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Hello, When I tried flying my Skyviper V2450GPS, The battery kept on changing from 87 to 75, then 3(?), then 12%. Then it says it tries to come back, but it flies away from me and tries to crash into the biggest tree it can find. I don't know why these batteries are doing this. I bought 2 more batteries from toys r us and they still have the same problem. I'm worried that that the drone might break and that I might lose my money. Please help me as I've spent a good amount of money on this drone and its batteries and the drone keeps thinking that the batteries are at EXACTLY 12% until you disconnect and reconnect the batteries. Even then, it goes back to 12% and then stops working. It then proceeds to "return" to me but instead flies into a bunch of trees past a wall.

http://www.robolink.com/codrone/ That is one of the few I've found, but seems to have serious quality issues, such as engines burning after 4 hours of flight time and erratic drift. I'm looking to program a tethered quadcopter to carry a rubber ducky in a circle for bow target practice. But I'm sure people will have a million uses for these things.

What you guys think about dji spark?? Should I buy one??

Hello guys, I've flown small toy drones for a few years now and I think I'm ready for a bigger drone capable of capturing quality video. However, as the big boys such as the Phantom and, my dream, the Mavic are too expensive I've decided that I will build a Diy drone. I want to be able to capture smooth and stable footage without any jello effect. Though I have no clue from where to start. I live in Bulgaria and can't find any drone part shops. Therefore, I'll need to order from the uk or Germany. I think I have chosen a frame, the F450 from unmannedtech.co.uk (don't see any DJI marks on it, does it matter if It's a copy?), a S500 or the i550a, a copy of the f550 from dji, which is probably overkill. My payload is the next problem: I have a Sony As30v Action Cam, though it turns out there are no gimbals for it? So if there arent actually any gimbals I'm screwed and need to buy a new camera.. Next up, all of the other parts. So, motors. I'm kinda confused about what kind of motors I should buy and I do not have much choice, as most of the cheaper ones are for racing (high kv). Could I buy spare used motors from a Phantom and use them? Or what sort of motors should I be hunting? Next, flight controller. I'm completely lost here, so please help. Same with ESC's, gimbals, PDB's, transmitters, rc's, video transmission systems... I'm actually lost, so please, bear with me and give me some advice. P.S. I also have an unused Raspberry Pi.

At a military symposium, Gen David Perkins stated that a US ally used a $3 million Patriot Missile to take out a $200 Quadcopter. Understandably, terrorists and what not are using these cheap quadcopters as weapons, however, to put it lightly, this is a case of serious overkill. Even the general points out that the economics of using these missiles to take out quadcopters is horrendous. Still, have to admit that the quadcopter never saw it's demise coming. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39277940 EDIT: Techspot Article http://www.techspot.com/news/68534-us-allies-have-used-patriot-missiles-shoot-down.html In this article they do mention at least some of the techniques people are looking at for drone removal other than overkill...

i so found this syma x5c explorers 2.4g 4ch rc quadcopter. is there a way like i can bump up its motors to make it fly higher and change the battery size to fly longer?

Hi! I am looking for a first drone for my boyfriend for Christmas (he is a big fan of Linus Tech Tips!). I would like something with the best quality HD camera and longest possible flight time for $100 - $150, with FPV, and the option to carry a go-pro. I have been researching a lot but am completely overwhelmed by the range of prices and features! (I'm also not techy at all!) I want to get something fun, easy to use, that can shoot decent film and take nice images but not wildly expensive or professional as it is will be the first time for him to own a drone. If he likes it and uses it we can upgrade. He currently uses his go pro quite a lot when we travel - so I want to give him a new toy to play with! Please help me! Thank you!

Hi, I'm looking to add fpv to my quad copter for as cheap as possible. I would not want to spend more then $100(AUD) on all the FPV parts. I don't need good quality because I will be mounting another camera on the drone as well for good quality video recording. It may be possible to use that camera as a the fpv camera as well since it has a " HDMI micro connector (Type D)" port. I'm not sure if it outputs live video yet as I can't test it since I'm lacking the required cable. Also I would prefer a monitor / screen over goggles. Thanks.

