Solo - The Smart Drone from 3D Robotics
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P13
Well-known member
Judging by the IRIS which was 3DR's first RTF copter, it doesn't have a bad flyaway record, GPS handling is really rather good, it has had an algorithm for well over a year for GPS Glitch protection, so the copter will land (or you can set it to go to altitude hold instead) in the event of GPS giving incorrect info. There's been very few fly-aways, there have been some crashes due to IMU failures, although there's 2 IMU's in the IRIS (3 in the Solo) the code up until now didn't switch to the remaining working IMU, it will do from firmware 3.3. (in beta at the moment).
As it happens the Solo comes with a guarantee, so if there was a bug that caused the Solo to flyaway, 3DR replace the Solo, the Gimbal and the GoPro.
You can't carry a heavier camera yet so there's no chance of losing something more expensive anyway.
I'm seriously considering doing some video tutorials on the Arducopter failsafes but I'll need to wait until after the Solo is released to see how the various parameters are set.
This is the GPS Glitch protection detail: http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/configuration/gps-and-gcs-failsafes/gps-failsafe/
As it happens the Solo comes with a guarantee, so if there was a bug that caused the Solo to flyaway, 3DR replace the Solo, the Gimbal and the GoPro.
You can't carry a heavier camera yet so there's no chance of losing something more expensive anyway.
I'm seriously considering doing some video tutorials on the Arducopter failsafes but I'll need to wait until after the Solo is released to see how the various parameters are set.
This is the GPS Glitch protection detail: http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/configuration/gps-and-gcs-failsafes/gps-failsafe/
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Vultch
Well-known member
Again from what I can see or scour on the internet the gimbal has a claimed accuracy of 0.1 degrees resolution, I have no idea how this compares to DJIs products. It appears to be a 3D gimbal and rumour control claims the legs will be different on the full production versions to give more clearance when landed.
P13
Well-known member
The Zenmuse GoPro from DJI was very good, but the motors were weak so it'd reset in high winds, the Solo looks much stronger, I'm guessing with its faster speed that it needs to be. The gimbal is 3 Axis but it can act as a master to the flight controller, so it can do 360 degree moves, like a 360 gimbal, but using the Solo's body to perform the yaw movement, that's how I understand it to work.
I've yet to see a video from the Solo that's impressive. I'm really scared that the jello you see in the demo videos isn't going to be fully-controlled in the shipping version.
That's what's kept me from pre-ordering. I want to make sure it's not a work-in-progress when it ships and jello is a deal-breaker.
I'm also pretty annoyed with 3DR over teaching that dude in the video to fly over Manhattan... really irresponsible. I also think they had a flyaway during the video review too.
That's what's kept me from pre-ordering. I want to make sure it's not a work-in-progress when it ships and jello is a deal-breaker.
I'm also pretty annoyed with 3DR over teaching that dude in the video to fly over Manhattan... really irresponsible. I also think they had a flyaway during the video review too.
P13
Well-known member
There's no jello in the Manhattan video, it's been recorded at 29 frames per second, one scene in that did jitter a bit, but given the rest were fine, I'm not too concerned about that.
There's no jello in the Solo promos either, there was only the Verge video which was on a gimbal that handn't been balanced. Colin's Solo has a manual mode on which does drift with the wind and the reviewer apparently had switched to that in error.
It was actually just this week the final parameter settings have been finalised for the Solo. Given it comes with a 30 day money back guarantee 3DR must be confident people will be happy with the end results otherwise they wouldn't risk that.
Video people are all asking to see more video, what people really would like to see, is some 4K from a GoPro, especially in at least modest winds to get an idea of performance, I'm sure example video will come...
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I think about a thousand people have already made that very same offer.
Arducopter 3.3 which is the software is currently in beta, albeit people test that with their own, generally inexpensive test rigs, just in case something goes wrong.
Well, I have to say I have this Quadcopter bookmarked. I'm torn between it and to go with the trusted Dji Phantom line. Waiting for them to announce a Phantom 3 with Zenmuse 4 for direct comparison.
I have to agree with Jbregar. I have yet to see a 100% smooth video from the solo in real world situations done by independent producers. I'm obviously confident and know what I can get from DJI. The Solo on paper looks very, very impressive and its priced competitively (almost same price). But DJI delivers the goods until now. In such a risk prone field that is aerial drone shooting, reliability, accuracy, and obviously for us picture quality and smoothness are king. Lets wait and see.
