Drone News

A super lightweight brushless racer is announced in ARF version from KingKong, the Q90: http://www.banggood.com/Kingkong-Q90-FPV-Brushless-Racer-ARF-wMicro-F3-6DOF-Flight-Controller-16CH-25MW-VTX-800TVL-150-Cam-p-1112678.html In the menu ultra tiny 1103 motors, 6A ESC, 2S system (3S probably not supported), microF3 FC and 800TVL-25mW AIO FPV rig. The weight without battery and receiver is announced to be around 54g. So with the 350mAh battery and 1g receiver… should converge around 75g !!!!. A buzzer is also a must to add. Only 5.8G 16CH are supported by the VTX. Description: Brand: Kingkong Item name: Q90 FPV Brushless Racer Wheelbase: 90mm Motor: 1103 7800KV ESC: 6A Blheli Flight controller: Micro F3 (6DOF) VTX and camera: Q25-mini (16CH 25MW) 800TVL 150° PDB: micro 5V 12V DC Battery: 2S 350mAh 35C Package included: 1 x Kingkong Q90 FPV Kit 1 x Micro F3 flight controller 4 x 1103 7800KV 4 x BLHeli 6A ESC 1 x Q25 (VTX and camera) 1 x Green 3-blade propeller CW 1 x Green 3-blade propeller CCW 1 x Black 3-blade propeller CW 1 x Black 3-blade propeller CCW 1 x 2S 350mAh 35C battery 1 x micro 5V 12V DC 1 x Wrench 1 x 4 pin cable More and more compact machines around the corner. I think it’s a good thing for the general safety…. Cet article NEWS: KingKong Q90, the ultra light brushless racer est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!. View the full article

Eachine produces a lot of quadcopters and some were not very successful. For example, the last Eachine Falcon 210 was clearly underpowered and too heavy. Eachine proposes a new “pro” version still integrating an OSD and a 40CH 5.8G FPV: http://www.banggood.com/Eachine-Falcon-210-Pro-CC3D-Naze32-F3-FPV-Racer-RTF-with-OSD-700TVL-CAM-5_8G-40CH-VTX-i6-Transmitter-p-1112637.html. Now the main structure should be more lighter. 309g is announced versus 380g for the original EF210. 452g here in total versus 485g for the original version. I can still see 2204 motors where last Wizzard integrates 2205 motors a little bit more powerful.Anyway, the main guilty for the original Falcon were the ESC. Here we have some 20A (peak at 30A) supporting oneshot 125 but not multishoot. As many Eachine racers, 3 choices of flight controller is offered: CC3D/Naze 32/SPF3. Description : Remote Control Manual How to Enter the Menu How to safe the setting Connections Brand Name : Eachine Item Name : Falcon 210 Pro ARF Item Specification Features 210Pro Frame Wheelbase : 210mm Thickness : 3mm Dimension: 195 x 170 x 60mm Package : 420 x 270 x 95mm Weigh: 309g (no battery prop) Weight with Battery : 452g Package Weigh: 1.4kg Compatible with 4-5 inch propeller Compatible with 2204 motor Can be used with 4S/3S battery With Seft-protection function With direction indicator LED Inclined motor base design, fast speed Removable protection motor base ESC Model: Fairy-20A Continuous Current: 20A Instantaneous Current(10S): 30A BEC: No Li-Po Battery: 2-4S Weight: 7G Size(without plug): 28 x 15 x 6mm Motor Shaft Lock Protection(donÿt use the other programe, or the funtion will be damaged) Support OneShot 125 Adopt powerful high performance MCU Smaller size and lighter Special for multirotor, more sensitive during flying Strong adaptive ability Support the refresh rate of throttle siginal up to 500Hz,compatible with multi flight controller(notice:>=500Hz is nonstandard throttle siginal) Prevent locked rotor protection No damping light Motor KV:2300 MAX Thrust:440G Length: 32.2MM NO.OF Cell:2-4S Diameter: 27.9MM Framework: 12N14P Shaft:3MM Propeller:5-6 inch Length of cable: about 3.5cm Weight: 25G Flight Controller CC3D / Naze32 6DOF /SP Racing F3 ACRO Battery 3S 11.1V 1500mAh 25C Battery ,XT60 plug 700TVL Cam Power supply: 3.6-5.5V (powered off TX) Power consumption: 60mA @5V Imager: 1/3ÿ CMOS, more than 700TVL Resolution: P:720*576 N:720*480 FOV: 127°diagonal 110°horizontal (ideal for fixed camera) Lens: 2.6mm IR coated FPV tuned light handling NTSC or PAL (selectable; jumper on = PAL). Operation Temperature: -20 to 70°C Square: 24 x 17mm Length includes the Lens and Socket: 32mm Lens extrude (LxDia): 15mm X 14mm Weight: 12g FT200 VTX Modulate: Wideband FM Modulate Video Format: NTSC/PAL Output Impedance: 50 Ohm Output Power: 23-24dBm Channel: 40 CH Operating Voltage: 7V-24V Output Voltage: 3.6-5.5V Supply Current: 190mA Operating Temperature: -10~85 Video Band Width : 0~8.0 MHz Audio Carrier Frequency: 6.5 MHz Video Input Level: 0.8~1.2 Vp-p Video Input Impedance: 75 Ohm Audio Input Level: 0.5~2.0 Vp-p Audio Input Impedance: 10K Ohm Transmitting distance : ~1000m (open area) LED indicators for Fr/Ch Connector: RP-SMA Female Antenna : RP-SMA Male,LHCP Dimension: 38mm x 22.5mm x 6mm Weight: 6g (without antenna) Frequency and channel frequency table: CH CH 1 CH 2 CH 3 CH 4 CH 5 CH 6 CH 7 CH 8 GROUP A 5865 5845 5825 5805 5785 5765 5745 5725 B 5733 5752 5771 5790 5809 5828 5847 5866 E 5705 5685 5665 5645 5885 5905 5925 5945 F 5740 5760 5780 5800 5820 5840 5860 5880 R 5658 5695 5732 5769 5806 5843 5880 5917 i6 Transmitter Channels: 6 Channels Model Type: Glider/Heli/Airplane RF Range: 2.40-2.48GHz Bandwidth: 500KHz Band: 142 RF Power: Less Than 20dBm 2.4ghz System: AFHDS 2A and AFHDS Code Type: GFSK Sensitivity: 1024 Low Voltage Warning: less than 4.2V DSC Port: PS2;Output:PPM Charger Port: No ANT length: 26mm*2(dual antenna) Weight:392g Power: 6V 1.5AA*4 Display mode: Transflective STN positive type, 128*64 dot matrix VA73*39mm,white backlight. Size: 174x89x190mm On-line update:yes Color: Black Certificate: CE0678,FCC Model Memories: 20 Channel Order: Aileron-CH1, Elevator-CH2, Throttle-CH3, Rudder-CH4, Ch 5 & 6 for reserve Works in the frequency range of 2.405 to 2.475GHz. Uses a high gain and high quality multi directional antenna Each transmitter has a unique ID Low power electronic components and sensitive receiver chip. AFHDS2A system has the automatic identification function AFHDS2A has built-in multiple channel coding and error-correction iA6 Receiver Channels: 6 Channels Model Type: Fixed-wing/Glider/Airplane RF Range: 2.40-2.48GHz Bandwidth: 500KHz Band: 142 RF power:less than 20dBm RF.receiver sensitivity:-105dBm 2.4ghz System: AFHDS 2A Code Type: GFSK ANT length: 26mm Weight:6.4g Power:4.0-6.5V Size: 40.4×21.1×7.35mm Color: Black Certificate: CE,FCC i-BUS port: NO Data Acquisition port:NO Package Included: 1 x Falcon 210 PRO Frame Kit 1 x PDB 1 x OSD 4 x Motor Base 4 x 2204 Motor 4 x 20A ESC 1 x Flight Controller 8 x Propeller 1 x Power Connector 4 x LED 1 x 3S Battery 1 x B3 Charger 1 x 700TVL Camera 1 x Camera Mount 1 x 40CH 5.8G VTX 1 x Antenna 1 x Eachine i6 Transmitter In the first glance, improvements are minor…. Anyway, if the pro version solves the underpower problem of the first edition… the pro version can be a nice suprize Cet article NEWS: Eachine Falcon 210 Pro est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!. View the full article

A new booster LiPo for your tinywhoop, a 220mah 1S with 50C as discharge rated around 5g: http://www.banggood.com/Charsoon-3_7V-220mAh-50C-Lipo-Battery-for-for-Blade-Inductrix-Tiny-Whoop-RC-Quadcopter-p-1112623.html Should offer around 4min of flight time in practice (announced 8min but w/o the FPV rig I guess). The big open question is how many cycles, the extra power will be here ? More, the I am doubtfull for the announced 5g where competitor are more around 6g. Description: Brand Name: Charsoon Item Name: Lipo Battery Capacity: 3.7V 220mAh Discharge Rate: 50C Size: 52*11*5mm Weight: 5g Flight time: About 8 minutes Charging time: About 60 minutes Usage: for Blade Inductrix Tiny Whoop RC Quadcopter Note: Do not charger the Lipo battery unattended Do not over charge the Lipo battery Charge the Lipo battery on a heat resistant surface along Do not discharge the Lipo battery Package Included: 1 x Charsoon 3.7V 220mah Battery Cet article NEWS: Charsoon 220mAh, 50C Tinywhoop LiPo around 5g est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!. View the full article

