Newly added Ztw items: Spider 30A Opto SMALL ESC and 3A UBEC

Newly added Zone Top Way items:

Ztw Spider 30A Opto SMALL 2-6S LiPo 600Hz SimonK ESC

the same as the Spider 30A Opto ESC, but on a smaller board with improved heat dissipation, specifically designed to power multirotor aircraft motors,

 

and

 

Ztw 3A UBEC

 

switching mode UBEC with 5V/3A or 6V/3A output depending on blue jumper position.

 

Check 'm both out at

 

http://www.mavbot.com/p/shop-new-additions.html

 

Black Friday deal: 5% off all our T-MOTOR products

Black Friday deal: 5% off all our T-MOTOR products, while supplies last.

APM Octocopter Build First Test Flight

This is the first test flight of our 1020-mm Octocopter build. It flew for 21 minutes on a charge. The batteries (2 x 5200 mAh 6S) are brand new, so maybe flight time will increase a little after the batteries are broken in a little.

Total weight (including batteries, but no camera/gimbal payload yet) is 5.0 kg.

Frame: Tarot T15

Flight Control: APM 2.6 with ArduCopter V3.2-rc14

Motors: T-Motor MT4008 KV380

ESCs: T-Motor 30A Opto

Back in stock: T-Motor MN2214 KV920 Version 2.0 boxed set of 4 motors for DJI Phantom 1 & 2 upgrade

Back in stock: T-Motor MN2214 KV920 Version 2.0 boxed set of 4 motors for DJI Phantom 1 & 2 upgrade.

Limited amount of T-MOTOR U8 KV100 professional motors available

Limited amount of T-MOTOR U8 KV100 professional motors - heavy duty, water and dirt resistant, now available in the U Power & Efficiency Series (free Prime shipping with Amazon.com).

Soon available: T-MOTOR U8 KV100 professional motors

We'll soon have a limited amount of T-MOTOR U8 KV100 professional motors available - heavy duty, water and dirt resistant, for quad-, hexa- and octocopters up to 12kg, high efficiency for long flight times. $279.90 with free Prime shipping at Amazon.com.

 

To stay in the loop, drop us a line through our Contact Form or Like our Facebook Page. 

108 km/h SplineNav with Arducopter 3.2

SplineNav is now a feature of the latest Arducopter, version 3.2! Robert Lefebvre posted this flight of his traditional helicopter flying a SplineNav circuit at 108 km/h:

Back in stock: PZ0420 600TVL D-WDR Color Board Camera with OSD Menu DNR

Back in stock: PZ0420 600TVL D-WDR Color Board Camera with OSD Menu DNR

 

http://www.mavbot.com/back-in-stock.html

Back in stock: two T-MOTOR ESC's

Back in stock are two T-MOTOR ESC's:

T-Motor T18A 2S-4S 400Hz ESC with 2A BEC

 

and

 

 

 

and T-Motor T30A Opto Pro 2S-6S 400Hz ESC

 

http://www.mavbot.com/back-in-stock.html 

Back in stock: T-MOTOR MN2206 KV2000

Back in stock: T-MOTOR MN2206 KV2000 High-Performance Brushless Electric Motor for Multi-Rotor Aircraft

 

 

 

http://www.mavbot.com/back-in-stock.html

 

 

Back in stock: T-MOTOR 12x4 Carbon Fiber Props for Multi-Rotor Aircraft and T-MOTOR 9x3 Gloss Black Carbon Fiber Props for DJI Phantom

http://www.mavbot.com/back-in-stock.html

Back in stock: six T-MOTOR High-Performance Brushless Electric Motor for Multi-Rotor Aircraft:

MT3506 KV650
MN1806 KV1400
MN1806 KV2300
MN3508 KV380
MN3508 KV580
MN3510 KV360.

http://www.mavbot.com/back-in-stock.html

1.3GHz FPV with High-Gain Helical Antenna

We usually look for a high or open spot to stand when flying long-range FPV to avoid our signal being attenuated by obstacles. This allows us several kilometers of range in the countryside without needing a directional (high gain) antenna. Sometimes you might not have such an ideal spot to fly from though, so it helps to use an antenna with a narrow beam to focus that weak signal.

