Will this FPV Drone Survive the Water?

[@jimhall9360]

Made me a believer in conformal coating. I've had a bottle for awhile and with several quads, I gotta get busy! 😀

[@peterzingler6221]

Just make sure to firmly degrease the parts before coating

[@proz71ful19]

@@Drone-Pilot I have a silicone modified conformal coating.. would the silicone help with conducting the heat and passing it to the surface? Instead of acting as a blanket holding the heat in?

[@FlyingFun.]

Defo useful for our UK weather! Main problem is wet grass so this could easily fix that. Thsnks.

[@riceninja7436]

I remember looking into rf underwater as a possible project in uni. This was a while ago so I don't remember the details but I also didn't pursue it as initial research wasn't promising without specialized equipment. Basically you need frequencies well below a Mhz to get penetration underwater and with that low frequency you also get low bandwidth so you need complex compression or modulation techniques to get good enough data rates. Also this is only for underwater to underwater comms. Going from one medium to another (water to air) has a big effect on the radiowaves. Theres probably more recent research done by now but I don't think any is commercially DIY-able at this time. Would be really cool tho...

[@Eff917]

this is a paper for underwater wifi testing, it seems with a 2DBi antenna the penetration range is 15cm under water. No idea what the properties of the recereiver and the radios in RC are. core.ac.uk/download/pdf/8729113.pdf

[@georgeaura]

Very awesome I want this for all my quads

[@nikodelrey]

Living in Minnesota I have to try this. Love it! My 2-3s shutterbug is virtually indestructible except for the water. The only difference for my shutterbug is I 3D print the sailfly 30° canopy and zip tie it down. It’s heavier but helps keep repairs down for IGOW:)

[@CCC0122]

I had the exact same idea as you did with your first whoop, the brushed one. I bought the Betafpv 65s lite, with the Bayang protocol. I go to the pool alot, living in Arizona. I was going to coat the bayang toy grade transmitter too. That way I basically sit in the hot tub and jet around the pool area, with total confidenc. Luckily, I caught your video. I didn't even think about the brushed motors getting rusty.

[@medrone7097]

OMG! Shutterbug 85 Zissou Edition 🦈 - so much fun! Glad the see the Shutterbug family getting away on a nice vacation. 👍

[@philipfpvjennings7200]

Great experiment love it, I can’t believe it still works after being fully submerged good job with the water proofing. That would be a great idea for someone like me who lives in the UK 🇬🇧 where it’s always raining lol 😂

[@pksteffen]

Fun! Great tips on coating. I have lost drones to our pool before and sometimes they fly just fine afterwards but this will help. Thank you!

[@kestrelfpv4712]

We spend a lot of time on our houseboat at the lake. I’ve been searching for a lake quad (lost one already to Davy Jones locker). I’m totally building one of these!! Thanks for the idea!!!

[@igor_misic]

Best Drone channel so far! Interesting from beginning till the end.

[@lucianofpv4276]

Absolutely superb! Bravo 👏 that was pretty awesome to see keep your content coming Looking forward to the next one !

[@ChrisParayno]

A how to would be great!! I live in Hawaii, so rain has always been an issue. I'd love to just land in wet grass without worrying.

[@marc_frank]

fpv submarine would be super cool i've had some luck with using 24kHz pwm for reliable motor starting

[@hawkfpv4950]

you need a lower fequency like crosfire mybe

[@manuelsolano7525]

Amazing but it's more amazing that still flies so good.

[@duncanwilliams5790]

Nice one Nate. Always thinkering...

[@quadcopterchameleons9289]

Amazing!! I love the unorthodox stuff. Thanks for all you super helpful videos.

[@peterzingler6221]

Man know you just need a 90mhz control link to go deep sea exploring

[@007-h3v]

@@Drone-Pilot CrossFire, R9, ExpressLRS are all 900mhz systems. I think that is what he means to type

[@matred3538]

Thank you so much for all your great content. I literally just built myself a Shutterbug 85 today out of Larva X parts.. And am now thinking of coating everything as I mainly fly whoops and toothpicks. Once again many thanks, I really enjoy your videos. Take care. 🙂

[@thezerklegacy6555]

Have a nice vacation, my friend. Stay cheerful out there

[@diveflyfish]

The distance for the frequency for the transmitter video and radio in water is around 2-3 inches at best. You would need a lower frequency like 40 kHz to allow for data transfer any significant distance. The other idea would be to have a floating tail with a tip float as a buoy to keep the terminal end above water. I wonder if a piezo antenna type akin to GPS modules would produce any better reception? dunno, but the shear increase in surface area makes me go Hummmmmm. Water can perhapsact as a viable medium for piezoelectric energy transfer? huuummmm. Awesome video. I am a kindred spirit and have been trying to make a viable micro water drone too! I sent some photos to R3D shifters for a modification to one of their models. Bravo Again. Thanks!