INTRODUCTION The mobius was and probably still is the most popular compact and light camera, the faithfull compagnon for many many fliying machines. Recently was introduced the Mobius 2 integrating the 1080p@60 fps, an answer to the runcam HD2. Now under the bench, it’s the Mobius Mini, nothing else than a shrinked Mobius 2 with a total weight of 27g !!! The camera targets compact machines for examples quadcopter from 100mm … This mobius still allow you to film in 1080p@60…. That’s great. BOX CONTENT The mobius mini comes with a nice white packaging with a magnetic lock. Everything is well protected inside + 1 x Mobius mini (with a builtin 1S 300mAh battery) + 1 x USB charging cable + 1 x USB to AV cable + 1 x Tripod mount + 1 x Velcro band + 1 x Lens cap No instruction manual…. every informations can be found online here: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?2697022-Mobius-Mini-Support-Thread-(READ-Posts-1-7-BEFORE-posting-questions) OVERVIEW The möbius mini is obvoiusly more compact and versus the möbius first edition, the gain in dimension is also important and by the way more compatible with tiny systems. I would dream a full orange mini-Mobius camera …. much more easy to find when lost into the grass…. Not only the Mobius mini is able to film in 1080@60fps but also offers a 1440p@30fps… List of all supported video modes are: 1920×1440@30fps, 1920×1080@60/50/48/30/25/24 fps, 1280×720@ 120/100/60/50 fps, 848×480@240 fps For example, we have the 848×480@240 video mode for slow motion capture All videos mode as well as all the different settings can be tuned via the same GUI software common for the Mobuis 1, Mobius 2 and Mobius mini (available here http://www.mytempfiles.info/mobiusmini/index.html) -FRONT VIEW The lens offers a FOV of 110 degrees but ….. no protection for it in case of frontal crash. The lens is in not common size, a M9 format. -SIDE VIEW Still coming in only black edition, the mobius mini now offshores buttons on latteral sides.. IMHO, it’s a better configuration since sometime you can have some elements installed on it triggering by accident the former Mobius model. The right side welcomes the power button (long press on it to turn on/off the camera) and the microSD slot. Be aware, to enjoy full fps video mode resolutions, you will need at least a class 10 microSD card. If lower, the mobius mini will detect it automatically and decrease the frame rate to the maximum supported by the microSD card. A good point IMHO. The left side welcomes the shutter and video mode buttons. The first one triggers the recording/photo shooting while the second cyles between video mode 1/ video mode 2 and photo mode. If you connected the AVout cable, a fourth playback mode will be available. When Video mode 1 is selected, you have a yellow LED color, flashing when recording. The lED turns to blue for the video mode 2 and red for photo. The LED light can be seen from the top and the left side simultaneously. A good point. More is turned on, another red rear light can added too. -REAR VIEW The central connector is a miniUSB port (as for the M1 & M2). As soon as you plug a miniUSB cable, the LED turns to green synonym of charging mode. When the internal 300mAH LiPo is charged the green light turns off. When plugged to a PC, the associated mtorage media is also opened to retrieve for example recorded videos/photos. On the right side of the miniUSB port, you have a small hole where you can insert a thin tip to press a reset button. This button is in practice important since time to time, the camera even with the actuall firmware can crash. You will need to reset by pressing the reset button while turning on the camera. So it’s strongly advised to have with you such tiny instrument. It happens to my mobius mini when I received it. It was impossible to turn on it. When the USB cable was inserted, the green light where there…. but impossible to turn on the camera. I had to charge a bit the LiPo then proceed to a full reset. After this first “bad” episode, the camera crashed only once during some settings modification from the GUI but never (yet) on the field while filming. Don’t be scarry, with the last firmare (0.58 actually) crashes occur rarely. I am sure futur firmwares will improve the situation. -UPPER VIEW -BOTTOM VIEW You can see a metal structure to attach the camera tripod but playing the role of heatsink for the main processor. -WEIGHT A super light 27g versus for example 45.1g for lens for edition of the mobius with the lens C2 To be more precise, all elements are weighting: Stock camera (with battery & card)……… 27g Battery (300 mAH)……………………….6g Circuit board…………………………..6g Lens module and ribbon cable……………..4g Case Top……………………………….3g Case Bottom with heat sink and buttons…… 8g -LATENCY If the first original Mobius suffered of high latency (> 100ms) incompatible in practice with FPV racing, can we expect an improved situation for the Mini ? Here are some couple of photos for the 1080p@60 and 720p@60 with and without recording – 1080p@60 w/o recording – 1080p@60 w/ recording – 720p@60 w/o recording – 720p@60 w/ recording As you can see, no influence of the recording for the latency and is in avergage is around 65ms…. acceptable for most FPV applications but not for ultra racing FPV conditions. The latency is so slightly superior to the runcam HD 2 (~40ms) UNBOXING, ANALYSIS AND TESTING As you can see with recorded videos, the quality is very close to the runcam HD2 and it’s pretty good. With the default settings for both, maybe the mini is a little bit overexposed. Also since the FOV is narrowrer for the mini versus the runcam HD2, maybe the light adaptation/WDR when front the sun is inferiour. You can also observe unfortunatly more lens flares effect… the lens quality is inferior to the runcam HD2 for sure. I was able to record around 15min consecutively without problem. I don’t advice to push more this limit. Of course by default, the möbius mini record videos with 5min of lengh’s clip. At least you won’t loose all your flight session. CONCLUSIONS The third mobius camera inherits from all the goodies of ancestor: a really good GUI with ton of settings, easy manipulation and still with the great video quality. The massive argument is the 27g…. just amazing … and more, you can save some little grams if you plan to power it directly via the USB. THE AVout part is also improved with a lower latency (65ms) almost 100% FPV friendly With last firmware, the Mobius mini is reletively stable but can crash time to time during recording or at boot. Always think to have a fine tip instrument to reset the camera if happens. I would dream of a orange mini möbius with removable battery… PROS + Super light camera (27g) + Great 1080p@60 quality + Many options available from the GUI software + ~60ms of latency CONS – No removable battery – Crash time to time (need a very thin tip to reset) – Lens not protected – Lens flares – No colored version This camera have been courtesy provided by Banggood in order to make a fair and not biased review. I would like to thank them for this attitude. You can find it actually for 70USD at http://www.banggood.com/Mobius-Mini-1080P-110-Degree-Wide-Angle-Super-Light-FPV-Full-HD-Camera-DashCam-60FPS-H_264-AVC-p-1092165.html Cet article TEST: Mobius Mini, the 27g HD cam est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!. View the full article

Got a drone as a present, and never flown before? Check out this video from the FAA on drone safety, posted to remind folks how to stay safe during the holiday season (and all year round!). This is especially useful for anyone new to flying drones, but not a bad refresher for all of us, even those who are old hands at piloting an sUAS. Here are some key points from the video: Register your drone before flying it at FAA.GOV/UAS. Be safe. Keep in mind that a drone is an aircraft, and it’s your responsibility to fly safely. Don’t fly over groups of people, and be mindful of privacy when piloting your drone. Avoid flying near other aircraft and in restricted airspace. You can download the free B4UFLY app from the FAA to see where you can and can’t pilot your sUAS, which is worth doing since there may be some surprises—for instance, did you know that national parks have special restrictions regarding drones? Just getting started flying a multirotor drone? Check out our free resource, How to Fly a Quadcopter—The Ultimate Guide to help you learn the basics. Also, if you’re new to flying drones and don’t live in the U.S., you may find our Ultimate Guide to Drone Laws helpful. Happy flying! The post FAA Releases Holiday Safety Video for Flying Drones appeared first on UAV Coach. View the full article

Small is beautiful …. and also < 250g :). Here is another rodeo model from walkera, the 110mm version: http://www.banggood.com/Walkera-Rodeo-F110-110mm-FPV-Racing-Drone-w-600TVL-HD-Camera-5_8GHz-40CH-Transmission-BNF-RTF-p-1111956.html The machine includes a SPF3 FC board, a 40CH 5.8G VTX but be aware either a 25mW or up to 600mW version. No possibility to choose when ordering which version. It’s written it’s upgraded. The FPV rig includes a small OSD. The machine is powered with a 2S system but no mention if 3S can be supported.The total weight should not exceed 200g. The main structure seems in plastic. The machine can be found in BNF and RTF versions. Specification: Specification Walkera Rodeo F110 Size:101x117x55mm Weight:101g(not include the battery) Remote Control DEVO 7 2.4GHz DSSS Frequency Hopping ≤100mW Output Power ≤230mA(100mW) Current Consumption use 5# battery 8×1.5V or NiMH 8×1.2V 1600-2000mAh 1000-2000mS (the neutral point is 1500) Output pulse Receiver Rodeo 110 Flight Control Rodeo 110 F3 Transmission 40 Channels TX5834(FCC)/TX5835(CE)(Including OSD) 25mW(CE)~100mW(FCC)~600mW (Can be Upgradeable) Transmission power (600mW) Transmission Distance 500M Camera PAL/NTSC 600TVL HD Sony Resolution 1.0Vp-p/75 Video Output DC 12V Power Input Brushless Motor WK-WS-13-002A Brushless ESC Rodeo 110 Lipo Battery 7.4V 850mAh 25C 2S Li-Po Flying Time 7 ~ 8 minutes Working temperature -10℃~+40℃ Features: 1.Combined with a strong brushless motor power and high-strength carbon fiber frame kit 2.Front-view lighting, HD camera and 5.8GHz real-time transmission, allowing you to be barrier-free flight in the dark indoor 3.With the size and weight of the hollow-cup aircraft, the violent acceleration of the racing drones allows you to indulge in the fun of flying indoors 4.Redeo110 uses integrated PCB circuit board, inherit PDB, flight control, transmission, receiver and other modules in one, the size is only 33mmx68mm, significant savings in space and weight, in order to obtain a smaller size and greater Thrust – weight ratio. 5.Core components closed modular design, power transfer, map-chip are plug-in installation, easy installation and disassembly, easy to post-maintenance, maintenance Package included: BNF Version: 1 x Walkera Rodeo F110 frame kit 1 x Receiver 1 x 600 TVL Camera 1 x Transmission 4 x Brushless Motor 4 x Brushless ESC 1 x Battery 1 x Charger RTF Version: 1 x DEVO 7 Remote Control 1 x Walkera Rodeo F110 frame kit 1 x Receiver 1 x 600 TVL Camera 1 x Transmission 4 x Brushless Motor 4 x Brushless ESC 1 x Battery 1 x Charger Cet article NEWS: Walkera Rodeo 110 est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!. View the full article