Ryan Farnes
Well-known member
So - is the Solo compatible with the entry level GoPro Hero? ($129.99 version)
On the 3DR page where you can pre-order the gimbal, it lists:
I'm not sure if the entry level GoPro is technically a Hero 4, or doesn't get that designation as the Black and Silver versions do. My limited research of the GoPro models show the HDMI output on the side of the black and silver, but coming out the back of the basic GoPro Hero model in question. Perhaps this is incompatible with the Solo gimbal, thus making only the black and silver models compatible with the Solo gimbal out of the box?
On the 3DR page where you can pre-order the gimbal, it lists:
I'm not sure if the entry level GoPro is technically a Hero 4, or doesn't get that designation as the Black and Silver versions do. My limited research of the GoPro models show the HDMI output on the side of the black and silver, but coming out the back of the basic GoPro Hero model in question. Perhaps this is incompatible with the Solo gimbal, thus making only the black and silver models compatible with the Solo gimbal out of the box?
Ryan Farnes
Well-known member
Heh, of course. It'll take HDMI from any camera I guess to send back to the monitor on the controller right? But the actual interface (and power I assume) with the GoPro is not through HDMI. Duh. :tongue:
Ok good to know. I would actually prefer to use something like the Blackmagic micro for the image quality, dynamic range and global shutter, but I guess we're waiting to hear about whether the Solo will be able to lift it safely either out of the box or with some kind of upgrade package right? I estimated just under 600g for the Blackmagic micro body, a 7.5mm fisheye lens and a LP-E6 battery. Another 175g or so if you put a speedbooster on it to come in just under 800g.
EDIT: I saw a link from the Facebook group listing payload limit as 420g. I'll guess we'll have to wait and see if some kind of upgrade option gets announced to increase payload capacity. I find the automated camera move options on the Solo very attractive. I just want to fly a camera other than a GoPro.
Ok good to know. I would actually prefer to use something like the Blackmagic micro for the image quality, dynamic range and global shutter, but I guess we're waiting to hear about whether the Solo will be able to lift it safely either out of the box or with some kind of upgrade package right? I estimated just under 600g for the Blackmagic micro body, a 7.5mm fisheye lens and a LP-E6 battery. Another 175g or so if you put a speedbooster on it to come in just under 800g.
EDIT: I saw a link from the Facebook group listing payload limit as 420g. I'll guess we'll have to wait and see if some kind of upgrade option gets announced to increase payload capacity. I find the automated camera move options on the Solo very attractive. I just want to fly a camera other than a GoPro.
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I wouldn't hold my breath for the Solo to fly the BM Micro. The camera (without battery, I assume) is 11oz. or about 311 grams. An LP-E6 is 113g or so. About the lightest lens you're going to find is the Panny 14mm pancake at 158g. That's already 582g. Sweet, you say... that's way under the 800g projected payload. But you still have to put a gimbal on it.
Since there's no gimbal for the BM Micro yet, lets just assume the gimbal scales up linearly from the Zenmuse H4-3D for the GoPro. The GoPro 4 weighs 89g and the Zenmuse H4-3D weighs 168g. So, that's a camera-to-gimbal ratio of 1.9:1. That means the gimbal for the BM Micro would weigh about 1.1kg.
By the way, that gimbal-to-camera ratio is close to the Zenmuse Z15-GH4 (1.2kg) and GH4 + 12mm lens (690g) which is at 1.74:1... if we went with that ratio, we're at 1kg for the gimbal for the BM Micro.
The BM Micro is actually far closer in weight to the GH4 than it is the GoPro.
So, you could probably mount it on there on a non-stabilized mount (and have useless video)... but you're not going to fly it on a gimbal under 800g unless someone gets REALLY fancy in making an ultralight BMMCC gimbal.
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P13
Well-known member
I'd have to agree, I doubt even with an upgrade the BM camera would be lifted by the Solo with a gimbal. On the positive side, 3DR have plenty of video aware staff, so they do know there's a market for an aerial rig for the BM, so I wouldn't be surprised if one of their next copters is a rig capable of heavier lift.
Ryan Farnes
Well-known member
Thanks for the informative post. Looks like I should focus on the GoPro Hero 4 black if I want to use the Solo "out of the box."
P13
Well-known member
Wex & Currys are the main dealers for the Solo, smaller specialists like Unmannedtech should get it too, but I'm guessing the big boys will have stock first.
I hear that 3DR have free international shipping on their pre-order, if true that's an option too.