DM-SAR X450 (nicknamed The Apache) with Frsky Taranis radio transmitter

Synopsis: To build a fully loaded drone with GPS, Autopilot and Waypoints, so another Build A Drone project in action.  Lucky dude is getting his first radio, the talking Taranis, which finally arrived after a month. All the parts were ordered over Labor Day weekend.  Welcome to the DroneMission Squadron.  Check back for videos and pictures, this will be exciting!

Equipment Selection Specification:
Aircraft: DM-SAR X450, The Apache
DM-SAR X450 is the latest model from our Search And Rescue quad series.  This model carries a sharp 700 TV lines camera build into the frame that you can remotely pitch from over 2 miles away, transmitting live video to the pilot.  Equipped with GPS, Barometric Sensor, external Compass with an On Screen Data capture board.  Nicknamed "The Apache" because its sidewinder bays - on the left the radio receiver/OSD and on the right the compass/GPS.  The power distribution is hidden in an enclosure in the lowest deck.  The legs uses the standard DJI design, which makes it easily replaceable, cost efficient and very strong.  The design passes the compassmot test way below the suggested minimum possible interference.

Aircraft Design Specification:

Parts	Est. Cost	Alternate	Description	Where to Buy
Flight Controller	US$159.99	$89.99	3DR APM 2.5 or 2.6 onboard computer or Arduflyer	3DR or RcTimer
GPS & Compass	US$79.99	$39.99	3DR uBlox GPS with external compass or u-Blox CN06 Plus	3DR or RcTimer
Receiver	US$43.99	US$30.00	FrSky X8R 2.4G 16CH SBUS Smart Port Telemetry Receiver	BUY LINK
Motors & ESCs	US$178.69	US$178.69	DJI 450 kit and basic frame
Optional Frame	US$65.00	US$0	Reptile Aphid for gimbal feature, only frame	BUY Link
Micro UBEC 3A / 5v	US$3.84	US$3.84	UBEC for power supply, as Opto ESC has no Battery Eliminator Circuit	BUY LINK
On Screen Display	US$18.03	US$16.80	MininOSD Virtual flight instrument panel with real-time data	BUY LINK or 3DR
Video Transmitter	US $98.00	US $98.00	5.8G 400mW Video Audio A/V Transmitter Module	BUY LINK
Video Receiver	US$19.99	US$19.99	Video Audio A/V Receiver Module	BUY LINK
Zip Ties	US$9.16	US$9.16	Perfect size 3*150mm Nylon 1000 self-locking zip ties
Telemetry (Option)	Advance		Telemetry Ground Module 915Mhz, real-time mission planning	3DR or RcTimer
FPV Camera / DVR	Pick one up	Pick one up	Horyzon HD, Keychain #16, Mobius or a Boscan Cobra HD etc	Your choice
Blackbox (Option)	Pick one up	Pick one up	Mini DVR to record flight data
Laptop	Own one	Own one	Personal computer for mission planner
Main battery	US$23.37	US$23.37	7-10 minutes flight time. 3 cells, 4000 mAh, 25c	BUY LINK (click wait 5 mins for $3 off)
Soldering iron and solder	Pick one up	Pick one up	to solder power distribution and APM	BUY at Amazon or Radioshack
Capabilities
Auto waypoints			allows you to map flight paths on computer for autopilot
Return to Launch			auto return to home using GPS, bail out! one switch
Circle			circle around by radius
Altitude Hold			stay on fixed altitude
Position Hold			stay on fixed position for vertical landing
Loiter			combination of position and altitude hold, hovering
Failsafe			auto return home when radio signal loss or battery low
Land			auto land
Simple			fly by compass
Simple GeoFence			user-defined box that if breached forces the copter to return
Follow Me			copter follow you as you walk around, like a "personal droid"
Camera stabilizer			build in gimbals, managed by flight controller
Applications
Brushfire  assessment			Thermal camera with FLIR thermal imaging camera
Radio System			A one time investment
Transmitter	US$161.65	US$130	FrSky 2.4GHz ACCST Taranis X9D Transmitter.  Verbally speaks the distance, voltage, airspeed, altitude etc.  Our alternate is to get a Turnigy 9X or Devo 10	BUY at Banggood BUY at HK
FPV Phone Holder A			Holds a mini DVR monitor for FPV	BUY HERE

Featured in the The Great Paper Airplane Missing Children Banner Project

Testing with HoryzonHD Camera and APM Gimbal Setup

Yeah... Maiden Flight Test

Radio: Taranis X9D

Full Telemetry RSSI alarms (warns you of signal reception problems before disaster can strike) 

Large 212 X 64 backlit LCD screen 

Drone Mission Lab
... behind the scenes October 22, 2013

Part 1/3 setting up FrSKY Taranis with APM

• Phase 1: Design & purchase hardware - 100% complete
• Phase 2: Assembly, wiring and electrical test - 100% complete
• Phase 3: Programming, configuration, flight switches and failsafe setups - 100% complete
• Phase 4 & Milestone 1: Maiden flight test and gateway checks - 100% complete
• Phase 5: Advance flight modes mixes, Gimbal, FPV &  OSD - 100 % complete
• Phase 6: Tuning 100%
• Milestone: Mission Test 100% (10/22/13)

Fixed ID: Assign fixed id in order to setup transmitter failsafe no pulse.

DJI ESC: To reduce noise, DJI opted not to include Battery Eliminator Circuit (BEC) supply of 5v out from the ESC, as such an external UBEC is required.  Found a light 7g UBEC, [Coupon BUY Info] that can power the receiver and 3 additional servos for gimbal

Lipo battery 3s 4000 mAh:  Wait 5 minutes before adding to the cart, you get a pop-up $3 discount  [BUY Info US$23.37]

Review of FPV: First-person view (FPV), also known as remote-person view (RPV), or simply video piloting, is a method used to fly a radio controlled model vehicle from the driver or pilot's view point. Most commonly it is used to pilot an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or a radio-controlled aircraft. The vehicle is either driven or piloted remotely from a first person perspective via an onboard camera, fed wirelessly to virtual reality goggles or a video monitor. More sophisticated setups include a pan-and-tilt gimbaled camera controlled by a gyroscope sensor in the pilot's goggles and with dual onboard cameras, enabling a true stereoscopic view.

Episode 1:  Understanding your on screen display (OSD) flight  instruments [LESSON]

Episode 2 (in production):  DIY [LESSON]

DM-SAR Apache X450 Onboard Equipment: Taranis X9D & X8R Telemetry Receiver, Ardupilot APM 2.6, Sony 700 TVL, Minimosd v0.1, 3DR GPS uBlox LEA-6, 5.8G 400mW Video TX TS353, 3s 4000-5000 mAh. Weight: 1.2 kg.