Sorry for slow news update, I am actually in Barcelona for the biggest conference in machine Learning with robotic applications. We had a superb demo of Boston dynamics robots Amazing progress are done … now it’s enven scarry. Not a lot of drones with inboard Machine Learning/computer vision but it will come very soon now Expect me back next Sunday with the Mobius min and the Eacchine Racer 130 review (You can check my YT channels for the first videos) Cet article NEWS: SeByDocKy @NIPS2016 est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!. View the full article

New startup incubator Reimagine Drone located in Barcelona looks to grow the international drone industry. Barcelona, Spain – December 6, 2016 – Last month emerging technology hardware accelerator Brinc announced the launch of Reimagine Drone, the first drone services incubator program based in Barcelona. In partnership with Incubio, a leading big data startup accelerator, the program will serve as a global platform for leveraging the use of commercial drones to unveil a new generation of services and applications disrupting categories, including virtual reality, augmented reality, 360 drone user experiences, data analytics, computer vision, surveying and mapping, deployment systems, and more. The program will be overseen by the Brinc Technical Head of Reimagine Drone, Heriberto Saldivar Massimi, who will work with startups to develop applications in a variety of industries including agriculture, construction, mining, insurance, videography, cinematography, oil & gas, and utilities. Heriberto, both an aerospace and a mechatronics engineer, has developed autonomous vehicles, aerodynamics and engines, and was most recently with Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s High-speed Therm-fluid and MAV/UAV Laboratory, where he developed software to help design the next generation of space vehicles and planes. “At Incubio we offer a global startup ecosystem combined with strong curriculum and continuous training to offer the entrepreneurs in our program access to the resources they need to rapidly create a business,” said Simon Lee, co-founder and managing director of Incubio. “By partnering with Brinc, we can now give entrepreneurs looking to jumpstart their hardware startup but without knowledge of Asia the depth of expertise that comes from an accelerator with locations in Hong Kong and China and a compelling opportunity to develop, validate, and build a drone services business in Barcelona.” The deadline to submit applications was supposed to be November 25, but it looks like the application window has been extended, since the ReImagine website still shows applications as open. Once applications close, the first batch of semi-finalists will be entered into a 2-month pre-accelerator program, which will run at Incubio and consist of a combination of a customized online Lean Startup curriculum and in-house technical support, training, and mentorship. During this time the semi-finalists will also compete to be one of three finalists for the incubator program starting in February 2017. The three finalists announced in February 2017 will go on to participate in the incubator program where, in exchange for 6% equity, they will receive access to the latest drone prototyping tools and technology, 5,000 pounds ($6,368 dollars) in financing to cover costs, mentorship from IT, legal and accounting professionals, free housing in Barcelona, 200 hours of specialist time to refine execution, and opportunities to exhibit at The Drone Show and pitch at the Internet of Life Summit. The program will culminate with a demo day on May 31, 2017. “With Brinc’s accelerator platform located in the center of manufacturing that is the Pearl River Delta (PRD) and collective experience working with entrepreneurs from all over the world, from concept to commercialization, we can’t wait to join forces with Incubio to combine our platforms and offer startups the education and resources traditionally reserved for companies located in Asia to build the next generation of drone based services and applications,” said Manav Gupta, CEO and founder of Brinc. The three finalists ultimately selected in February 2017 for the incubator program will receive: €50,000 ($63,680 dollars) at the end of the program for those who demonstrate the most traction €5,000 ($6,368 dollars) up front, to cover costs Access to the latest drone prototyping tools and technology 200 hours of on-demand, one-to-one support on key aspects of their business Multiple points of exposure in Europe and in Asia, with the opportunity to exhibit at the Drone Show BCN in March 2017 and pitch at Brinc’s Internet of Life Summit in April 2017 in Hong Kong The opportunity to network with hardware investors in Asia and meet with the local hardware ecosystem, including government and manufacturers, during the world’s largest consumer electronics trade shows, such as HKTDC and Global Sources The development of marketing strategy, research, and materials through Reimagine Drone’s in-house research center Highly-customized support to help successfully build a go-to market strategy and test it For more information visit reimaginedrone.com. To apply (while applications are still open) go to https://www.f6s.com/reimaginedrone or email incubator@reimaginedrone.com for more details. Want to learn more about where the drone industry is headed? Check out these drone companies to watch, as well as these 10 startup drone companies we profiled a little while back. The post Brinc and Incubio Launch Reimagine Drone, Barcelona’s First Dedicated Drone Services Incubator appeared first on UAV Coach. View the full article

After the excellent Eachine E010 clone, here is the C version directly integrating a 800TVL AIO FPV cam: http://www.banggood.com/Eachine-E010C-Micro-FPV-Raicng-Quadcopter-With-800TVL-40CH-25MW-CMO-Camera-45C-Battery-p-1110786.html The machine includes a 150mah 45C LiPo. Flight time is announced to be around 3.5min but in practice will be around 2min. The E10C should adopt the same radio protocol than the E010, already deviated. Decription: Brand name:Eachine E010c Item name: Micro Raicng Quadcopter With 800TVL 40CH 25MW VTX 1/3 “CMOS FPV Camera Quacopter size:9.5*9.5*5cm Box size:14*8.6*11cm Gyro: 6-axis Frequency: 2.4G Channel:4CH Body weight:78g Camera VTX weight:3.8g Body battery:3.7V 45C 150MAH (included) Transmitter battery:2*1.5AA (not included) Charging time:30~50 mins Flight time:about 3.5 mins Remote control distance:30 meters Color:Black red,Black green 800TVL 40CH 25MW VTX 1/3 “CMOS FPV Camera Camera: Sensor: 1/3 “CMOS Clarity: M7 800TVL camera View Angle: 150° FOV horizontal view angle 170° DFOV opposite view angle Signal system: NTSC/PAL (one-button switch) Power consumption: 380mA@3.7V Operating voltage: 3.6-5.5V Lens mirror diameter: 2.1mm IR coated FOV150(Level) Transmitter: Supporting video system: NTSC/PAL Output impedance: 75 Ohm Operating signal intensity: 23~24dBm Output power: 25mW Wireless channel: 40CH Operating voltage: 3.6V~5.5V Current: 100mA Sound carrier: 6.5MHz Transmit Frequency Table: Band A : 5865,5845,5825,5805,5785,5765,5745,5725 Band B : 5733,5752,5771,5790,5809,5828,5847,5866 Band E : 5705,5685,5665,5645,5885,5905,5925,5945 Band F : 5740,5760,5780,5800,5820,5840,5860,5880 Band R : 5658,5695,5732,5769,5806,5843,5880,5917 Weight: 3.8g Size: 26x20x18mm (without antenna) Function: 1.Camerapicture comparable to CCD 2.True wideangle lens 150° FOV Horizontal viewing angle 170° DFOV diagonal viewing angle 3.Ultra-low power, ultra-lightweight, extremely suitable for smaller aircraft 4.Turn to the R channel,ABEF 4 indicator lights bright,can choose1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8 Features: – FPV first-person perspective flight (indoor crossing) – Up / Down / Forward / Backward / Left Turn / Right Turn / Left Fly / Right Fly – Rudder speed( high and slow speed) – 361° turning, Pattern tumbling – One key return, easily recalled – Headless mode ,compass headless ,flight with remote control – Lithium battery and USB cable with protection – Breakthrough conventional wind blades, the flight stability is more powerful Package included: 1x Quadcopter 1x Transmitter 1x 800TVL + 40CH 25MW VTX 1/3 “CMOS FPV Camera 1x USB Charging cable 1x 3.7V 150MAH 45C battery 4x Blades 1x Manual For 37 USD, the price is just great …. almost impossible to beat. Cet article NEWS: Eachine E010C, the direct & cheap FPV tiny whoop clone est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!. View the full article

Back in September we were excited to announce the launch of the Karma, GoPro’s very first foray into the drone market. It was foldable, and featured a detachable stabilizer that could be used to make non-aerial, handheld shots more steady, along with a rugged, outdoor-ready travel case. But as you may have heard, GoPro’s first attempt at breaking into the drone market has essentially failed due to several of the Karmas dropping from the sky due to sudden power loss. Given the number of Karmas that have failed, GoPro has issued a general recall. Image Source The Impact on GoPro’s Business It’s no secret that GoPro isn’t doing so well. To quote The Verge: GoPro announced its first quarter earnings today, and the details were fairly bleak. It saw its revenue drop by 49.5 percent from the same period in 2015, and it swung from a $22 million profit to a $121 million loss. The company also announced that its new drone, the Karma, will be delayed until the winter holiday. It was originally slated to be released in the first half of this year. What GoPro Is Doing to Make Things Right—and Why It Matters But wait! This is not the full story. While the Karma recall could be a story about failure, we prefer to see it as a story about company culture and doing right by people. Even though GoPro has had to issue a recall—which is certainly frustrating for consumers and GoPro manufacturers alike—they are doing right by those effected, and offering those Karma buyers who return their drone a free Hero5 Black camera. This is a big deal not just because they’re offering something for free, but because what they’re offering is GoPro’s top-of-the-line action camera, just released last month in October. How cool is that? We’ve been excited to see other demonstrations of transparency and ethics in the drone industry, such as the open communication DJI kept with consumers when they faced a delay delivering the Mavic Pro, and that’s why we choose to see a silver lining in this story. Usually, when a company is failing is the time they do everything they can to cut losses. This almost always extends into how customers are treated. For GoPro to stick to their integrity at a time like this seems to be a clear indicator of their culture, and if they do swing back up, we like to think that those values will be an integral part of their return. The post GoPro Offers Free Camera to Karma Drone Buyers appeared first on UAV Coach. View the full article