[@sixtofive]

Looks like an esc issue unfortunately. Probably only 1 of the 2 fets since it's intermittent. I've started building 85mm setups with 12a boards to help avoid this from normal crashing. I can only imagine trying to move water adds a huge resistance spike to the load. Have a great vacation!

[@ChainsawFPV]

Thats cool! Thought for sure the water slowing the props down would increase the amp load to the point of blowing the ESC.

[@trajanfpv]

Looks like fun Nate. Wish my beta 85 pro worked out. Had two go bad in a matter of days and had to send them back. Going to build up one from scratch and not use a beta board which I think was the issue both times. Keep up the fun content.

[@batmojuice5704]

You may be on to something here. Even if this is surface/air only, it is pretty cool. Some long antennae might allow you to go a little under. If it goes too far, it just floats up. VTX longer than the XM+ to keep the visuals going. I wonder if anyone has tried hydrophobic spray like NeverWet.

[@sixtofive]

Very cool project!

[@gus8378]

This is amazing. I wonder if conformal coating worsens heat dissipation, causing a potential problem when using it on naked vistas.

[@MrShutterBug]

I have never actually tried to conformal coat a naked Vista because I have never taken the time to remove every last bit of that blue goop. Even it it were conformal coated, it wouldn't be "water proof". Conformal coating would ruin the MIPI connectors, for example, so you would have to avoid those parts. In theory "Dry Drone" could waterproof those without destroying them, but I haven't tried. I think the risk of damaging it during the waterproofing process might be more than the damage of it getting wet out in the wild. But regarding heat... that is an interesting question. It probably has some effect since silicone doesn't conduct heat very well, but I have never had a heat problem that I attributed to conformal coating. I recently built a whoop with the 200mW Shark Byte VTX. It also gets quite hot if you plug it in on the bench, but I have not had any problems with it overheating in flight.

[@frasersteen]

You could add a little skirt on 3 sides to move around on the surface. The 3 sides would trap air an the exhaust out the back would move you forward.

[@Pyrolassist]

You deserve a million views for this! Now if Betaflight could add an underwater mode to slow the props down this would be a whole new thing! Edit: Well I guess 2.4Ghz really doesn't like water. I wonder if 1.3ghz video and 900mhz Crossfire would work underwater and give any amount of range?

[@CookeCraft]

This is really entertaining content. Thank you

[@Darksagan]

Eachine is watching this video right now figuring out how to sell your foam kwad holder. lol

[@nerdlands6595]

Your content never disappoints. Though, maybe next year do the flying while standing on that yellow float in the middle of the pool.

[@jaggyfpv3865]

The exact same thing happens to my toothpick on arming sometimes with a twitching motor. I've also conformal coated mine and it's been well buried into snow, then flown pretty well as a flying snowball. I do think it might be water damage in my case though as it only happens after a few crashes into the snow and goes away after I've let it dry out.

[@3DMOFO2020]

This one of your craziest&coolest videos you ever done Nate I love it a very awesome job on this maybe Betafpv will see this and come up with a whoop that works underwater and fly's?

[@mootine2007]

I think 2 blade propellers would be a better solution for the water. Might be a little easier on the motors and esc's?

[@sharkmusic9636]

I think it could work, if you would put one end of the transmitters antennas in the water

[@AKtoTok]

😈 i waterproof all my rigs. Love your 85 2 pro work with betafpv my man 🤩.. thing is a beast, drawing major inspiration

[@jlarson42]

I thought the original floating Shutterbug85 was cool, this is awesome. Really shows how good proper water proofing can do. You didn't say how you dealt with the bind and boot buttons. They still operational? Thanks for sharing, happy flying. 🤓

[@MrShutterBug]

When the bind and boot buttons are the low profile bubble kind, they are already sealed. The silicone is flexible so you could still push them. Otherwise destroying those connectors isn’t a big loss unless you plan to sell the drone. You can usually put the drone in boot loader mode by typing BL in the CLI. Cheers.

