Which is better, Tricopter or Quadcopter?

[@WG7D]

Good talk on quad vs Tri...thanks

[@whit101]

VERY intelligent comparison. Please, keep posting your thoughts and ideas. I think you missed a point. Tricopters are more FUN to fly. I am not sure why. Something about the way they behave in flight.

[@gamerpaddy]

the good thing of a tricopter is, if you dont like it just add another arm, esc and motor. just bought a few parts to build my first drone, i hope the parts fit together.

[@josephperrotta6692]

What about performance? Is one smoother than the other if you have a camera? Is quad more efficient for a heavier payload?

[@DeniskaNYC]

You got a point. Im thinking right now that to build tri or quad.

[@DownhillAllTheWay]

Question : On a quadcopter, two motors turn clockwise and two anticlockwise, so in a stable hover, there is no rotational moment of the aircraft. On a tricopter, there is an imbalance, and consequently a tendency for the craft to rotate. Does this not mean that a part of the energy of a tricopter goes into countering this rotation, making the tricopter less efficient?

[@RichBellamy]

Tricopters work great with three props of the same rotation. The tail rotor will just be biased to one side more than if you had a single reverse-rotation propeller. Alternatively, if you know you will only be using one kind of prop, you can tilt the front motor mounts slightly and in that way allow the tail to stay closer to vertical.

[@allisairsoft]

Looking to get into the hobbie. I go camping often and would like to get air views. What would any of you recommend to be able to take hiking camping ect?

[@Mazby2]

If U R new in the subject it s more easy to start with a RTF. Not many Tris in RTF. Try a quad, DJI or Walkera in the 350 range.

[@allisairsoft]

Ok thanks ill look into them :)

[@EricLaermans]

The yaw-mechanism of the tri is a very big minus. It is this mechanism that also needs a servo. The mechanism itself is very often sloppy after a while. Quadcopters is therefore the way to go.

[@creyes123]

Most stabilization units only have gyroscopes in them. A gyro is not enough to have a multicopter be self-righting. Aluminum or carbon fiber tubes are a good choice for the arms.

[@dbcustomrc]

if a quad loses a motor or prop there is zero chance of a safe landing. your going to do a diagonal flip into the ground. With hex and octos you stand a chance of landing but not with a quad. Im about to finish my first tri. How do you tilt the front motors to counter torque?

[@Unmedicated_Moments]

Quads can land. You put all power on the opposite end of where the motor failed while decending. Tri copters have no chance. Octos can keep flying. Hex has a good chance, but you can't keep going

[@HiFliteFPV]

MrAmericasbadboy Yes, in theory a quadcopter could land that way. The chances are very low, but it is possible if you can get it to stay level while spinning like mad from the torque of the two motors diagonally being the only thing holding it up. Very slim chances of a safe landing but it is still possible.

[@Unmedicated_Moments]

You'd have to be quick to act. All in all, if you try and you are successful, then great. I just hope for a better crash landing

[@matt420740]

MrAmericasbadboy I've yet to see anyone successfully land a quad with a failed motor. "You put all power on the opposite end of where the motor failed while decending." That would do absolutely nothing, you can't just apply power to one side and expect anything good to happen. As HiFlite pointed out, you'd need to go into a hard yaw to get two motors diagonal from each other creating lift. But it would still be near impossible to land in such a hard yaw, with no other form of directional control.

[@Unmedicated_Moments]

***** I guess your right...

[@creyes123]

That makes sense.

[@Admiraldna]

vtail quad i think are the best of both worlds

[@dbcustomrc]

Mr Americasbadboy: if you have footage of this I would love to see it. I have never seen a quadcopter fly with one motor shot. I've never heard of anyone doing it before either. Normally by the time that motor stops the quad is already 3 revolutions into its death spin.

[@Unmedicated_Moments]

In theory my friend. If I ever learn enough about quads to know how to kill a motor, I will test it

[@clainbro]

I have flown a quadcopter with a shot motor before by heavily adjusting the trim. It was not very stable but i was able to steer it.

[@kochongkhuat4034]

try it first before talk, trycopter have beter speed and control ,little hard to build becouse yaw macanisam

[@micahtritscher951]

shuhaimi musa I'm sure he knows what he's talking about. At least I think he does

[@ipadize]

Decacopter :D

[@desidudes78]

Go tris

[@nickvledder]

Overall.... quadcopter is in all aspects the winner... Except... for maybe the looks.