Multirotor, multicopter and quadcopter discussion - The Drone thread

It looks like it has flashed to Betaflight, it went through the flashing part, ok, then went through the verifiying part, but keeps timing out on that bit

However when I connect up, and load it, its connecting ok in cleanflight configurator, and I get this output in the log


2016-03-08 @ 20:03:29 -- Running - OS: Windows, Chrome: 48.0.2564.116, Configurator: 1.2.1
2016-03-08 @ 20:04:29 -- Serial port successfully opened with ID: 3
2016-03-08 @ 20:04:29 -- MultiWii API version received - 1.16.0
2016-03-08 @ 20:04:29 -- Flight controller info, identifier: BTFL, version: 2.5.3
2016-03-08 @ 20:04:29 -- Running firmware released on: Mar 6 2016 14:16:58
2016-03-08 @ 20:04:29 -- Board: AFNA, version: 2
2016-03-08 @ 20:04:29 -- Unique device ID received - 0x670ff564856676767135732


This to me looks like it has loaded on ok, but it didnt complete the verification during flash

thoughts?
 
Are you using a manual baud rate rather than automatic?
If using auto, try manual set to 115200

The only flashing problems I've had on multiple boards (CC3D, Naze, SP racing F3, Dodo) are when Cleanflights flasher was set to auto or higher than 115200.
 
Pretty sure it was set to the value above. I think it should be ok anyway. It was only the verification part it stopped on. Check out above log when connecting to the FC in cleanflight.

It shows the betaflight release version


Does anyone have any screenshots or cli dump of default config after flashing betaflight?

Want to compare and ensure it looks ok
 
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Its connecting yep

Although I don't have anything to compare with not used it before. So need to go through everything on another evening
 
Having a play around with Betaflight today getting some config back on, I cant get the thing to arm, the motor tests are not working either with the battery and USB plugged in.

Anyone free to take a second glance over the config if I do a dump to see why its not arming? I have been through the config and cant see what the issue is at the moment, spent a good few hours looking over this, this is my problem at the moment I dont really have the time to find little issues like this after 3-4 hours of exhausting options. Just need it to fly well and I can do some tweaking :)

Any help appreciated

My TX is communicating with the RX and the Naze32, as when I unplug battery I get telemetry lost, plug back in telemetry recovered, the throttle, yaw, pitch roll movements are recognized through cleanflight.

The LEDs on the board with nothing being touched and USB in is BLUE and RED.

The LEDs on the board with the battery only plugged in and ready to fly is BLUE and RED, when I go to arm it with the TX by doing left stick bottom right hand corner to arm the green led comes on which usually means good to go, but nothing is happening

Flash back to cleanflight and reload my config, works fine, flash back to betaflight, tried a few things that I found online but still not working,
 
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Those with an S1000 series DJI frame (Russ?) - is it just the 6S batteries that are recommended or can 4S ones be run in series / parallel to get the same higher output (equivalent to 8S I guess)?

Am considering an S1000 setup :) many thanks!
 
Errr, not sure, all of ours are 6S and we haven't looked at/tried any others. Sorry!

It doesn't take any power input from the 6S plug though so you'll just have to check voltage limits.
 
Rilot said:
Of course they do. You do realise that the vast majority of vertical tracking shots or aerial footage you see on the BBC these days is shot from drones?
For newsreel stuff and documentaries most people are flying an S900 or S1000 with a Panasonic GH4 or Canon 5D MK3 slung underneath. I've even seen Inspires and Phantoms being used in BBC shows. In fact, a documentary I was watching last night about the migrant crisis had aerial shots that were quite clearly shot with a GoPro, probably slung underneath a Phantom 2.

Hollywood is also using larger craft to fly RED Epics and similar.

There is a big industry for aerial photography and the UK is leading the world with it's regulation. We were one of the first countries to have in place a system of qualification and regulation for the control of SUASs.

Talk to Russ on this forum. He's a qualified SUAS operator and his business do a lot of aerial work.
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Wow, didn't think people would actually go and contract out the work. I was naive in thinking that the tech these days was so cheap that they would just purchase and shot themselves.
 
Russinating said:
Errr, not sure, all of ours are 6S and we haven't looked at/tried any others. Sorry!

