Shopping for flight controllers

[Derek]

I've decided to shop around, again, for multi rotor parts. I think I have the motors and esc's picked out. Flight controllers will be another issue. Originally, I was thinking of using the KK2 board. Hobby King seems to, almost always, have their KK2 board in stock lately but it's been rumored and reviewed that www.buddyrc.com has a KK2 board that has better programming and more "quality" in the build of their KK2 board. I've heard that the NAZ32 is a good board. Lee has something called "Open Pilot" on his 250 and 500. I don't know anything about the NAZ32 nor the Open Pilot. I like the simplicity and effectiveness that I've read about the KK2 board but I'm looking for suggestions and opinions.

What control boards are you guys using and why do you like them?

I want a very simple setup. No GPS. Return to Home isnt a necessity but if it comes with a control board, that would be handy. If I could just get a control board that has self level and would also allow me to roll and flip...I'd be happy with that. That's why I was thinking of the KK2 board.

[Stambo]

The KK2 although a good flight controller is only 8 bit and has been surpassed by the raft of 32 bit controllers now available.
The Naze32 with baseflight will work pretty much straight out of the box, is cheap and is reasonably easy to configure.
If you can tweak a FBL controller on the PC you will have no trouble with baseflight configurator.
I can link you to the video that got me flying with mine.
These are really the only 2 FCs I have had any great experience with, although a friend has a NAZA M V2 which has not seen much use since he discovered Naze32 and miniquads.
If you go the Naze32 route all you need is the acro version which is available from HK among other places for about $24.
Cheaper than KK2 but far superior.

The Naze32 flight modes are
Horizon - Pretty much self level, tilt in all directions is limited to 50deg, let go the stics and return to level.
Angle - Enhanced horizon mode, first half of the sticks are still limited but full deflection will give you rolls and flips.
Acro - This is where it gets interesting, tilt the craft and let the sticks go and that is where it stays. You have to bring it back to level. Somewhat like a flybarred heli would do.
This is what most people eventually learn to use as it is a much smoother flight mode especially for video and acrobatics. (I have just started learning acro, and I am lovin it)

[Derek]

Thanks Stambo! I didn't realize there was that much of a difference but there is a huge difference between 8 and 32 bits. Honestly, I couldn't tell you "why" 32 bits is better than 8 bits but, based on simple mathematics...32 is higher than 8.

If you have a link that would share some more information, I'd love to check it out.

[Stambo]

Heres a few to start with

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU91nHFdgyY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozwkaenbGUM

http://blog.oscarliang.net/naze32-on-mini-quad-fpv250/

[Derek]

Very cool! Thanks for that! I'll be sure to check them out real soon.

[Graham Lawrie]

Derek:) i have the Naze32 and if i can program and work one anyone can:) I watched the first video, and many videos on the Naze and it made me do changes and confused me quite a bit.

As Stambo says it flies straight out of the box:) As i am on my second one now, i learnt a lot from my mistakes on the first one:) The only command you need to enter on the CLI is "feature motor_stop" and thats it. On the first screen, calibrate accelerometer, and magnometer. And it will fly out of the box:)

[Derek]

Thanks for that Graham! I'm getting more and more excited about this whole thing. I do wish the US HK warehouse had these in stock. I did find the Naz 32 at the Global Warehouse for $24.00 and it will cost me another $23.00 for shipping, lol. Geez!!!

[Derek]

I just want to make sure that I'm looking at the correct flight controller. Originally, I was thinking about using the KK2 board. Stambo told me that the KK2 is an 8bit board and the Naze32 is a 32bit board. That's kind of a "no brainer"...even for me. So...let's dismiss the KK2 board and investigate the Naze32 a bit more. I was doing just that and I noticed something. The KK2 board is 55mm x 55mm in size. The Naze32, that I see at HK, is 36mm x 36mm. The link below is where I found the Naze32 at HK. Is this the correct one that I should be looking for?

http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__ ... oller.html

I was just concerned that I had the right one because this board is much smaller than the already small KK2 board.

