Building an FPV ship

[jrohland]

I am building a FPV ship as follows:
MA Razor (600 electric) (http://www.miniatureaircraftusa.com/helicopterkits/1027_razor_600e/1027_kit_main.asp), flybarless (http://www.skookumrobotics.com/), 12s power (Kontronic Jive 80+ HV (http://www.readyheli.com/Jive_80_HV_Brushless_ESC_p/jive80+hv.htm))
FMA Direct Copilot (CPD4) (http://www.fmadirect.com/Detail.htm?item=1489&section=20)
Sony 550 line color camera (http://hobbywireless.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=59)
900 MHz transmitter (http://hobbywireless.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=79)
Miniature microphone and amplifier (http://www.microcameras.com/accessories/mini_microphone.htm)
Western Robotics custom made 12 volt HVBEC (http://www.western-robotics.com/herculesHV.html)
Eagle Tree Systems eLogger (http://www.eagletreesystems.com/MicroPower/micro.htm), Video OSD option (http://www.eagletreesystems.com/OSD/OSD.htm) and GPS expander (http://www.eagletreesystems.com/uav/1.htm)

Ground station:
Two 900 MHz receivers (http://hobbywireless.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=80)
Oracle diversity receiver (http://hobbywireless.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=69)
V-Real Viewer (http://www.vrealities.com/vrealviewer.html)

Should be fun to make all this fit on the heli and work together.

jrohland

[El Bucho]

That sounds awesome! I can't wait to see it in person! :)

[merlin703]

Me too, how much longer before it's ready? Most important of all, can I fly it? :YeaBaby:

Kidding about flying it but if there is a way to see what you see as the pilot, that would be really cool since I do want to have a FPV set up someday as well.

[jrohland]

I hope to find room in the budget for a video screen soon. The other thing I have not put in the budget is any kind of digital video recorder. Ideally, that should be on the ship so it can get maximum quality and, bypass the OSD data if desired.

I picked up a Dazzle DVC 90 (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=931754&CatId=1428) years ago in a cut out bin some place. That and my laptop should do a decent job for viewing and recording until a better option is built.

[gregwee]

Looks like you intend to use a FMA Direct Copilot (CPD4) with a SK360 Digital Flybar.. I don't think I've heard of anyone who's tried this before... I'm just wondering if this will actually work.. :confused:

[jrohland]

Looks like you intend to use a FMA Direct Copilot (CPD4) with a SK360 Digital Flybar.. I don't think I've heard of anyone who's tried this before... I'm just wondering if this will actually work.. :confused:I have the SK360 on my TRex 450. I tried to use the CPD4 and SK360 together on the 450. It did not work but, I never really tried to make it work. The 450 is very fast and twitchy. I don't think that was a good test platform.

I plan to tune the SK360 very mild/stable on the Razor. I hope that will be a better combination to try it on. If I can't make them work, I will probably sacrifice the flybarless and keep the copilot. I have run the copilot on the Razor (with a flybar) for a while. I really like the copilot.

jrohland

[gregwee]

The CPD4 can't handle CCPM since it's basically 4 channel only. I think you're probably better off getting a Spartan 2000i or a Helicommand 3A/3D/Rigid instead of trying to fit both the SK360 + CPD4 onto the Razor. The Helicommand Rigid also gives you flybarless, or you can fit 2 additional gyros to the Spartan 2000i for flybarless as well.

[jrohland]

Thank you for your suggestions. Let me address some of them:

The CCPM mixing is done inside the SK360. Since right now, I plan to place the CPD4 "in front" of the SK360, CCPM and the copilot will not be an issue.

The Spartan 2000i is an excellent product but, it is not needed in this application. Also, I certainly would not be interested in trying to do flybarless with 2 (additional) discreet gyros. The SK360 is less expensive, excellent quality, well tested and programmable in sensible ways for flybarless.

I am aware of the Helicommand products. If I was starting this project from scratch, I would give them serious consideration. However, I already own and, have considerable experience with, the CPD4. The same is true of the SK360 (although on a different model).

For now, my path is well trodden and, I plan to stay on it. Should this path prove to be blocked with hazards, I will change direction.

jrohland

[gregwee]

I look forward to your results in making this combo work. :thumbup: