Posted by Dave Spriggs on October 29, 2016 at 1:33pm
Hello all I am new on here and to the drone community. I am looking for some help in deciding on which flight controller to go with. I am building a quad drone for photography, also ongoing development project. I would like it to have GPS but I am unsure how this works. Maybe some of you can enlighten me and give me some advice on which direction to take. Thank Dave
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Hi Vincent! As Dave, I'm new in this world and want to build a quad drone for photography too (Using a 2 axis gimbal and probably a GoPro-type camera... and want to add some kind of gps system) .
Just read your answer and I have a question that you might have the wisdom to answer. I´m planning to design my own frame and print it in PLA, but I'm not sure wich size should it be. Any sugestions? I´m having problems to determinate that size and how relate it to the size of the propelers.
Hope you can help me, thanks!
Vincent LaPorte said:
Dave,
I have flying quads for 3 years after 25 pleus years in RC airplanes. I started with a simple toy quad for $50 from amazon and got the expierence of safe flying.
Than I bought a 450 size quad installed KK2 control board and added a Turnigy GoPro type camera ($65). I took video (not very good) and still photos (good).
Then, I upgraded my 450 to APM 2.8 control board with GPS which opened new horizons – loiter flight and automatic flight (as in fly a mission).
Next, I built a 500 size DIY quad from parts and installed a Pixhawk control board. The Pixhawk board was much harder to program (compared to the APM) but was supposed to work better – I cannot tell te difference. I installed a better Turnigy 2K camera ($100) and a 2 axis servo gimbal which works well.
So depends on how you want to begin.
To shoot good video right out of the box get from HorizonHobby.com --
Chroma™ Camera Drone with 4K CGO3 and ST-10+ (BLH8675)
Hi thanks for the information. I have a look and see if it what I am look for. I think of going naza with gps. Look at the camera bits later.
Thanks again for your help
I have flying quads for 3 years after 25 pleus years in RC airplanes. I started with a simple toy quad for $50 from amazon and got the expierence of safe flying.
Than I bought a 450 size quad installed KK2 control board and added a Turnigy GoPro type camera ($65). I took video (not very good) and still photos (good).
Then, I upgraded my 450 to APM 2.8 control board with GPS which opened new horizons – loiter flight and automatic flight (as in fly a mission).
Next, I built a 500 size DIY quad from parts and installed a Pixhawk control board. The Pixhawk board was much harder to program (compared to the APM) but was supposed to work better – I cannot tell te difference. I installed a better Turnigy 2K camera ($100) and a 2 axis servo gimbal which works well.
So depends on how you want to begin.
To shoot good video right out of the box get from HorizonHobby.com --
Chroma™ Camera Drone with 4K CGO3 and ST-10+ (BLH8675)
Replies
Hi Vincent! As Dave, I'm new in this world and want to build a quad drone for photography too (Using a 2 axis gimbal and probably a GoPro-type camera... and want to add some kind of gps system) .
Just read your answer and I have a question that you might have the wisdom to answer. I´m planning to design my own frame and print it in PLA, but I'm not sure wich size should it be. Any sugestions? I´m having problems to determinate that size and how relate it to the size of the propelers.
Hope you can help me, thanks!
Vincent LaPorte said:
I am new on here too
Thanks again for your help
Dave,
I have flying quads for 3 years after 25 pleus years in RC airplanes. I started with a simple toy quad for $50 from amazon and got the expierence of safe flying.
Than I bought a 450 size quad installed KK2 control board and added a Turnigy GoPro type camera ($65). I took video (not very good) and still photos (good).
Then, I upgraded my 450 to APM 2.8 control board with GPS which opened new horizons – loiter flight and automatic flight (as in fly a mission).
Next, I built a 500 size DIY quad from parts and installed a Pixhawk control board. The Pixhawk board was much harder to program (compared to the APM) but was supposed to work better – I cannot tell te difference. I installed a better Turnigy 2K camera ($100) and a 2 axis servo gimbal which works well.
So depends on how you want to begin.
To shoot good video right out of the box get from HorizonHobby.com --
Chroma™ Camera Drone with 4K CGO3 and ST-10+ (BLH8675)
This does it all but $650.
Luck,
Vince
You can try "Seriously DoDo Flight Controller - Rev 3b", it has 3 UARTs ports available also for GPS