Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Competing QuadCopter solutions - Page 3 — Parallax Forums

Competing QuadCopter solutions

13

Comments

  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2013-05-28 13:11
    JasonDorie wrote: »
    .... I actually didn't like the quadrotor model in RealFlight - I found the control response too different from the real-life quads I've flown.
    David Betz wrote: »
    ...
    Edit: I just ordered RealFlight 6.5 which comes with a quadcopter model....

    David,
    I'm interested in hearing what your experiences are with the RealFlight.
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2013-05-28 13:26
    David,
    I'm interested in hearing what your experiences are with the RealFlight.
    Sure, I'll report back on how RealFlight works out for me. However, I'll warn you in advance that I'm really bad at video games so my guess is that I won't be very good at flying either virtual or real quadcopters. :-)
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2013-05-29 15:51
    The RealFlight I have has a cool hover training mode. You advance levels by lining up your helicopter with the program's "ghost" helicopter. It's what finally got me relatively comfortable flying my RC helicopter.

    It's amazing how many impossible things become easy with enough practice.

    My Hubsan H107 arrived Saturday. It wouldn't trim out. I'm pretty sure it has a bad motor. The selling is sending me replacement motor(s). (I asked for one motor; but it sounds like they're sending me a set of four.)

    I gt the Hubsan to fly but I had to hold the joystick near it's extreme back right to come close to hovering (the front left motor is the bad one).
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2013-05-29 16:10
    Duane Degn wrote: »
    The RealFlight I have has a cool hover training mode. You advance levels by lining up your helicopter with the program's "ghost" helicopter. It's what finally got me relatively comfortable flying my RC helicopter.

    It's amazing how many impossible things become easy with enough practice.

    My Hubsan H107 arrived Saturday. It wouldn't trim out. I'm pretty sure it has a bad motor. The selling is sending me replacement motor(s). (I asked for one motor; but it sounds like they're sending me a set of four.)

    I gt the Hubsan to fly but I had to hold the joystick near it's extreme back right to come close to hovering (the front left motor is the bad one).
    I got two replacement motors for my Elev-8 from Parallax today and my RealFlight software is coming tomorrow. I also ordered replacement propellers for my Hubsan H107 so my plan is to learn on the simulator, then move to the Hubsan H107, then finally to the Elev-8 after replacing its bad motor. Hopefully, that will give me a decent chance of being successful at flying the Elev-8 on my third attempt.
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2013-06-03 16:32
    Looks like Estes has rebranded the Hubsan X4, comes with spare props.

    http://www.woot.com/offers/estes-2-4-ghz-r-c-dart-indoor-quadcopter-1
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2013-06-03 16:49
    W9GFO wrote: »
    Looks like Estes has rebranded the Hubsan X4, comes with spare props.

    http://www.woot.com/offers/estes-2-4-ghz-r-c-dart-indoor-quadcopter-1

    Sorry...

    I will not own an Estes product that I don't have to shove an ignitor up it's butt and smell the sweet aroma of solid rocket propellent. :)
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2013-06-03 16:52
    Publison wrote: »
    Sorry...

    I will not own an Estes product that I don't have to shove an ignitor up it's butt and smell the sweet aroma of solid rocket propellent. :)

    Hmmm, quad with JATO... sounds like a good idea!
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2013-06-03 16:55
    W9GFO wrote: »
    Hmmm, quad with JATO... sounds like a good idea!

    Yes indeed!

    For those Acronym deficient :)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97rSobuKBxI
  • JasonDorieJasonDorie Posts: 1,930
    edited 2013-06-03 19:11
    Careful what you wish for: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A8mErds5-c
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2013-06-03 19:54
    Aaaand, one of the more infamous versions:
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2013-06-04 03:13
    W9GFO wrote: »
    Looks like Estes has rebranded the Hubsan X4, comes with spare props.

    http://www.woot.com/offers/estes-2-4-ghz-r-c-dart-indoor-quadcopter-1
    Just noticed that the Estes version does away with the LCD screen on the controller, there is a sticker in it's place.