Recently I have decided I want to buy/build a drone, mainly for video capture. I have done some research, but haven't really come up with a solid choice. My budget is around £450-£800 (UK Moneys, preferably around £550) and as I said I mainly want to use it to record videos. I have narrowed it down to the 3 DJI Phantom 3's (They are: £424 Standard, £680 Advanced, £700 Professional) as they appear to be the most used on the market, the other option is too make one but I am not sure i that will give me as much freedom with the camera movement etc. I am happy to hear any other suggestions, as I am not really sure what I am doing!

Hello, recently I've seen quite a lot of posts regarding drones and what kind one should buy and what can I get for X monetary value. So, this guide will attempt to answer some questions about what kind to buy or build, some of the terminology, and to point you in the right direction for your multirotored future. If you don't have any experience flying 4ch helicopters or drones, buy one on amazon BEFORE you drop $500< on an expensive drone setup. If you already have experience and know how all the controls work, carry on This is a great option, and for the love of god don't get one of these. The latter of those are crap. They're cheaply made, the camera solutions are awful and when you crash (when, not if. Everyone crashes) there are no replacement parts for them. The Hubsan is a much better option, it's smaller, there are some replacement parts even in hobby shops and most importantly, it's so light that it wont really break in a crash* However, I'm sure where there's a will, there's a way to break these things. Before we get started, MAKE SURE YOU RESEARCH YOUR LOCAL LAWS FOR FLYING RADIO CONTROLLED AIRCRAFT. If you do not follow the rules created and enforced by your government, you could face fines and or jail time. So take the time instead of doing time. Okay, the first decision you have to make is whether you want to enter the fast paced, exciting world of FPV racing/freestyle/mini quads, or the calmer, more professional, aerial photography and videography field, commonly known as AP for Aerial Photography. You can do very impressive things with both, examples of which are in those two videos. I chose the former, but it's all up to you. Build Or Buy: FPV Mini Quads: Aerial Photography/Videography: Parts: this is where things get a little complicated. There are so many things to buy, and certain parts are more suited to different applications than others. FPV and AP drones use a lot of the same types of components, but in different sizes and are built for different applications. Frames: Motors: ESCs: Props: Flight Controller: Radio System: Camera: Video Transmitter: Antennae/Video Receivers/Display Devices: Power Distribution Board Gimbals and Video Stabilization: Batteries: Well, I think I’ve covered all the parts. Some parts have their own little quirks, like KISS 18A v1 ESCs spontaneously combusting, cheap DYS motors using 4mm prop shafts opposed to the standard 5mm. If you’re not sure, YouTube has a wealth of knowledge about just about every part you could possibly want to put in your Drone. If not, PM me, I might be able to answer your question, or point you in the right direction. Other stuff: PIDs: Rates: Expo: For assembling your quad, most frames are pretty self explanatory, but again, most frames have videos on YouTube documenting the build process on that specific frame. Similar to your glorious gaming rig, every multirotor is different and unique to the person who built it. If you bought your quad, well, you will probably have the same experience as the next guy that bought the same product. I hope I covered all the basics, if you have any more questions, hit me up in PM’s. If you made it this far, thank you for reading all 4730 of those words! I hope you learned something and I can’t stress enough, don’t hesitate to PM me if you have any suggestions for additions to this post or more individual questions. Future Topics? What did I forget? Comment here with suggestions!

Was thinking about purchasing a DJI Phantom 4. Anyone have any experience with it or maybe previous Phantoms? Is it worth it? Thanks!

Amazon: http://geni.us/1yb7 NCIX: http://bit.ly/27cD8zP This is BY FAR the best quadcopter we have ever used. Here's why...

