Drones, not just for .gov surveillance anymore

[FrankT]

fly, fly fly RD

 

[Ratdog68]

Glad to see your quads are starting to show up guys!

Here's the quad that took a mud back the other day back up in the air.
If I hadn't landed in the water, it would have been a single prop change and back in the sky. Instead it was a new ESC and motor for one arm.

Read up on a product called "CorrosionX". It's an aerosol product, originally brought to market for Boeing. It's an oil base product. The marine industry around Seattle likes this stuff a lot. They've raised boats which have sunk (in salt water), sprayed the dash panel's electronics with this stuff... and been able to save it/use it again. I'm wondering whether it'd make for a good preventative treatment to keep water from damaging the exposed electronics on these?

http://corrosionx.com/

 

[Ratdog68]

Well... burned through one battery charge just trying to get the trim settled. Kind of confirming what I've read up on (after ordering). The Blade Pico QX appears to be difficult to maintain a trim setting. Reason being, the motor mounts fit loosely in the frame. The integral (to the motor mounts) blade guards get bumped during flight and your trim settings go down the tube, needing to be re-adjusted. I'm thinking some hot glue dabbed onto the mount/frame connection point may help stabilize this tendency. Just going to have to work around it until I get to town and can see if I can resolve it. Until then, maintaining hover will be a challenge. Probably a good learning curve.

 

[RattlesnakeDan]

Sometimes things don't go as planned and as I've said repeatedly, sometimes you crash......

Well today was a pretty spectacular one! Still doing damage assessment, but some parts just don't like water much.

View attachment 2192 View attachment 2193 View attachment 2194 View attachment 2195 View attachment 2196

Ohh...that was a good crash but not good for you!

 

[RattlesnakeDan]

Well... burned through one battery charge just trying to get the trim settled. Kind of confirming what I've read up on (after ordering). The Blade Pico QX appears to be difficult to maintain a trim setting. Reason being, the motor mounts fit loosely in the frame. The integral (to the motor mounts) blade guards get bumped during flight and your trim settings go down the tube, needing to be re-adjusted. I'm thinking some hot glue dabbed onto the mount/frame connection point may help stabilize this tendency. Just going to have to work around it until I get to town and can see if I can resolve it. Until then, maintaining hover will be a challenge. Probably a good learning curve.

RD...Are you flying???

 

[Ratdog68]

I wouldn't call it that. It won't maintain a hover. "Flight" attempts (as a result) are very erratic.

 

[RattlesnakeDan]

I sucked so bad that I thought this is not going to happen, yesterday i took it off the wimpy mode and was flying around chasing my chickens and hovering between my trailer and the 8' roof. Once you get the confidence it gets easier. I was spinning around in flight doing 360's and trying to operate backwards. It is starting to get fun now but I want a bigger more sophisticated unit already.

 

[FrankT]

good for you Dan!!

 

[Ratdog68]

Ordered up some Super Glue from Deadhorse, expeditor should be delivering it either today/tomorrow to my job site. I'll see if my trouble shooting suspicions are correct when I anchor the mounts to the frame. It might take trim adjustments and hold. If so, I should be able to work on my own learning curve without having to fight a constantly changing craft. LOL I'll probably continue to burn battery charges in the mean time.

 

[RattlesnakeDan]

I have 2 batteries but they only last 4 or 5 minutes each. I ordered 2 more but apparently like my mini cameras, they are all on the slow boat. I would like more time flying.

 

[Ratdog68]

This one is so tiny, it has an internal battery (non-removable). Charge time is 28 mins., flight time is about 5 mins. Me thinks I'll be hunting down the next size up when I hit Anchorage in a few days. LOL

 

[Oso Grande]

Read up on a product called "CorrosionX". It's an aerosol product, originally brought to market for Boeing. It's an oil base product. The marine industry around Seattle likes this stuff a lot. They've raised boats which have sunk (in salt water), sprayed the dash panel's electronics with this stuff... and been able to save it/use it again. I'm wondering whether it'd make for a good preventative treatment to keep water from damaging the exposed electronics on these?

http://corrosionx.com/

You're the second person in 24 hours to sugguest trying that stuff. Sounds like I need to pick some up.
Those tiny micro quads are you're finding have some tolerance problems, I have one too and it frustrates the heck out of me. If you can get the hang of that, a real controller in your hand will feel like child's play.

Dan, glad to hear you're getting some control over it! I never could get used to flying these things "nose in". My brain shuts down and I start twitching.

 

[Ratdog68]

You're the second person in 24 hours to sugguest trying that stuff. Sounds like I need to pick some up.
Those tiny micro quads are you're finding have some tolerance problems, I have one too and it frustrates the heck out of me. If you can get the hang of that, a real controller in your hand will feel like child's play.

Dan, glad to hear you're getting some control over it! I never could get used to flying these things "nose in". My brain shuts down and I start twitching.

I'm thinking a Blade Nano QX with FPV. I think that next size up will bind with a full sized controller. I intend to find out when I get to Anchorage.

Once I get this one to stabilize, it'll make for a good travel unit to tinker with in camp. The controller size is compounded by the erratic behavior with loose motor mounts. LOL

 

[Oso Grande]

Those tiny controllers are MUCH harder to use well than the larger ones.

 

[Oso Grande]

I'm thinking a Blade Nano QX with FPV. I think that next size up will bind with a full sized controller. I intend to find out when I get to Anchorage.

Once I get this one to stabilize, it'll make for a good travel unit to tinker with in camp. The controller size is compounded by the erratic behavior with loose motor mounts. LOL

Cheapest option for a "real" controller for the Blade Nano QX is:

Radio
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=20976&aff=976815

TX
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=68573&aff=976815

 

[RattlesnakeDan]

That controller seems like a lot of controller for only 50.00.

 

[RattlesnakeDan]

That controller seems like a lot of controller for only 50.00.

I don't understand the transmitter module item though...is that for a self build unit?

 

[Oso Grande]

The module plugs in the back of the controller.

Different brands use different radio protocols for control of their models. By having a replaceable module in the back you can use the same sticks to control a lot of different models.

http://www.multirotorsuperstore.com/frsky-taranis-x9d-plus.html
Is a fantastic controller for the money.

But the other one treated me well for a long time. However it's harder to program.

 

[Ratdog68]

I got the DX6i Spektrum radio delivered to the house, to use with the Blade 350 QX3 and my Bixler fixed wing. However... that Turnigy unit appears to be a great value for $50.

 

[Ratdog68]

Well... progress, for two battery cycles, I've managed to get about 1.5 mins. worth of controlled flight (albeit, with a LOT of stick movement). Still pretty erratic. M'be it'll tame down a bit when my glue arrives. Takes just about full throttle to get it to elevate more than a few inches off the deck, then it wants to dribble on the ceiling. A light "adjustment of the throttle and it drops to the deck rather quickly. Twitchy little bugger.