Rocky's Quadcopter "Stuff"

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
Ok folks.... Taking a minute to update you all on my Quadcopter Journey... I know some here have them ... some have toyed with them and moved on... and some are doing some Beautiful work with them.

I am a raw beginner, drawn into this hobby over a year ago watching Don get involved, later seeing Scott and Sparky progressing and watching videos of others. This year, at Christmas I decided to try it out and picked up an inexpensive ($50) Syma X5C to learn to fly and play with the little 2 megapixel camera. I had fun!!!! No flying aids with this but that was good as I was learning to control from the beginning. The videos were not much but between the copter and playing with the videos (2 mpx camera) I knew I wanted to progress.

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I began following various videos on YouTube, learning about what was available, what features etc... I was somewhat enamored with the DJI Phantom Line but the price point was a bit prohibitive for me. I began looking at lower priced options that I could work into a better camera with some flying aids (as in GPS modes). I had issues with some, others would cost near a Phantom when done. I continued to study and play with my X5.

Then I saw an ad from B&H Photo where they dropped the price $200 on the P3 Standard. I looked online but then they added shipping. I checked at Adorama and they had free shipping so my wheels started turning. The next day, they were out of stock! As I looked around, I realized the price was dropped everywhere. I looked long and hard at the differences between the STD, Advanced and Pro. The other 2 were clearly out of my price range and after analyzing the differences, came to the conclusion that for me, I would be satisfied with the STD. On January 20th, I picked it up local at BestBuy.

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Very impressive machine... I will follow up with my learning to use/fly etc this impressive machine. Trust me, I am nervous so proceeded very slowly.

This shows the size difference between the little X5C and Phantom 3 Standard!

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Pat in Savannah GA
 

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
I spent the first couple days after getting the unit learning all I could about it, the controller and the DJI Pilot App. The actual directions were limited so I spend some time online with videos including the instructional ones from DJI (which I did find very useful).

I charged everything up and also updated the firmware. I practiced the controls and App functions in the dining room with the Phantom on the table WithOut Props. As I found I did not understand something, I went back to the videos. The next day, I did an IMU Calibration (all the sensors) and also took it outside to calibrate the compass. I also played with turning on the video and snapping still photographs.

It was now time to test it out... My first flight would only be a few minutes down at the schoolyard, operating in Beginner Mode which puts very strict limits on my flight. My goal was to get it in the air, increase and reduce altitude, fly forward - back and left - right. Also wanted to rotate the craft as it hovered. Winds were gusting to 18 mph but she did well... My Very Simple Video:





Nothing fantastic but all part of the learning process...... Pleased so Far! :)

Pat in GA
 
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RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
After a couple more days of studying, I went back down to the Schoolyard to do my 2nd test flight. At this point, I took it off Beginner but did set a Geo fence of 60' elevation and 200' distance.

I did a bit more free flying, tested what happens when I hit the fence limits (it stops and sends a voice message). I was feeling a bit more comfortable during this 8 minute flight.



After this, I did a very short test flight (no Video) in front of the house to test the Course Lock and Home Lock functions, both of which worked just fine. Now to study all of the Intelligent modes!


Pat in GA
 

SteveL54

Senior Member
Nice, Pat. I'm still practicing with my X8C. Weather has not been cooperating, and the wife gets a bit nervous with me flying in the house.
 

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
After the test flight on Jan 24th, I began to really study the "Intelligent" modes available to the aircraft. There are quite a few... to summarize, there are 2 main modes accessible by a switch.

In one position, GPS, you control the craft normally and when you release the sticks, it will hover and maintain it's current position via GPS. This is what I consider the normal mode. (for me) If you try and push it it in any direction it self corrects to try and hold its position.

In the 2nd position, Attitude, you control the craft the same way as above but its position is not locked by the GPS. If you release the sticks, it will stop and hover but is free to drift via wind etc. As above if you try and push it, it will drift in that direction .

The 3rd mode. Called F is the intelligent flight mode. When selected, you are presented with a group of optional Program modes:
1. Course Lock - based on the input heading, no matter which way the nose points, forward on the stick is away, back is opposite and left is left etc. (In regular GPS mode, Forward is always the direction the nose is pointing and left and right are relative to the nose which can be confusing!) Course Lock allows you to always control the direction regardless of how the nose is facing. This is a benefit to Video as you fly past an object, you keep flying straight and and rotate the nose to always face the subject.
2. Home Lock - No matter the orientation, Back on the stick brings it in the direction of the Home Point. (You fly this mode, Return To Home, can activate no matter what switch position, is Automatic, it flys itself to Home and Lands.)

I tested both of these in a short flight demo with my wife which I did not film.

On Jan 26th, I went out to test the other 3 main Intelligent Modes useful for Video and Photography.
1. Point of Interest - Select a Point, an elevation, Radius, Speed and direction and it will fly a circle with the camera facing the POI. (in the Video, I did a poor job selecting the point)
2. Waypoints - Is like a route! You fly the route and and mark points as you fly. It then saves that route and you can recall and fly the exact route again.
3. Follow Me - Just what it says, the unit is positioned up and away from you and will follow the Controller (Camera points at the controller location and you can set the angle up and down)

This video is my test of those functions, all of which worked as advertised.


Next up, I decided to get braver and get a little more elevation!


Pat in GA
 

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
Nice, Pat. I'm still practicing with my X8C. Weather has not been cooperating, and the wife gets a bit nervous with me flying in the house.

Steve, have you got any video yet?? I am still flying the X5C and enjoying it, great training tool!! (I do not fly it indoors, too many little knick knacks!) :)


Pat in GA
 

480sparky

Senior Member
That would eliminate any nerves I have left.... Next flight attempting to do 200' up!! :) (I recently did 100' which will be posting soon!)


Pat in GA


Well, when you think about it, height really isn't relevant. If it falls from fifty feet or four hundred, it's still gonna be busted. Since I had that epiphany, 400 feet up is no big deal for me.

The only difference is there might be stronger winds higher up. So you need to watch for 30mph+ winds that will prevent the bird from drifting off. If that happens, just bring 'er down below the strong wings.
 

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
Well, when you think about it, height really isn't relevant. If it falls from fifty feet or four hundred, it's still gonna be busted. Since I had that epiphany, 400 feet up is no big deal for me.

The only difference is there might be stronger winds higher up. So you need to watch for 30mph+ winds that will prevent the bird from drifting off. If that happens, just bring 'er down below the strong wings.


Good Rationale, thanks!! Helps the mindset.... :)


Pat
 
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