Hello, I am doing a school project were I will build a quadcopter and write about it. I want to build a stable 480 quad, it doesn't need to be super fast, just stable and have pretty good fly time. Budget ~250-300 dollar. In in the future i want to get some camera gear, like a gopro gimble. But for now, i only want the quadcopter to fly. Parts: FC: AfroFlight Naze32 Rev 5 Acro FunFly Controller - Soldered version (Vertical Pin) Frame: S500 Glass Fiber Quadcopter Frame with PDB 480mm Motor, ESC: MultiStar & Afro Combo Pack - 2216-800KV and Matched 20A Afro ESC Set of 4 CW/CCW Battery: ZIPPY Compact 2200mAh 3S 25C Lipo Pack Prop: Hobbyking™ Propeller 9x4.7 White CW 2pcs (and the same but CCW ofc)Controller: Turnigy 6X FHSS 2.4ghz Transmitter and Receiver (Mode 2) (Probably gonna choose another one, but this is the one i'm looking at) Questions 1.Are these parts compatible, and what can i consider to swap out to get the best possible combination? 2. What parts/tools I miss? I will buy a LiPo charger I have a soldering iron and that is pretty much it Thanks, Anton

Hello, I am doing a school project were I will build a quadcopter and write about it. I am going to build a 250 race quad. Budget ~200-250 dollar. In in the future, i want to implement FPV gear. But for now, i only want the quadcopter to fly. Parts: FC: AfroFlight Naze32 Rev 5 Acro FunFly Controller - Soldered version (Vertical Pin) Frame: Kim250 Pro FPV Multrotor with PCB Motor, ESC: MultiStar & Afro Combo Pack - 2206 Baby Beast V2 Motor and 12A Afro ESC Set of 4 CW/CCW Battery: MultiStar Racer Series 1400mAh 3S 40-80C Multi-Rotor Lipo Pack For FPV Minis Prop: Gemfan 5030 Multirotor ABS Propellers Bulk Pack (10 Pairs) CW CCW (Black) Controller: Turnigy 9X 9Ch Transmitter w/ Module & 8ch Receiver (Mode 2) (v2 Firmware) + Battery ZIPPY Flightmax 2500mAh Transmitter Pack (Futaba/JR) Other: Hobbyking Multi-Rotor Power Distribution Board (DIY 8 x output PCB) AND 10CM Male to Male Servo Lead (JR) 26AWG (10pcs/set) AND XT30 Power Connectors for 30A Continuous Applications (5 Pairs) Questions 1.Are these parts compatible, and what can i consider to swap out to get the best possible combination? 2. What parts/tools I miss? I will buy a LiPo charger I have a soldering iron and that is pretty much it 3. I want to install a LED tail light. How do I do that? Is it as simple as buying a 12v led strip and connect to the battery? Thanks, Josef

Drones, Quadcopters, UAVs, call them however you like are the RC-"Toys" atm. While there are many good Ready-to-Fly options out there, i decided to build one myself and I'd like to take you along on the ride. The parts: -Versacopter V2.0 H-Frame -4x Emax MT2204 2300kv Motors -4x Emax 12A ESCs -Naze32 10DOF Flightcontroller -Taranis X9D+ Transmitter -X8R Receiver -4x 6045 Gemfan Propeller The Build: I'll spare you the tedious calibration via Cleanflight on PC, nothing of note happened there. Well, today the weather cleared up a little and i finally got to try it out. "Why not inside?", you might ask: Well, i don't like having all the paper in my room flying about and value my fingers more (go ahead and google (NSFW "prop injury"))than waiting a little extra. Well, it turned out I did not fasten one of the nuts well enough and it flew off into the garden, never to be found again, meaning i have to wait another week to get CCW M5 Nuts. Things to be done: -Waiting for my CCW-Nuts -Maidening it for real -FPV-Setup Well, that's it for this part of the build, updates will follow along the path. Thank you for reading and you shall be allowed to ask questions now

I was thinking about building a 250mm FPV quad but I don't know much about it and I would appreciate help. I don't want to spend more than 150GBP but this can be extended to 200GBP if needed. Thank you in advance for anyone who helps out.

I am currently trying to get into drones/ Quadcopters, Currently I am getting a Hubsan X4 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ILYIB6W?ref_=cm_cd_al_qh_dp_t which looks like it will do me quite good. I think for such a small little near toy of a drone it will give me and my youngest brother some entertainment. However, I wish to have something in the "Full-Sized" Drone category, a friend nearby mentioned "Viper" but I haven't gotten many hits for that on google/bing/yahoo. (Yes I checked all three). I want it to be decently powerful and last more than 50 minutes (Even If I need to buy extra batteries /and a charger , as long as it still totals for under 100$) I don't NEED a Camera, but it would be nice. So in short I want a drone around 8in x 8in ( 203mm x 203mm) or larger, and it needs to be under 100. I would really like it to last for more than 50 Minutes of flight, even if I have to land it, and swap a battery (But Include batteries, extra parts and anything else like that in the budget.), If providing an online store please stick to Amazon or something that is trustworthy (I use Web Of Trust). ~Divide.

