I may have found my next toy. About a year ago, elsewhere on the internet, I predicted RTF sub-$200 FPV quads would soon hit the market, and the hobby would really take off, no pun intended. Recently, I wrote about the Walkera Ladybird FPV RTF quad, which broke that $200 mark (by a penny, depending on where you purchase). Not letting grass grow under their feet, Walkera has pulled in a sub $100 FPV quad. Let me give you a moment to digest that.
OK, now, here is the catch. The Walkera QR W100 requires you to own an iPhone, or other iDevice. To get the price below $90, Walkera has pushed some of the work off to a WiFi connected phone, using it as a controller, and a video screen for the feed. In short, they have built a smaller, cheaper AR Drone, but with a nice feature I will mention in a moment.
From my research, and a couple inquiries, I have determined that this quad has three axis accelerometers, and three axis gyros. With these sensors, the quad can be set up as a rock solid, self-righting flyer, or it can be switched into a performance mode with those features turned down, or even off. The iPhone app is supposed to allow the camera to be viewed and recorded in HD, but I sometimes think the true meaning of HD gets lost in translation somewhere over the Pacific. The video quality will remain to be seen. Now, for the added bonus. The QR W100 can be flown with either the phone, or a Walkera DEVO controller. This means an actual RC controller can be used with this quad, and the iDevice used only as a video screen. The lower end DEVO 4 runs about $20 bucks new, and could possibly be found cheaper if someone has one lying around from a beginner helicopter or quad.
So, for the princely sum of $110, you can have an FPV quad with an actual controller, assuming you own an iDevice. And, unfortunately, that caveat is very important, for now. Currently there is no app for Android. I asked. One is said to be in the works, but I wouldn't buy one on the hopes the Android version is in the near future. While I have an Android phone for my personal use, I have a company issued iPhone I might give this a try with. Also, as with the AR, the possibility exists for a WiFi interface on laptops. This would be amazing, and open some interesting possibilities. I would love to see Walkera go this route themselves, although I imagine someone will work on a solution either way.
I hope to get my hands on one of these to review in the near future. Maybe I will sell a little plasma to get it on the quick boat from China. ;) If anyone else has experience with this quad, feel free to share your feedback.
Comments
Well, hopefully I will have one of these to play with sometime before my birthday in June. The slow boat is slow but I have a hard time justifying the extremely high shipping costs to get it here sooner. As my friend in China, with whom I work on getting info about these little quads, said to me once, "good things come to being from patient wait."
Yeah, I don't really see how the AR.Drone had an autopilot either. It has Stabilize, and auto throttle. But that's about it as far as I know.
These cheap little things also have stabilize, just not auto throttle.
If someone figures out the WiFi control and telemetry scheme, a laptop could possibly be used to make a connection to the quad, and then many possibilities open up.
Jack, the AR Drone has an autopilot? I know it has auto take-off, and landing. I admit, I have only briefly played with a version one. The control and video feed to an iDevice is where I was drawing a comparison.
That is really impressive. I like the color scheme, and the packaging looks very attractive. It looks ready for sale at the local Wally World. I am surprised it is not.
The v929, which is similar, can be found RTF for between $5 and $10 cheaper, but I like this quads color scheme better.
Anyway, the $90 quad comes with the WiFi camera which can connect to an iDevice and provide a live feed for. I am not sure it is worth nearly doubling the price, but it is a difference to be noted. I am sure if Walkera is doing it for $90, another company will build something similar for about $20 less.
I see your $89.99 quadcopter, and raise you a $46.95 quadcopter, with controller:
http://www.xheli.com/56h-h1-viking-lime.html
Couple guys at my field have these things and nothing wrong with them. I had attempted to build a quad for my son, using an F330 frame. That was a big mistake. These make a lot more sense.
No, the AR Drone has an autopilot. It's not like the AR Drone couldn't be miniaturized if someone sat down & did it.
You hit the nail right on the head. I actually like the design and the cheap look because it shows me that what I'm paying for isn't the look on the outside but the hardware on the inside! :D I enjoy the $1 McDoubles and McChickens Myself :P
Not discounting your opinion, mind you. My opinion, and a dollar, will buy you a cup of coffee at McDonald's.
Funny, I felt the design was a drawback. It looks cheap, and toy-like to me. The RC Logger RC Eye One still is one of the best looking micro quads I have ever seen. It looks like something from a higher-end sci-fi movie. Some of the other micro quads look more like low-budget SyFy channel rejects. To each their own I suppose. As my Mom always said, beauty is skin deep. I don't care what these quads look like on the outside, as long as they keep improving on the inside.
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next