Questions tagged [quadcopters]
A drone which uses four motors to fly.
45
questions
3
votes
1answer
32 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/...
4
votes
0answers
14 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, ...
1
vote
0answers
27 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
29 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
78 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
67 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
610 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
79 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
64 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
40 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
50 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
56 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
106 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
82 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
47 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
83 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
45 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
86 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 ...
10
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
38 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
66 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
318 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
484 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
73 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
226 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
89 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
149 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
119 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
52 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?
-3
votes
1answer
43 views
What electronic components does every quadcopter need? [closed]
What electronic components does every quadcopter need? What do they do, and how do they all tie in? Where does software come into play?
9
votes
5answers
136 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
33 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
57 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
39 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
38 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
222 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
122 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
54 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
66 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?
4
votes
1answer
40 views
Kk2.1.6 falling in mid air and losing control
I am recently flying my DIY quadcopter built with lightweight aluminum bars and a kk2.1.6.
It was a very good experience until it suddenly started losing control and it fell midair. It tried to gain ...
11
votes
2answers
94 views
Freshly built quadcopter/drone flips on takeoff
I just finished building my first quadcopter/drone and it flips when I try to take off.
What could be wrong?
What troubleshooting steps should I take to fix it?
9
votes
5answers
118 views
New Prebuilt Drone flipping on takeoff
I have a small quadcopter drone, immediately on takeoff it flips upside down, this happens all the time.
What could be a potential problem?
Edit: It is prebuilt and bought from a shop and has never ...
7
votes
3answers
81 views
What process should I use to ensure my motors are spinning the correct direction when using Betaflight
I heard that a lot of problems occur due to one or more motors spinning the wrong direction. What process should I take to ensure that all my motors are spinning the correct direction if I'm using ...
10
votes
4answers
189 views
Why did a quadcopter in vertical descent appear to lose thrust and descend rapidly?
Towards the end of a flight with a quadcopter, I started a vertical descent to come in and land. There was no wind on that particular day so I just came straight down.
Shortly after starting to ...