– Mobius Mini: http://www.banggood.com/Mobius-Mini-1080P-110-Degree-Wide-Angle-Super-Light-FPV-Full-HD-Camera-DashCam-60FPS-H_264-AVC-p-1092165.html – Eachine Racer 130: http://www.banggood.com/Eachine-Racer-130-Naze32-FPV-Racer-Drone-RTF-with-HD-ActionCam-700TVL-Camera-p-1080548.html – Eachine V-tail 210: http://www.banggood.com/Eachine-V-tail-210-FPV-Drone-1080P-HD-DVR-SP-Racing-F3-5_8G-40CH-200mW-VTX-OSD-w-Eachine-I6-RTF-p-1100100.html Cet article NEWS: SeByDocKy’s weekly news #58 est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!. View the full article

This is a pre-release version of the Youbi XV-130 review. More videos and details will be added later INTRODUCTION Here is a more or less a direct clone of the Rotor-X Atom V2 with the Youbi XV-130, a compact 130mm brushless racer with strong 1306 motors and 20A BLheli_S ESC. The direct inspiration of the Atom V2 is obvious with 3″ quadri-blades props. Let’s compare/highlight the difference/improvement of the Youbi XV-130 versus the orignal non-chinese version. The first main avantage of the youbi is clearly the price… close to three times more cheaper. BOX CONTENT + 1 x Youbi XV-130 + 4 x Spare props (2 CW, 2 CCW) + 2 x Receiver plugs (1 for PPM, 1 for SBUS) + 2 x Battery velcro straps + 1 x Instruction manual (English/Chinese) OVERVIEW As said previously, the copy with the Atom V2 is clear, the type of profiled canopy. Here the canopy’s plastic quality is correct, but won’t resist to a massive crash. On top, a 5.8G linear antenna installed vertically. In comparaison with Tarot TL130H1, where 1104 more are prefered. -FRONT VIEW -SIDE VIEW Any visible port to tune settings for the SPF3 board… no choice you will have to remove the top canopy section A basic mod consists in create a direct USB port access…. -REAR VIEW A novolty,for the Youbi XV-130 instead of JST or XT 60 connector, we have here a XT30, smaller and lighter connector. -UPPER VIEW The gap between the canopy and props is very narrow. 3-4mm for front and even less for the rear section It means, that after each crash, you will be to check of arms are not bent since despite 2mm of section, there are still flexible. To hold your receiver’s antenna, you can drill small holes through the canopy -BOTTOM VIEW A unibody lower plate of 3K carbon of 2mm of thickness. Be aware, the arms remains a little bit flexible. If you break an arm, you will have to disassemble everything. -WEIGHT With a 4S 500mAh LiPo, the total weight don’t exceed 190g Motors Strong 1306 motors, 3600 Kv are installed, 10g each Shaft section is 4mm (like the XK X251) In comparaison with 1104 tarot motors Props are 3″ models quadriblades, to more precise some 3030 model LiPo I opted for a light and compact 4S 500mAh LiPo directly equiped of the XT30 connector IMHO, the best choice should be a 600-700mAh model still in 4S. Camera module Announced to be a 600TVL CMOS PAL camera with 100 degrees of FOV. As you can see, the camera is installed on a 3D printed suppert inclided of 15 degrees approximatively. No possibility to tune the uptilt angle unfortunatly for agressive FPV flights, the default angle is not enough…. More the light sensitivity is really poor and in practice, you can be completly blind face to the sun. The same symptom as for the Tarot TL130H1 … Probably no associated WDR. A raw video sample For high throttle inputs, some jellos/vibration are noticable. maybe by inserting some foam elements around the camera, the effect can be reduced. Better PIDs/TPA settings should help too. If you don’t like the default 100 degrees for the FPV, the lens thread is in M7 format, so easy to find a replacement candidate Video transmitter A unique white button nearby the RP-SMA connector permits to select the frequency band (5 bands supported), the frequency and output power mode. To enter into the band selection, press 2s the button. Then band letters should cycle. When you favorite band is selected, short press the button. Then by short pressing, you can select one of the 8 internal frequencies. To save the configuration, long press 2s the button. A small red dot should appear in lower right position. To select the output power, you have to keep pressed 6s the button. Then pressing the button 3 digits are displayed. 1 for 25mW, 2 for 200mW and 3 for 400mW. One more time press 2s to save the setup. Disassembling Remove the two M2 hewscrews on top and open it by rear side first after the installation of your favorite receiver For me a Superior Hobby FrSky D8 SBUS SRP8 model the microUSB port of the SPF3 board on the right side Below, 2 free UART ports where you can plug an OSD board if you want The left side welcomes the receiver port. Two cables are given either for PPM or SBUS connexions The RP-SMA connector is mounted vertically. During a major crash, the connector can be damaged Maybe by adding some hot glue around, it could help to secure the system The bottom face of this upper board is nothing else than the SPF3 section. You can notice the absence of a buitlin buzzer… desipite to be a must to have for such compact size. The inner board is the 4-in-1 ESC/PDB board. ESC are rated 20A and supporting BLHeli_S technology. Be aware by default, oneshoot 125 is selected in betaflight, not multishoot. If you select multishoot (advise), you will need to change the minimum throttle to 1040 and minimum command to 990. Maybe we can regret non-individual ESC but the system would have been more heavier too. UNBOXING, ANALYSIS, CONFIGURATION AND FIRST DEMO FLIGHT CONCLUSIONS The positive points of the Youbi XV-130 is clearly the1306-BLheli_S ESC combo offering in practice a huge amount of power for such compact size. The SPF3 FC brings also super fast PIDs loop for ultra smooth flights. Announced to be sold around 130 USD, the price represents also the massive argument in favor of the Youbi. Anyway, this product is far to be perfect…. especially the FPV camera is a really poor in term of light sensitivity where you can be almost blind for under-exposed areas. If you are interested by this machine, it’s strongly advise to upgrade the FPV cam asap. The flexibility of arms seems to introduce also some vibrations at high throttle inputs. Better TPA ajustements and probably introduction of foam should reduce this artefact. PROS + Design cloning the Rotor-X Atom V2 + 20A BLheli_S ESC + SPF3 board + Flashed with last Betaflight + Strong and powerfull machine + 3 VTX output powers (25mW, 200mW, 400mW) + 3K Carbon based CONS – Poor light sensitivy of the FPV camera – No direct USB access – No builtin buzzer – FPV camera uptilt angle blocked – Frequency list table partially false – Vibrations for high throttle inputs – Flexible 2mm arms – 5.8G Linear antenna – (no OSD) This quadcopter have been courtesy provided by Banggood in order to make a fair and not biased review. I would like to thank them for this attitude. You can find it actually for 28USD at http://www.banggood.com/Cheerson-CX-10C-CX10C-Mini-2_4G-4CH-6-Axis-RC-Quadcopter-with-Camera-RTF-p-989909.html Cet article TEST: Youbi XV-130, the rotor-X Atom V2 clone est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!. View the full article

INTRODUCTION The nano/pico-quadcopter, hexacopter fashion year is not yet over. We have a new model from JJRC, a shrinked of their popular H20, i.e. JJRC H20 mini. All 2016 classic ingredients are here: headless, one key return but not altitulde hold and I think it’s good thing :). The H20 mini offer the possibility to swap the battery for a new one in a fraction of second… Let’s discover the details BOX CONTENT + 1 x JJRC H20 mini (with 2 x 1S 120mAh LiPo with mini-JST connector) + 1 x Transmitter (using 2xAAA batteries not included) + 1 x USB charging cable + 6 x Spare props (3 CW, 3 CCW) + 6 x Prop guards + 1 x Spare LiPo + 1 x Instruction manual (English/chinese) OVERVIEW In term of size, it’ 45mm machine, ultra tiny more a pico machine than a nano and comparable with the Fayee FY805. For beginners, prop guards can be installed. They add only 0.3g -FRONT VIEW As said previously, the H20 mini is really a shrinkage of the H20 in term of design. No large and super bright LEDs unfortunatly. The blue lights are almost invisible in daylights and don’t help to keep orientation. -SIDE VIEW -REAR VIEW The mini-JST connector is here as well as a tiny switch. It’s always a good thing when a power switch is available. The rear LEDs lights are weak too… and as for the front ones, don’t really help to keep orientation -UPPER VIEW -BOTTOM VIEW A battery bay to welcome the LiPo The LiPo fills all the battery compartement. No real possibility to install a more stronger model, maybe a 150mah maxiumum. -WEIGHT 12.6g … with the battery super light!!! Don’t expect miracle for outdoors flights even with a very small breeze. Motors Motors are 4mmx12mm coreless motors, the smallest size available for such motors. LiPo 1 cell LiPo 120mAh with 20C for discharge rate. The battery uses 1.25mm mini-JST connector with inverted polarities… So don’t mix your H20 mini batteries with some other. You can have big troubles Transmitter A gamepad style radio but nice to grab. Sticks are clearly adapted for thumbers… No pinchers extra sticks in the bundle. The left sticks when clicked on turns on/off the headless mode. The rear light blinks correspondively. For the right stick, it’s the one key return…. in practice as usual a return to somewhere. The top left panel button selects one of the three speed mode. The ultimate ones offers the same rate as for the intermediate except for the yaw rate…., the machines spins crazy in this mode adapted to played with headless mode. The top right activates manual flips. The bottom right permits to calibrate gyros/accelero. In the rear compartement, you can recharge the quadcopter LiPo. It takes 20-30mm for the job. It’s perfect, if you far from any wall socket/USB port. The total weight is pretty light ideal for transportation, office break, etc… I tried without success to bind & control machine with all DeviationTX XN297 protocols based. In fact, I believe the H8-3D protocol binds the machine but you can’t control :(…. So a little modification of this protocol should be done to hack it. UNBOXING, ANALYSIS AND DEMO FLIGHT The machine flies beautifully and stable. Rates are well tuned even the last with the headless mode turned one. The flight time is good, more than 5min. When LVC alarms is here, the LiPo is @3.5V. So don’t abuse of flight machine in LVC conditions. The lights are not so visible and beyond 10m it’s hard to keep your orientation. The machine is not ultra sporty despite the presence of six motors. Punchout are limited. As said previously, it’s a beginner machine but fun & stable to fly with. CONCLUSIONS The JJRC H20 mini is first of all good picohexacopter, without major bad points. Clearly targetting beginners, the machine is durable, easy to fly and offer a spare battery to extend your pleasure. The price is also good and the H20 mini can represent the typical little techgift for Xmas. PROS + Full transportable nanohexacopter + Durable machine + 3 well tuned speed modes + Removable LiPo + Spare LiPo + 5min if flight time + Possibility to recharge batteries via the transmitter + Cheap CONS – Unicolor props – Poor LEDs visibility – YaP (Yet another protocol) – Not outdoors machine RCgroups thread: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?2788160-JJRC-H20-mini-another-picohexa-(in-erly-construction) This quadcopter have been courtesy provided by Banggood in order to make a fair and not biased review. I would like to thank them for this attitude. You can find it actually for 17USD at http://www.banggood.com/JJRC-H20-Mini-2_4G-4CH-6Axis-Headless-Mode-One-Key-Return-Nano-Hexacopter-RTF-p-1082624.html Cet article TEST: JJRC H20 mini, another picohexacopter est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!. View the full article

