how to tune these to perform fast and hard.

I probably will not make this on 4S, but I am going to build an identical one, possibly 4S, and also I just ordered a Armattan mini hex frame with tilt/gopro unit which will be 4S (all Cobra, RG gear). I already have all the electic bits, just need better frames (have an old minihex and small quad which I feel are eclipsed by these newer frames)

[Recursion]

I think by the time I'm done I'll have all of the PID controllers tuned since I keep changing my mind, but this build has really been more of a testing platform anyway. Chances are I'll have 2-3 more builds by the end of the season this year.

I've never built a hex personally (though with the spares I order I easily could). There is something elegant about the simplicity of a quad. Mini quads I'd rather keep lighter too, and it's less painful to break all of your props

[bcsaltchucker]

totally agree, the hex makes it pricier, heavier and larger, which flies in the face of the wonderful physics of a miniquad. However the way I understand it, the hex makes it more possible to have Gopro aboard instead of only Mobius while doing crazy aerobatics. Though now I see many miniquads carrying Gopro and I guess they just use 4S or more volts.

Anyways we just found out our 2 RC flying fields are up for sale (one of them is $18 milion), so just might be that I can't fly planes much longer. Miniquads all the way!

-

hey have you tried the new unbreakable props that Surveilzone is selling? I just ordered some up. I broke 6 HQ props this week
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg0am9L4jp8

[Recursion]

Originally Posted by bcsaltchucker

hey have you tried the new unbreakable props that Surveilzone is selling? I just ordered some up. I broke 6 HQ props this week
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg0am9L4jp8

Yeah I've ordered a couple sets of each to try them out at various sizes after someone I was flying with was raving about their durability. They haven't arrived yet. They are definitely breakable, but are apparently way more durable. The added durability comes at the price of some efficiency though (likely due to the extra bendability) and thrust when using them.

For flying in a forest or shrubby areas, the compromise might be worth it.