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Building Multicopter Video Drones
Building Multicopter Video Drones

Building Multicopter Video Drones: Build and fly multicopter drones to gather breathtaking video footage

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Building Multicopter Video Drones

Chapter 2. Buying a Turnkey System

Now, you know a bit about how a multicopter flies and what the parts basically do. But let's face it; building a multicopter from scratch just isn't for the faint of heart, and frankly, it can be a bit of a learning experience. You might wish to choose a system that comes prebuilt, pre-tuned, and (for the most part) hassle-free. In this chapter, we're going to cover some of the turnkey systems out there and what to look for (and what to avoid).

Why choose a turnkey system?

Turnkey systems are usually more expensive, they usually take a while to arrive, and there's still a shakedown period once you get them. So, why choose one? Because no matter how much of a tech genius you might be … you are not a team of engineers, software developers, or quality assurance engineers making sure your design works properly and reliably.

Let me share a brief anecdote. Although I've been developing and shooting videos professionally with multicopters for over a decade, there have been a lot of mishaps with custom aircraft. My shins are scarred from blade strikes; I've spent tens-of-thousands of dollars in crashed aircraft due to everything from engine failures to fly-aways. And I'm what you'd consider an expert in this field.

Building a reliable multicopter can be far less expensive if you make one that works properly out of the box. It can be a disaster (financially and otherwise) if it doesn't. It can't...

If someone is selling it, it probably works … right?

Wrong! There are literally thousands of multicopters out on the market now. Out of all of these, there are maybe two or three that you can use reasonably safely and reliably. Remember … these aircraft have the glide profile of a brick. Furthermore, they're flying food processors (I've also heard the term "lawnmowers" used). They could (quite literally) kill someone if something goes wrong. Minimizing these risks starts with a reliable multicopter and ends with a very responsible and safety-conscious pilot.

Believe it or not, these aircraft are surprisingly simple to fly. For this reason, there is an illusion of simplicity about them. Make no mistake … they are extremely advanced and complex aircraft, requiring a very low tolerance for mistakes in the stabilization computer and even less tolerance for mechanical mishaps. This illusion of simplicity has birthed many a business, started in a garage...

Where to look for reviews and advice you can trust

First off, don't even bother to look at magazines. You can't trust them. Sure, they'll tell you the bad and good. But the bad always sounds okay, and the good sounds downright miraculous. It's like listening to a political speech. This is because magazines make their money from advertisement. If they completely trash a horrible product, that company might decide to not advertise anymore. I know … magazines charge per issue, so if they want to keep readers, they should tell the truth. Unfortunately, we don't live in the world of what should be. I won't get into the ins and outs of magazine reviews. Let's just say that I know of many a reviewer who have had their verbiage changed to cast a better light on the product they're reviewing than it deserves by the editors of magazines. Not all magazines are like this but sifting through which ones are can be even murkier than sifting through good multicopters...

What to expect for your budget…

This greatly depends on what your final purpose is. As technology gets better, cameras get smaller and capture more stunning detail with less bulk.

Setting realistic expectations

Depending on how old you are, you might remember Betacam SP cameras: the last of the great SD analog cameras. They could cost anywhere from 50,000 USD to 150,000 USD and up. Yes … this much for one analog SD (720x486) camera that needed a muscle-bound cameraman to carry it. Compare this to the modern DSLR cameras, and you realize that the gargantuan relic is nothing better than a doorstop today. The lesson: bigger is not always better.

If your goal is to carry a giant cinematic camera (such as a RED Scarlet), let me stop you right there. Even the DJI Spreading Wings S1000 (which, according to reports, has overcome all of the problems the S800 had)—a gargantuan octocopter that will run you upwards of 6,500 USD (without a radio or most of the other necessary accessories...

Brands you can trust

In reality, this changes all the time. Technology is constantly evolving, and new companies come and go. But through it all, there have been two companies that have been producing stunning multicopter systems. Even the pioneer of the multicopter shooting platform (DraganFlyer) has fallen to the back of the pack. The two companies that have stood the test of time are DJI and MikroKopter.

