Wanna get a tiny whoop but without the ducts? Check out the Flywoo Firefly 1S Nano Baby Quad, not only it’s faster and more powerful, it’s also super efficient giving you 8+ minutes of flight time on a single battery!
Table of Contents
Where To Buy?
Update (Jun 2023): there’s a new version, check it out here, Review: Flywoo 1S Nano Baby Quad V2 DC16 / FR16 / Walksnail / Analog
There are 3 options when it comes to receiver: SPI Frsky (D8/D16), Crossfire and 2.4GHz ExpressLRS.
Specs of Flywoo Firefly 1S Nano Baby Quad
- FC: GOKU Versatile F4 5-IN-1 1S AIO FC
- 250mW VTX
- Optional Receiver: Frsky / ExpressLRS 2.4G / TBS Crossfire
- Motor: ROBO 0802.4 16500KV or 19500KV
- Gemfan 40mm bi-blade propellers (1mm shaft)
- Camera : Flywoo 1S Nano Camera
- 1S LiPo Battery
- Weight: 21.9g (without battery), 34.7g (with 1S 450mAh)
Here let me introduce you the flight controller and receiver used in the Nano Baby Quad.
Flywoo Versatile F4 1S 5in1 FC
Get this FC separately here:
Specs:
- Input Voltage: 1S LiPo
- BetaFlight FC Firmware: FLYWOOF411FR
- MCU: STM32F411CEU6
- Gyro: MPU6000
- Built-in BetaFlight OSD
- 2 UARTs (Uart2 is used for VTx control, so actually just one spare UART)
- Current Sensor: yes
- Buzzer pads: yes
- 5Ax4 BLHeli_S ESC
- Built-in VTX:
- Switchable VTX Output Power: 25mW / 100 / 250mW
- VTX Control: ImmersionRC Tramp
- Stack Size: 25x25mm
- Dimensions: 35x35xmm
- Weight: 4.2g
- designed for tiny whoops and tiny 1S quads
- motors can be soldered directly to the board, it doesn’t use connectors
- it has built-in RX, however the RX is only SPI Frsky (D8/D16 compatible). You can still hook up an external RX to this FC as it has a spare UART, such as Crossfire or ExpressLRS.
- it has a built-in VTX with 250mW output power
- Antennas for both RX and VTX are removable – there are two IPEX connectors, the smaller one is for RX (Frsky SPI) and the bigger one for VTX antenna. If you are not using the Frsky RX, you can leave that antenna disconnected
- the solder pads are small but nicely spaced out, so it should be easier to work with than most other whoop FC out there
Flywoo 2.4GHz ExpressLRS EL24E RX
Product Pages:
Cool features of Flywoo’s own ExpressLRS RX
- it’s almost the same size and weight as the Happymodel EP2, which is super tiny!
- it has built-in WiFi for firmware flashing
- Device Category is DIY 2.4GHz, Device is DIY 2400 RX ESP8285 SX1280.
You can learn about ExpressLRS here.
Procedure of flashing and binding are exactly the same as all other ExpressLRS receivers. You can learn how to do it in my tutorial.
Closer Look at the Nano Baby Quad
It’s basically a tiny whoop without those prop guards.
Although the difference is not huge, it actually benefits flight performance tremendously. The Flywoo Nano Baby Quad is slightly more powerful than a tiny whoop, and more importantly, it’s super efficient. I am getting over 7 minutes of long flight time on 1S 450mah, and almost 10 minutes on 1S 650mah!
It comes with ExpressLRS receiver (2.4GHz), so you can actually bind it to any 2.4GHz ExpressLRS TX module (even different brands), including the Happymodel and BetaFPV .
The frame is a deadcat design, which means the front motors are further apart than the rear motors, so you don’t get the props in the camera’s view.
The battery holder is 3D printed in TPU and it’s a perfect fit for the battery they sent me (the 1S 450mah). However it’s quite thin, and can wear out over time. Anyway I think you can replace it with just a rubber band.
