Howdy All,

Work is proceeding on converting Wooden It to take both the Naza or Hero with an easy change-over installation.

I am also arranging the wiring so that I can easily extract the data from all four ESC instead of just one.

There is a fair bit of work involved so things will mark time for a while.

When I start back I will try to run the test flying sessions as tutorials in order to help other newcomers if I can. These will be under separate headings with a serial number making them easy to find later.

I am hoping that test flying will start early next week.

KK

Howdy All,

The main reason that I am running a comparison trial is because after months of solid effort I still have not solved the problem off obtaining good power combined with good stability.

By running two trials side by side I am hoping to speed up testing and to choose the best of the two FCs in the shortest time possible.

In running the tutorial I aim to outline some of the mistakes I made in the early days and to lay down a pathway for beginners to follow.

I would be most hapy for others to chip in with whatever additional guidance they feel will also help or even to point out errors and supply corrections.

Starting off in quads is very difficult as I have already found out and if I can help someone avoid the frustrations that I have gone through then I will be most happy.    

KK

I expect the naza to work quite well, i've seen other "heavy lifter" projects where dji type of FCs seemed to be the optimal solution due to the less aggressive but stable performance (even though the naza-H in this case is something completely different)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=77uK19KxMuI&...e=youtu.be

(03-Aug-2017, 04:56 PM)fftunes Wrote: I expect the naza to work quite well, i've seen other "heavy lifter" projects where dji type of FCs seemed to be the optimal solution due to the less aggressive but stable performance (even though the naza-H in this case is something completely different)

https://youtu.be/77uK19KxMuI&feature=youtu.be

Hi  FF,

Thanks for the reply. Sadly your link came back 404 but you will be happy to know that the Naza M Lite is now installed and working but only to the first calibration stage. It is time for lunch so I need to eat.

I had a terrible time getting the Naza to connect due to driver troubles. There are pages and pages of people complaining about this problem and I spent hours reading forums, watching videos and trying everything suggested.

Still no luck so in the end really frustrated I set out on my own road and somehow ended up with a working Naza.

It was amazing the number of dead ends I came up against particularly the "change driver" button in device manager telling me that I already had the best driver installed and refusing to change to the DJI driver. If ever you have had to argue with a computer then you know what I am talking about!

I know I promised to write a step by step instruction on my progress, but honestly, I tried so many things that I have lost track of what I did in the end that worked.

Perhaps given a bit of time I may be able to untangle the mess but honestly it should not be this hard.  

How I miss the days when you just purchased an R/C system over the counter, switched it on, it worked and you went flying.

Anyway enough of that. I am now ready to start tuning for the test flight of the Naza. Whooopppeeee!!  

KK

I butchered the link from my phone, fixed it now

Hope you get it working, can't imagine it being more complicated than betaflight etc (aside from the driver issues that you already beat )

Good news Lads,

First Naza flight in backyard.

Very stable and easily lifted 7.1kg with 13 x 4.7SF props.

I have to stop now but more news tomorrow.

To say that I am relieved is a gross understatement.

Finally, good power with good stability.

   
Howdy Lads,

These Cockatoos saw me flying the Quad in my backyard and dropped in to give me a few tips on this flying thing.  

For a reward of course.

Note the Jatz crackers being demolished.

Regards,
KK

Don't ask me why that photo of the birds is upside down.

I tried several times to edit and repost, same result each time.

You are just going to have to turn your computer upside down.  

KK

Congratulations KK! That is indeed Good News!

(05-Aug-2017, 08:55 AM)sloscotty Wrote: Congratulations KK! That is indeed Good News!

Thanks Slo, good news indeed.

I did one more flight with 12 x 6 Aeronaut props this afternoon. Nowhere near as powerful. 6.8kg pinned it to the ground good and proper.

Tomorrow another test with 13 x 5.5 APC MR props.

I doubt that they will beat the SF props though.

Finally progress at last.

One final thing. After all the driver drama and everything was working perfectly, I still could not get the motors to start. I tried everything (again) until it finally it dawned on me that if I unplugged the USB cable that might work.

Bingo !! Motors roared into life.

I read and re-read that Naza instruction manual and nowhere in that was any mention of removing the USB cable to switch on the motors.

So just to summarise the Naza. It is very stable and controllable and that is straight out of the box with no tuning. Much better stability than the other two FC I have been using.

It is delivering very good power with a nice clean sound to the motors.

A couple of minor negatives. I am not happy with the disarm feature. Every so often one of the motors gives a little spin. When I am working around those big motors even a little spin is enough to scare the pants off me. That could of course be a not perfect setting, I need to check that.

I also prefer an arming switch instead of the CSC arm.

Apart from those minor bits I am very happy with the way the Naza project is heading.

KK

Howdy Boys,

Just a quick update on Naza testing.

Re-checked the 13 x 4.7 SF and took it to the limit. 7.65kg which is close enough to good enough.

A set of APC 13 x 5.5 MR props gave 7.1kg and sat about 1" off the ground so that was their limit.

As a result of this testing I have concluded that 13 x 5 or 5.5 SF are the best props. Sadly I cannot find a source of that prop.

Does anybody out there know of a source of 13 x 5 - 6 SF props?

Anyway I am off tto the farm ASAP for some real test flying.

I can hardly wait.

KK

Good news, I knew you'd have good results with the Naza. But yes, that's one of the minor cons, you're not able to set up a switch for arming. I typically don't disarm, I just land and the motors shut off after 2 seconds.

Xoar makes matched-pair (cw/ccw) 13 x 5 wooden electric props for quads. Not sure how they would compare performance-wise to plastic SF props, but I use some 9" matched pair Xoar's on my 450 size quad, and they are very nice (smooth and quiet).

Here is one source: https://www.electricwingman.com/xoar-13x...eller-pair

A bit pricey for experimenting. If you search for other sources - just be sure and look for the Matched-pair ones.

(06-Aug-2017, 10:06 AM)sloscotty Wrote: Xoar makes matched-pair (cw/ccw) 13 x 5 wooden electric props for quads.  Not sure how they would compare performance-wise to plastic SF props, but I use some 9" matched pair Xoar's on my 450 size quad, and they are very nice (smooth and quiet).

Here is one source: https://www.electricwingman.com/xoar-13x...eller-pair

A bit pricey for experimenting.  If you search for other sources - just be sure and look for the Matched-pair ones.

Thanks Slo, I had a look at that link but they did not appear to be slow fly.

I have had a lot of experience now in testing props and I can tell you SF props are streets ahead in thrust delivered.

I have been doing more testing today and one thing that really impresses me with the Naza is the altitude control. I can hover Wooden It now at about 100mm off the ground and that is where it stays, even in a strong breeze. From there I can move it around the backyard with ease. Yaw control is perfect but roll and pitch are still a bit over-sensative. I am going to slow that down tomorrow.

The sound of those four motors is now so clean and harmonious compared especially to the Hero which has quite a harsh note to the motors.

My ultimate aim at the moment is to hover out the battery (4.5min) 100mm high over the take-off spot in my backyard.

When I can do that I will feel that I am REALLY ready for the farm.

KK

KK, if you are happy with how IT flies and it's smooth with no oscillation, leave the basic gains where they are and lower the attitude gains some. This will reduce the sensitivity of the stick commands.