DynamRC Detrum Z3 FPV - when autopilots go wild...

Detrum Z3 FPV autopilot: www.banggood.c...
Eachine Airloader: bit.ly/-Airloader
⮟⮟⮟OPEN DESCRIPTION FOR MORE INFO⮟⮟⮟
The Eachine Airloader got the autopilot treatment... but sadly... did not chance upon a good and willing one! Might be just my unit is faulty in some way... but the Detrum Z3 FPV is like a wild horse, refusing to me tamed, longing to break free and run wild... literally!!! I mean even my experiences with iNav back in the day were not this ridiculous! Curious to know why? Check out the video!
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PARTS LIST:
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SJ7 Star action camera: www.gearbest.co...
EKEN H6s camera: www.banggood.c...

[@FunBitesTV]

What an ending to your flight haha, thats crazy I can imagine the panic when seeing "disarmed" lol

[@ArxangelRC]

Haha, panic is no longer in my list of emotions in such situations! Lost that A LONG time ago! You just get used to it and no longer care! It was more like confusion... because it worked before... in my mind there was not reason it shouldn't work now... the last thing I would have guessed would be that the autopilot had disarmed itself! :D

[@MasboyRC]

Great video. Thank's for explaining and presentations. Appreciate it 👍

[@ArxangelRC]

Thank you!

[@julianhumphrey4843]

Love the winter hat, cant say same for the FC lol, but great video

[@ArxangelRC]

Haha, thanks! :)

[@upperechelon3456]

Great video Arxangle RC. This is to bad. I had high hopes for this FC. I so hope that this is an anomaly. Again. Great video.

[@ArxangelRC]

Thanks! Well... it remains to be seen if it is an anomaly! :)

[@StresSdidri]

Sorry for your loss

[@ArxangelRC]

Haha, it is not a loss! :) It is all valuable experience!

[@jeffburdick6734]

I'm a big fan of DynamRC. Been using the autopilot receivers for years. I just ordered the DT9 transfer plus 4 GPS receivers for my short range planes. However, they don't work in very cold weather and I often have to do a stick calibration. Just wish they had a better long range solution

[@ArxangelRC]

Well this was the first time I saw they had an autopilot, didn't know about the receivers... but again... not impressed... and also... not working well in colder weather is WEIRD as hell!

[@forzahorizon5_xpert_1]

keep it up with another good content

[@ArxangelRC]

Thank you!

[@michaelhyde7021]

Interesting video that mirrors my own experience with the Z3 FPV. My barometer initially showed -300 m and it turned out that when assembled the PCB was glued into the case with an over liberal application of the adhesive resulting in the vent to atmosphere being completely covered with the glue. I cut some away and the barometer came good. Also had control stability issues but these came good when the gain was reduced. The plane should be manually trimmed to fly straight and then the board pitch and roll offset adjusted to get the stabilized modes flying straight and level. Did you notice that the artificial horizon in the OSD works in reverse, when you point up it moves up and when down it moves down. No value at all. With regard to disarming I had no problem in the air but on landing the system disarms and the plane cannot be taxied unless its kept moving forward. I am not sure if it disarms as a result of low throttle or low GPS speed or zero altitude or maybe all three. My bet is on minimum GPS speed. I have no experience of the high altitude problem but suspect the flat spin may well have produced a low GPS speed causing the disarm? The only thing I want to cause a disarm is me. RTH works but is quite erratic and not very pretty. Silly enough with a lack of reviews, I ordered a second unit to verify the problems with the first. It hasn't arrived yet but a oh well you live and learn.

[@ArxangelRC]

OK, good to know I am not going crazy then! Will have to check out the barometer issue, have already lowered the rates, but the horizon is weird, because all settings in the program box are good for the current board orientation... so wonder what could that be... have to dig into it, and soon! As for the disarm... I agree... should be disarming on its own for any reason! Have not yet tested RTH because I don't trust the GPS coordinates at this time... so we will see what my next outing with this plane will show!

[@avsaase]

When you pitch up the artificial horizon goes up instead of down.

[@amax2624]

..as if the controler is mounted at 180 roll. The wrong aileron,direction at first launch......????

[@ArxangelRC]

Nope, according to program box settings, all is as it should be... which is weird as it does seem to go in the opposite direction!

[@henriksegercrantz362]

@@ArxangelRC So here it might be a + instead of a - on the code. I am bothered by the barometer reading. Code or hardware?

[@ArxangelRC]

@@henriksegercrantz362 Could be some issue with the code for the horizon... but the barometer was covered in glue... one of the holes, I think, was covered almost completely by it...