I got a Cheerson CX-20 quadcopter the other day and I want a gimbal to hold my SJ5000. The gimbal I have now is a Walkera G-2D, but it doesn't seem to work as it is. Does anyone know of a gimbal that is compatible with the CX-20, or know how to attach the G-2D? Bear in mind that I'm not very experienced with electronics like this.

Hey, I would like to build my own quadcopter and I need a parts list. Just a baseline, simple, easy to use, quadcopter. $500 at the absolute most, including the controller. Any help or redirection would be appreciated!

So, flying my quad yesterday and finally got it working beautifully. For those interested, specs: Diatone FPV250 Frame CC3D Flight Controller EMAX 12Amp ESC's (BLHeli) DYS 1806 2300KV Motors 5x4.5 Bullnose props (Nylon / Glass Fibre composite) LemonRX DSM2 6 Channel Receiver Devo 7E Modded Transmitter (TX Power limit removed and 2 extra TX's installed to fly other planes, heli's and quads) Running on a 2200 40c 3S setup Had a good flight for two hours, got to the last battery and suddenly it decides to just go ape-shit. Flipped upside down and smashed to the ground (upside down still). Damage report: Two motor's ripped off the frame, I designed the motor mounts as a weak point to save the motors getting destroyed. Pins on flight controller bent almost 90 degrees Two props broke, these bull nose props are super freaking strong, I've never had to change them before and they've had a couple of accidents in the past. Ripped RGB LED Diode off a strip, and a resistor Method of repair: Replace motor mounts / remove completely Straigtened pins on FC Everythings tested and seems to be working so far, FC initialises, all ESC's are still working and none of the motors are binding, still spinning freely with no obvious grinding noises. Replace LED Strip. I'd have this back flying today but I've ran out of spare screws, so waiting for those to come in. Pics: I'll get some pics up after the repair.

Amazon: http://geni.us/49S9 NCIX: http://bit.ly/1IhVHai Have consumer quadcopters finally reached the point where YOU should invest in one?

Original Article: http://www.engadget.com/2015/06/26/drone-that-carries-people/ Could this be the beginning of the future for flying cars? Thorstin Crijns has developed this proof of concept for his idea. It is based of the same technology that quad copters use, the only difference being, Instead of 4 rotors, there are now 16. While this is only a test flight as a proof of concept, the device managed to fly itself and the pilot for a brief amount of time. The device itself weighs in a 110lb (50KG) while its occupant weighs in at 132lb (60KG) and with the device sporting enough thrust to lift 282lb (121.18KG recurring), it should work. While the device looks terrifying, not even being the correct word to use, the concept works. See the video below: My thoughts? A while ago, I posted a topic about a new type of hover board being a distance record. With this new device from a different person. The future certainty is looking positive for Personal Flight Devices, and man am I scared, although, still excited. Your Thoughts? please leave them down below! MY THOUGHTS - Explained More In-depth While I want a hoverboard, and we are more likely to get one before a flying car. This concept is a great example about our engineering skills. Is this going to be the final design? I hope to god it isn't and as many of you, and myself have said it looks frighting and dangerous. This is a long way off from becoming a production model, but The idea is there.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/5/27/8675211/gopro-will-release-a-quadcopter-in-the-first-half-of-next-year The verge gopro quadcopter in Q2 2016

sorry i'll unbox it on monday!!!! but here are some pics!!!

3DRs DJI Phantom competitor is here in all its glory, though not coming to party with all the features that the Phantom 3 comes with. Stuff like optical flow sensor and a parachute and well...everything. In my honest opinion, its exceptionally stupid to market this Solo to consumers and launch it without the things the P3 has. A gimbal, optical sensor, 4K camera...beats me how 3DR thinks they can get consumers to spend nearly the same amount on a less capable unit but I guess we can wait and see on that one. http://imgur.com/a/uI0SH