The Flywoo Firefly Nano Baby Quad (what a mouthful) is absolutely tiny and quiet, perfect for flying in small parks. But beware it’s still just like a tiny whoop, it doesn’t handle the wind too well.
I think this quad is designed around flight time and efficiency, hence the use of two-blade props. Those props have 1mm holes , so make sure you get the right ones when buying spare. I do recommend getting some spare props as they can fly away in crashes, the fit on motor shaft isn’t super tight.
Get spare props here: https://oscarliang.com/product-re23
The bottom plate is quite thin, at 1.5mm. It does flex a bit when you try to bend the arms but it doesn’t seem to affect flight performance since it’s so light. It’s holding up well to a few crashes I had with trees and landed on grass.
How To Setup
FC Board Name: FLYWOOF411FR, pre-flashed with Betaflight 4.2.0. You can find the original CLI dump here.
Cool thing about this quad is that the ESC’s are already flashed with BLHeli_S 16.80. I am not sure exactly which custom firmware they are using, but RPM filter is enabled out of the box, and possibly 48KHz too.
To setup it up, first of all, bind the quad to your transmitter. Because I got the ELRS receiver, so I had to flash the RX to the latest version first with my binding phrase. You can learn how to do this in my tutorial.
Device Category is DIY 2.4GHz, Device is DIY 2400 RX ESP8285 SX1280. For some reason when I flashed it via WiFi, it didn’t want to bind to my TX although it came back with “flashing successful”. In the end I had to flash it via Betaflight Passthrough for it to work.
Once it’s bound and working (confirm in Receiver tab in Betaflight Configurator that the channels are responding to your sticks), you should make a few config adjustments.
In the Configuration tab:
- change PID Loop Frequency to 4KHz (it was on 2Khz originally)
- change ESC Protocol to DShot300 (from DShot600)
- disable Motor_Stop
- change motor poles from 14 to 12 (tiny motors have 12 poles, and 14 probably won’t work well for RPM filter)
- change arming angle from 25 to 180 (so you can arm the quad even when it’s on unlevel surface)
- Enable RX_SET under DShot Beacon, as it doesn’t have a buzzer, this will help you find it after you crash
In Modes tab, assign switches to Arm, Beeper and Flip Over After Crash.
In OSD, choose whatever elements you prefer on the screen.
That’s it! We are ready for first flight :)
28 comments
There is a V2.0 of this one now, will you have a comparison or a review of the V2.0?
yes it’s on the bench.
I found the manual here flywoo.tawk.help/article/firefly-1s-dc16fr16-nano-baby-v2 and followed all the steps.
Steps to update BF 4.4.X firmware
1/ Open the latest 10.9.0 configurator
2/ FC enters DFU mode
3/ Select FLYWOOF411_5IN1_AIO 4.4.X version
4/ Select No reboot sequence, Full chip erase
5/ Turn on the “Core Only” option
6/ After the writing is successful, select the application configuration
7/ Write BNF CLI settings
I copied the factory CLI settings, 1S Firefly V2 WALKSNAIL HDZERO ELRS ICM42688. After arming and attempting to take off the motors spin at a high rpm but will not lift off the ground and fly and I noticed once I throttle up I can not throttle down to decrease the rpm of the motors they stay at a high throttle with no lift off. I hope you don’t have this problem any insight on what might be the issue?
Hi Oscar, I love your content, appreciate you helping many beginners like myself. I am looking to get my first drone and am loving tiny whoops. May I ask whether the nano baby quad offer other flying modes or just full manual? Thanks!!
It can do angle mode as well (self level mode), you just need to enable it in the Modes tab in Betaflight Configurator.
https://oscarliang.com/betaflight-modes/#Angle-Horizon-Acro-Mode
Thanks so much! Please continue to offer such great content! Again, love your work here
Is anyone else disappointed by the camera? I have messed around with the VTX channels and power but it still gives me a washed out picture, and does very poorly with light changes. It is by far the worst of all of my whoop quads. Any suggestions?
