Generally hexacopter is a better FPV or Aerial photography platform than Quadcopter. Having two more motors not only provide better stability, more lifting capacity, it also lowers the chance of fatal crash in the case of motor/ESC failure.
The mini hexacopter I built flies like a tank, very stable and controllable. Although the flight time is a little short (around 7 to 9 min). The frame I am using is from Hobby King, it has PCB integrated, it’s easy to put together. But it’s quite heavy and not very strong in my opinion. I am thinking to design and build my own in the future.
The Parts:
- Frame size: Turnigy Micro Hex Frame (27cm diagonal)
- Flight controller: Arduino Nano + GY80 (and sometimes KK2.0 buy from here, KK2.1 has been released, buy from here)
- Prop: 5x3x3 Propellers (clockwise and counter-clockwise)
- Motor: Turnigy 18-11 3800kv Micro Brushless Outrunner (buy from here)
- ESC: TURNIGY Plush 6A Speed Controller
- Battery: Turnigy nano-tech 950mah 2S 25~50C Lipo Pack
- Weight: 290g (excl. Lipo)
I am planning to mount a camera and video transmitter on it, so the weight should go up by 60g to 100g (camera + 5.8GHz transmitter + lipo), therefore I am thinking using 3S lipo to power this hexacopter to boost it up.
I ran into trouble when soldering the motors directly to the ESC. At first I de-soldered and removed the 3 cables from the ESC, then solder the 3 cables from the motor onto it. Accidentally I got the solder onto the electronics on the ESC, and it didn’t work! Luckily I had a spare one and replaced it. Later on I decided not to remove the cables on the ESC, but to shorten them and solder the cables together. By soldering the Motor and ESCs directly to each other, and not using the banana connectors, I saved about 20g of weight (shorter cables as well)!
For now I am using KK2.0 to control this mini hexacopter. I am planning to replace it with a multiwii or even APM Ardupilot flight controller in the future, for GPS and other powerful functionality.
This is a video how I built this.
5 comments
This is not micro at all if the weight is almost 300g without battery. Using ardupilot I did below 200 including battery with 1106 motors and 3D printed frame. I think I could go below 150g after making carbon frame for it.youtube.com/watch?v=SAmA1seOIsE
The frame I bought is called Micro Hexacopter dude :D
Just bought the frame, do u have video or guide to install these?Should the motor cable and esc oldered direclty on the pcb?then battery soldered to the pcb as well?
Awesome build, keep up the excellent work.
Complimenti, ottimo lavoro. Prossimamente voglio costruirne uno anch’io ma lo vorrei fare (se riesco) completamente autonomo con l’uso del RaspberryPi.
Grazie per le tue condivisioni.