It doesn't take any power input from the 6S plug though so you'll just have to check voltage limits.
Click to expand...

Cheers Russ, will be plenty to look into yet but seeing as I have a bunch of 4S 6000 mAh Lipos it was a consideration initially!

Only looking at it because my enlarged F550 (now more of an F650 due to longer arms) might not be able to cope for long with a bigger gimbal underneath with a mates Sony Alpha series camera on it.

That and the organisation where I work are finally taking the use of SUAS seriously and might even be able to fund a few people getting licensed so am going to keep my interest known on that one!
 
Guh the CAA are so useless/understaffed. Just spoke to their UAV department with a question and the guy at the other end a) didn't know and b) sounded like he was about to slit his wrists. He said the one and only person who might know was busy and I'd have to email and expect a reply in 1-2 weeks :mad:.

There should definitely be a dedicated line for those with a PFAW to weed out the people with genuine/important/timely questions vs those who've just got a Hubsan for their birthday.

leaskovski said:
Wow, didn't think people would actually go and contract out the work. I was naive in thinking that the tech these days was so cheap that they would just purchase and shot themselves.
Click to expand...

Not sure what cheap is in your books but our single craft, associated accessories/equipment and cameras represents approx £20,000 in value. You can get cheaper ones, sure, but as with everything you get what you pay for.

The biggest deterant though is the requirement to have permission from the CAA to operate commercially, which requires both time to physically undertake the theory exam, flight exam and operations manual submission, but also the leadtime to do this - it would take you at least 6 months to get approval if you started to look at the process now.

Further to that is the commitment of staff. Each pilot needs to go through the qualification process and be named in the operations manual. If that member of staff left you'd almost be back to square one at the start of another long leadtime. And then of course you're either changing someone's day job, or employing specifically, both of which will cost far more than contracting a company to do numerous shoots over a year.
 
leaskovski said:
Wow, didn't think people would actually go and contract out the work. I was naive in thinking that the tech these days was so cheap that they would just purchase and shot themselves.
Click to expand...

Other that the requirement to have PFAW from the CAA to work commercially, the same things you pay for in the photography industry is what you are paying for in the aerial industry. The ability to get the shot right, and get it right first time.

You could get some guy with a Phantom to shoot your new building, but when the shots come back out of focus, badly framed and with incorrect exposure, that £2000 to have a pro do it doesn't see so expensive after all.

I mean, when you get married, do you get your mate with a semi-pro camera to shoot it for you or do you hire a pro (who more than likely has the same gear) who will get the shots right? You aren't paying for the equipment, you are paying for the skill of the operator.
 
TheOtherOption said:
Those with an S1000 series DJI frame (Russ?) - is it just the 6S batteries that are recommended or can 4S ones be run in series / parallel to get the same higher output (equivalent to 8S I guess)?

Am considering an S1000 setup :) many thanks!
Click to expand...

No, 6S only and you will need big cells. I ran 2 x parallel 6,000mAh batteries in mine for 12,000mAh total capacity and the ability to stay in the air if a pack dies mid flight.

You could run two big 3S packs in series if you want as long as the total adds up to 6S as that is the only voltage the Sxxxx supports.
 
Thanks Rilot - very informative!

I have a bunch of 3S 8,400mAh Turnigy's that I could wire up in series until I could afford a few 6S batteries in full.
Would I be right in thinking you had the A2 on your S800 Evo? I would guess that Russ is using an A2 on their S1000+ but can't recall if it's been mentioned before?

Would a Wookong M be worth considering or is the A2 the one to go for?
 
I did run an A2 yes. If you were asking me 12 months ago I would have said get the Wookong as it's more mature. Now though with the A2's new Pro-Plus GPS puck and the more mature firmware it's excellent and there's no reason to go for the Wookong over it.
 
That's what I was thinking Rilot thanks for clarifying! I appreciate the input Russ honestly do don't worry - really useful having a licensed pilot about!

My other Q at the moment is for a basic setup would an 8 channel controller be enough? I have a Futaba T8J at the moment which would only leave two spare channels - I'd imagine for retracting the landing gear and tilting the camera in the gimbal or we'd use a separate controller for that altogether.

I know you can get a iOSD mk2 etc for it but that can come later if needed along with a decent 10-14 channel controller.
 
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