Winter Quading

Just a short video of some winter flying in Edmonton, Canada. The first day the temperature was around -8C (17F) the second day it was -15C (5F). I keep the batteries warm until use and didn't notice any decrease in capacitance.  I have a 20ft cord on the FPV ground station so I place the station outside and fly from inside the garage. I have had no problem with reception within 200m.

See my last blog for details on the quad.

http://www.diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/quading-vacation-no-wheels-included

I have since flashed the ESCs with simon. I do notice a difference but I think I still need some tuning.

Happy Holidays

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Comments

  • Emile

    Here I thought I'd put the 'copter away for the  winter. Maybe we'll start a "Nov- April North of 45" blog!!

    btw your photo is fabulous. I nominate you for the drone photo of the year ...It's art! (Wait- is there a DIYdrones Drone photo of the year award?)

    I reckon the APM electronics (well actually, any electronics) would be better off soaked so the temperature is  stabalized rather that transitioning.Mostly this gets rid of the effects of wonky timing due to each chip transtioning in its own way.  My experience is most commercial electronics is good way past the data sheet lower temp spec limit. I'm sure the APM electronics would be fine to -30 or -40 or even lower but the big unknown for me is the sensors Radio and ESCs. I suppose the batteries are  easy because we can keep them warm prior to flight , and after launch, they self-heat anyway.

    I looked back at your vacation video. I like the pool-noodle pontoons. I've never flown my copter in snowy conditions but I think pool-noodle pontoons would work well.

    Regards Bob

  • I didn't cold soak. I am lucky that my flying field has a heated hangar. I would reheat the quad at every battery change. As soon as it came in it would accumulate condensation. To minimize the effect i would put it in the direct air flow from the heated and the condensation would only say for a minute or two. I kept the electronics live during the entire flying session as well as a constant telemetry connection. I reviewed the logs and everything looked good and I didn't have any erratic behaviors. I only did one loiter hold during each day and seemed to hold the this picture was created by taking 6 photos during that hold.

    I am still using my modified APM 2.25 and it continues to work fine.

    3692566436?profile=original

  • Emile.

    Great video. I presume you are still using same equipment as your vacation blog i.e. APM 2.0 (modified)?

     Did you "cold soak" your equipment prior to flying ?

    Here in Ottawa, I flew my 3DR/APM2.0 a few weeks ago at  -5C. Seemed like there were some peculiar altitude issues. I  reckon the barometer was a bit wonky as it cooled off because I did not cold soak  prior to flying. In future I'll let the copter stabilize for 1 hour prior to flying and see what happens.  I have to go to the local park tgo fly so I wonder how my Turnigy 9X will behave at colder temperatures?

    Anyone else out there have any reports of cold temperature flying?

  • Emile, Great Video - thanks for sharing....have not had snow yet here in the Pacific NorthWest but have travelled to see it :) Happy Holidays!

  • Distributor

    very nice Emile, (as usual.... except the early crashes!) 

    So except the LiPo warm (indoor room temperature) before flight you did nothing else? 

    Are you using a sonar?  

    For your flashed ESC, were they the sock one you bought from me?  Maybe you can write a little guide on the firmware version you took to flash them and how you did it.  I did mine like 1-2 years ago and dont remember what was used and I get people asking all the time. 

    Dany

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