Recently we wrote about DroneBase, the startup that crowdsources aerial photography and videography. DroneBase has a new pilot program that allows UAV pilots to find local work and get paid incredibly easily, and it’s taking off like wildfire. Following a traditional crowdsourcing model, DroneBase makes it easy for those people with the skills and UAVs needed to do high quality aerial photography and videography to connect with those clients who need their services. Clients now include construction companies, Hilton hotels, Allstate insurance, Zillow, commercial real estate giants CBRE and JLL and Keller Williams, the largest realtor by number of agents. Dan Burton, DroneBase’s founder and CEO, recently told TechCrunch it was “really rewarding” to pay some pilots as much as $50,000 a year. In addition, DroneBase is projecting 700% revenue growth this year 2015 to 2016. Below is a picture of DroneBase CEO Dan Burton speaking live about their crowdsourcing model and how they are leveraging UAV pilots everywhere to bring in high quality aerial images and videos. Image Source Funding News DroneBase recently raised $3 million in Series A funding, with previous investor Union Square Ventures leading the funding round. This round of funding brings DroneBase’s total funding up to $5 million. Other investors in this round are Upfront Ventures, Accel Partners and DJI. DroneBase and DJI DJI is one of DroneBase’s biggest partners, a big indicator that DroneBase is here to stay. One benefit of the partnership is that using the same hardware allows the footage DroneBase collects to be easily standardized. “All the jobs we’ve done, we’ve done every single one on a DJI drone,” Burton says. “It removes hardware as a variable.” How does this standardization play out in day-to-day operations? DroneBase did monthly check-ups on 40 construction sites across the country for one company, and the reports from Arizona and Florida are directly comparable, as you can see in the image below. Says Burton, “We’re actively flying in all 50 U.S. states and 30 countries. Any address in the United States, we can get you drone imagery and data in 48 hours, for almost always under $500.” Interested in working for DroneBase yourself? Learn more about the FAA certification process, or contact DroneBase directly if you’re already certified. The post DroneBase Projects 700% Revenue Growth This Year appeared first on UAV Coach. View the full article

If you don’t want or not able to mod the indutrix or the Eachine E010 to have a full FPV tinyWhoop, there is the Malerfire MICRO ready to go for you: http://www.gearbest.com/multi-rotor-parts/pp_591322.html With this new chinese machine, you have already a F3 evo board with a buitlin DSM2 receiver, a 520TVL CMOS camera and strong & fast 0615 coreless motors. The announced flight time with the 200mAh is around 5min. The price is correct too …. can be a super popular machine. The FPV antenna have been replaced for a little bit less efficient but more robust linear antenna…. Could be the perfect winter compagnon Main Features: – DSM 8CH receiver, compatible with Spektrum DSM2 DSMX transmitters – 615 high PRM coreless motors offer you the desirable velocity – Fascinating FPV experience with high speed and camera tilting up at 10 degree – 5.8G 40CH 25mW video transmitter, 520TVL camera with 120 degree FOV NTSC / PAL switchable – F3 EVO brushed flight controller supports CleanFlight and BetaFlight – 3.7V 200mAh 35C LiPo battery – 64mm, 22g, as big as your palm, extremely portable – Colorful LED board at the rear helps to know the direction – Ducted fan design effectively reduces the air resistance – Plug-in modular design, namely, soldering is unnecessary Specifications: Flight controller: F3 EVO with STM32 F303 MCU Receiver: DSM 2.4GHz 8CH Video transmission: 5.8G 40CH 25mW Video resolution: 520TVL Receive distance: 300m Motor: 615 coreless motors with 65000 RPM Battery: 3.7V 200mAh 35C Flight time: about 5 minutes Charge time: 30 minutes Charging method: USB Additional gimbal installation: not feasible All ingredients sound good …. Wait & see … I am pretty sure than BG will sell also the same machine with another name …. Cet article NEWS: Markerfire MICRO, the “ready to go” TinyWhoop est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!. View the full article

After the excellent Falcon 250, the mediocre Falcon 210, the medium Falcon 180, here is a new shrinked model, the falcon 120: http://www.banggood.com/Eachine-Falcon-120-CC3D-NAZE32-F3-FPV-Racer-ARF-with-4-IN-1-ESC-700-TVL-Camera-5_8G-40CH-VTX-p-1109801.html We have a pure X-FPV compact & beasty facer with 20A BLHeli_S ESC, 700 TVL CMOS FPV cam and 40CH 5.8G 200mW VTX. For the FC, three options are offered: CC3D, Naze32 and SPF3. It comes in ARF version, so you will need to plug you own receiver and LiPo (4S is advised). Motors are 1806 !!! for such size, it will be a rocket especially in 4S. Without battery and receiver, the frame weights already 184g, so should reach around 280-290g with a 1000mAh LiPo. Specification Features Falcon 120 Frame Package :265*215*110mm Weigh: 184g (no battery) Package Weigh: 232g Compatible with 3 inches propeller Compatible with 1806 motor Can be used with 4S/3S battery With direction indicator LED ESC Model: BLHELI-S 20A Continuous Current: 20A Instantaneous Current(10S): 25A BEC: 5V 1.5A LBEC Li-Po Battery: 2-4S Weight: 19G Size(without plug): 36 x 36mm Support DSHOT Motor KV:2300 1806 Configuration: NP Weight: 25G Stator Diameter: 23mm Shaft Diameter: M5 Motor Dimensions(Dia.*Len): F23×19.5mm Weight (g): 22.5g Voltage: 2-3S No.of Cells(Lipo): 2-3S Max Continuous current(A): 7.6A Max Continuous Power(W):84.4W Flight Controller CC3D / F3 / Naze32 700TVL Cam Power supply: 3.6-5.5V (powered off TX) Power consumption: 60mA @5V Imager: 1/3ÿ CMOS, more than 700TVL Angle: 127° diagonal FOV, 110° horizontal FOV FPV tuned light handling NTSC or PAL (selectable; jumper on = PAL). Lens: 2.6mm IR coated FOV: 127°diagonal 110°horizontal (ideal for fixed camera) Operation Temperature: -20 to 70°C Square: 32 X 32 X 23.5mm Lens extrude (LxDia): 15mm X 14mm Weight: 12g FT200 VTX Modulate: Wideband FM Modulate Video Format: NTSC/PAL Output Impedance: 50 Ohm Output Power: 23-24dBm Channel: 40 CH Operating Voltage: 7V-24V Supply Current: 190mA Operating Temperature: -10~85 Video Band Width : 0~8.0 MHz Audio Carrier Frequency: 6.5 MHz Video Input Level: 0.8~1.2 Vp-p Video Input Impedance: 75 Ohm Audio Input Level: 0.5~2.0 Vp-p Audio Input Impedance: 10K Ohm Transmitting distance : ~300m (open area) LED indicators for Fr/Ch Connector: RP-SMA Female Antenna : RP-SMA Male,LHCP Dimension: 38mm x 22.5mm x 6mm Weight: 6g (without antenna) Frequency and channel frequency table: CH CH 1 CH 2 CH 3 CH 4 CH 5 CH 6 CH 7 CH 8 GROUP A 5865 5845 5825 5805 5785 5765 5745 5725 B 5733 5752 5771 5790 5809 5828 5847 5866 C 5705 5685 5665 5645 5885 5905 5925 5945 D 5740 5760 5780 5800 5820 5840 5860 5880 R 5658 5695 5732 5769 5806 5843 5880 5917 Package Included: 1 X Frame Kit 4 X 1806 motor 8 X 3 inches Propeller 1 X Camera 1 X Transmitter 1 X Antenna 1 X 4 IN 1 ESC 1 X Flight controller 1 X LED Cet article NEWS: Eachine Falcon 120 est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!. View the full article

The Hill recently reported that the Federal Aviation Administration is preparing the launch of a new set of drone regulations concerning UAV flight over people. As you probably know, back in June the FAA issued a requirement for drone operators to pass an Aeronautical Knowledge Test, to register their drones with the FAA, to not fly at night, and to maintain a direct line of sight with the drones they fly (among many other operating limitations under the new Part 107 rules). Since then, drone operators have been hustling to be in compliance. The new FAA rules under discussion concern situations in which UAVs fly over people who are not inside cars or buildings. This practice is currently prohibited, but it is anticipated that exceptions will be proposed in the new rules. The FAA recently sent a proposal of the new rules to the White House. This quote from the abstract for the proposed new rules about flight over people provides a little more clarity around what these rules might look like: This rulemaking would address the performance-based standards and means-of-compliance for operation of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) over people not directly participating in the operation or not under a covered structure or inside a stationary vehicle that can provide reasonable protection from a falling small unmanned aircraft. This rulemaking would provide relief from certain operational restrictions implemented in the Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems final rule (hereinafter the sUAS Operation and Certification rule). Want to learn more about drone laws? Check out our drone law guide here. The post FAA Preparing to Launch New Rules about Flying Over People appeared first on UAV Coach. View the full article

