GH2 in a Hexakopter

You are looking at $400-500 depending on the options and if you want to go the DIY route. The GAUI 330X-S is a good copter for a GoPro from my research but will not work with my org. idea of using a GF1. The Gaui is also nice because its easy to fix.

If you have time and some very good soldering skills you can look into the microkopter. This is what a lot of the commercial designs are using, but you need to have a good understanding of electronics and fabrication if you want to go the DIY route.

The payoff would be a 2kg payload with POV video, nav, gps with a 30 min flight time for around 2k. More then I wanted to spend but I figure I could start making a lot of that money back with one or two gigs with this thing. There is no-one doing this type of work were I live.
 
A week ago, I went to get my Hexa XL, readily built.

When I went back last week, I got a small instruction on how to fly it.

I have been practicing using a simulator (FMS) for about a week, but I found it too difficult because of constant movements (turning and drifting) and because of the impaired sight. The copter was only clearly visible at short distance. I guessed watching the real thing would be easier and flying it more fun.

The instruction didn't last too long. I was allowed to just move the Hexa XL first and experience that it reacts very sensitively to the transmitter's sticks. One of the easy things with this kind of machines is, you can have them hold position and altitude, so you don't have to do anything at all to have it stay (almost) at (or near) the same spot. I did a landing after that and that was about it. I must say I was a bit scared then, afraid I might very easily crash my hexa.

Later that same day I came by a spot where I could try it again for myself peacefully.

You can see the "rude" movement I let the hexa make and you can judge the difference between a small camera (Contour, like the GoPro) and a GH1. Unfortunately, I didn't check the Contour's lens angle before take off...

Contour GPS footage:

http://contour.com/stories/the-joshua-tree-my-first-independent-hexa-xl-flight

Panasonic GH1 (yet unhackable) footage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tOLmaeTJvs

Flying it smoothly is my next challenge.
 
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Fool4UAnyway said:
A week ago, I went to get my Hexa XL, readily built.

When I went back last week, I got a small instruction on how to fly it.

I have been practicing using a simulator (FMS) for about a week, but I found it too difficult because of constant movements (turning and drifting) and because of the impaired sight. The copter was only clearly visible at short distance. I guessed watching the real thing would be easier and flying it more fun.

The instruction didn't last too long. I was allowed to just move the Hexa XL first and experience that it reacts very sensitively to the transmitter's sticks. One of the easy things with this kind of machines is, you can have them hold position and altitude, so you don't have to do anything at all to have it stay (almost) at (or near) the same spot. I did a landing after that and that was about it. I must say I was a bit scared then, afraid I might very easily crash my hexa.

Later that same day I came by a spot where I could try it again for myself peacefully.

You can see the "rude" movement I let the hexa make and you can judge the difference between a small camera (Contour, like the GoPro) and a GH1. Unfortunately, I didn't check the Contour's lens angle before take off...

Contour GPS footage:

http://contour.com/stories/the-joshua-tree-my-first-independent-hexa-xl-flight

Panasonic GH1 (yet unhackable) footage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tOLmaeTJvs

Flying it smoothly is my next challenge.
Click to expand...

That is awesome, some more practice and you will be on your way! Crashing these things is probably supper easy, so when I get mine I will get a ton of spare parts :)

Maybe its time to pick up a few GH1's while they are so cheap.
 
I'm hoping the new XAircraft X450 will be strong enough to lift the GH2. It's a really great flyer. If not I'll just use a GoPro while I master flying.

 
The Contour clip is now online.

Contour GPS footage, this one also contains a GPS track of the flight:

http://contour.com/stories/the-joshua-tree-my-first-independent-hexa-xl-flight

Panasonic GH1 (yet unhackable) footage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tOLmaeTJvs

One of the requirements of the multicopter I was to purchase was that it could lift 1.5 kg payload. I want it to carry a GH1 with kit lens, which is about 1 kg together, and "some" accessories. The Mikrokopter Hexa XL can carry 1.5 kg, however, that is the bare flyable model which still needs a camera mount. The other candidate was the WOW Hobbies Turbo Ace X720 Quad. This can also load 1.5 kg. I went for the Mikrokopter because I could purchase that in my own country, which is more practical for service etc.

http://www.mikrocopter.com/

The Mikrokopter Quadrocopter XL can carry a payload of 1 kg, but this is without camera mount as well.
The Octocopter can even carry more than 1.5 kg.

http://www.wowhobbies.com/turbo-ace-x720-quad-flyer.aspx

I think it is a pity if you purchase a small(er) model which would not allow you to carry a camera with good IQ. I saw a very stable video, but only of bad (phone-like) quality... I prefer my, yet unstable, GH1 clip. I have yet to learn to fly.
 
