This little gem is great for unexperienced fixed-wing pilots and people who fly fpv. The T1000FC auto pilot system with GPS is an in-line flight stabilizing system that offers auto level, tilt angle limits and return to home functionality for conventional aircraft (fixed wing, delta, etc... excluding multicopters and heli's).
Key features:
- autopilot mode (auto levels and does not let the aircraft roll or pitch past 45 degrees)
- 3D mode for sport flying
- Flight mode (stabilization off)
- Fixed high direction mode (heading hold)
- altitude hold mode (this will maintain the aircraft's altitude)
- GPS return to home
The above features can be set by the flick of a 3-position switch on your transmitter
Specifications:
- Barometer
- GPS
- Smart PID control
Comes with GPS, tool to set home position and a manual.
The price of this auto pilot is US$ 70.14. Details and a video available on the Hobbyking website.
Comments
@TBD, good points... I think this unit is targeted more towards people who want some flight assist (e.g. FPV, aerial photographers) rather than people wanting autonomous flight capabilities. For these people, it's probably a nice match in a package that doesn't have a lot of extra learning/effort associated with it.
It's also got someGuardian-like features for learning 3D flight which look pretty interesting. I doubt that will overlap with the FPV uses. :-)
Hey guys I do not see any pots on the controller only channel normal & reverse "holes" and an description under the product page that states "• Smart PID control leaving the adjustment to the flight controller".
@Mark/R_Lefebvre:
Yep, POTS == no need for a laptop/tablet, s/w and radios. It's value for those that want to spend $800 on a nice radio. I prefer that any autonomous flight have a telem link and laptop, but that's me.
Tuning PIDs with pots is easy, and can get pretty decent results as Mark mentioned. I've tuned high-$$$ elmo/maxon setups this [mark's] way (e.g. hand twisting a motor axle until it goes unstable while adding/removing gain) without using Elmo's autotune features and gotten very acceptable results.
Cool! the device goes inline between your receiver and servos and you use your receivers throttle.
Hang out on the web page long enough and you can get a one time offer of $65.13.
I do not see motor output. Does it mean I have to set up failsafe with about 60% of motor on? Wow, it is very safe when you turn off radio with plane powered up on the ground :-P
Thanks for posting that. Looks a bit bulky and heavy but if it works like advertised it will be a steal for many. Has anyone a review of that thing or personal experience?
R_Lefebvre, you take it up in manual mode, flip it into stabilized mode, tune it up until it gets the shakes, and then downtune it. It's actually easier than APM if you don't have the telemetry radio.
I wonder why they did'nt put a receiver in there and be done with it! That's 1/3 the price of an FMA Co Pilot back in the day.
GPS comes with shrouded cable - drool...
Whenever I see these things with pots on them... how on earth do you tune them? I see the same thing with flybarless controllers on helis. Seems like madness to me considering a FBL won't even get off the ground if it's not right.