Questions tagged [quadcopters]
A drone which uses four motors to fly.
55
questions
1
vote
1answer
33 views
Is there a benefit to using multiple capacitors on FPV drones?
From what I've heard, you need at least one capacitor on the ESC of a drone so that it can smooth out the voltage spikes to prevent electrical noise and improve the longevity of the ESC. If this is ...
5
votes
1answer
204 views
Visual references when driving a Quad Copter through gates
I am a complete beginner, starting to learn to fly. So far I managed to control the altitude and do some basic turns, I can also do figure eights if the flags are well far from each other.
I realised ...
2
votes
2answers
55 views
Would it be possible to inductively recharge a drone battery?
Regular drones can only fly around 15-30 minutes before the battery runs out, which is annoying.
Newer smart phones use inductive loading, so it is possible to load a battery through such a field.
...
1
vote
2answers
39 views
Why are micro pusher-prop quadcopters becoming more popular?
Recently, I've seen a rise in popularity of small drones using pusher props. Some of these include the FullSpeed TinyPusher, BetaFPV Beta95X/Beta85X V2, Diatone Taycan and Tinawhoop, and originally ...
1
vote
2answers
60 views
What is the best drone for beginner fliers?
My brothers would like to start drone flying, as they haven't ever flown my Syma before. I am looking for a small, inexpensive pocket or medium drone for beginners that will probably get thrown into ...
9
votes
2answers
483 views
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a “plus” and “cross” quadcopter configuration? Is one preferred over another?
I'm not really an expert when it comes to quadcopters, I heard about the "plus" and "cross" configurations and that the "cross" configuration provides more stability.
I ...
2
votes
0answers
30 views
Multi GP gate sizes
Multi GP Gate sizes are given in square inch/ft like so: 25 sq ft (5’x5’ – 1.52m x 1.52m) - those are obviously the size requirements for a square gate. If I want to have a "Multi GP compliant&...
4
votes
0answers
49 views
Betaflight with Mamba F405 MK2 stack 40A ESC's and XING-E 2207 motors problem
I build a quad using Mamba F405 MK2 stack 40A ESC's and XING-E 2207 motors.
Here are some pictures of my configurations on Betaflight and BLHeli Configurator:
https://imgur.com/a/mFLDiVp
Also video of ...
6
votes
2answers
72 views
Are these methods of Drone Localization Techniques for a dark environment plausible?
I am working on a project where I need a quadcopter to accurately know its location relative to a starting point in a GPS denied environment in the dark.
A quick overview of the project:
The drone ...
3
votes
0answers
14 views
What is the frame system defined for Orientations comptutation using Quaternions [Madgwick filter/ Mahony filter]?
I am working with MPU9250 and I have implemented attitude & heading reference system based on Madgwick/Mahony filter. I capture the raw data [accel, gyro, mag] and pass to the Madgwick filter in ...
7
votes
2answers
83 views
Vertical Flight Paths
I've been searching around for software to allow a vertical flight plan. For example I want to flight 50m across a building at 20m AGL. Then drop 1m and fly back 50m. So on and so forth. I've read a ...
4
votes
1answer
73 views
Why don't solutions exist for a 3-axis helicopter flight controller?
So I've been searching around for a 3-axis flight controller for my 450-size helicopter. It seems that nearly every flight controller which is sold today is configured for solely the control of quad/...
5
votes
0answers
15 views
Quadcopter Stability Modelling
We know software like XFLR5 to model fixed-wing aircraft to determine aircraft dynamics and stability. Is there any software which we can model our quadcopter geometry in so we can know it's CoG, ...
2
votes
1answer
47 views
F450 frame all legs are not stable
I have one of the so called popular F450 frames. Not the original dji one, but chinese part. Now, I have assembled motors and ESCs. The assembling process was harder than it should be, probably ...
3
votes
0answers
32 views
What are the steps to connect the Pixhawk to Auvidea J120 board using a telemetry cable?
I'm looking to get a connection between my Pixhawk and Onboard GPU using telemetry. However, it doesn't seem to be connecting for some reason. I followed the instructions given on this page - https://...
5
votes
1answer
83 views
Is WiFi drone control protocol standardized?
