3D Robotics

New APM-powered Phantom clone at HobbyKing

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At $299, it seems like a great deal. I want one! (Note the 3DR credit, only slightly misspelled, at the bottom of the listing). From HobbyKing:

Get in the action with the Quanum Nova, the Ready to Fly GPS drone that ticks all the right boxes. Don't let the low price fool you, this machine is capable of more than any other RTF quadcopter on the market today!

Boasting full GPS functionality such as position holding, return to home and even full GPS waypoint flying, this is a professional level multi-rotor aircraft in an easy to use, ready to fly package that anyone can fly. The Quanum Nova was developed with one primary goal in mind - providing our customers with a simple, user friendly drone capable of proffessional level flight performance. This goal has been realized. Now you have the perfect machine for carrying your GoPro or other similar sized action cameras for shooting awesome aerial video!

When it comes to ease of use, the Nova is at the top of the list. Arriving fully tuned and setup, you simply need to install the landing gear and props, charge the battery and fly. It's that easy. For more advanced users or as your skills progress, you can connect the Nova to MAVLink compatible software such as Mission Planner or others, allowing access to a whole host of programming options including selectable flight modes, GPS waypoint functionality, advanced tuning and so much more!

The Nova features a beautifully molded plastic body which not only offers good looks, it provides durability and is extremely light weight. The lower body shell of the Nova integrates bright LED lights, green in the front arms and red in the rear, making orientation easy in both day and night flying. Additionally, there are two large status indicator LEDs at the rear which show the current status, such as GPS signal and battery condition.

Aerial video is where it's at and the Nova is just the model for it. The Nova is directly compatible with our Quanum Q-2D brushless GoPro gimbal, providing direct fit mounting. Simply bolt-on the Q-2D and connect it to the integrated gimbal control plugs on the bottom of the Nova. The on-board connections provide power, tilt and roll functions for the Q-2D gimbal. There is also a very convenient mini USB connection for connecting the Nova to your PC.

Once you've compared the features, functionality and flight performance of all the Ready to Fly quadcopters on the market today, you will see that a clear winner has emerged...the Quanum Nova.

Features:
• Ready to Fly w/out battery - Just add your choice of battery and charger!
• Multiple preset flight modes such as Manual, Stable (loiter), Direction Locked (simple), Altitude Hold and Return to Home
• MAVLink compatible allowing for GPS waypoint mission flying, advanced tuning and so much more (for Advanced users)
• Precision GPS, compass and altitude sensors
• High quality 2.4GHz 7CH transmitter included (Mode 2)
• Q-2D brushless camera gimbal ready (sold separately)
• On-board tilt/roll control and power connections for use with optional brushless camera gimbal
• Low voltage battery protection initiates blinking LEDs and audible buzzer when flight battery is low
• Easy to see LEDs provide excellent visibility in both day or night flying

Specs:
Main Rotor Diameter: 365mm
Main Rotor Blade Length: 205mm
Main Motor Size: 2212
Length: 300mm
Weight: 300mm
Height: 200mm
Flying weight: 875g
Approximate Flight Time: 15 minutes
Battery: 3S 2200~2700mAh LiPoly (required)
Number of Channels: 7 channels
Rotor Type: QuadCopter
Completion Level: RTF w/out battery (Need to add your choice of battery and charger)

Included:
Quanum Nova GPS QuadCopter
2.4GHz 7 channel radio transmitter (Mode 2 version - left stick throttle)
GoPro Hero 3 vibration dampened camera mount
8 inch propellers x 4

Required:
3S 2200~2700mAh LiPoly battery (must not exceed 105(L)x27(H)x40(W)mm)
LiPoly battery charger
4 x AA batteries for radio transmitter


*Note: The Quanum Nova flight controller  is based on the open source APM Project from 3DR Robotics, the design files per the creative commons license are available under the files tab below.

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Comments

  • Also available now as bind and fly: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?aff=5361&a...

    Required:
    Your choice of 6~7 channel transmitter and receiver (7 channels or more required for tilt/roll control of optional camera gimbal)
    3S 2200~2700mAh LiPoly battery (must not exceed 105(L)x27(H)x40(W)mm)
    LiPoly battery charger

  • OK if it crashes and burns, or works well, or needs a small bit of rebuilding, I am getting one to try.

  • The Nova Version of the cheerson cx-20 has a lot of improvements, that Cheerson has now adopted some for there own CX-20.

    1) The compass is in the tower and does not suffer from the toilet bowl the early cx-20 did with onboard compass.

    2) The KV is lower on the nova at 920KV vs 1200kv better stability and flight time

    3) The power distribution board/ low voltage alarm has been updated as the original would alarm at12v (cheerson has adapted this now)

    4) USB port and gimbal rc pitch and roll outs added to the bottom (some cheerson have this now as well, hit and miss)

    5) Better GPS receiver

    The Nova is the latest and best version available and the cheapest, but other vendors will follow suite in pricing I'm sure Bottom line its a rock solid little quad and a killer price.

  • @Jean-Louis Naudin

    I am well aware of the compass mot procedure... been running APM for a long time.

    There are reports of bad toilet bowl in the CX-20. Maybe this is because no one did the compass mot, or maybe it is because the compass mot interference value is super high. There is not a clear concensus on the issue yet as I understand it (maybe others know more).

    Cheers,

  • oh brother.. this is going to be bad.. .its already affordable for people to buy DJI and other... now its just crazy cheap to get one and start flying.

  • Developer

    @Jonathan: If you have the toilet bowl problems, this is not due to the CX-20, but only because you haven't conducted the magnetometer calibration process properly... This fact will occur with any APM installed on a brand new frame.

    Please read carefully the tutorial about the compass calibration process

    http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/initial-setup/configuring-hardware...

    Regards,

    Jean-Louis

  • @Paul, I agree and I asked about those files on their forum, but I imagine they have deleted my comments by now.

    @P2P, if it comes pre-configured, and pre-tuned, users should have no reason to be exposed to any settings anyway.  So they should have no issues.  It's supposed to be plug and play.

    @Jonathan and John, I agree.  I'm a little concerned that this whole thing will turn into a fiasco, and some users will end up blaming Arducopter.  

    All that being said, I am pretty interested as well.  Looks like a nice little quad for some safe(ish) videography and maybe teach my son to fly (although he appears disinterested).

  • Developer

    Below some details about the two layers Mini APM used in the Quanum NOVA or in the CX-20 auto-pathfinder:

    cx20inside06.jpg?width=740

    The I/O board:

    Cx20telem3.jpg?width=740

    More detailled infos are posted HERE

    Regards,

    Jean-Louis

    jlnaudin/x-VTOLdrone
    Vertical Take Off and Landing drone experimental research and development area - jlnaudin/x-VTOLdrone
  • Apparently earlier (competing with HK?) versions were released by banggood, and buyers are reporting slightly different configurations depending on the source and time of shipment. Many, many comments on rcgroups threads. Landing gear appear to be fragile, and buyers should check the internal quality. Longest thread (of several loooong ones) is this one.

  • I am curious if this suffers from the toilet bowl problems that were reported in the first CX-20 quads on RCG?

    I would think that if the compass is really located in the upper pod it should be OK.

This reply was deleted.