Other drone manufactures that specialize in beginner / training quadcopter models, watch out. I’m looking at you, Hubsan and UDI. Sky Viper drone models have soared into the market, and my gut tells me that this relatively young drone brand will see more exposure as the UAV industry continues to blossom. They’ve already got some great distributors lined up, and each of the three models I tested for this article flew very well given this introductory (and affordable) price point. The parent company, Skyrocket Toys, has offices in Los Angeles, Hong Kong and mainland China and designs / manufactures / markets a wide variety of award-winning consumer products. Some of their other brands include Minion Made, AppScope Microscope, and Prank Star. In this article, I’ll be taking a closer look at three different Sky Viper models, which can be purchased at Walmart, Target, ToysRUs, or online at Amazon.com. How’s that for a show reel! Don’t have time to read the rest of this post and want my quick thoughts? Add Sky Viper to your list. They’re definitely a contender in this category of small UAS models for beginner UAV pilots. If you’re looking for a model to help you through beginner drone training, consider Sky Viper. Do I need to register my Sky Viper Drone with the FAA (United States)? All Sky Viper drones weigh less than 250g and therefore are not required to be registered with the FAA. For more information, click here. Sky Viper M200 Nano Drone Wingspan: 280×280 mm Flying Time: 4-5 minutes Battery Type: Rechargeable 650 mAh 3.7V LiPo Charging Time: 30 minutes Controller: 2.4GHz Camera: No Camera → Buy on Amazon Looking for a good quadcopter to fly indoors? This little Nano is no larger than the palm of your hand and packs a lot of punch for a such a small drone. For one, it’s surprisingly stable, particularly during a rotational yaw. If you’ve never flown before, it’ll feel a bit jumpy at first. Learning to control your altitude with models in this price range can be a bit tricky, but once you can master the throttle, you’ll be surprised how much fun this Nano is to fly. The Sky Viper controller’s 2.4 GHz transmitter reaches up to 200 feet, so if if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you’ve got a bit of flying range to play around with. And, even though it’s Sky Viper’s cheapest drone model, the Nano offers three different sensitivity controls and a fun, one-click barrel roll when you press the Stunt button. Sky Viper S670 Stunt Drone Wingspan: 11 inches blade to blade Flying Time: 4-5 minutes Battery Type: Rechargeable 650 mAh 3.7V LiPo Charging Time: 30 minutes Controller: 2.4GHz Camera: No Camera → Buy on Amazon While this Stunt Drone operates similar to the Nano, it’s a little larger and includes propeller guards, which’ll save you a few headaches during those inevitable training crashes. It also flies up to 16 mph, a little faster than the Nano. Other than that, the settings are exactly the same. You have three different flight sensitivity modes, and with one click you can do either a front-flip, back-flip, or a barrel roll to either side. Sky Viper V950 HD Video Drone Wingspan: 12.75 inches blade to blade Flying Time: 4-5 minutes Battery Type: Rechargeable 650 mAh 3.7V LiPo Charging Time: 30 minutes Controller: 2.4GHz Camera: 1-Touch Panoramic Video Capture (720p HD) + 4GB MicroSD memory card & MicroSD USB adapter → Buy on Amazon The HD Video Drone is a big step up from either the Nano or Stunt models. At this price point, this is the only model I know that can do a one-touch panorama. When the button is pressed, the aircraft enters a controlled-spin flight pattern and automatically captures a 360 degree view from up to 200 feet away. A 4G MicroSD memory card + USD adapter is also included, which’ll hold up to about 20 minutes of video footage shot at 720p. Unlike other video models at this price point, the Sky Viper HD Video Drone allows you to adjust the camera up to 130 degrees. This’ll help you optimize for birds-eye view photos, action videos, and more. The final word? I’m grateful that Sky Viper reached out to me to review each of these three models. Admittedly, I hadn’t heard of them up until that point, but I suspect that’ll change given both the quality of each model and the marketing power put behind each one. How about that video reel at the beginning of this post? My one concern, but it looks like it’s already in the process of being solved, is the lack of easily available replacement parts like propellers, batteries, and crash packs. Sky Viper asks you to contact them directly at support@skyrockettoys.com, but I hypothesize that they’ll start making these easier to buy down the road. The bottom line–add Sky Viper to your list of beginner drone models, right alongside UDI and Hubsan. The post Sky Viper Drones Review: Nano, Stunt, and Video Models appeared first on UAV Coach. View the full article

INTRODUCTION A new first entry FPV micro machine “à la” Hubsan H107D+ is introduced by JJRC with the JJRC H32GH. A compact machine including a 720p camera and broadcasting the FPV signal in the 5.8G band. Like the D+ from Hubsan, the altitulde hold feature is included. If for beginners it means a more easy machine to fly outdoors, for indoors FPV it’s not always a good idea. BOX CONTENT + 1 x JJRC H32GH (with a 1S 600mAh LiPo with microLOSI connector) + 1 x Transmitter (using 4xAA batteries not included) + 2 x USB charging cable + 4 x Spare props (2 CW, 2 CCW) + 4 x Prop guards + 1 x Landing skid + 1 x Screwdriver + 1 x Prop remover wrench + 1 x Instruction manual (English/Chinese) OVERVIEW The chasssis is full plastic based and since the total weight is relatively small, the JJRC should survice to most type of crash. The general look represents a kind of a shrinked JJRC H12 model. -FRONT VIEW -SIDE VIEW The right side welcomes a small tiny power switch -REAR VIEW The battery bay is filled completly by the provided LiPo -UPPER VIEW -BOTTOM VIEW The linear antenna is clipsed beneath. In this position, the FPV signal will be stronger for vertical flights but weaker if you fly aligned with the transmitter in the horizontal plan. The DVR microSD slot can noticed on the right. Good news, a MIC is attached and sound is recorded on the AVI files. -WEIGHT 44g standalone for a total of 58.2g with the battery inserted With the landing ger and prop guard installed, the machine reaches close to 62g Motors Motors are classic 8520 brushed motors (8.5mmx20mm) They are strong enough and offert a good lift in practice under the control of the altitude hold LiPo A 500mAh 1 cell model ending with microLOSI connector. No discharge rates mentionned. A 47mmx20mmx9mm model Camera module The video part is a 3-in-1 board with a 720p camera, builtin DVR and builtin 5.8G FPV VTX. No possibility to fix the frequency locked to the E4=5645Mhz The signal is broadcasted in NTSC format. The latency is small even when the recording is turning on. No frame rate observed when recording 720p files A M6 lens thread unfortunatly is here It means, no easy way to find a lens with a larger FOV… AFAIK, no model available in M6 format … It’s a real pity, they don’t use a lens sensor in M7 format. More the light sensitivity of the sensor is relatively poor (> 1 Lux IMHO) and in poor light conditions, the machine will be almost blind. Here is a small raw video recorded by the builtin DVR The general quality is good, jellofree …. FPV monitor The small 4″3 FPV monitor have a brilland screen and the brighness level is relatively poor. In strong day lights, it will be hard to see the FPV session despite the presence of a sunshade. The “No screen” text the signal is absent of lost…. instead of desired the white snow It means the FPV monitor is not really FPV friendly The image resolution is QVGA so far from the original NTSC broadcasted FPV signal. Disassembling The black square is the foam protecting the barometer chip. Installed on front a XN297L, the new RF revision including the 250kbits datarate. The radio protocol is more time a new one but is working @250bit/s… So in practice a better range. The ARM core is installed nearby and finally installed and protected by a foam structure, the barometer for the altitulde hold stabilization. Transmitter The classic deluxe chassis of JJRC model. This model is cool in the sens you can turn it into mode 2 (left throttle) or mode 1 (right throttle) Two shoulder buttons: the left one turn on/off lights while the right is assumed to perform flips. 4 pannel buttons and a large wheel can be found too. The lower left button permits to turn on/off motor engine, a kind of autotake off, auto landing features. Be aware, when you take off, the machine climbs immediatly 1m higher. The right lower button turn on/off headless button. You can apply precise rates via the large central wheel. From beginner rate limited to 50% up to 100% for the most sporty mode. To calibrate the machine push both sticks in lower left position. UNBOXING, ANALYSIS AND DEMO FLIGHT For outdoors and relatively windfree conditions, the JJRC performs well and super smooth. The FPV signal is strong, no big breakup within 50m. The rates even set to 100% won’t allow the H32GH to be super fast. Surprizing the altitude seems limited to 5m. Both FPV and 720p videos are jellofree. Color are vivid but light sensitivity not great. Flight time are average of 4m before to see the first LVC warning when recording is turned on. I deeply regret the narrow FOV associated with the actual pinhole lens and the downtilt orientation not very compatible with real FPV practice. The altitulde hold for indoors flight can present some strange and quick altitude variation especially after a turn … For precise indoors flights, it’s not a good news. It would have been great to disable this feature… CONCLUSIONS The JJRC H32GH is a microFPV machine more adapted for FPV beginners in outdoors openfield conditions. The FPV part is more usefull to monitor the scene that you are currently focusing than a real FPV racing machine. Both control and FPV ranges are largely enough to “mine” your garden with the H32GH. The FPV signal can cross several walls without difficulties. The 720p videos have a good quality comparatively for the size of the machine, it’s a good positive point. The limited FOV like for 99% of toys is the limited factor and unfortunatly no real trick to overcome this limitation. The Hubsan H107D+ is superior on this point but the altitulde hold of the Hubsan is super annoying in another hand. PROS + Stable 720p video, Jellofree + Smooth flyer + 60g FPV machine + Good FPV range (> 50m) + Good control range (> 150m) + ALtitude hold easy FPV outdoors first attempts + Tunable rates via the the central wheels + LVC alarm + MIC included + Cheaper than the Hubsan H107D+ CONS – Narrow FOV (70 degree) – Not an indoors FPV machine – Altitulde hold can’t be turn off – Height limitation (~5m) – No microSD card – Downtilt lens orientation – 4.3″ LCD monitor with black screen and no brightness settings – YaP (Yet Another Protocol) – No possibility to set the Vfreq (locked on E4=5645Mhz) – Unicolor props This quadcopter have been courtesy provided by Banggood in order to make a fair and not biased review. I would like to thank them for this attitude. You can find it actually for 90USD at http://www.banggood.com/JJRC-H32GH-5_8G-FPV-With-2MP-Camera-2_4G-4CH-6Axis-Altitude-Hold-Mode-RC-Quadcopter-RTF-p-1073061.html Cet article TEST: JJRC H32GH, a Hubsan H107D+ competitor est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!. View the full article