I'm searching for an app to control a Zerotech Doby drone. The official app "DoFun" is no more available, but surprisingly it works with another Chinese app "FlightGo".
I wonder if ...
5
votes
1answer
76 views
What is a good 3'' BNF that can be used indoors and outdoors?
I am looking to get a new quadcopter that will work in a variety of places. I want it to be a 3'' drone so that I can fly it both outside and inside. I would prefer if it had prop guards or ducts of ...
5
votes
2answers
612 views
Will this set up fry my components?
Frame: Carbon fiber 250mm
Motors: 2300Kv 2204
Power board: Matek built in BEC’s 12V + 5V
FC: CC3D
ESCs: HLGRC 30A opto (no BEC)
Battery: Turnigy Graphene 14V 75C 4S
Receiver: Turnigy iA6B
My question ...
5
votes
1answer
89 views
Finding a ready-to-fly Taranis compatible, Eachine compatible, S4 compatible under 200€ drone
The question
I'm looking for a drone under 200€, preferably 5" (as that's what I'm used to) but other sizes are ok, that can be purchased/delivered to France, is compatible with a Taranis X7 and ...
7
votes
2answers
68 views
What are the benefits to different types of frame arrangements?
When looking at different frames, there are lots of descriptions for different ways the arms are set up. Are there objective descriptions of how these arrangement change the flight characteristics ...
4
votes
1answer
46 views
How do you use the PID controller to compensate for a higher weight?
How should you adjust the PID values if you add weight to a quadcopter (For example a GoPro), so that the flight characteristics stay as close as possible to how they were before?
I assume that the ...
3
votes
3answers
55 views
Wired drone using very high voltage?
For those of you who don't know: electricity can be "stepped up" to carry the same amount of power over a thinner wire, over much longer distances with minimal losses. Once the power reaches the ...
4
votes
1answer
61 views
Suitable ready-to-fly micro copter for a beginner
I read several docs on the ardupilot website, in particular about building a copter. It was suggested that total newbies (like me) should buy a small inexpensive copter first and learn how to fly/use ...
6
votes
3answers
131 views
How to determine the lowest safe ESC current rating for a drone build?
I was planning to build a quadcopter and was wondering how I should decide what ESC to get. I'm asking about ESC current ratings. I am building a 7 inch drone using 4s with 2306 1900Kv motors. I have ...
6
votes
1answer
90 views
Quadcopter rotates too slow
When I flew my drone yesterday, all the manoeuvres I did felt really slow. I then went into the OSD and changed the rates a bit. The drone then acted as it should, but when I then changed back it ...
3
votes
1answer
72 views
Serial Communication Not working in APM 2.8
I have being trying to establish Serial Communication connection between APM 2.8 and Raspberry Pi Board. But the connection is not being recognized in the Raspberry Terminal Console.
Configuration ...
6
votes
2answers
85 views
How to pick parts for a quadcopter flying on Mars?
So let's say I wish to build a quad to fly a GoPro around in Mars. How should I go about planning the build (target AUW [all-up weight], motor to motor distance, propulsion & power system, etc.)? ...
5
votes
1answer
47 views
How to clean dirt out of my miniquad motors?
I accidentally crashed my 250 class quadcopter into the dirt today and got dirt all over it, including into the motors. I managed to clean the dirt off of the frame and electronics, but I have no idea ...
1
vote
1answer
95 views
How to prevent an ESC from overheating?
I have a 5-inch drone with individual ESCs on the arms of the frame. The ESCs tend to get very hot (somewhere around 70°C) and I'm not sure what is causing this and how to keep them cooler. Are there ...
15
votes
3answers
4k views
Why are quadcopters inherently unstable?
I have heard it mentioned that quadcopters are inherently unstable and only become stable due to control. What does inherently unstable mean in this context, and why are quadcopters inherently ...
11
votes
5answers
4k views
Why do most drones have upward facing motors?
Most freestyle quadcopters I have seen are specifically designed to fly with the motors facing upward and have the arms of the drone underneath the propellers like this:
As you can see in the picture ...
5
votes
1answer
87 views
What mission planner should I be using for INav?
I'm new to the quadcopter community and am looking to plan my first mission for my drone.
