I have noticed that most people are talking about a flight time (or mission time) for a Quadcopter in the range of 30 minutes. If I want to increase the flight time, it is not as simple as doubling or tripling the batteries. Additional batteries means also increased weight. Is there a way to estimate what would be required to get a flight time of 60 or 90 minutes? I know that this sound like a stupid or simple question but in reality, it appears a bit complex to me. Any ideas or opinions? Thanks.
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The world record set last month was 97 minutes with no payload. They are hoping for 90 minutes while carrying a GoPro.
Mine 3DR Y6 flies about 12 minutes, if I'm working it reasonably hard. My battery is a 4S 6000MaH, which weighs 600g. The whole machine with frame, motors, battery, and GoPro on a gimbal is something like 2500grams. I could probably fly a second battery and get a few more minutes, but I'm not sure the motors would hold up well with the extra load. If your goal is long flight time, you would use something significantly different. The 3DR is built heavy, not just because it is more mass produced than some. It is intended to lift a decent amount and not break much. Higher flight times are definately doable if that's your goal.
Very few people are at 60 or 90 minutes, 20 to 30 is more like it. Multicopters use a horrid amount of wiggly amps. Better motors speed controllers and propeller choices are very important as well. Where you are also helps, in the UK my tri can fly for 20 minutes with ease, when I am back in South Africa at 5500' on a hot day I struggle to get 8 minutes with exactly the same setup.
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The world record set last month was 97 minutes with no payload. They are hoping for 90 minutes while carrying a GoPro.
Mine 3DR Y6 flies about 12 minutes, if I'm working it reasonably hard. My battery is a 4S 6000MaH, which weighs 600g. The whole machine with frame, motors, battery, and GoPro on a gimbal is something like 2500grams. I could probably fly a second battery and get a few more minutes, but I'm not sure the motors would hold up well with the extra load. If your goal is long flight time, you would use something significantly different. The 3DR is built heavy, not just because it is more mass produced than some. It is intended to lift a decent amount and not break much. Higher flight times are definately doable if that's your goal.
Very few people are at 60 or 90 minutes, 20 to 30 is more like it. Multicopters use a horrid amount of wiggly amps. Better motors speed controllers and propeller choices are very important as well. Where you are also helps, in the UK my tri can fly for 20 minutes with ease, when I am back in South Africa at 5500' on a hot day I struggle to get 8 minutes with exactly the same setup.