[@thenewyorkhobbyist2931]

Great video, but you should aslo try out the AFPV SN-L flight controller, its cheaper than the Detrum, and i personally use it on one of my curent planes, i really think its worth the time of trying it out! Trust me you wont be disappointed

[@ArxangelRC]

Thanks for the suggestion, will check it out!

[@sarahdaviscc]

Hi Arx, I would love to see you do an ultimate best case range test for the ultra long range AKK vtx.

[@ArxangelRC]

Will get around to it soon! :)

[@sarahdaviscc]

@@ArxangelRC hooray 🙂 Happy new year, friend.

[@ArxangelRC]

@@sarahdaviscc :)

[@nfvisuals]

Other very nice video!!! For the price of that autopilot I would prefer to add just a bit more and buy 2x Matek F765 which is the best FC I have ever had

[@ArxangelRC]

True! It is a darn good FC that one! I love it! But this one is plug-n-play, no soldering, no guessing, just get the parts, plug them together... you are done! It would be perfect for people who have no idea of DIY, but want an AP! If it works... would be nice!

[@ecor1987]

Interesting, thanks for sharing. But why did you setup your radio with 70% aileron and elevator? Cant the throws be adjusted via the FC?

[@ArxangelRC]

Does not appear to be possible!

[@TheCrazydude1994]

So my thoughts on the disarm thing. I think it's actually uses an inav. And in INAV there is a setting, which will automatically disarm if you have a 0 throttle for some time. I think default value is 10 seconds. When you configure your inav for airplane, there is a recommendation to change this, so you won't disarm while gliding. I think DynamRC just didn't bother even to configure this correctly

[@TheCrazydude1994]

Yeap. Actually I've checked your footage once again. And it disarmed after 10 seconds has passed since you did a 0 throttle.

[@TheCrazydude1994]

Prior to starting failsafe it is checked if the throttle position has been below min_throttle for the last failsafe_throttle_low_delay seconds. If it was, the craft is assumed to be on the ground and is simply disarmed. This feature can be disabled completely by setting failsafe_throttle_low_delay to zero, which may be necessary to do if the craft may fly long with zero throttle (eg. gliders)

[@ArxangelRC]

I did not know this thing existed! Makes it even more ridiculous! The fact that they left it in there with no option to switch it off is also worrying! Who test flew this thing before it got released to market?

[@GhostRyderFPV]

Doing a stall test on my Dart one day, I came across this feature. Why do I have zero throttle control, I ask myself, while I search frantically for the scene of my next crash. Thankfully I panicked an appropriate amount, filmed a situation report, and was told by a sub those same wonderful instructions provided by @TheCrazyDude1994.

[@henriksegercrantz362]

This was comforting! :) Am soon about to test my own designed stabilizer board the first time, and now I know it cannot go worse than yours! :) I suppose you should try another copy!

[@ArxangelRC]

hahaha, good luck with your test! Hope all works out! Well... as of this moment I am still waiting on DynamRC to get back to me with a firmware update... or some other solution... so we will see!

[@henriksegercrantz362]

@@ArxangelRC Come to think of it. In your case it can also be a faulty hardware, I guess! Good luck too!

[@ArxangelRC]

@@henriksegercrantz362 Could be so! Remains to be seen! :) Thanks!

[@big5astra]

The simplicity of this system reminds me of the Cyclops Storm or Cyclops Tornado controllers with OSD. These were ideal for low-tech plug and play people who wanted some great features without the complexity of computer programming etc. But sadly, the Cyclops controllers are hard to get hold of these days and if you can get them, the prices are often a bit high. Hopefully DynamRC get their act together to sort out this controller/osd.

[@ArxangelRC]

Actually, I still have a Tornado, brand new in a box! Still not sure what to put it on, and was looking for a programmer, so I can update it to the latest firmware. :)

[@fpvtrucker129]

big5astra you fell the same as I do I have been flying a cyclops tornado for eight years know and I have been waiting for some thing new to come down the pike but it seems like the tech is getting worse ever year.

[@berkeonlu6302]

I have a question. i used matek f765 mission planner. But because there are too many parameters, I could not adjust and I crashed 3 times. Which system do you recommend?

[@ArxangelRC]

?! What parameters need adjusting, to keep you from crashing? Why did you crash?

[@typxxilps]

the plane did not drop the nose at 13:00 it simply wanted us to show your city landscape for a better overview. No that is not an extra, you get that feature for free to enjoy the plane one final time. Detrum needs more quality and a press guy that kicks the engineers until they learn to deliver what a customer can expect. Not my brand of choice - luckily.