As far as I can tell, the recommended mission planner is an Android app? I am hoping there is a good ...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
How do ducted fans impact drone performance?
There are many drones available which use ducted fans as opposed to open propellers. How does a ducted fan quadcopter differ in performance from an open-prop quadcopter?
Note: the other question ...
4
votes
1answer
595 views
How does the center of gravity affect a quadcopter?
I have heard a lot about center of gravity for fixed wings, but very little about the CG in quadcopters. How does moving the CG forward or backward impact the flight characteristics of a quadcopter? ...
7
votes
4answers
525 views
How does frame stiffness affect a quadcopter?
When choosing a frame for a drone, something I hear mentioned occasionally is how flexible the carbon fiber is. It seems that the general opinion is: more flex in a frame is worse. How would having a ...
7
votes
2answers
75 views
Is it a good practice to use a throttle limit of 90% for racing builds?
I had read somewhere that it's a good idea to set a throttle limit of 90% for racing. The reason given was that, in the last 10% of the throttle, the cost/benefit ratio for power to thrust would not ...
3
votes
5answers
233 views
How to determine the largest LiPo I can use in a quadcopter?
Multirotors can usually operate with a larger battery than recommended for longer flight times but slightly less performance. However, there is a point of diminishing returns at which increasing the ...
4
votes
2answers
92 views
What impact does a shroud have on the torque produced by the prop(s) of a multirotor that incorporates a properly designed shouded propeller?
Based on the research presented here: "Hover and wind-tunnel testing of shrouded rotors for improved micro air vehicle design" and other reading that translates similarly well-designed shroud and ...
6
votes
2answers
155 views
How does a quadcopter flip without falling very much?
I have a quadcopter and it has a flip function (as do many other quadcopters).
I was wondering how this works. Say I am flipping it right (clockwise), I assume the motors on the left spin much faster ...
9
votes
2answers
124 views
Why do a quadcopter's opposite rotors spin in the same direction?
All the quadcopters I've seen have four motors, arranged in a square-like shape. Two of these rotors spin one way, and two of them spin the other way so that the main body of the quadcopter doesn't ...
4
votes
1answer
81 views
What's the purpose of airmode and idle up?
What are airmode and idle up and what do they do improve my freestyle flights?
9
votes
5answers
146 views
How to clean a drone?
I was just flying my drone when I crashed in some tall grass and there are now a bunch of grass bits all over the drone. How can I clean the drone without damaging it?
4
votes
1answer
35 views
What is RPM filtering in Betaflight?
I've seen a lot of buzz lately about the supposed advantages of using the RPM filtering option introduced in Betaflight 4.1. What is it and how does it improve inflight smoothness?
8
votes
2answers
72 views
Can I configure Betaflight in the field without using a laptop?
I often find myself wanting to make adjustments to the settings on my quadcopter in the field, especially when tuning PID settings and rate profiles. I currently bring a laptop with me wherever I go ...
7
votes
1answer
45 views
Which settings in Betaflight allows me to do flips and rolls?
I see a lot of people flipping and rolling their quads, but on my last attempt, it fell out of the sky.
What are the settings in Betaflight that allow them to do this without stopping the motors?
5
votes
3answers
43 views
Keep quadcopter steady when taking a video
Whenever I take a video on my small quadcopter, it’s never steady. It always bounces up and down a bit rather than keeping level. How can this be stopped/prevented?
16
votes
3answers
240 views
How does a quadcopter yaw?
I've always wondered how a quadcopter actually yaws, when all propellers are horizontal. I know that two of the motors spins faster, but I don't understand how that generates thrust in the horizontal ...
1
vote
2answers
126 views
How can I build a drone similar to a DJI Mavic 2?
I want to build a drone with the same functionality as a DJI's Mavic 2. Are there any books/videos/guides available? What would be involved?
I need a flying machine that:
has a good enough camera ...
8
votes
1answer
56 views
Quadcopter return to home function not working
I have a small S49 quadcopter. Whenever I am flying it and initiate Return to Home on the controller, it always returns to the wrong location compared to where it launched from. Sometimes maybe 5/10 ...
4
votes
2answers
71 views
Quadcopter getting hot after a flight
I have a small quadcopter and after around a 10 minute flight, I can feel it gets very hot. Is this normal?
