Bayangtoys X16: Inexpensive, durable, hackable GPS drone • Hacker News Board

Re: Bayangtoys X16: Inexpensive, durable, hackable GPS drone

#11

Post by StavrosK » Tue, Nov 07, 2017, 1:50 PM UTC

Ardren wrote: post #10

StavrosK wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Jeez, all that for $150? That's almost for free, the parts alone must cost more! Can I connect a custom RX to it so I can use it with my Taranis? Although I guess I'll have to reconfigure everything in that case... EDIT: Now I kind of wish there were a version of this drone with just the body, so I could save money on the radio (as I already have one).

I think it's DSM2/DSMX so you'd need a OrangeRX module for your Taranis http://ardupilot.org/dev/docs/skyviper.html

Oh wow, nice resource, thanks!

Re: Bayangtoys X16: Inexpensive, durable, hackable GPS drone

#12

Post by StavrosK » Tue, Nov 07, 2017, 2:29 PM UTC

olex wrote: post #4

Ardren wrote: post #3

There is a surprising amount of open source code in RC multirotors in general, I've only played around a bit and I've used: Cleanflight[1] & Betaflight[2] flight controller firmware Deviation[3] firmware for Walkera Devo transmitters RX5808 Pro Diversity[4] video receiver firmware 1: https://github.com/cleanflight/cleanflight 2: https://github.com/betaflight/betaflight 3: https://github.com/DeviationTX/deviation 4: h…

Don't forget OpenTX, which is a transmitter firmware that overshadows any expensive as hell top-of-the-line brand RC transmitter by orders of magnitude in functionality, and runs on various mostly inexpensive hobby-grade hardware. Also Ardupilot (APM:Copter, APM:Plane, APM:Rover), PX4, and many many others.

I got a Taranis Q X7 that comes with OpenTX from the factory. I can't believe how high-quality both the firmware and the companion (cross-platform desktop app that simulates the entire transmitter) is.

Re: Bayangtoys X16: Inexpensive, durable, hackable GPS drone

#13

Post by paule89 » Tue, Nov 07, 2017, 2:47 PM UTC

So what exactly was done to the drone and how? As far as i understood the article lists a few methods which could be used to mod the drone but not what he really did and how.

Or am I just bad at fast reading a webpage?

Re: Bayangtoys X16: Inexpensive, durable, hackable GPS drone

#14

Post by alexose » Tue, Nov 07, 2017, 2:53 PM UTC

Has anyone managed to add automated/wireless charging to an inexpensive drone? It looks like there are a few commercial solutions out there, but nothing for less than $500.

Re: Bayangtoys X16: Inexpensive, durable, hackable GPS drone

#15

Post by andygates » Tue, Nov 07, 2017, 3:00 PM UTC

yardie wrote: post #6

After my last drone flew off never to be seen again I started looking into open source flight controllers. The open source platform has come a long way. I consider DJI to be the most advanced at FC firmware. But they intentionally limit you so much. My next drones will most likely be a Spark for the interior and an easily upgradable OSS DIY rig for aerial photography. Running Betaflight or iNav.

I'd be interested to hear how the OSS community handle flyaway events. Every commercial drone has them, but they're tricky to code round being edge cases where the evidence has, well, flown away.

Re: Bayangtoys X16: Inexpensive, durable, hackable GPS drone

#16

Post by 1024core » Tue, Nov 07, 2017, 3:00 PM UTC

This is why I don't understand why companies lock down their hardware! You're getting free software enhancements and support; unlock that thing! Why waste people's time in reverse engineering your crap, when they could be spending that time building new functionality.

For example, Canon and the whole CHDK thing. Canon makes money from selling the hardware; so why lock down the software?

Re: Bayangtoys X16: Inexpensive, durable, hackable GPS drone

#17

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Nov 07, 2017, 3:04 PM UTC

1024core wrote: post #16

This is why I don't understand why companies lock down their hardware! You're getting free software enhancements and support; unlock that thing! Why waste people's time in reverse engineering your crap, when they could be spending that time building new functionality. For example, Canon and the whole CHDK thing. Canon makes money from selling the hardware; so why lock down the software?

[deleted]

Re: Bayangtoys X16: Inexpensive, durable, hackable GPS drone

#18

Post by ptero » Tue, Nov 07, 2017, 3:07 PM UTC

EdwardMSmith wrote: post #7

If you're interested in a quad loaded with open source software right out of the box, take a look at the Sky Viper v2450 GPS. It runs about $150. It runs full ardupilot code, has a ublox gps chip, a taoglas gps antenna, and the video board and transmitter software is open source. It runs a tiny webserver that allows you to configure any of the ardupilot variables, and is compatible with most of the ardupilot ground c…

Do you know how physically robust the Sky Viper is -- the article reports Bayangtoys X16 as being able to take a lot of beating; it would be great if Viper is robust as well.

Re: Bayangtoys X16: Inexpensive, durable, hackable GPS drone

#19

Post by zeep » Tue, Nov 07, 2017, 3:13 PM UTC

1024core wrote: post #16

This is why I don't understand why companies lock down their hardware! You're getting free software enhancements and support; unlock that thing! Why waste people's time in reverse engineering your crap, when they could be spending that time building new functionality. For example, Canon and the whole CHDK thing. Canon makes money from selling the hardware; so why lock down the software?

Companies do that with most hardware (including cellphones)... They like to stay in control.

Re: Bayangtoys X16: Inexpensive, durable, hackable GPS drone

#20

Post by sp00ls » Tue, Nov 07, 2017, 3:30 PM UTC

ptero wrote: post #18

EdwardMSmith wrote: post #7

If you're interested in a quad loaded with open source software right out of the box, take a look at the Sky Viper v2450 GPS. It runs about $150. It runs full ardupilot code, has a ublox gps chip, a taoglas gps antenna, and the video board and transmitter software is open source. It runs a tiny webserver that allows you to configure any of the ardupilot variables, and is compatible with most of the ardupilot ground c…

Do you know how physically robust the Sky Viper is -- the article reports Bayangtoys X16 as being able to take a lot of beating; it would be great if Viper is robust as well.

Totally different classes, the bayangtoys is a brushless copter while the sky viper is a very lightweight brushed copter. Brushless will have an insane amount of power compared to brushed motors. Plus the ones on the sky viper are tiny.

The sky viper will hold well in crashes, you can pick up the non-gps version at Walmart. It's a kids toy so its made to be durable. That being said..if you're crashing your GPS assisted quadcopter you're already doing it wrong. I'm not really sure what applications a brushed GPS assist copter has though. It isn't powerful enough to carry any sort of payload and the camera quality is limited severely by that fact. Maybe useful for learning/tinkering with the code without the blender-ing capability that brushless motors have I guess.