[Lee]

There are three boards available at the moment that i would suggest.
The Flip 32
The Open Pilot CC3D
The Nase 32

The Nase and I think also the Flip are both designed by guys that where originally involved with the design of the Open Pilot.
They are all 32bit, have the same dimensions 36mm/36mm

For me its a no brainer. Open Pilot Especially when, just yesterday they released a new firmware with functions specifically design to enhance mini quad flying
The OP community is huge, with developers from all over the world. There forum is very active, so if, you have an issue, there is an answer.
HK sell both the Nase and the Open pilot, but if you want somewhere closer these guys are the number one site for me in the US.
http://www.hoverthings.com/accessories/ ... llers.html They where the first to introduce the Flip32. They have some good frames too.

I just set up an Open Pilot for Tony, on his mini quad. With the Ground control station App that works on Windows, Mac and Linux, its childs play.
Took less than 5mins. They have tuitional videos online too, to help you though the process.
The default settings are fine.
Have a browse through the site. http://wiki.openpilot.org/display/Doc/O ... umentation

The video on this page explains the Software ( can't put the video directly here as its set to private)
http://wiki.openpilot.org/display/Doc/G ... rted+Guide

This one explains the set up of you quad.
http://vimeo.com/40587626

[Tony]

I can't help with the boards Derek but I can give you a little understanding of the difference between an 8 bit processor and a 32 bit one.

An 8 bit processor can only handle one byte at a time per instruction, this equates to numbers between 0 to 255. A 32 bit processor can handle 4 times this amount which is 0 to 4,294,967,295

So as an easy example, let's say we want to add 2 numbers together.... 450 + 550, we know that's 1000, the 8 bit processor can't handle a sum like this in one go as it only goes to 255, so the way around it is to use 4 registers within it's core, 2 for the 450 and 2 for the 550, it then takes multiple instructions to compute this addition (which I won't go into for simplicity) and these all take up a lot of time within the processor.

Now the 32 bit processor can handle these numbers with ease, it loads the 2 numbers into 2 registers and adds them together in one instruction... Super fast.

So basically a 32 bit processor is much faster at mathematics, it can read in much bigger numbers, compute maths much quicker (needed in controller/gyros) etc... There are lots and lots of advantages of using these processors but I won't complicate things

that's a very basic understanding of why a 32 bit processor is better than 8 bit..

[Derek]

Thank you Lee! I'll have a look at those videos over the weekend. I appreciate your time. The more and more I'm looking around, the more and more excited I'm getting.

Thank you Tony for your explanation! I'll probably have to reread your explanation 2-3 more times before I fully understand it, lol, but I'll get there ha ha ha.

[Derek]

I do believe that I've chosen the Naze32. Here are two questions:

Do I want the "Acro" Naze32 or the "Full" Naze32?

Then, since I have a 250 quad coming, do I want "Right Angled Pins" or "Straight Pins" on the board?

[Lee]

For a mini quad, the Acro is enough.
Right angle pins are better as the straight ones put the servo plugs close to the top plate, making it vulnerable to vibes.
I have straight pins on mine, and its a pain.

[Stambo]

Yup Naze32 acro is the way to go.
Awesome FC and cheap as chips.

[Derek]

Very cool guys! Thanks for that!!!

[Tony]

Is it worth buying the full naze32, or just the acro one as I'm thinking of changing mine too. I'm sure it's had water damage when it became a submarine at Lee's...

[Lee]

As Stambo and i said earlier, the acro is enough for the minis.
The full is better for bigger ships that you want gps etc for.
I'm sticking the acro on mine now to see how it differs to the cc3d

[Derek]

Sounds like I'll be ordering the Acro Naze32 pretty soon.

[Tony]

Are there clones out there to avoid?

[Lee]

The HK UK warehouse has them in stock Tony.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... oller.html