    I find the LCD display very useful. A quick glance at it tells me what the current throttle setting is - which tells me how much time is left on the battery since as it loses charge, a higher throttle value is required to maintain hover.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2013-06-27 21:39
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2013-07-08 21:54
    Something I learned the other day flying the Hubsan, it does not stop very quickly. I was making a high speed pass from right to left past our deck, which is accomplished by holding the right stick full forward. As it passed I leveled out then pulled the right stick back to slow down. Well, since the Hubsan limits pitch and roll (*in standard mode) there was no amount of pulling back that made it slow down any faster. The large cedar tree was 120 ft away when I began to slow down. If it had been another 20 I could have avoided it. It disappeared into the tree about 20 feet high then fell through the branches onto the ground. Not much damage. The body was cracked around where one of the arms are molded in. A bit of tape fixed it up.

    * I could have had better control in advanced mode but this thing is so hard to see when it gets far away that I really need the self leveling feature.
  • Chetan169Chetan169 Posts: 1
    edited 2013-07-09 00:45
    hey plzzzz some1 help me....i have got the values from gyroscope and accelerometer.....values from accelerometer are as follows : 1g,2g,(-1g),(-2g)....these are the values i displyed it on LCD....and from gyro i got all the axis zero values...wen i move ma board the values change bt den aagain settles down to zero...whatever may be the orientation.........sooo is this correct???
    both the sensor values i have converted using the sensitivity parameter given in the datasheet......
    do we really have to convert the values or just use the data v r getting that is in HEX?????
    plzzzzzz help me ...plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.............
  • rjo__rjo__ Posts: 2,114
    edited 2013-07-11 22:48
    HubsunX4 http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-4GHz-4CH-RC-Remote-Control-H107-Hubsan-X4-Quadcopter-/141002955566?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item20d46e5b2eis Now $38 includes,transmitter, shipping (and I'm guessing that for a little more they will send a guy to train u:)

    Now, if we could just interest our friends on the other side of the pond to buy Parallax Wrenches.... hmmmm.
  • Paul K.Paul K. Posts: 150
    edited 2013-07-13 20:59
    Rich in standard mode you can make hard stops. Its a little tricky and takes some practice. As your flying from on direction to another it has momentum. If you cut the throttle some and push the stick in the opposite direction because the angle it's flying at it will want to tumble and swing out. But if you throttle back up at the right time you'll start to climb sideways until it levels out and its quick and crazy. Advance mode still has the leveling feature. If you've been practicing awhile you can do some cool moves with this little quad. In advance mode the little quad stops on a dime and the key to this is throttle control and anticipating how it tumbles in the air. Awesome little toy.

    One bit of advice is that you can fly this little quad quite high I'd say 200-400 ft. Big issue is wind. If your in advance mode I made the mistake of correcting hard from left to right and that is the command to do a flip. Yea, it flipped, far away, I still don't if it landed. Mistake learned and a I have a new Hubsan because of it.

    I suggest a crash pack for new props. These things get dinged up pretty bad.

    But I think its a great buy and is really simple to control. I have had many people try it and they really pick up fast on how to control it.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2013-07-13 21:35
    rjo__ wrote: »
    HubsunX4 http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-4GHz-4CH-RC-Remote-Control-H107-Hubsan-X4-Quadcopter-/141002955566?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item20d46e5b2eis Now $38 includes,transmitter, shipping (and I'm guessing that for a little more they will send a guy to train u:)

    I just ordered one, sent to my brother for his birthday. Looking fwd to seeing how he likes it!
  • Paul K.Paul K. Posts: 150
    edited 2013-07-13 22:04
    Erco order one for your self. Its a great buy and well worth the money. The one thing I forgot to mention in my above post is the battery that comes with is alittle weak. It has issues with suppling current when needed. I picked a few of these http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__24920__Turnigy_nano_tech_260mAh_1S_35_70C_Lipo_Pack_QR_Ladybird_Genius_CP_Mini_CP_.htmll and the difference is amazing. You get about 2-3min more flight time but the most important aspect is you have all the power you need when you need it.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2013-07-14 07:51
    I have one and love it, that's why my Bro gets one! Extra battery sounds good, will get two, thanks.
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2013-08-07 03:12
    Just FYI, there is a new version of the Hubsan H107 X4.

    The motor shafts are shorter - less likely to bend, there are rubber "feet" on the bottom of each motor pod and there is an LED on the end of each arm.

