Testing the RunCam 3 by RCModelReviews

I rarely echo tests that I did not realize myself, but this review of RCModelReviews is very interesting: it concerns the RunCam 3 camera, which espouses the cube format of the GoPro Hero Session. Bruce Simpson, in preview, reviews all the positives and negatives with his delicious New Zealand accent, a nice work as for each of his videos.

What to remember

The positive points ? Good pricing, videos with a satisfactory dive, true-to-life colors and a WDR Dynamic Range (a kind of HDR), a GoPro Session format suitable for mini multi-rotors, a battery that offers 1 hour of d 'Autonomy, a solid lens protection in Gorilla glass. The negative points ? The camera "swallows" the microSD memory card if it is inserted incorrectly (and it is not easy to open), there is no (yet) application for smartphone, the sensitivity of the microphone is not Adjustable, and the battery is not removable. The entire test is to be found in Bruce Simpson's video ...

Additionally, if you happen need to purchase some rc quads, you can search via Banggood website, which is one of the wholesale platform to provide affordable prices, such as Skywalker WALL-E2000, ZETA FX-79 Buffalo, etc. 

DJI Matrix 200, for professional missions

At the Mobile World Congress 2017 in Barcelona, DJI presented the Matrix 200, a drone destined to carry out professional missions. An impressive machine designed to accommodate equipment to conduct air inspections and data collection, including in harsh environments and when the weather is not cooperating. DJI for critical infrastructure inspections (bridges, telecommunication towers), inspections of energy-related installations (high voltage lines, wind turbines, oil platforms), site mapping and public safety ( Search & Rescue services, firefighters). Its dimensions? 71.6 x 22 x 23.6 cm for a weight of 3.80 kilos.

The equipment

The M200 is foldable for ease of transport and IP43 protection, ie protected against dust of more than 1 mm in diameter and against rainwater up to 60 ° from vertical. DJI has equipped it with more than 20 sensors for a redundancy of the components which makes it possible to improve the reliability, with double IMU, altimetric barometers, an electronic compass, a GPS system. Because it is capable of evolving in the presence of obstacles, it is equipped with two optical systems at the front and under the device, supplemented by an infrared sensor capable of detecting obstacles above it - an important tool for Facilitate flights under bridges, for example. It has two batteries that power the device in sequence for up to 38 minutes depending on the on-board load and battery type (a 95 Wh and a 174 Wh). At the front is a camera, as on the Inspire 2, which allows the pilot to fly in immersion. The M200 can be controlled by a driver, and its cameras operated by a camera equipped with a second radio control.

Inspection tools

"His" cameras? In addition to the front camera, the M200 can be equipped with an entry-level X4S camera, a 4x3 microphone X5S camera, a Z30 with mechanical zoom, or an XT that allows thermal imaging in conjunction with FLIR . The standard M200 is designed to carry a single camera, with a nacelle attachment on the underside of the camera. It is complemented by two other versions! The M210 is capable of accommodating two parallel nacelles under the aircraft, or a nacelle above. It can also be equipped with additional sensors and accessories developed by third-party manufacturers. Finally, the M210 RTK version is equipped with an RTK (Real Time Kinematic) module, which improves the satellite positioning to achieve a theoretical accuracy of the order of one centimeter.

Additional tools

All versions of the M200 are equipped with the AirSense DJI function, which is based on an ADS-B box. This system for receiving transponder signals makes it possible to obtain, in real time, the position, the altitude and the speed of apparatuses which evolve in the airspace. What to consider more serenely flights in an environment occupied by inhabited devices! Note that this is ADS-B reception, no transmission. The M200 is compatible with DJI GO 4 smartphone and tablet software, but it also takes advantage of the DJI Pilot application for industrial applications and DJI GS GO (GroundStation) to plan missions in a simple way. This is at least the promise of DJI, which also offers SDKs (development kits) for developers to realize their own software tools.

Collaborative!

DJI Pilot can work with DJI FlightHub, a real-time DJI data sharing tool to facilitate data sharing between field teams and management centers. This system allows all of them to visualize in real time the position of the aircraft in flight, their trajectory, their state, the video flow, to intervene on the flight plans and to pilot the cameras on board. For real-time image transmission up to a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, the M200 relies on Lightbridge 2 with a range of up to 7 kilometers (depending on country and regulation). 

Additionally, if you happen need to purchase some rc drones, you can search via Banggood website, which is one of the wholesale platform to provide affordable prices, such as toy glider airplanes, indoor rc airplane, etc. 

3D propellers for Blade 200QX

We saw how to blade the firmware of the Blade 200QX of Horizon Hobby, what propellers make him shoe, there is more to try! An advice ? Even if you are used to piloting 3D helicopters, take your precautions to try the first flights back with the Blade 200QX. Either by taking a little height or by operating over a very thick lawn.

The reason ?

The reversal of the engines is working, but the small latency period during which the propellers no longer provide lift is sufficient to cause a loss of height. Dsc_0143-600And quickly. With a little training, it is possible to anticipate the change of rotation so that it takes place exactly in the middle of the turning. It is not obvious to give figures since everything happens very quickly, but let's say it is advisable to reverse the gases as soon as the 45 ° angle has passed. Easier said than done ! With the 3D propellers, the Blade 200QX becomes much more nervous. This is good news because it is ready to fly, but it is also a bit difficult to keep it at a height. It tends to go up or down. Not easy to manage ... especially when you are upside down.

For a beginner?