[@ArxangelRC]

Indeed! Didn't anybody fly this before they released it? Some weird decisions were made!

[@SemteVruchte]

What do you think of the original AR wing, good bang for the buck platform for long range fpv?

[@ArxangelRC]

I have not tested the 900mm version, but as far as I can see, people seem to like it, and it does have good space for a decent sized LiIon battery... so it should work well for that!

[@sUASNews]

Nice hat!

[@ArxangelRC]

Hahahaha, thanks... like that was the highlight of the video! :P

[@batfirewaf123]

Thx much I was going to buy this autopilot since not lot a osd autopilots available right now... wont be buying this unit. thanks for saving me the money.

[@ArxangelRC]

You are welcome mate! I can't recommend it!

[@julianpetit4180]

Hi, could you try flipping the unit upside down? Your artificial horizon seems to be moving the wrong way.

[@ArxangelRC]

Hmmmmmm... I've never paid attention to that thing! It does keep the wings level... and does keep the plane level from time to time... but at other times does take to the ground... may have to take a look at the settings again!

[@julianpetit4180]

@@ArxangelRC you can also flip it in iNav but I'm not sure whether you're able to configure this controller. I wouldn't recommend it anyways because you can get a gps and Matek f405 wing with internal osd for less. And then you have full control over your firmware. I can imagine that there are people who'd like to plug and play though.

[@ArxangelRC]

Indeed, the PnP is why I agreed to test it out!

[@tomrosch8690]

I actually would have liked this autopilot to work. I am a fan of simple standalone systems like the zohd kopilot since I mostly fly in manual and only want reliable rth. This would have been great at the price and with an osd.

[@ArxangelRC]

Yeah, exactly why it peaked my interest... but as of yet I cannot recommend it!

[@nintendogod12]

How come you are not using the Crossbow mini aat?

[@ArxangelRC]

Had some issue with the main board, waiting on a replacement, which arrived 31st of Dec, already replaced and working, just haven't taken it out to the field to do final calibrations and test, but I am happy that my old tracker, which is now at least 4 years old... is still working absolutely perfectly!

[@OrLove13]

Спасибо за проделанную работу, но выходит дорого. Тот же matek 405w с GPS обойдется дешевле, а функцианал выше. А за обзор спасибо.

[@ArxangelRC]

Thanks! Well... the functionality will be higher IF you need that functionality! For the most part I use even the F405 Wing, or F765 Wing, etc., only as stabilizers and RTH! Also, with those, there is a good deal of soldering and DIY... the idea here is that there isn't any of that! Different product, for different target market!

[@aesatishchaudhary5933]

Hlo sir how do we connect FrskyX8R smartport telemetry with MatekF765 in arduplane mission planner

[@ArxangelRC]

Well I've never done this myself, only heard of people doing it... so I can't be certain... but in Mission Planner, in the Full Parameter List tab you will have to find the Serial port that is setup for the Mavlink telemetry, since I am assuming you have connected the X8R's S.Port to that same output on the F765, and in there on the right you will see listed more options for this port, in addition to Mavlink! I think one of the options was the FrSky Telemetry, so input the number it is given on the left, and write params, then power cycle the FC... and if all is good and there are no addition steps to be taken... this should do it! But again... this is only from what I've noticed while looking around Mission Planner, am not certain it will work so easily since I've never done it, but you can give it a try nonetheless! :)

[@EnglishTurbines]

So full right Rudder and zero throttle to get your flat spin is also a Disarming command.?..lol....Shocking plane and FC really, and let's not forget the noise all over the video feed...🤔🤔

[@ArxangelRC]

Yeah... will have to move the camera power over to the bec powering the Vtx, because obviously the FC is not clean enough! Not sure the stick command disarms the plane... more like low GPS speed perhaps... which still shouldn't happen... because strong headwind can disarm it easily then... and I do like to make these planes hover against the wind... that would be an interesting experience!

[@waldemarkraus2855]

Looking at your artificial horizon, it looks like your gyro is flipped ! When you point down the horizon should go up and not down like in your footage. That would explain that weird behavior in gyro modes

[@ArxangelRC]

Hmmmm... well the gyro mode itself was stabilising in the correct direction, it was just rolling to the right more than in manual mode... otherwise direction test was OK for it!

