Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael Pursifull on October 7, 2011 at 8:22am

What is your AUW? What motors, ESCs, and props are you using?

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Permalink Reply by Elijah Wood on October 7, 2011 at 9:31am

Using all defaults that came with this kit:

http://store.diydrones.com/ArduCopter_Partial_Kit_V1_0_p/kt-arducop...

 

What motors/batteries would you suggest to increase my flight time? It's about 2.5lbs now.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Pursifull on October 7, 2011 at 9:48am

If you have good solder connections to your motors, do not have bad motors, have balanced your props, are using a good, 4400mAh balanced battery, and are running around 2.5lbs AUW, you can expect about 16:25 flight time for normal hover, and as low as 5:52 for 75% throttle, aggressive flight. So you can see the huge impact that it has to your flight budget simply by flying more aggressively. Slow down, and you can last a lot longer.

 

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Permalink Reply by u4eake on October 7, 2011 at 8:23am

Use a bigger battery and more powerfull motors at the right proportions to get your targeted flighttime.

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Permalink Reply by arashi on October 7, 2011 at 10:10pm

I've been running (2) 5000mah 3s batteries and getting 23 to 25 minutes per flight.

 

 

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Permalink Reply by roger on October 8, 2011 at 5:16am

What's your all up weight?

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Permalink Reply by arashi on October 8, 2011 at 12:21pm

@roger,  1.6kg /3.8lbs total with everything including camera, pan tilt, vtx, xbee, batteries, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Pursifull on October 8, 2011 at 1:02pm

wow... so I'm guessing that your AC, without batteries is about 700g? I estimate that you could reasonably achieve the needed hover thrust of 460g per motor at about 58-60% throttle using the 850Kv motors will generate with the 10x45 props. Is this what you used? I wonder, because I'm projecting flight times as long as 31 or 32 minutes. 

 

But your flight times suggest maybe 880Kv/12x45, which my calculations suggest hover at around 42% throttle for the 460g thrust, with flight times of around 23 to 26 minutes.

 

If you are using the jDrones motors and props, have you considered trying the 850/10x45 instead to compare performance?

 

 

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Permalink Reply by arashi on October 8, 2011 at 1:41pm

@Mike

 

AC w/o batteries is 840g ish.

Zippy 5000mah 20c 3s batts

rctimer 2830/14 750kv motors (same as jdrones but 750kv)

30amp exceedrc escs

frame is just Home depot towel bars, corroplast, alum sheet, and 4 pieces of foam.

10x45 props

 

Throttle position for hover, as measured by stick throw, is a little under 50%.

 

These flight times include a lot of full speed (as determined by full throw while in alt hold) runs.  I want to reliably get at least a real world, 4 miles of flight at a minimum.  I've been just setting the alt hold at about 3 feet and ripping around a soccer field at full tilt, in the wind.

 

I'lll try to get a flight time indoors, just hovering.

 

I have also done nothing to try and optimize for aerodynamics or weight.  I wanted durability and ease of maintenance until I realize my goal. 

 

I like 12x3.8 props, but they are too expensive when I crash.  I find the quad is much more stable in the wind with the 10x45 props.  I never timed it with the 12x3.8's and 10ah of batts.

 

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Permalink Reply by Michael Pursifull on October 8, 2011 at 1:50pm

Thank you for sharing! Anything you would do differently if you built it again?

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Permalink Reply by arashi on October 8, 2011 at 2:15pm

Make it prettier...

Now that I crash less, unless I am trying something new, it is time to try and optimize.  I think the key is better props, lighter weight, more efficient motors, less drag, and possibly an in-flight battery ejection system.

 

I am going with a very lightweight H frame with all of the components inside a weather resistant pod.  Hobbyking NX-4006-530kv Brushless Quadcopter Motors with 12x3.8 props.  I may even try the 14" props, lighter ESC's, etc.

 

I will rebuild my current ac2 on this EPO foam frame.  The problem with the frame is that it restricts you to 10" props, but it does promise a 30% efficiency gain with the ducting.  I hope the increased efficiency will at a least cancel out the added weight.

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by nano_khalid on April 8, 2013 at 6:36am

May I know your final result?

I'm using this motor too (NX-4006-530kv)..

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