I know I'm going to get some heat for that statement, but it's true. These systems are truly turnkey. Out of the box and ready to go, just snap it together, perform a few dozen flights of shakedown, and go earn some cash flying (provided you already know how to fly). However, what drone do you get for the camera you've chosen?

For GoPro shooting

This one's simple. Nothing but nothing compares to the DJI Phantom series. I've actually shelved my giant drone as of late because of the ease and reliability of the Phantom 2. Combined with its H3-2D or H3-3D gimbal, the...

Why choose a turnkey system?


Turnkey systems are usually more expensive, they usually take a while to arrive, and there's still a shakedown period once you get them. So, why choose one? Because no matter how much of a tech genius you might be … you are not a team of engineers, software developers, or quality assurance engineers making sure your design works properly and reliably.

Let me share a brief anecdote. Although I've been developing and shooting videos professionally with multicopters for over a decade, there have been a lot of mishaps with custom aircraft. My shins are scarred from blade strikes; I've spent tens-of-thousands of dollars in crashed aircraft due to everything from engine failures to fly-aways. And I'm what you'd consider an expert in this field.

Building a reliable multicopter can be far less expensive if you make one that works properly out of the box. It can be a disaster (financially and otherwise) if it doesn't. It can't be rushed and you can't take shortcuts, and...

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Description

This book is for a wide range of individuals who are looking to shoot aerial footage with a multicopter. No previous flying experience is assumed, but even the most expert flyers will find unexpected and interesting information.

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Aug 26, 2014
Length: 128 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781782175445
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Product Details

Publication date : Aug 26, 2014
Length: 128 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781782175445
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Table of Contents

9 Chapters
1. What is a Multicopter? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Buying a Turnkey System Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Choosing Your Components Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Assembling Your Drone Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Flying Your Multicopter Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. First Person View (FPV) Gear Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Camera Flying Techniques Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. Post Processing Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Top Reviews
Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.1
(14 Ratings)
5 star 57.1%
4 star 21.4%
3 star 0%
2 star 14.3%
1 star 7.1%
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David M. Norris May 30, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Just finished Building Multicoptor Video Drones. I thought it was excellent especially for someone like myself who wants to build their first multicoptor. Best of all it goes into enough detail to do an actual build without bogging you down into too much detail. I made it through the book surprisingly fast. Covers all of the major components and systems to build a multicoptor to include airframes, motors, propellers, ESCs, guidance systems, gimbals and transmitters. The book also highlights FPV (First Person View) gear as well as camera flying techniques. Although the book walks the reader through a build for a specific hexacoptor, the same concepts and many of the same components could be applied to just about any multicoptor. I also liked the introduction to the online Multicopter Calculator to adjust your design and optimizing the many options for component selection to maximize flight time. Just the right amount of theory and practical knowledge required to get into this hobby/profession seriously through a build-your-own route. However do understand this is a book for a serious hobbyist or someone who wants to build their own multicoptor for aerial photography or video. It requires some basic mechanical and electronic skills. But even if you have limited skills in these areas I think the book will help anyone who takes their time to follow the instructions carefully. Also please note that although you can save money and get more bang for your buck building your own multicoptor vs. buying a similar setup, it is an investment either way for a quality craft. But for me I also like the satisfaction of building my own and knowing how to fix my own craft when something goes wrong.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
LEE BYUNGHOON Nov 21, 2014
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
It's very good.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Jacob Bond May 12, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
This is a great book for getting into multicopter building. I also, bought multiple books and this is the only one I ever use. It explains everything you need to know part by part in an easy to understand way.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Selina Apr 12, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Very informative book - lots of useful and enlightening info for the beginner and budding RC flyer. If I would say anything negative it is that this field is likely to change rapidly and the equipment / manufacturers mentioned may change; we have already seen the introduction of DJI's P3... So view the text as an introduction and spring board to do your own research. The book will certainly point you in the right direction.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Bsterling Nov 04, 2014
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Very Comprehensive. This book gets deeply into the various subsystems you need to know to build a drone.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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