We attached a handle, video receiver, and battery to the back of this Circular Wireless helical antenna so it could be held by one person and manually pointed toward the copter, while the other person flies FPV:

Circular Wireless Heliaxial 1.3GHz antenna with video receiver, battery, and handle mounted to back

On the video tx side we used the Circular Wireless Skew Planar Wheel. In our long-range mountain flying test, we started from a low point near the base of the valley, in a location with obstacles such as trees and buildings. We were still able to fly over 2.0 km away with a clear video signal.

Flew FPV in the mountains of Changhua to a peak 2.0 km away.

A drawback of the Heliaxial is that it is bulky, needs to be transported carefully to avoid breakage, and is probably too heavy to be mounted to most antenna trackers.

Fortunately, Circular Wireless has come out with a new Circularly Polarized 1.3GHz Patch Antenna that should be much more convenient. We plan to test it out on a flight soon!

Two antennas from Circular Wireless now in stock

Two antennas from Circular Wireless now in stock: CPATCH12 Circularly Polarized 1.2 GHz / 1.3 GHz Patch Antenna and SPW12 Skew Planar Wheel 1.2 GHz / 1.3 GHz FPV Antenna http://www.mavbot.com/p/shop-new-additions.html

Now available: two T-Motor motors for Professional Multi-Rotor Aircraft

Two T-Motor motors for Professional Multi-Rotor Aircraft were added to our assortment: the U5 KV400 High-Power Brushless Motor ......

... and the U8 KV135 High-Efficiency Brushless Motor .....

... check out our Shop's new additions at http://www.mavbot.com/p/shop-new-additions.html

1.4 km away, FPV Touch-and-Go behind Hill in Rain...

Flew in the rain 1.4 km away over a hill and did an FPV touch-and-go... followed by a 2-km SplineNav scenic flight back, and near electrocution of the copter (oops!)—and all of that in one single epic flight!

It's very hard to get good FPV range flying near the city: even with 1.3GHz and a high-gain (directional) antenna on the receiver, we only get about 1 km range hugging the terrain (much longer range is available flying high, but that doesn't make for as interesting videos).

So we headed out to the countryside to find radio quiet, and left the bulky high-gain antenna at home. With just a Circular Wireless SPW12 on both tx and rx, we were able to fly 1.4 km away, duck behind a hill, make a touch-and-go, and still get perfect video back the whole time.

Unfortunately the video still doesn't work well flying behind broad-leaf trees, even at much shorter ranges. Evergreen needle trees don't seem to be a problem though, perhaps due to their lower moisture content. We're now using a Lawmate 1000mA 1.3 GHz transmitter, which seems to work a lot better than the ReadyMadeRC tx, and is much lighter. We use RangeLink UHF for radio control, which seems to be pretty much invincible at any distance.

After doing the the touch-and-go on the grassy hill 1.4 km away, we engaged SplineNav and did a 2-km scenic flight back on autopilot. The rain was really picking up, and moisture got into the gimbal electronics, which made the GoPro twitch wildly from time to time, but otherwise the water didn't cause any harm.

Note the temple with the four characters 周氏宗祠 we fly over at 5:18. That's where my wife attended elementary school, long since abandoned and with trees growing up inside it.

The change in weather on the flight back seems to have affected the barometer, because where SplineNav was supposed to have gone under that last power line, it went straight through inside. Really amazing that it made it through that narrow gap with no damage other than a split prop tip. These high-voltage wires are bare of insulation and carrying the power for the whole village. Fortunately the electricity didn't arc across right through the aluminum arms of the copter!

Several items back in stock upon request

Several items are back in stock upon request:

T-Motor MT2216 KV1100 V2
T-Motor MT2814 KV770
T-Motor MT4008 KV380
T-Motor 9x3 Gloss White Carbon Fiber Props for DJI Phantom
T-Motor 15x5 Carbon Fiber Props

Back in stock: 3D Robotics APM 2.6 with GPS/Compass and Power Module, side pins @ $249.98

Back in stock: T-Motor MT2212 KV980

Back in stock: TIGER T-Motor MT2212 KV980 high-performance brushless electric motor for multi-rotor aircraft @ $44.90.

