FPV Quadcopter basic parts list (JABcopter)

[FragglePete]

I see your using the Ali motor mounts, that's a great upgrade for the X525frame, before these were available I ended up just mounting the motors straight to the arms and it makes such a difference. Keep the video's coming

 

Yes, using those mounts as I crashed it not so long ago and broke one of the original mounts - they're not bad but have bent a couple during some other 'incidents' but can be bent back into shape in a vice quite easily ;P

 

I tried mounting the go pro on a couple of tubes running from the centre, in an attempt to bring it forward slightly and mount the battery on the back, unfortunately it introduced so much Jello on the picture that I ripped it apart again and went back to the original configuration.

 

Pete

[JAB1a]

Yes, using those mounts as I crashed it not so long ago and broke one of the original mounts - they're not bad but have bent a couple during some other 'incidents' but can be bent back into shape in a vice quite easily ;P

 

I tried mounting the go pro on a couple of tubes running from the centre, in an attempt to bring it forward slightly and mount the battery on the back, unfortunately it introduced so much Jello on the picture that I ripped it apart again and went back to the original configuration.

 

Pete

 

I know what you mean about the price of those Fatsharks, there are alternatives, some around the same price and some cheaper but you will be loosing quality and FOV on most of them. I saw it as, well I can use these on anything else RC I want to FPV, I could use them for gaming (not very good resolution for that) etc and I knew if I brought a lesser pair of goggles then I would always be wanting the better ones. I bit the bullet and got the FatShark Attitude SD goggles with their vTx, its an amazing pair but some people do not get on with the rubber eye sockets, but if you can handle swimming goggles then you can handle these.

 

I found for the under slung rig for the camera, if you get some strong/thick rubber/foam and cut it into four squares and put that between the frame and your rods and then attach zip ties around the rods and through some holes (where the pads are) in the frame to lock them together then you will have a lot less vibration, no need to fix or lock the rods onto place as the zipties do that and dampen some vibration as well as the rubber pads. That way you can push the camera way out front and counter it with the lipo on the back....might help

[plexer]

@JAB1a what's the view from within the fatsharks like does it look like you're actually there or is it like watching on a big tv? I read about some of these glasses that say they give the impression of watching a huge screen floating in the distance.

 

Ben

[plexer]

Added canopy to the frame today.

 

Edited August 28, 2013 by plexer

[JAB1a]

@JAB1a what's the view from within the fatsharks like does it look like you're actually there or is it like watching on a big tv? I read about some of these glasses that say they give the impression of watching a huge screen floating in the distance.

 

Ben

 

It is like a huge TV screen floating in front of your face but as soon as you start flying then your peripheral closes down and you are completely immersed into what you are seeing. The colours and quality is amazing with the right camera attached, you can spot a telephone wire in your path at about 50meters so it has good resolution for flying. You can always do FPV without the goggles by using a computer monitor or something so you can still fly FPV but its not as fun or immersive. The Attitudes allow you to change the angle your eyes view the screen where as all the others are fixed which might be an issue if you have a big/small head

 

Added canopy to the frame today.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]20216[/ATTACH]

 

Nice lid, Tupperware is so light, cheap and bomb proof that its perfect for protecting your electronics. The frame is looking very good, I like those motor mounts...did you make them?

Edited August 29, 2013 by JAB1a

[plexer]

@JAB1a yeah 3D printed motor mounts and main cross member, on top of the main cross member is a laser cut space so the Tupperware lid sits flush and then inside the lid is another laser cut spacer and then it's bolted through all pieces in a sandwich, plastic box cost the princely sum of £1

 

Waiting for the Bluetooth board, sensor board and speed controllers to arrive, after that all I need to buy is batteries, charger, props and radio gear.

 

Ben

[plexer]

Wondering if the vuzix 920's would be any good 640 x 480 res available for £99

 

Ben

[plexer]

Wondering if the vuzix 920's would be any good 640 x 480 res available for £99

 

Ben

[JAB1a]

Wondering if the vuzix 920's would be any good 640 x 480 res available for £99

 

Ben

 

Wow these seem to be the right spec, 2 LCD's so you can view 3d films is good, 31deg FOV is better than the attitudes at 30deg, not sure on the pixel density for clarity but they must be about the same, no video Tx or Rx or head tracker so that's an extra cost to add to them, if you use 2 vTx's and 2 cameras you could fly in true 3D vision I guess which would be cool.

 

At that price its probably worth a punt but I myself would still hold out for the FatSharks as I have read a lot more reviews about them than the Vuzix

 

Fatshark Attitude SD:

Full color LCD LED backlit Kopin CyberDisplay

922,000 pixels binocular display (640 X 480 VGA)

[FragglePete]

Wondering if the vuzix 920's would be any good 640 x 480 res available for £99

 

Ben

 

Gosh, they do look good. Hmmmm.....