    Still lots of the old version out there so look carefully when ordering.
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2013-08-14 02:06
    I recently purchased the new version of the Hubsan H107 from the.little.ones.choice on eBay. It arrived in just a couple days. After one flight one of the motors would run full speed upon plugging the battery in. Then, it would not turn at all. I deemed it to be an issue with the control board (they call it the main board or receiver) and asked the seller to either exchange it or send a new board and motor. Without hesitation they shipped to me a new main board and a four pack of motors. I thought that was pretty good service. I will buy from them again.

    attachment.php?attachmentid=103315&d=1376471100
    1024 x 587 - 38K
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2013-08-14 03:58
    W9GFO,

    That's good to hear. I just noticed I can pick up a Hubsan for 50 euros or so at a local store. Looks like I have found my belated birthday present:)
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2013-08-14 06:55
    Wow, that looks pretty cool and it's only 55 bucks delivered. Hmm, and my birthday is this month :)
  • rjo__rjo__ Posts: 2,114
    edited 2013-08-14 19:12
    I got my Hobsan over the weekend... It is definitely not an indoor flyer... unless you have no regard for your indoor spaces. I previously bought a similarly priced counter-rotating coaxial copter,
    which had really nice balance, and an infra-red sensor that wouldn't allow me to hit the ceiling. I flew it all over my indoor spaces... after some practice.

    I have practiced with the Hobsan... and it doesn't belong indoors.... period. End of discussion. Anyone that disagrees is just flat wrong or lives in a house you can't afford:)

    I am tempted to buy the new version with the camera... for outdoors on a windless day, it should be more than fine.

    Rich
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2013-08-14 20:29
    rjo__ wrote: »
    I have practiced with the Hobsan... and it doesn't belong indoors.... period. End of discussion. Anyone that disagrees is just flat wrong or lives in a house you can't afford:)

    If that's not a call for someone to disagree, I don't know what is.

    Just so you're not disappointed, I honestly disagree. I think it's a fine quad for indoor use. I've only flown mine indoors.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2013-08-15 01:17
    Oh good, I was starting to worry.
    If the Hubsan was so uncontrollable that it "doesn't belong indoors" and if was only "for outdoors on a windless day" then it would be almost entirely unusable around here.

    I have a contra-rotating coaxial copter that will happily smash itself into the roof if you ask it. You just have to learn how to control it,

    Big question is. How hackable is the Hubsan?
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2013-08-15 08:29
    Heater. wrote: »
    I have a contra-rotating coaxial copter that will happily smash itself into the roof if you ask it. You just have to learn how to control it,

    Yeah, the ceiling seems like it "sucks" helicopters into it. There must be a counterpart of ground effect going on when a 'copter gets close to the ceiling because it take a huge change in the throttle setting to break free from the "ceiling effect" once a 'copter has been caught in the effect.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2013-08-15 10:03
    Duane Degn,
    ...the ceiling seems like it "sucks" helicopters into it.
    That's an interesting observation that I had not thought of before.

    It makes a lot of sense, after all a good old fashioned sink plunger can stick itself to the ceiling without expending any power at all. But it cannot get itself up there from the ground.

    This calls for some "near ceiling" experiments.
  • JasonDorieJasonDorie Posts: 1,930
    edited 2013-08-15 14:40
    rjo__ wrote: »
    I have practiced with the Hobsan... and it doesn't belong indoors.... period. End of discussion. Anyone that disagrees is just flat wrong or lives in a house you can't afford:)

    Well, if it's a Hobsan and not a Hubsan, maybe you got the wrong one. Cheap knockoff perhaps? ;-) I've flown mine indoors exclusively and never run it into anything I didn't intend to. It's very controllable, but I'm a relatively experienced pilot. If you aren't, I wouldn't recommend trying to learn to fly ANYTHING indoors. The distances are just too small and these things can move very quickly. Once you can hover reliably and recover from the turbulence of takeoff, flying indoors is dead easy.

    Perhaps you missed this:
    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/147891-Competing-QuadCopter-solutions?p=1185011&viewfull=1#post1185011

    Rich tosses it into the middle of a room and recovers quite quickly.
Sign In or Register to comment.