Back in stock: Circular Wireless FPV Antennas

Back in stock in Mavbot's Shop: Circular Wireless HELIAXIAL58 Helical Axial Mode 5.8 GHz (@ $84.95) and SPW58 Skew Planar Wheel 5.8 GHz (@ $44.95) FPV Antennas

Two ESC's (Electric Speed Controllers) now available

Two ESC's (Electric Speed Controllers) are now available in our Mavbot shop, starting @ $16.40

First Flight with GoPro Hero 3+ Black

The colors are quite drab and dreary in the mountains over the winter, and filming with the GoPro Hero 3 Silver just makes the colors even more washed out. So we swapped it out for the GoPro Hero 3+ Black, hoping to get some more vibrant, true-to-life color in our videos.

This was literally our first ever flight with this brand-new GoPro, so I was flying conservatively, not wanting to make a mistake that would result in lens scratches on the new camera, or worse. So sorry I didn't get in closer to that massive ridge of granite going up the mountainside. Maybe next time!

The winds were very high through this valley today, the GoPro was in Narrow FOV mode (1080p @ 60 FPS), and the gimbal only stabilizes pitch and roll, so those factors combined to create a whole lot of shakiness in the yaw axis. So although we were very impressed by the image quality in Narrow mode, it looks like for future flights we'll want to stick to Medium FOV. That is until we can get a 3-axis gimbal for our GoPro.

The colors certainly came out a lot better than with the old GoPro, but since there was so much haze and leafless or frostbitten vegetation, the video still came out looking fairly dreary and lacking in color. Good thing Spring is almost here!

WIN a FREE HoverThings Flip FPV Frame with a $136.95 Retail Value

Starting Wednesday, January 22, 2014 and ending Saturday, February 1, 2014 (23:59 PST), MavBot is running a Facebook Page Promotion 'WIN a FREE HoverThings Flip FPV Frame with a $136.95 Retail Value' at http://bit.ly/1f7sRKz . This page contains this Promotion's Official Rules.

'WIN a FREE HoverThings Flip FPV Frame with a $136.95 Retail Value' Sweepstakes - OFFICIAL RULES

NOTE

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. Participants are providing information to MavBot and not to Facebook. The information provided will only be used for administering and communicating with participants about MavBot and the MavBot promotion they are participating in.

SWEEPSTAKES DESCRIPTION

Mavbot is giving away a FREE HoverThings Flip FPV Frame with a $136.95 Retail Value: a frame designed with TWO things in mind: strength and simplicity. The "FLIP FPV" is incredibly stiff and light, yet STRONG. The arms do not twist like cheap plastic arms, and they do not bend like expensive aluminum arms. It includes "snap-on" landing gear that can be installed and removed in seconds.

SWEEPSTAKES PERIOD

The Sweepstakes entry period begins at 19:00 p.m. PST on January 22, 2014 and ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on February 1, 2014 (the "Sweepstakes Period"). Winners will be randomly selected within 24 hours, from entries properly submitted and timely received during the Sweepstakes Period.

PRIZE DETAILS

Prize: HoverThings Black/Orange Flip FPV Frame with a $136.95 Retail Value.

Prize will be delivered free of charge to the participant's street address as submitted at registration for the Sweepstakes. Prize will not be replaced if lost or stolen, is not transferable and is not redeemable for cash. All taxes and other charges are responsibility of the winner. No substitutions are allowed. Prize is valid for redemption up till three (3) months after prize is drawn. If prize is not initially redeemed during this period then the prize shall be voided. All expenses not specifically mentioned herein are not included as part of any Prize package, and are solely the winner's responsibility.

