Quadcopter,Anybody have one?

That's funny because I am going to use it to film some weapons training classes I take photos for. I told them to tell the class this isn't a skeet shoot and don't shoot down the flying whirly thing.

Gotta stay away from the steel targets too. Don't wanna get the thing fragged by spawl from the rounds hitting the targets. That bad...

 

I had an F450 until last week, then I moved everything over to the F550 Hex frame. All running with a NAZA-M V2 w/GPS.
I also do filming for a local firearms instructor down here in FL. The first question all the students ask is "how much did that thing cost", I always reply with "shoot it, and find out." It hasn't been shot yet... We're trying to figure out a way to hang a "target" from it to give the impression of an assailant moving towards you during an engagement, thinking about an empty water jug suspended on a five foot string. We're just not sure what, if any, effect shooting it would have on the Hex's stability.

 

if i got one...i would start making porn!

 

You could use the Helicockter for that.....

 

Holy shit that is funny as hell.

 

I know nothing about these, but it looks like this may be a decent deal.

http://sellout.woot.com/offers/dji-phantom-uav-drone-quadcopter-v1-1-1

If you aren't familiar with woot, the offer is one day or until they are gone, whichever comes first.

 

Nice. It would suck to have it destabilize it and have it crash. I'm sure no matter what you shoot it with it will give it a good tug. I'm shooting mostly vehicle gun fighting and injured shooter courses. I have to watch out for glass coming off the vehicles when they shoot out of the cars thru the windshields and other glass windows.

Keep me posted on how the flying target carrier goes. I'd be interested in knowing how it worked...

 

Oh the 's to be had if i could get me one of those helicockters.

It would never get old. I would take it to the mall and have it hovering through the food court.

 

Shut up! Dont be stealing all my ideas..

 

I looked at those first. The Phantom 2 is more expensive, but the camera gimble makes a huge difference in the quality of the video. The P1 also flies about 10 minutes on a charge where the P2 last 25 min. I get the same flight time out of 2 batteries the P1 gets with 5.

It really depends on what kind of quality you want from your videos and how much you are willing to spend. The quality for the cost is quite good imho.

 

Shooting a quad

http://www.gameofdrones.biz/#!episodes/c1jq9

 

And it's still in far better taste than that weird who turned his dead cat into a quadcopter.

 

well except you having the carry it when its not in the air... awkward.

 

Holly shit, that is real?

 

Ok, so I think I decided I will be getting a rc loger eye one xtreme. Its not to big and comes with brushless rtf for $129 bucks. Guys say it carries the gopro no problem. Only problem is there not shipping them till guessing march because of a board issue they wanna fix. Guys that did get the first shipments of them have nothing but great things to say about them.

 

http://polakiumengineering.org/downloads/The_Beginner's_Guide_to_Multicopters_06292012.pdf

Thought some of you might be interested in this beginners guide to multicopters....

 

Unfortunately yes

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/ju...ffed-coptercat-sparks-global-outrage-20120605

 

I'm running the F450 right now myself with the 3DRobotics APM 2.6 autopilot/gps setup. FPV is definitely next on my list plus a good camera gimbal.

 

I don't see that carrying a GoPro for very long or very well. The motor diameter (shaft to shaft, diagonally) is only 180mm and the standard battery only gives 5-7min flight time without payload. There is no GPS on that unit, so it will constantly drift wherever the slightest breeze decides to take it. While I don't sell these things, I've helped several friends get into the hobby, some of them have bought these "toy" sized copters to practice flying with,and they all say the same thing, "they are horribly difficult to control compared to the larger, more advanced crafts." My first quad was something like this, and I spent more time frustrated and performing repairs than I did flying. A successful day of flying meant that I either already had the parts to fix it, or I knew that I could just glue it back together, again. I don't think I ever flew it until the battery died. In the 3 months before it was crashed beyond repair, I think I spent enough on blades, replacement arms, and motors to buy 2 more of them, meaning I could have started off with a good quality quad in the first place. To put that into perspective, I flew my F450 for a month without ever breaking anything, and the F550 hex is even more stable and easier to control than that, plus I get almost 20min flight times with a 6600mah battery and all my camera gear installed. Yes, it cost more, but it's relaxing to fly instead of stress inducing.

 

I've done a ton or research on these things, best deal going these days is the Phantom 1.1.1 for $399 at B&H photo. (no shipping/sales tax) I just ordered one yesterday, should be here Monday. I was going to build a DJI 450 with Naza V2 as I already have a transmitter/batteries/receiver and wanted to experience the build process but this deal is just too good to pass up. (would have had close to $500 in the 450) The Phantom is regarded as a much better aerial platform than the Blade 350QX also. (plus I've had negative experiences with Spektrum in the past.)

I agree completely that you DEFINITELY need a brushless gimbal for really smooth video. The Zenmuse is nice but very expensive at $370. You can get really good brushless gimbals these days for less than $100, including the board. There's a good one on Ebay, Whitespy has one for $75, goodluckbuy.com has one and there are probably 20 others out there.

Finally, 25 minute flight times seem cool but I've been flying airplanes and heli's for years, 10 minutes is plenty for me. I'm usually needing a break after 8-10 minutes of concentration anyways. 3 cell 2200 mah lipos are dirt cheap these days, $15 from hobby king, hobbypartz etc. I'd get the basic Phantom for $400, gimbal for $75 and a couple extra batteries. Can have a really nice (stable) setup for $500 out the door.

Here's the link to the Phantom at B&H Photo. They throw in a free NIMH charger and 4 AA batteries too.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1010830-REG/dji_cp_pt_0000011_quadcopter_with_gopro_mount.html