Derek's Dart 250 FPV Quad Flight Log

[Stambo]

Looking good Derek, easily good enough to record some FPV flights.

[danhampson]

Looking good Derek, easily good enough to record some FPV flights.

+1 for the fpv flights, your at a good point to start tuning in fpv mate.

[Derek]

Looking good Derek, easily good enough to record some FPV flights.

Thanks Stambo! I've made no adjustments to the Naze32 other than the changes that you gave me.

Looking good Derek, easily good enough to record some FPV flights.

+1 for the fpv flights, your at a good point to start tuning in fpv mate.

I did have a bit of an FPV flight around my front yard yesterday. It was fun, for sure! I thought I remembered reading somewhere that someone added expo to the throttle. Would this be advantageous? For the first minute or so of my FPV flight, I was struggling to find that "hover point" on the throttle. Or...is that just something that I need to work on?

[Stambo]

The throttle manipulation required on these will be way beyond what you are used to with heli's and planes.
You will get used to it, and when you are moving around a bit more with FPV you start to anticipate where you need throttle rather than apply it after you need it.
I think everyone goes through it when they start with mini quads.

[cml001]

Yep... True on any machine w a throttle... It goes hand in hand with steering I believe!

[Tony]

Nice flying D. About time you got some vids done....lol, I think I missed the "aggressive bits"....

[danhampson]

I did have a bit of an FPV flight around my front yard yesterday. It was fun, for sure! I thought I remembered reading somewhere that someone added expo to the throttle. Would this be advantageous? For the first minute or so of my FPV flight, I was struggling to find that "hover point" on the throttle. Or...is that just something that I need to work on?

Ive not added expo but i have flatten my throttle curve a bit, with porket having so much thrust it was hard to find and keep hover point/balance point. It does get easier with practice as well Derek.

[Derek]

I was pretty sure that you all were gonna say that it's just gets easier with practice. No worries! I'm up for the challenge!

Nice flying D. About time you got some vids done....lol, I think I missed the "aggressive bits"....

More videos to come now, Tony, lol. Now that I have a handle on the Mobius....the quad is flying better than I expected...

I'm charging batteries up for the quad right now. If the weather cooperates (rain) then I'll get out for a few more flights today. If not, tomorrow's forecast is looking very very nice!!!

[Derek]

After posting my flight video, I've had a few people on Youtube tell me that I should raise the D on my Naze32 a bit because there was a bit of wobble as the quad descends. I watched the video again and yes, there is a bit of wobble. Despite the suggestions, no one could/would tell me which part of the D should be raised. Can you guys take another look and tell me what you think please?

[Tony]

I'm not a PID person, I usually decend with forward momentum so quad doesn't get caught in its own wash.... I know that's not the answer your looking for but works for me....lol

[Derek]

Right...I was trying to keep that in mind while I was flying but my backyard really isn't very big so I pretty had to descend in it's own prop wash. The wobble isn't horrible. In fact, I thought it was rather "slight".

[danhampson]

honestly i fly and record watch it back (the more times the better) and follow this http://www.netraam.eu/nazewiki/pmwiki.p ... .PIDTuning there are no magic numbers of the pids, it just takes time.

[Derek]

I just don't know which item to adjust in the 3 sections. I was told to raise the D a bit. Which area of the D should I raise?

[Stambo]

Raise the roll and pitch D a little Derek then fly and record again and see what changes.
For tuning you will mostly be working with roll and pitch as these have the biggest effect.
Whether you adjust P, I or D depends on what behavior you are trying to modify.

[Derek]

Ok.....roll and pitch....I can do that! Thanks Stambo! Then record and fly again...I can do that, too!

[Derek]

It's FPV Time!

After recalibrating the accelerometer and a brief LOS flight, I put on the goggles and played around the front yard a bit. Awesome awesome fun and the quad seems to be very stable. Here's the video from today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kjIKJZjslY

[danhampson]

Nice flight mate, that's a large helical antenna on that tripod.

[Derek]

Thanks Dan! I know it was a short flight but it was fun.

As for that helical antenna...that's a 5 turn helical antenna for my 1.3ghz video system that's on my FPV plane. I put my 5.8ghz vrx on the back on the helical with velcro, along with the 1.3ghz vrx. Pretty much an "all in one" tripod.

Anyway...the rain is gonna be around for the next two days or so, so I am very much looking forward to the sun on Thursday and Friday. I think it's about time to take the mini quad out to the flying field for some laps.

[cml001]

Awsome bud... That's a great street... Long & straight... Get that tripod out from behind the truck & take the street!... U could haul ass down that street! Buzz those boys on the bikes! Lol can't wait to get FPV gear.. Jealous of u guys!

[Derek]

Thanks Clay...I probably won't be flying down my street and I surely won't be buzzing anyone on a bike because of the "what if" factor. What if something on the quad breaks, comes loose, or simply fails? I won't put myself in a position for something bad to happen and then have to pay for damages. I surely don't want anything bad to happen, while I'm flying, and then have more negative publicity about flying FPV. If you'll check my video again, I'm sure that you'll see that, when I see the bicyclists, I get the quad back into my yard.

Anyway...more Dart 250 FPV to come...