Announcing our new product listings for mid-summer 2013!
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3D Robotics Y6 and X8 Multicopters - RTF and Kit
We released the Hexa-to-Y6 conversion kit a few weeks back, and now the complete Y6 DIY package and Ready-To-Fly are available. A Y6 design is able to withstand a single motor out scenario, provides a more open and stable view for cameras, and doesn't weigh as much as a traditional Hex (because it uses less parts). It features folding arms to make ground transport a painless affair. This is our new go-to multicopter at 3DR: better performance than a quad at about the same size!
If six motors aren't enough for you, there is now the X8. With the same coaxial motor design as the Y6, but with four arms. This brute is amazingly compact, it's actually smaller than our quads in the front to back dimension, due to the wide angle of the arms. This is the platform to choose for flying your heavy camera and gimbal setups. The redundant nature of this vehicle is a valuable trait when carrying expensive gear or flying over difficult terrain. This vehicle can lose a motor and remain in a stable loiter with almost no disruption . The 3DR X8 is available ready-to-fly only at this time.
APM 2.6 and 3DR uBlox GPS with Compass
APM 2.6 is the same APM 2.5 you know and love, but with one valuable change: this revision of the board has no onboard compass, which is designed for vehicles (especially multicopters and rovers) where the compass should be placed as far from power and motor sources as possible to avoid magnetic interference. (On fixed wing aircraft it's often easier to mount APM far enough away from the motors and ESCs to avoid magnetic interference, so this is not as critical, but APM 2.6 gives more flexibility in that positioning and is a good choice for them, too). This is designed to be used with the new 3DR uBlox GPS with Compass, so that the GPS/Compass unit can be mounted further from noise sources than APM itself.
Note: APM 2.6 requires an external compass for full autonomy. If you are using APM 2.6 with a GPS module that does not have a compass sensor, you must use a stand-alone external compass. We recommend this one with this cable.
New GPS shown as it comes, in a nice enclosure
The board, inside the enclosure
You can also use the new uBlox GPS with on board magnetometer (compass) with your existing APM 2.5, To modify your board, follow the directions here.
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If you have been wanting to add first-person-view (FPV) capability to your vehicle, our new FPV package gives you everything you need in one kit (including batteries). All connectors have been built in the factory and designed to give you an easy plug-and-play experience -- no soldering required! On-screen-display is provided by our MinimOSD board for real time data telemetry. This is an important safety and convenience feature for anyone flying FPV.
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All of these items are available for order immediately.
The FPV kit is ready for shipping today.
The Y6 DIY package and APM 2.6 will ship on July 15th.
Note: RTF Y6 and X8 units will follow the normal 1-2 week turnaround. You'll find those and more on our new RTF store here: http://rtf.3drobotics.com/
Comments
size and wight?
I'm new vivter and choosing suitable kits can't find some features;
what is the flight time for ordinary accumulators?
what is the the QC range (with landing at the start)?
what is the range for reliable video reception (direct view only?)?
Thanks in advance - Leonid
Euan,
This does come with the protective case, I've clarified that in the product description. We do have the GPS cable in 30cm lengths already, we would just need to source a 30cm version of the mag cable. I'll pass on the word that people are interested in this.
...and 2 weeks late the order arrives...WITHOUT THE CASE!!!
Chris...you *really* need to get your order fulfillment department sorted. This is just getting ridiculous.
Hello,
I've got a Y6 frame kit. First impression is good, however assembly instructions sometimes are very confusing, text review and larger diagrams would definitely help. Also it would be nice to see some pictures of any finished project. i.e. how camera and battery are supposed to be mounted, how wires should go etc. I cannot find anything except those few 3DR ads pics.
Battery seems overlays with bolts heads and covers part of the camera opening, power board is not fixed inside - this is the short list of my problems so far.
Also, I ordered frame kit only and a bit later decided that I'd rather go with standard props, motors and ESC. For me it didn't look like a big deal to send me an electronic kit separately in addition to the frame, but they rejected and now I have to buy everything piece by piece.
Tash,
The arms of the X8 do not fold in the same way as the Y6. They can fold parallel to each other, but it is already quite compact and I'm not sure how much of an advantage it is. Let me see if I can find a photo for you, if not I'll take one.
:-)
Joshua,
Also, do you have any pictures of the X8 with the legs folded? I didn't seem any on the website.
Cheers,
Tash
Joshua,
I haven't looked at Gimbals at all yet. I'm a photographer that is just getting into RC & multirotors for a specific project. I've been reading, practicing with a v959 for the last several weeks (and have broken/repaired/rescued it a few times now), and am just now getting to the point where I think I'm comfortable enough to think about getting what I need for the project together.
It looks like you use to sell a gimbal on the Hexacopter, but I don't see that option on the X8. Do you have any suggestions on Gimbal choices? The camera is an NEX-5R from Sony, and I have a special "big honkin" lens on it that is what is pushing the weight up.
I also noticed that the battery/charger bundle offered on the X8 seems... light. 4200MmAh 3S batteries? Seems like it would be better to offer something with better flight time, or a couple of kit options for balancing payload vs. flight time.
Thanks,
Tash
Tash, what gimbal mount are you thinking about using, how much weight?
Todd, 1.6 km is a good estimate, but as you know there are many variables at work with rf. I recommend you watch Alex Greve's video series, from that you can get a good idea of what a basic system can do and what variables to play with for building up a more advanced system. With our kit as a starting point you can easily add different antenna types and modify the performance to suit your needs.
Leszek, 6 amp/hour 4s is a great choice for the Y6, 8 amp/hour 4s for the X8.
A good rule of thumb is 1 amp/hour of battery capacity per motor, so 6 amp/hours for the Y6. I think that 4s is always the way to go.
DVS Quad, The tricky part with the X8 is the power distribution board, the RTFs are using two of the quad PDBs, but I think we are going to design one just for the X8. Then we will most likely start offering a kit for that configuration.
Hmm... I can't edit my post up above so I'll post up a correction here:
I'm actually getting 8-9 minutes of flight time on my Y6 using a 3S 5000mah battery.
-Mike
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