What is the best overall Quad Air frame for us FPV users?

[RcLab1]

What is the best overall Quad Airframe for us FPV users?

I will use a NAJA Flight Controller (FC).

I ask because we need room for our FPV equip. Everyone is using different FC, motors/ESCs, props.... lets start from scratch and point me out to a great QuadFrame...

ie....big/high landing skids so that our Cloverleaf antenna hangs upside down
without hitting the ground....

Can you guys give some LINKS or pictures for "airFrames" Quads thats suitable for FPV..... we need space for our FPV equipment

I'll start:

http://vimeo.com/23075461

[Kevinv033]

I like the VC450 from hoverthings.com You can stack center plates and fit a lot fo gear. Mine is about 1.2kg with fpv gear, gopro, 3s 4000mah.

http://vimeo.com/33422729

[brosius85]

the best quad isn't a quad its a tri keeps the props away from the cameras better. my .02

http://rcexplorer.se/projects/tricop...copterv25.html

great laser cut kit by tim, mucho product support here at the lab
http://www.fpvmanuals.com/tricopter/

[Kevinv033]

the best quad isn't a quad its a tri keeps the props away from the cameras better. my .02

http://rcexplorer.se/projects/tricop...copterv25.html

great laser cut kit by tim, mucho product support here at the lab
http://www.fpvmanuals.com/tricopter/

Tim's Tricopter kit is great, but in the spirit of a quad, you could forego the Yaw mechanics and make a Y4. Love that they are light and foldable and cheap to repair in a crash.

Another frame I like is AGLHobbies UAP1 which is configurable to many multirotor layouts. +, X, X8, Y4, Y6, Hexa, Octo. You can really make a lot of room on the frame for loads of gear, but it's just going to be heavy.

[Enthlapy]

If your worried about crashing it and getting replacment parts, id look into:

http://www.shop.aglhobbiesllc.com/Ru...AP1-Sport.html

Granted it will be a heavier build than the VC-450, and you have to come up with your own booms.However

" Free Replacement Parts Warranty!
I will replace, free of charge, any G10 or Delrin part that breaks for any reason, including crashes. Rules are as follows:

- You must be the original buyer
- You must email pictures showing the broken part clearly to rusty@aglhobbiesllc.com. This is important so I can attempt to improve the design if needed.
- The replacement parts are free, but you will be responsible for shipping costs.
- Hardware is not included, only G10 (fiberglass) and Delrin parts. "


I did not know of this, untill i ordered my CC FC. Very cool option and in the USA.




It’s hard to say which frame is the best for this, it has a lot to do with what your goals are. If you want super smooth flying i think the Tri would be a better option, if you want something that’s agile quads to go. If you want heavy lifter you would need more than 4 rotors to be able to do it efficiently. It really depends what you wana do with it.

And another note, frame is a frame, most important is your FC, motor prop combo in comparison to your AUW.


Also what freq is your FPV gear going to be on it? I personally use dipoles on my quad to clean up it up and it does fine, untill i start doing rolls or flips i dont plan on changing it to a CP anytime soon. If i did i would also consider changing to 2.4 and/or 5.8 just for the size of the CP anntennas for it.

[Glenstr]

I like the VC450 from hoverthings.com You can stack center plates and fit a lot fo gear. Mine is about 1.2kg with fpv gear, gopro, 3s 4000mah.

http://vimeo.com/33422729

Attachment 5305

I have that frame and have been trying to figure out how to mount my gopro - how much of the props or frame do you get with that setup?

[Enthlapy]

I have that frame and have been trying to figure out how to mount my gopro - how much of the props or frame do you get with that setup?

Im working on a video build log/tutorial, just waiting for approval from hover things and open pilot.

[RcLab1]

Enthalpy....

I can't wait for your blog.... you mentioned that 15+ for Quad flying is "unrealistic"?
(my flying will not just be hovering, but leisurely up, down, forward, stop, rotate, look around, not go too far....etc.....No sport flying.)

Its a bummer for me, thats very much a turn-off for me that with the technology of the Flight Controls, Lipos, etc.... it will not fly
leisurely for FPV..... :-(

[Enthlapy]

It not just that, any multi rotor aircraft, must be running all the time in order for them to fly. It’s not like a plane where you can kill the motor and just glide. A quad copter will be pulling a minimum of x amps during the flights (if hovering or fast forward flight). You said you planned on getting 30 amp esc, ok you need a minimum of 4 for a quad copter, your peak potential discharge on your flight pack is 30*4. With that being said, your AUW plays a major role determining motor/prop combo. So it’s not like you can just stick the biggest flight pack you can and fly. Its super difficult to make a efficient multi rotor that will effectively carry x amount of weight with minimal amperage draw. Most of the "pro" level multi rotors are in the 6+ motors, because they can use smaller motors (watt wise) and divide the load among those. It get more complicated than just what i said, it's just difficult for me to explain exactly what i want to say.


Figured Id shoot this over here for those deep pocket folks and wana play with expensive toys:

http://www.draganfly.com/uav-helicopter/draganflyer-x6/ Rumor has it is like $30,000, 30-45 min of flight time if memory serves correctly.


Helicopters have similar properties but are slightly different, i haven’t really thought enough about how they work but i believe the rotor blade has a big role in efficiency and lift.


It sort of sucks to hear you are disappointed, but honestly i don’t think that even if you had the ability to fly for 15+ minutes that you would, especially being immersed in FPV. (On a multi rotor)



If anyone is building any multi rotor, and are not copying someones build, I recommend using: http://www.ecalc.ch/xcoptercalc_e.htm?ecalc Please know that these are best scenario calculations.

[saucisse]

No need to go with fancy $30k + machine to get good flight time, like Enthlapy said, AUW and motor/prop combo is the key in every multirotors setup. And yes, 15 min + of fpv flight with a multirotor is demanding, I tend to keep it below 15 min for safety purpose and for my nerves lol Nothing to compare with a plane

Did another flight test tonight to see how long I could fly FPV with mine and landed after 19m23 sec. That was on a 3s 5000mah 40c/80c pack, Was flying it ''normal'', fun flight with no throttle excess, and pack was showing 3.53v per cells after the flight. KDA20-28M 1050kv motors, PLUSH30 ESC, EPP10x4.5 props, AUW 1.45kg