Hi oscar!
As always great content and thank you.
How do you think I can adjust this quad to make it fly as much as 12.5 minutes.
Use a larger battery? but then it would fly like a tank and won’t be very fun.
I don’t know if it’s possible to push it to 12mins because this quad is not designed for ultra long flight time.
thanks for the reply.
I don’t mind the not fun part as I want a super small drone (less than 74mm wheelbase) to fly up to 12.5 min and do some simple maneuvers.
do you have any battery in mind or any other drone that can do the job?
Best!
Strap some weight to the quad, and see what the maximum weight your drone can carry (total weight of the battery and extra weight).
Then you can start looking for the biggest battery of that weight.
hi Oscar, is there a place where I can find the CLI dump and PID values for your drone or some Firefly that actually flies? I crashed mine in the tiniest of puddles in the middle of a dusty and dry field. I after drying, I had to flash it and configure it from scratch following some manual (http://flywoo.tawk.help/article/firefly-1snano-baby-quad-series). The problem is that I’m not sure the PID parameters in the manual work for me, the drone just runs away when I try to take off. I also made other changes, like compensate for the board that seems to be installed upside down and remap the motors accordingly, so I think the best way to figure out what’s wrong is to look at a configuration dumped from another Firefly, one that actually flies.
You can find the original CLI Dump here: https://intofpv.com/t-cli-dump-for-flywoo-firefly-1s-nano-baby-quad
can you tell me how this is d16 compatible? can’t get it to work :(
Yea if you got the Frsky receiver version it should be
Do I have to configure something on the Drone or do I have to update something? Can’t get it to work :(
SPI is only D8 is the answer from flywoo support
In betaflight configurator, go to tab Configuration. There you will find a section titled “Receiver”, select FRSKY_X. This works with a TX16s.
Mine flies great, but the OSD text flickers rapidly. Not a deal breaker, but it’s annoying.
I tried a different 5v for the camera with no change. My other analog quads don’t do this.
Any idea on how to fix this? Or could it be a daily camera?
Thanks
Thanks for this so complete review that “push” me to buy it. On first outdoor flights, autonomy with 450 mAh Explorer (13.2 g) was about 5 minutes (probably due to wind and my bad piloting skill …). There is also the 750 mAh Explorer model, on catalog/website at the unbelievable mass of 14g! I just receive them, and real mass is about 18 g (more logic). So a bit more than 10% additional flying mass, but 66% more Energy. My capacity tests are on going to check real capacity of these batteries.
Version 2.0 got 16500kv Motors and a GNB connector.
The FW got also corrected with the values you mentioned.
That’s a great review and breakdown. Drifted off of rc for awhile but I’ve alwasy enjoyed your articles. I still have my Taranis x9 which I bought after reading your reviews. I’m reasearching dji drones, so hoping maybe some black friday deals pop up. This looks like a fun project. I skimmed the article. So, if I would order this with the frsky receiver it will connect with my taranis x9 ? Have to go back and review how to use the tx. Been a while used it to play on the flight simulator but not on any actual rc models.
Nice review and tips on the setup. Very happy with mine and the process has started to convert all mt frsky rx’s to ELRS and thanks for those articles as well. Most helpful.
how do you flash it via Betaflight Passthrough ?
Hi Oscar, thanks for the great review and information about this little flyer. I got mine recently with the built in SPI receiver and on the first flight damaged my antenna. What connector is that little IPEX? Is it 3?
Funny, I bought one on the day of the first post.
They have problems producing them fast enouh as they get bought, as it seems, my order is postponed.
Which motors did you recieve with your quad. I see they also have a 19000kv offering. I ordered from BG but they did not ask what KV I wanted. I do hope it is the lower KV. On another note your articles on the ExpressLRS 2.4 are fantastic and enabled this older guy to set it up. I am loving the new system.
I have the 19500KV version, yes it’s strange they don’t offer KV option in product page.