4 ms·

Very cool. Though the 7 minute flight time is rather disappointing. I know this would increase costs a LOT but it would be awesome if it could be redesigned to

Very cool. Though the 7 minute flight time is rather disappointing. I know this would increase costs a LOT but it would be awesome if it could be redesigned to use smaller chips and put more of the weight to the battery. On that can anyone explain to me why they positioned the batter on the top of the device? Wouldn't it be better balanced to have placed it below the body? Not that stability looked like an issue just seems like an odd design choice.

AhtiK 14y ago
A military grade droid nano copter can fly for 25 minutes so hopefully these kind of technologies will soon come to consumer market. http://www.proxdynamics.com/products/pd_100_prs/ http://www.proxdynamics.com/products/pd_100_prs/ That model is rather crazy across the whole spec: 16g, outdoor, max speed 10m/s, 25min flight time, steerable camera, just unbelievable.
jlgreco 14y ago
7 minute flight time is a bit short, but on the other hand the charge time is only 20 minutes. I think I might get one and try to make some sort of induction charging / IR base-station seeking setup, like a roomba. Probably makes the most sense to put the IR beacon on the chopper and have a webcam in the base-station guide it back for charging.
- tlrobinson 14y ago
  Then if you have at least 4 of them you could have unlimited flight time, if they stay close to their charging stations.
  - jlgreco 14y ago
    Yup, for values of "close" that are 3.5 minutes away, which seems pretty far considering how fast those things seem to move. I imagine the real limit will be radio range (you might be able to use some inertial guidance to get the device back into the general area to be able to pick up the IR beacon).
Florin_Andrei 14y ago
> Very cool. Though the 7 minute flight time is rather disappointing. It's pretty standard for any electric copter these days. It's a simple matter of energy density. If you go on hobbyking.com and build a standard-size quad from parts, you won't get much more flight time than that. Somewhat better, sure, but not a whole lot. This is reason #387 why we need a revolution in energy storage.
- bri3d 14y ago
  I get 13 minutes out of a 3300mAh 3S Turnigy "nano-tech." 10x4.5 props, 1100kv motors. My payload capacity isn't particularly high but a GoPro sans case is only just over 90 grams, so it works fine. I do agree that we're reliant on advancements in energy storage to push the flight time envelope, but improving even nearly twofold on 7 minutes isn't particularly difficult.
  - Florin_Andrei 14y ago
    So how about this: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1666155 http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1666155 Very simple chassis, Depron and some wood sticks. 1500kv motors. 5x3 props. Turnigy nano-tech battery, but with a choice of two models: 1. Either 1000 mAh weighing 79g 2. Or 1400 mAh weighing 119g. Which battery would you choose?

AhtiK 14y ago

A military grade droid nano copter can fly for 25 minutes so hopefully these kind of technologies will soon come to consumer market. http://www.proxdynamics.com/products/pd_100_prs/ http://www.proxdynamics.com/products/pd_100_prs/ That model is rather crazy across the whole spec: 16g, outdoor, max speed 10m/s, 25min flight time, steerable camera, just unbelievable.

jlgreco 14y ago

7 minute flight time is a bit short, but on the other hand the charge time is only 20 minutes. I think I might get one and try to make some sort of induction charging / IR base-station seeking setup, like a roomba. Probably makes the most sense to put the IR beacon on the chopper and have a webcam in the base-station guide it back for charging.

tlrobinson 14y ago
Then if you have at least 4 of them you could have unlimited flight time, if they stay close to their charging stations.
- jlgreco 14y ago
  Yup, for values of "close" that are 3.5 minutes away, which seems pretty far considering how fast those things seem to move. I imagine the real limit will be radio range (you might be able to use some inertial guidance to get the device back into the general area to be able to pick up the IR beacon).

Florin_Andrei 14y ago

> Very cool. Though the 7 minute flight time is rather disappointing. It's pretty standard for any electric copter these days. It's a simple matter of energy density. If you go on hobbyking.com and build a standard-size quad from parts, you won't get much more flight time than that. Somewhat better, sure, but not a whole lot. This is reason #387 why we need a revolution in energy storage.

bri3d 14y ago
I get 13 minutes out of a 3300mAh 3S Turnigy "nano-tech." 10x4.5 props, 1100kv motors. My payload capacity isn't particularly high but a GoPro sans case is only just over 90 grams, so it works fine. I do agree that we're reliant on advancements in energy storage to push the flight time envelope, but improving even nearly twofold on 7 minutes isn't particularly difficult.
- Florin_Andrei 14y ago
  So how about this: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1666155 http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1666155 Very simple chassis, Depron and some wood sticks. 1500kv motors. 5x3 props. Turnigy nano-tech battery, but with a choice of two models: 1. Either 1000 mAh weighing 79g 2. Or 1400 mAh weighing 119g. Which battery would you choose?