Sorry for the slow updates for Drone-Maniac, I am actually triping for my job but I should return tomorrow… and some good products are waiting me there Here the first FPV goggles from Aomway, one FPV brand I appreciate: http://www.banggood.com/Aomway-Commander-Goggles-V1-2D-3D-40CH-5_8G-FPV-Video-Headset-Support-HDMI-DVR-Headtracker-p-1107684.html Here you have a 32 deg of FOV goggles, 854*480 LCD resolution per eyes(could be a little bit better). It’s integrating a builtin DVR and diversity. Support also 3D camera …. No information about the builtin DVR but both format PAL/NTSC should be supported. A HDMIN input and headtracker are also here !!! Great Fatshark/skyzone competitor. No word about the RF sensitivity. Description: Brand Name: Aomway Item Name: Commander V1 Power Supply : DC7-18V(2S-4S) Display: Resolution : 854*480(WVGA)LCD, LED backlight Ratio : 16:9 FOV : 32°,glass optical IPD : 59-69mm(adjustable) Support 3D, HDMI,DVR,Headtracker 3D Display : Video 3D;HDMI 3D Audio Output : stereo Format : NTSC/PAL Auto HDMIin : 720P Digital Video Record : Integrated simulation DVR(can record RF and AVIN siginal) , Support 32Gb micro TF card Video Compression Format : MJPG 30fps Headtracker : modularization (not included) Adjustable : Lightness/Contrast/Channel/Display Mode/Digital Record/Head Tracker Switch 5.8G 40CH Diversity Receiver With build in 2 40CH high sensitive receiver, auto search Interface: Headphone : 3.5mm 3 headphone jack AVIN Interface : 3.5mm 4 audio-video interface Headtracker Interface : PS2 terminal TF Card : Micro TF Card DCIN : Standard 5.5*2.1 Features: 16:9 WVGA Displayer with 32°FOV. With HDMI connector, support 720P Support 3D image Support NTSC/PAL auto switch Build in DVR Build in sensitive diversity receiver. Support Headtracker(not included) Equip with fan, anti-fog lens etc. Package Included: 1 x Aomway Commander V1 5.8G 40CH 2D 3D FPV Goggles 2 x Antenna 1 x AV Cable 1 x JR Data Cable 1 x FUTABA Data Cable 1 x Filter Rectifier 1 x Elastic Band 2 x Shading Sponge (Thin &Thick) 1 x User Manual I hope the quality will be here … as well as the quality of DVR recordings Cet article NEWS: Aomway Commander Goggles V1 2D 3D 40CH 5.8G FPV est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!. View the full article

San Francisco-based company Zipline International has raised $25 million in Series B funding to expand its work delivering medical supplies via drones into Africa. We wrote earlier this year about Zipline testing their services in Africa and it looks like those tests have proved successful, if this new round of funding is any indicator. The company is partnering with the government of Rwanda to deliver much needed medical supplies to remote clinics in the East African nation. What Is Zipline? Zipline is a robotics company that builds autonomous drones designed to deliver vaccines, medicine, or blood on request from health workers operating in hard-to-reach areas. Regarding their mission and the problem they propose to solve, Zipline founder and CEO Keller Rinaudo says, “The inability to deliver life-saving medicines to the people who need them the most causes millions of preventable deaths each year. Zipline will help solve that problem once and for all.” Image source Zipline’s core personnel are made up of engineers who formerly worked at Space X, Google, Lockheed Martin, and other tech companies. Here’s a little more about Zipline’s mission from their website: More than two billion people lack adequate access to essential medical products, often due to challenging terrain and gaps in infrastructure. Because of this, over 2.9 million children under age five die every year. And up to 150,000 pregnancy-related deaths could be avoided each year if mothers had reliable access to safe blood. The Rwanda Partnership Zipline began dropping blood in Rwanda last month. Their ultimate plan is to ramp up to between 50 and 150 on-demand deliveries a day to 21 local transfusion clinics in the country. Last month Rwanda launched what is considered the world’s first commercial national drone service, with deliveries now available quickly and efficiently through the use of drones air-dropping items with parachutes attached. In total, Zipline has raised $43 million to deliver medical supplies to remote locations. Curious to see how other companies are considering similar approaches to delivery? Check out this post we wrote back in August about Domino’s partnering with Flirtey to deliver pizzas via UAVs. The post Zipline Raises $25 Million to Expand Drone Delivery of Medical Supplies into Rwanda appeared first on UAV Coach. View the full article

While the holiday seasons bring cold weather for so many of us, drones are HOT right now. Racking your brain about what drone to buy this 2016 holiday season? Everyone from gadget geeks to photography enthusiasts to business owners are having fun learning to fly, and some are even choosing to get certified by the FAA to make some money as a professional drone pilot. Below are our top drone picks for every gift-giving price range. It goes without saying that this list is not all-encompassing. There are dozens of quality drone manufacturers and dozens more model variations to consider. Top 3 Drones under $50 Some things to keep in mind when you’re buying a drone for under $50 just to set your expectations: Battery life tends to be pretty short, in the 5-10 minute range. Buying multiple / extra batteries is often a good idea. Because of their light mass, these models are surprisingly durable and can hold up well after crashes. Great for beginners! They don’t handle wind very well. They get pushed around! The propellers are fickle. Any nicks or bends in the propellers and you’re not going to get smooth flight, no matter how much you trim / adjust your remote. Propeller guards can help, as can extra propellers. You will NOT need to register any of these models with the FAA, but here’s a good set of guidelines to follow from Know Before You Fly. UDI Freedom U32 SEE LATEST PRICE & ORDER FROM AMAZON Why is the UDI Freedom 32 our top pick in the under $50 price range? Because the retailer, Force1 RC, includes an extra battery with this model, doubling your flight time! They’re also U.S. based and from personal experience provide great customer support. This model in particular comes with propeller guards and has some cool automated functions. It’s kind of amazing how much smarter the flight software is in models like this than it was this time last year. Hubsan X4 107L SEE LATEST PRICE & ORDER FROM AMAZON The Hubsan X4 107L is an upgraded version of the model I learned to fly on back in 2014. This particular package comes with propeller guards and an easy USB charger. Hubsan is a tried-and-true Chinese manufacturer. I’ve flown the vast majority of their cheaper models, and I’ve been impressed with how they’ve slowly been improving the X4 over the last year. This blue 107L model comes with LED lights, fits in the palm of your hand, and is a great trainer for someone looking to get into small unmanned aerial systems as either a hobbyist or aspiring professional. Also a great drone for kids. Cheerson CX-10 SEE LATEST PRICE & ORDER FROM AMAZON Speaking of fitting inside the palm of your hand, the Cheerson CX-10 mini drone is the smallest quadcopter on the market. It’s super simple to fly, and at less than $20, a great stocking stuffer for the gadget-loving kid. Or let’s be honest, the gadget-loving adult. Don’t let the small size fool you. With no wind, this drone is surprisingly stable and really fun to buzz around the house or garage. Indoor obstacle course, anyone? Top 3 Drones from $50 to $150 You can’t go wrong with any of the models in this price range. Same comments above re: not requiring FAA registration and higher-than-expected durability, but there are two big advantages we start to see emerge at this price point: Altitude Hold – makes it a lot easier for a newer pilot to control the drone and offers much more stable images and video capture from the 720p HD camera Compatibility with a VR headset – if you’re looking for a true first-person-view (FPV) experience, there’s no better way to put yourself in the drone cockpit than sliding on some VR goggles.Here’s a cheap pair of VR goggles that’s compatible with each of the below three models. UDI Blue Jay U45 SEE LATEST PRICE & ORDER FROM AMAZON I’ve been teaching my dad how to fly on this drone. One of the big upgrades here is “Altitude Hold,” or the ability to take your left thumb off the throttle and to have the drone hover at the same altitude. This makes controlling the drone a LOT easier for beginners and those looking to truly master multirotor orientation. You’re also going to get a one-touch take off and landing, and a custom route mode that allows you to trace your desired flight path on your phone or tablet screen. These features were typically reserved for higher end RC drones, but now we’re starting to see them in the $50 to $150 range. UDI Peregrine U28W SEE LATEST PRICE & ORDER FROM AMAZON Starting to see a pattern? Lots of UDI models on this list. Like Hubsan, UDI is a tried-and-true Chinese drone manufacturer with a variety of models for beginners. Their latest Peregrine model looks sleek and is a great gift for the newbie drone pilot. Like the Blue Jay above and the Discovery below, the retailer Force1 RC includes an extra battery in this model, which doubles your flight time and is great for folks logging those first few hours of flight. UDI Discovery U818A SEE LATEST PRICE & ORDER FROM AMAZON Finally, to round out this price range is theUDI Discovery. I also learned to fly on an earlier version of the Discovery back in 2014. It’s bigger than the other two models in this section but has similar features like VR headset compatibility and an extra battery. Top 3 Drones from $150 to $500 DJI Phantom 3 (Standard) SEE LATEST PRICE & ORDER FROM AMAZON It’s pretty wild that you can get a DJI Phantom 3 for less than $500. There are a few different variations of Phantom 3, and while the “Standard” model is technically their version with comparably less features than their 4K, Advanced, or Professional models, don’t let that hold you back from taking a serious look at the Standard. 25 minutes of battery life and an 8GB micro SD card lets the beginner aerial photographer or videographer take advantage of a camera that shoots HD video up to 2.7K at 30 FPS, or still photos at 12 MP. For a serious hobbyist or aspiring commercial pilot who’s looking to dip his or her toes into the waters with a professional system that won’t break the bank, the DJI Phantom 3 Standard is a great choice. Yuneec Breeze SEE LATEST PRICE & ORDER FROM AMAZON I’m not sure when the Yuneec Breeze started including a virtual reality headset as part of this model, but I’m certainly not complaining. The Yuneec Breeze shoots videos up to 4K at 30 FPS and is Yuneec’s most portable and one of their more sophisticated models for aerial photographers and videographers. I spent a lot of time flying the Breeze this fall, and I was pretty impressed with how intelligent the software was. Super smooth take-offs and landings with the click of a button, and overall a great gift for the new drone pilot. One of the big considerations here is that you’re not using a typical dual joystick transmitter to control the Breeze and need to be using your phone or tablet. That can be a pro or a con depending on how you look at it. Focus FPV Drone SEE LATEST PRICE & ORDER FROM AMAZON First-person-view (FPV) racing is one of the hottest segments of the drone industry. If you’re interested in FPV racing and drone systems, the Focus FPV drone can be a great introduction. At less than $200, this model comes with a built-in LCD screen that shows you exactly what the drone sees, in real-time, at 720p HD. It’s easy to fly and comes with an extra battery for added training session duration. And when you’re zipping around trees and other obstacles, the propeller guards will help protect your precious props from getting too nicked up during your inevitable crashes. Top 3 Drones from $500 to $1000 DJI Mavic SEE LATEST PRICE & ORDER FROM AMAZON The DJI Mavic is a game-changer for aerial photographers and filmmakers. Launched in the fall of 2016 and marketed as a professional (and portable) aerial media system, it’s small size actually hides a pretty high degree of complexity and sophistication. People weren’t sure how the DJI Mavic would stack up to the DJI Phantom 4 or the Inspire 1, but if you’re looking for your first professional model, the Mavic is super portable and powerful. The DJI Mavic also boasts obstacle avoidance, sensor redundancy, and runs vision positioning paired with GPS and GLONASS to ensure precise positioning during both indoor AND outdoor flights. DJI Phantom 3 Professional SEE LATEST PRICE & ORDER FROM AMAZON The DJI Phantom 3 Professional is the most sophisticated option in the Phantom 3 series, and as the name suggests, was designed for professional pilots. It offers 4K video, 23 minutes of flight time, and a whopping 5km control distance. The quadcopter also comes with five advanced flight modes: Follow Me Course Lock Waypoints Home Lock Point of Interest These autonomous modes free you up to focus on camera control and getting the right shot. This makes the DJI Phantom 3 Professional a smart choice for pro pilots. Yuneec Typhoon H SEE LATEST PRICE & ORDER FROM AMAZON If you haven’t heard of Yuneec, you’re missing out on some high-quality aerial camera platforms that may very well be the perfect fit for your recreational (or business) needs. The Typhoon H is equipped with six rotors, a 360-degree gimbal camera and retractable landing gear with Yuneec’s standard of being ready out of the box, easy and safe to fly, with stunning Ultra HD 4K video and stills. The Typhoon H is controlled with the Android-based ST16 controller, which has a large 7-inch integrated display and HD 720p first-person-view (FPV) downlink for stunning real-time video reception. — Looking for more models? Check out our list of the top camera drones here. Some of the models are on the list above, but some like the DJI Phantom 4 or DJI Inspire models are not as they’re over $1000. If you have questions about any of these models, don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly at support@uavcoach.com. Happy to help where we can. The post 2016 Drone Holiday Gift Guide: Top Drones From $20 to $1000 appeared first on UAV Coach. View the full article