[@rcbits404]

I have a SR86A-G gyro-GPS receiver which behaves similarly. Gyro off works ok, Gyro on, all endpoints are gone and in Auto-Stabilize the elevator goes slowly to full up and the ailerons to right bank. No messing with rates or gains make any diffrence to the better. I will not fly this receiver. I have three SR86A (no GPS) that works perfectly, so this is strange.

[@ArxangelRC]

That is weird indeed! guess you should look for other options if you want a GPS!

[@rcbits404]

@@ArxangelRC I will install the receiver in a simple foam glider and see how i works in the air. Dynam says will be ok. I am not risking my beautiful scale model...

[@ArxangelRC]

@@rcbits404 Oh yeah, that is a good idea! I have seen that some autopilots work quite weird when stationary on the ground, but once you throw them in the air, all is good! I hope this would be the case here as well!

[@djmix7388]

ups. inav clone for sure. with bad cli defaults :( also it looks like they put a capacitor on the current sensor to eliminate the power noise. too bad :( thanks for the video. the best, as usual

[@ArxangelRC]

Thanks! :)

[@thrilleex]

I still haven't used my MFD Crosshair but I bet it is better than this by far.

[@ArxangelRC]

Absolutely!

[@FPV420.]

Another reason to stick with Pixhawk :)

[@ArxangelRC]

Indeed!

[@sherwoodp2738]

I wish I had watched your video before wasting my $$ on this system. The ground checks went so bad I didn't dare try to fly.

[@ArxangelRC]

Damn... yeah... there are issues... but I never got a reply from Dynam about it... :(

[@sherwoodp2738]

Have you thought about doing a comparison of the different flight stabilization systems with GPS that provide a RTL or GeoFence feature? There seems to be several on the market. It would be interesting for sure and I don't think anyone else has done this yet.

[@ArxangelRC]

@@sherwoodp2738 Which systems do you have in mind?

[@sherwoodp2738]

@@ArxangelRC Here's a sample of some systems,. you may be aware of others: Question: What is the best RC Fixed/Delta w/Flight Stabilization plug and play system with GPS? 1. ZOHD Kopilot Lite Autopilot System 2. FT Aura 5 Lite (Flite Test, not sure if it has a GPS option. 3. Vector Mini 4. Bigaole 6G-AP Flight controller with GPS 5. Detrum Z3 RC system with flight stabilizer/RTH 6. SPEKTRUM AS3000 Flight Stabilization Module not sure if you can integrate GPS 7. Parrot Disco (not sure if they sell the system separate) You may know of some others

[@ArxangelRC]

@@sherwoodp2738 Right... I can sort that out for you right now, or at least most of it! 1. Works awesome, easy to setup and tune, beginner friendly, has saved my Drift quite a few times from being lost! 2. Never heard of it 3. Not a fan... but also... didn't they stop making them? 4. Think I've heard of it... but I think it might be ArduPlane based. 5. Have tested it... it has issues... major issues! 6. Wouldn't touch it with a 10 feet pole! 7. Not sold separately from the plane unless you can find one 2nd hand!

[@wbuttry1]

it is not worth 90 bucks sorry thank you for the honest comments on this .

[@ArxangelRC]

It is not if it doesn't work! If it had worked well... would be a pretty decent deal for a plug-n-play solution, that does not require any soldering or other DIY skills to get going!

[@MessingWithCode]

IS NOT A BUG , IS A FEATURE HAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAHAHA SUCH A PROGRAMMER ANSWER 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ArxangelRC]

Hahahaha, yeah!

[@wattage2007]

What a train wreck of an autopilot.

[@ArxangelRC]

So true!

[@EdwardChew]

Oppssss shitty autopilot. Nextttt!

[@ArxangelRC]

Yeah... next will be in a bit! Working on something, but have to test every possibility with this one, see if I can get some performance out of it!

[@wbuttry1]

sounds like that auto pilot is junk I think I will stick to co pilot lite just got it going good .

[@ArxangelRC]

Yeah, I am also quite happy with the KoPilot in my Drift! Awesome thing, though it is lacking an OSD, which is a bit of a bummer!

[@williamjones9614]

So all in all don't buy this flight controller. Chezzz.... I would have been pissed.

[@ArxangelRC]

Haha, yeah... until they provide a solution... I'd advise to stay away!

[@Maceyee1]

This plane is Hella ugly, good thing we're looking out of it most of the time

[@ArxangelRC]

Hahahahaha... well... different tastes! It looks different... I rather like this design!

[@carlharrison3637]

Thats awful. Plane looks decent though

[@ArxangelRC]

That it does!