ELIGIBILITY

MavBot (Sponsor) Facebook Page Sweepstakes (the Sweepstakes) is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia over the age of 18 with access to the Internet at all times during the Sweepstakes and subsequent prize-award period. All employees of MavBot, Lizara Freezone N.V. or its subsidiaries, all associated agencies and each of their respective affiliates, sales representatives, distributors, licensees or agents (all of the foregoing, together with Sponsor, collectively referred to as Sweepstakes Entities), and their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses) and those living in the same household of each (whether related or not), are ineligible to participate in the Sweepstakes. All applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Entry in the Sweepstakes constitutes full and unconditional acceptance of these Official Rules. No purchase is necessary to participate in the Sweepstakes and a purchase will not improve the chances of winning.

SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS

During the Sweepstakes Period, participant may submit an entry form online using the sweepstakes entry form located on MavBot's Facebook Sweepstakes tab. Limit one (1) online entry per email address.

PUBLICITY

As a condition of entry into the Sweepstakes, except where prohibited by law, each entrant, and each winner by accepting a prize, grants to Sponsor and its affiliates, legal representatives, assigns and licensees, all right, title and interest in to publicize, broadcast, display and/or otherwise use the Sweepstakes entrants name, city, state, and biographical material (collectively, Licensed Rights) in any media now or hereafter known throughout the world in perpetuity for advertising and publicity purposes, without additional review, compensation, permission or approval of the winner. Where necessary, the winner will be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability and Publicity Release within five (5) business days of attempted notification or the winner may be disqualified and an alternate winner selected.

SELECTION OF SWEEPSTAKES WINNERS/ODDS

The potential Prize winners will be selected in a random drawing. Winners will be selected from entries received during the Sweepstakes Period who have not yet won a prize. Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received during the Sweepstakes Period prior to each drawing. The potential winner will be notified via email to the email address submitted with the potential winners entry within three (3) days after the drawing. The drawing will be conducted by Sponsor, the judge of the Sweepstakes, whose decisions on all matters relating to the Sweepstakes shall be final and binding. In the event that a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, award the applicable prize to an alternate winner selected at random. Any return of prize notification or prize email as undeliverable will result in forfeiture of any prize and an alternate winner may, at Sponsor's discretion, be randomly selected.

GENERAL RULES

By entering or participating in the Sweepstakes, participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules, and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. Sweepstakes Entities are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information or technical failures of any kind, (2) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Sweepstakes; or (3) any other computer, network, technical, human or other error, problem or malfunction that may occur in connection with the administration of the Sweepstakes, the processing of entries, or the selection or notification of winners. Further, if, for any reason, the Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned for reasons outside the control of the Sponsor which, in the sole opinion of Sponsor, may corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes (or portion thereof), Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes (or portion thereof). Sponsor also reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify the Entry of any individual found to be (a) tampering or attempting to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes or any website operated by the Sweepstakes Entities; (b) using any robotic, macro, automatic, programmed or like entry methods, which will void all such entries; (c) violating these Official Rules or the terms of service, conditions of use, and/or general rules of any Sponsor property or service; or (d) acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other person. Sweepstakes Entities are not responsible for claims, injuries, losses or damages of any kind resulting, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the awarding, delivery, acceptance, use, misuse, possession, loss or misdirection of the prize; participation in this Sweepstakes or in any activity or travel related thereto or from any interaction with, or downloading of, computer Sweepstakes information.

PARTICIPANT OBLIGATIONS

Participants in the Sweepstakes agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor. By accepting the prize, the winner agrees to release and hold MavBot, Lizara Freezone N.V. or its subsidiaries, all associated agencies and each of their respective affiliates, harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, rights, claims, actions and liabilities of any kind in connection with the Sweepstakes or receipt or redemption of the prize. The winner assumes all liability for any injury, death, or damage caused, or allegedly caused, by participating in the Sweepstakes or use or redemption of the prize.

RULES/WINNERS LIST REQUESTS

To obtain a copy of these Official Rules or for a list of the winners, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Sponsor. Requests for winners' lists must be received within three months after the end of the Sweepstakes Period.

SPONSOR

MavBot / Lizara Freezone N.V., Frankrijkstraat 13, Oranjestad, Aruba.