Dsc_0141-600Follow the back flight if you have never practiced this with a 3D helicopter, or if you have not consented to hours of training on a flight simulator (from a 3D helicopter). Nothing prevents you from experimenting, but you will quickly understand that the management of reverse orders is not improvised. Xavier de Faq-drone learned it at his expense. For the first flight back of the 200QX, I entrusted the orders to Fabien, from the Rosny Indoor Club. An excellent 3D driver that still had trouble taking its marks. For my part, the flights back over the grass were more or less conclusive - rather less than more. The aircraft ended up losing an engine, but it was with the intense satisfaction of having completed a full circle on the back. Ok, everyone is not Alan Szabo Jr nor Tareq Al Saadi ... You should also know that the battery does not last long in flight back, barely 4 minutes. This is not a surprise, Horizon Hobby had warned in its documentation ...

Additionally, if you happen need to purchase some rc quads, you can search via Banggood website, which is one of the wholesale platform to provide affordable prices, such as hubsan x4 h107c+, camera rtf, etc. 

Foxeer Legend 3 on the way!

The pace of output of sports cameras accelerates! After the announcement of RunCam for a camera competing with the GoPro Hero5 Session, here is a new model announced by Foxeer in the format Keychain.

What do we know?

It is a 4K camera with Superview in 25 frames per second, in 2.5K at 60 frames per second (not bad!) And 1080p in 120 frames per second (yeaaah) and 1080p Superview in 60 frames per second (yeaaah bis ). Inside, there is an Ambarella A12 chip and a Sony IMX117. The case measures 6.5 x 4.25 x 2.3 cm with an Oled display and a removable battery. It will be offered in black and yellow livery. No price or availability date yet. And to say that I have not yet published the test of the Legend 2 ...

Additionally, if you happen need to purchase some rc quads, you can search via Banggood website, which is one of the wholesale platform to provide affordable prices, such as 0.3mp camera rc quad, axis hd camera, etc. 

Spektrum Wireless Dongle WS1000

In order to progress in flight, the flight simulator is an interesting tool - even if it does not replace practice in reality. Imagine yourself in the living room, PC connected to the big screen TV to enjoy a nice picture with ... an endless thread to connect the radio control and the computer! The Wireless Dongle WS1000 from Spektrum promises to get rid of this thread. It is a receiver compatible with all radio controls that work with the DSM2 and DSMX protocols, to be plugged into the USB port of the computer that hosts your flight simulator. Compatibility with Windows PCs is mentioned, but not with Mac OS X. Radio controllers equipped with compatible Orange or RotorX modules and DevotionTX devoted Walkera Devo Radio Controllers should work with the module.

Compatibility?

It is supported by DRM (Drone Racing League) Simulator, LiftOff FPV Simulator, FPV Simulator, AeroFly RC Simulator, VMach Media FPV Event PE and VelociDrone FPV Racing Simulator. Either the best known and the most widespread. And probably others, we'll have to try them. With the help of an OTG USB cable, the adapter can also be plugged into an Android smartphone. The Absolute RC Plane Sim and FreeRider FPV software are compatible, but Horizon Hobby indicates that all those that can be used with a Gamepad are also compatible. The price ? The WS1000 is announced at $ 40 in the United States. No price indication in Europe at the moment.

Additionally, if you happen need to purchase some rc drone parts, you can search via Banggood website, which is one of the wholesale platform to provide affordable prices, such as fpv antenna, sma male to sma male cable, etc. 

FrSky XMR (mini) Review

To equip the nano racers, here is a new receiver 2.4 GHz of FrSky, compatible with the radio control in mode D16. It is smaller than the previous XMR and XMR +, as the F800, with dimensions of 1.5 x 1.4 x 0.34 cm. His weight ? 0.8 grams. It is to power in 3.5 to 10V, plugs in PWM for 6 channels. Its reach, says FrSky, is 300 meters. No telemetry on this model, but the Failsafe is present. His price ? It will be offered at less than 14 € at Banggood (with the port but without taxes).

Additionally, if you happen need to purchase some rc drone parts, you can search via Banggood website, which is one of the wholesale platform to provide affordable prices, such as tft lcd monitor, 5.8ghz fpv antenna, etc. 

Tiny Whoop boosted: The BeeBrain and Insane engines

You might have read the test of Insane Motors from Micro Motor Warehouse installed on a Tiny Whoop. They give a nice fishing machine, but it trembles on all sides, making the flight very unpleasant. In the absence of the possibility of adjustments of the flight control, the solution is that is necessary ... it is to change flight controller! In the end, we get what? A nano machine to fly indoors with its protections of propellers, but powerful enough to fly also outdoors, with a little aerobatics ... The whole of the manipulation is very simple.

The proof ?

It's because I got there - and yet I'm not good at it. Just two soldering points is the most complicated step. Dsc_0009-1200I have opted for the NewBeeDrone BeeBrain v.1, a flight controller that measures pile-hair the same size as the Blade Inductrix. However, it relies on a Naze32 type electronics and Betaflight firmware rather than proprietary and non-adjustable Horizon Hobby software. It is proposed with an integrated receiver compatible with DMSX radios (Spektrum) or FrSky radios (like the Taranis). The video of some flights and a proposal of list of components can be found at the end of this post.

The base ?

Dsc_0114-1200The required to mount a Tiny Whoop Survived, is simply basic chassis of Inductrix. There are many other versions, plastic, 3D printing, aluminum ... No matter which one you choose, but the more the chassis is light the better it is. Shock resistance is not a fundamental criterion: all are repaired a number of times, then they must be changed when they are in too bad a condition. You can of course recycle an Inductrix from Horizon Hobby to give it a second life. Or an E10 from Eachine, to offer him a real life! That is the solution I have chosen. Simply adjust this step by step by removing the steps you do not need, especially by going directly to step 6 if you are starting from a bare chassis.

Additionally, if you happen need to purchase some rc drone parts, you can search via Banggood website, which is one of the wholesale platform to provide affordable prices, such as hs1177 camera, dji gopro gimbal, etc.