Are you considering using drones for surveying in your construction business, but feel like you need more information to help you evaluate the pros and cons? Check out this recent post from Drone Industry Insights (DroneII.com) on UAV value chain analysis and the implications for your business to see whether drones may be a good fit for your surveying needs. Alternately, if you’re considering using drones for work in a public organization, such as a fire or police department, you might find our recent post on how to navigate the U.S. COA Process helpful. The Drone Industry Insights post begins here: Small UAVs, as compared to manned aircraft, convince through their ability to fly very slowly and at lower altitudes. This way, more detailed and valuable information can be obtained. UAVs close the gap (between ground- and aircraft/satellite-based methods) through their ability to fly at low altitudes (up to 100m), which cannot be covered by the alternatives mentioned previously. “It should be mentioned that compared to other options, UAVs are rather limited in terms of the amount of payload they can carry. This is why light, non-professional consumer cameras are generally used, although they cannot match the quality of stable metric cameras. Yet, even with those comparatively inexpensive cameras, it is possible to attain results that are more than sufficient for the needs of the construction industry.” – Prof. Thomas P. Kersten, HafenCity University Hamburg, Geomatics Lab Now, what does this mean for you business? The possibility to shorten the surveying process through the support of UAV solutions contains the potential to enormously reduce the time and monetary investment – for every project, for every surveying company and in every country. Surveyors can not only increase their productivity by being able to carry out more projects in the same amount of time, but they can also work with a more qualitative dataset, which makes it possible to conduct better, more thorough planning. To make the right decisions it is important to define the results you need. Therefore you can use the inverse decision-making process below. After the initial question if you want to hire a professional drone operator or starting a drone operation yourself it necessary to have a close look at the local regulations and environmental conditions. Once the mission and all aspects of operation are clear, you can start to configure the unmanned aerial system (UAS). With all information describing your plans (incl. fixed and operational costs) you can now chose again whether to start your own drone operation or to buy in the service. Image source Where exactly can I save money and how much? Looking at the entire value chain it becomes clear that many resource- and time-intensive activities can be replaced. Looking at repetitive activities (e.g. checking construction progress of the same location), the savings through UAV operation can be even greater. The report Value Chain Analysis for UAV-based Surveying represents the essence of what you need to know if you consider using drone technology in surveying. It offers a detailed outline of technological, legal and operational aspects of UAV application in comparison to conventional surveying methods. The question when UAV technology in the construction industry pays off economically is discussed in detail. In addition to the Drone Business Development Guide 2016 which outlines the basics of a UAV market entry, this report is mission specific and provides the most comprehensive analysis about commercial UAVs in action so far. This report was created with the support of construction surveying and UAV experts. Curious about the mechanics that make drones work? Check out our infographic ‘How Drones Work‘ for in-depth insight into the inner workings of UAVs. The post NEW REPORT | Drones in Surveying – a Value Chain Analysis for the Construction Industry appeared first on UAV Coach. View the full article

Most of recent FrSky chinese receiver clones don’t offer genuine long range but more something around 300-400m. Now team-blacksheep just announced a 1.6km 16CH in D16 format with long range performances!!!!: http://www.team-blacksheep.com/products/prod:frsky_xmplus. Sbus connexion, upgradable firmware and analog RRSI so far so good This insanely tiny 2.4GHz diversity receiver available from TBS is the next big thing in miniaturization of racing craft. Weighing in at under 2g, this receiver is perfect for those racers who are looking to lower their AUW. These are rated to “full range”, so identical to your X4R and D4R setups. Specification – Dimension: 21.5*12*3.5mm(L x W x H) – Weight: 1.6g – Number of Channels: Up to 16CH from SBUS (1-15ch for PWM,16ch RSSI for FC) – Operating Voltage Range: 3.7~10V – Operating Current: 30mA @5V – Operating Range: 1km – With RSSI output on board: Analog 0~3.3V – Firmware Upgradeable – Compatibility: FrSky D16 mode Ideal for any compact racer …. Want one Cet article NEWS: FrSky XM+, a long range 1.6g FrSky D16 SBUS receiver est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!. View the full article

Recently SkyPixel, the world’s largest community of aerial photography enthusiasts and professionals, announced that they’ll be celebrating their two year anniversary by hosting the 2016 SkyPixel Photo Contest. The two year anniversary celebration is timed to join in with DJI’s ten year anniversary, so the contest is also a celebration of all the advances that have been made in aerial photography, which DJI has certainly helped push forward over the last decade. Here’s a blurb about the contest from SkyPixel’s website, which we found pretty inspirational in thinking about how far we’ve come with sUAS uses and applications: Through this competition, we aim to show the world why aerial imaging is the next evolution of photographic art, and highlight new talents found on SkyPixel. Here is the 2015 Grand Prize winner: Image Source What Are the Categories? Whether it’s stunning photos of natural scenery, stark urban architecture or small moments of daily life, use aerial photography to capture the many-sided beauty of the world. Submissions to the Beauty category must be captured with aerial platforms. Capture a stunning 360-degree aerial panorama of the world. Submissions to the 360 Photos category must be captured with aerial platforms. Images of UAVs during flight, captured from the sky or from the ground. Submissions to the Drones in Use category can be captured with regular cameras including smartphones, as well as aerial platforms. What Are the Prizes? The grand prize will be a DJI Inspire 2, and there are a host of other prizes for each category. Check out the full list of prizes on the 2016 SkyPixel Photo Contest webpage. Check out our recent post on the DJI Inspire 2 launch to learn more about all the features, and especially the TWO cameras, available on the new Inspire 2. Interested in applying? All the information you need to apply, including key dates and categories to consider, can be found on the SkyPixel website. Want to learn more about aerial photography and which drones to consider when making a purchasing decision? Check out our this post we recently updated, 10 Best RC Drones with a Camera [Updated for Winter 2016]. The post SkyPixel Announces Aerial Photo Contest in Partnership with DJI appeared first on UAV Coach. View the full article