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YOu can mod these quads with bigger motors/batteries/propellers to carry a DSLR comfortably. Jago has been using a Gaui 330x-s with a T2i, but he has modded the a for mentioned stuff. I was going for the Gaui, but the new x450 from XAircraft has more options like GPS hold and certain modes that the gaui promised, but didn't deliver. Still check out Jago with his Gaui 330x:


And this other Gaui clip with a GoPro. All this can be transferred to the x450. It's just that the x450 is so new nobody has had a chance to get good video yet:
 
AR.Drone is small and cheap(er) and can carry a GoPro, but only barely, and it's susceptible to wind, etc. so it's not the best all around solution. but if you are trying to achieve the same effect for cheap. Also it can be controlled with an iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch and has a built in on-board camera so you can see what the POV looks like on your iPhone.

I've wanted one as a toy but haven't wanted to drop 300 on something that served no real purpose...
 
Yes the AR Drone is cool and fun, but there is no way to mount a GoPro without seeing the propellers. It can carry a GoPro fine when it's on top and balanced. The best place usually would be under, but then you block the down camera and sonar. So AR Drone is out for video.
 
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ahh. I had seen 1 or 2 with it mounted below but was unaware of the issue with blocking the lower camera, makes sense.
 
I can tell you from experience that these things are not easy to learn....even though I am now very precise in the simulator, I tend to vapor-lock pretty often with the real thing. I've got one of the (now out-of-production) Draganflyer SAVS systems, so holding level is not that tough. Like all heli's, they are easy to fly when the throttle is up and you are climbing, but fine control during a descent is tricky -- the vehicle is descending into air that has just been scrambled with the rotors and things can get dicey. That's why I am so impressed with shots like the one where they flew in over swimming pool -- that was a gutsier move than most people realize. The AR drone is pretty cool in this respect -- it uses an ultrasonic sensor to gauge altitude, which saves the pilot some major headaches.
At last check, there were some legal issues to resolve here in the U.S. The FAA now considers any mechanical flying device an 'aircraft,' and any aircraft doing any kind of operation for hire becomes a 'commercial aircraft,' subject to special airworthiness inspections. Since the FAA is not issuing tail numbers for privately-owned unmanned aircraft, we're caught in a bit of a catch-22.
I think some kind of ruling is due out soon, but I have not heard anything specific lately. I know that there is no enforcement at all, but it is still illegal, technically.
 
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NVentive said:
I can tell you from experience that these things are not easy to learn....even though I am now very precise in the simulator, I tend to vapor-lock pretty often with the real thing. I've got one of the (now out-of-production) Draganflyer SAVS systems, so holding level is not that tough. Like all heli's, they are easy to fly when the throttle is up and you are climbing, but fine control during a descent is tricky -- the vehicle is descending into air that has just been scrambled with the rotors and things can get dicey. That's why I am so impressed with shots like the one where they flew in over swimming pool -- that was a gutsier move than most people realize. The AR drone is pretty cool in this respect -- it uses an ultrasonic sensor to gauge altitude, which saves the pilot some major headaches.
At last check, there were some legal issues to resolve here in the U.S. The FAA now considers any mechanical flying device an 'aircraft,' and any aircraft doing any kind of operation for hire becomes a 'commercial aircraft,' subject to special airworthiness inspections. Since the FAA is not issuing tail numbers for privately-owned unmanned aircraft, we're caught in a bit of a catch-22.
I think some kind of ruling is due out soon, but I have not heard anything specific lately. I know that there is no enforcement at all, but it is still illegal, technically.
Click to expand...

FAA might have a problem with this guy.
 
That's my main occupation, aerial filming with an octocopter. No it's not easy, for good products and safe flying you have to be experienced pilot and skilled aerial videographer. Copters or Multicopters safety is always a problem that cannot be underestimated. A perfectly working rig requires an experienced and very skilled mechanic. Unless you just want to shoot out some personal video, don't think you buy a ready to fly setup and go out making professional stuff, after 20 years of intensive and good level RC activity it took me 2 years to start making decent videos and safe flights.
 
Hey that's pretty smooth video there Robbie! Did you know you can have the video play within your message by clicking the video button (2nd from right) and inserting the link?

Anyway, that's very nice. I know it takes a while to get good at just flying before one can even consider adding video to the complexity.
 
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