A new kind of FPV rig

rtkDarling · Mar 10, 2021

It's been a while, I though I'd show you guys what I've been up to...

This is the Chasing M2, my second underwater drone so far. It boasts 8 vectored motors that give it amazing 360 degree control, 4k cam at 1.8 aperture, the works. This was what pushed my wife over the edge so now she's involved (read addicted), and we're lining up some coral reef monitoring sights to get us started.

Just did the first pool test today, everything worked like a dream. We'll have some footage soon!

droneguy · Mar 10, 2021

Very impressive! Nice work! How do you attach the wings? LOL

dirkclod · Mar 10, 2021

rtkDarling said:
It's been a while, I though I'd show you guys what I've been up to...
View attachment 4995

View attachment 4996

This is the Chasing M2, my second underwater drone so far. It boasts 8 vectored motors that give it amazing 360 degree control, 4k cam at 1.8 aperture, the works. This was what pushed my wife over the edge so now she's involved (read addicted), and we're lining up some coral reef monitoring sights to get us started.

Just did the first pool test today, everything worked like a dream. We'll have some footage soon!

Looking forward to it ?

A.O. · Mar 11, 2021

Very cool, I have a couple ponds on my place and have been thinking about one of these.

So your controller is tethered to the ROV all the time yes? So whats your range?

rtkDarling · Mar 11, 2021

A.O. said:
Very cool, I have a couple ponds on my place and have been thinking about one of these.

So your controller is tethered to the ROV all the time yes? So whats your range?

Correct, it's tethered to the controller, which makes a small wifi hotspot for your phone to connect wirelessly to. They have a few lengths of tether, this one is 100 meters.

A.O. · Mar 11, 2021

rtkDarling said:
Correct, it's tethered to the controller, which makes a small wifi hotspot for your phone to connect wirelessly to. They have a few lengths of tether, this one is 100 meters.

I was hoping I could find something where I could stand on my dock and do the whole pond but I don’t think that’s gonna happen

rtkDarling · Mar 11, 2021

Got some test footage this morning. Didn't get to open it up or anything, just took it slow. Tight area, very shallow, but lots of fish

A.O. · Mar 11, 2021

rtkDarling said:
Got some test footage this morning. Didn't get to open it up or anything, just took it slow. Tight area, very shallow, but lots of fish

Very nice, looks like coins in the sand on the bottom...

HighTechPauper · Mar 11, 2021

Excellent Bro!!! Hope to see you sometime this summer when I'm down

mrmund · Mar 12, 2021

HighTechPauper said:
Excellent Bro!!! Hope to see you sometime this summer when I'm down

Maybe time to start Underwater UAV pilots forum?

HighTechPauper · Mar 12, 2021

mrmund said:
Maybe time to start Underwater UAV pilots forum?

I think right now Ryan would be all alone in there, maybe after a few dozen people pick it up we can talk to the admins about starting one, till then I think this is as good a place as any for this kind of thing.

rtkDarling · Mar 12, 2021

HighTechPauper said:
Excellent Bro!!! Hope to see you sometime this summer when I'm down

Hey yeah man, that's great! I've just been spinning up the toothpicks lately, but they're both in need of repair now. My favorite toothpick has a strange fly-away issue where the PID loop freaks out when I punch it, and the throttle stays stuck. It's not the actual throttle because I have a read out in OSD, but the quad refuses to drop throttle and makes a sound like it's way out of tune. Then it recovers. Super weird. Last time it did it I realized it makes the motors super hot, and they normally come back cool to the touch. After that I haven't messed with it. Time for a build session!

rtkDarling · Mar 12, 2021

I wanted to show you this too, it has the same startup chime as an FPV rig!

HighTechPauper · Mar 12, 2021

rtkDarling said:
Hey yeah man, that's great! I've just been spinning up the toothpicks lately, but they're both in need of repair now. My favorite toothpick has a strange fly-away issue where the PID loop freaks out when I punch it, and the throttle stays stuck. It's not the actual throttle because I have a read out in OSD, but the quad refuses to drop throttle and makes a sound like it's way out of tune. Then it recovers. Super weird. Last time it did it I realized it makes the motors super hot, and they normally come back cool to the touch. After that I haven't messed with it. Time for a build session!

I got money on it being the RX or FC causing that, let me know if you figure anything out.