 

Pete

[JAB1a]

I am still weary of these as I have not heard much about them. Quick search revels they go to a blue screen if interference is encountered......which is not good for FPV, also light pollution is bad with them so you will have to make a sun guard like this maybe.... Ski Goggle Mod for Vuzix 920 Wraps for MR - RC Groups, I don't think these have IPD adjustment aswell which means your brain is going to have to work hard to make these immersive to make it look like one screen.

 

Still interesting

[JAB1a]

Here someone has made them into FPV goggles....

FPV HUBFPV HUBMy DIY V2 FPV goggles project

[plexer]

Wow these seem to be the right spec, 2 LCD's so you can view 3d films is good, 31deg FOV is better than the attitudes at 30deg, not sure on the pixel density for clarity but they must be about the same, no video Tx or Rx or head tracker so that's an extra cost to add to them, if you use 2 vTx's and 2 cameras you could fly in true 3D vision I guess which would be cool.

 

At that price its probably worth a punt but I myself would still hold out for the FatSharks as I have read a lot more reviews about them than the Vuzix

 

Fatshark Attitude SD:

Full color LCD LED backlit Kopin CyberDisplay

922,000 pixels binocular display (640 X 480 VGA)

 

You can plug a head tracker in to them and I found one on ebay for £10 yesterday.

 

Ben

[plexer]

3D Printed landing gear and laser cut cross struts added.

 

 

Ben

[JAB1a]

That looks wicked, you won't have any trouble spotting that in the air, great job!. Not sure about the landing gear, I can see after a heavy landing these might buckle up underneath but time will tell. Lov'in it Ben

[plexer]

Yes I am concerned about that but time will tell depends on when I get fed of re-printing replacements

 

Ben

[JAB1a]

Yes I am concerned about that but time will tell depends on when I get fed of re-printing replacements

 

Ben

 

Oh the joys of a 3d printer, excellent

[plexer]

Yup, although the modification of my design for this landing gear is a set of pylons similar ot these which have removable tips so you could bolt anything you wanted to them.

 

Perhaps some big floats?

 

Ben

[plexer]

ESC connectors all soldered on and mounted to arms with good ole cable ties.

 

Just occurred to me though that I've mounted them to the bottom of the arms, wondering if top would be better for additional cooling from prop wash? @JAB1a

 

Ben

[JAB1a]

@plexer It really depends on how hot the ESC's get, mine are 20Amp ESC's and rarely pull over 15Amps from them so the temp is always quite low. I didn't mount mine on the top or bottom of the arm purely because of the prop wash which will cause low frequency vibrations each time a prop goes past, so I have mine vertically on the rear of each arm and close to the frame plates, that way if I crash head on then they are protected and are not in the prop wash at all but still get a good air flow.

 

Same goes for the wires, they are all run down the back of the arms for safety and keeping them out of prop wash. Vibration is definitely your enemy with multicopters.

 

P.s I also added a 2mm thick slither of foam between the ESC's and the arm before using zip ties to deaden any vibrations which will cause the electronics in the ESC to fail prematurely and your beautiful Quad to plumment to the ground in a twisted mess lol I've seen it happen before

Edited September 6, 2013 by JAB1a

[plexer]

@JAB1a I did wonder about adding some foam and actually unless I fitted 12" props the escs won't be in the prop wash anyway as they are quite close to the centre frame piece.

 

Thanks as always .

 

Ben

[JAB1a]

@plexer and @FragglePete did you spot my latest video, some fast close proximity in the woods, I mention it as I don't think anyone spotted it on here....

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/general-chat/122831-jab1a-fast-close-forest.html#post1050695

 

[plexer]

Yes I did watch it I'm going to stick to wide open space to start with

 

Ben

[flink]

@JAB1a Your video is really amazing!

 

Just to let your know I'm also starting my quadcopter based on your recommendations (since although I've been in the r/c car racing world for a decade, I know nothing when it comes to flying things), and that I have an ambitious side-plan for it...

 

Thanks!

[JAB1a]

@JAB1a Your video is really amazing!

 

Just to let your know I'm also starting my quadcopter based on your recommendations (since although I've been in the r/c car racing world for a decade, I know nothing when it comes to flying things), and that I have an ambitious side-plan for it...

 

Thanks!

 

Thanks for your comment @flink

 

I look forward to seeing your progress, the links in the first post are mostly out of date now but the items are still called the same if you do a search on ebay or somewhere.

 

Don't hesitate to ask any questions if you need something cleared up. Good luck