[@jlarson42]

@@MrShutterBug thanks 👍🤓

[@crddrones3457]

Nice video / VK 👍 God bless take care stay safe

[@JEMTAC]

that was fun, nice pool. God I want to go on holiday lol

[@Y0n3z]

put a small peice of foam on the antenna , or zip tie them up straight as high as possible

[@Cre8ionz.]

Uhh a new vid 😍 About Waterproofing ? Damn 🔥

[@jimhall9360]

Sonar control? Very low frequencies? I'm curious to see what would work...

[@sharkmusic9636]

Very cool video! Keep em commin! Im subscribed :)

[@jermadjesty]

looks really fun! did you go to hawaii or palm springs or something? Also - waiting on you (or someone) to build a 40 or 31mm toothpick out of the 1mm carbon plate that comes with the NBD 40mm cockroach frame

[@divingfalconfpv4602]

Ud probably need ur transmitter antenna and receiver antenna in the water with the drone.. then hopefully strong enough power to go a few ft

[@Josh-vu4sb]

if you use Kotking or conformal coatings you can fly it underwater too.

[@fpvlifestyle]

It is a good guide.

[@gokartmozart9430]

Maybe if you use a splitter on the Tx antenna and have one under water and one above. (Many spektrum Tx already has 2 antennas🤔) also extend a video Tx antenna underwater.

[@charlesc7020]

Pretty cool I've been building a 2.5 in with 1204 8150kv flywoo robo motors hglrc stack my goal is a lightweight little 3d trainer type thing any idea for props

[@kyon_03]

and also conformal coatng will improove water proofing

[@JackalFPV]

Very nice testing! :) What is the cam, the video looks good.

[@dubzsquaredfpv7171]

Is this serene place you're vacationing in a resort or cabin type place that can be rented? Looking for a place to take my whoops (and family too) for vacation.

[@tom-nl7fg]

maybe if u stick the taranisantena into the water ? just the tip =)

[@uptimefpv]

You should try some other receivers in the future to allow it to work underwater, maybe even enable 3D mode. Now it's running Betafloat!

[@owenk5926]

Haha great idea lol

[@BrandonBeans]

The RF signals can't get past the surface.

[@steve_beatty]

@@BrandonBeans Yep...there's a reason underwater drones are tethered...

[@MrShutterBug]

3D mode would be amazing! Unfortunately the motors really don’t like spinning in the water. There is so much drag it is hard for the motors to even start their cycle. These motors are designed for high RPMs that just aren’t possible in the water. Maybe a large, torquey, low kv motor could pull it off?

[@uptimefpv]

@@MrShutterBug Yeah, that would work much better. Maybe something like a micro inrunner style motor (if they even exist) with a seal and low KV would work well. Maybe some form of a tethered radio would work to allow an RC link underwater, or just a 900mhz RC system and 1.3Ghz FPV link (lower frequencies tend to have better penetration through water, especially 900mhz).

[@princesfpvdrones]

Pretty neat!

[@Cre8ionz.]

I haven't had any problems leaving the USB Port without Mgc scc, rest has it applied.. Tried it completely underwater, no problems at all 🤔 It was the BFPV Hx100SE 1S 65mm

[@bwasfpv]

that is dope!!!

[@LittleMissRollerCoaster]

omg you are such a daredevil! 🤩😱

[@lrfpv5292]

I wish I was in a sunny place...stuck in Washington in lockdown rotting in online school :-(

[@007-h3v]

You sir need a tiny whoop

[@teobass82]

very interesting, it could be useful on the low profile whoop where the flight controller is very exposed mg chemical 422b is similar to yours or is one of the two less aggressive on the components? 👋

[@jaggyfpv3865]

I think I may have found a way to scout for my drone at the bottom of a storm runoff pond: underwater fpv!

[@legendarypot8oanimates160]

2.4ghz and 5.8ghz are really too high frequencies for penetrating water. This is solved by many people who love submarines by using 27mhz and although it is an analogue signal, it can penetrate water.

[@kacimierz]

This is cool

[@jdd1777]

Ultra low frequencies or wires. And I've found escs and other hotter components require a high temp silicone.

[@rcreviews1412]

Make a foam bottom and you can make and airboat

[@Cre8ionz.]

Description: "Bondic UV activated glue" Just for the lens Barrel or also at the front / glass ( or completely ) ? Because I had the lens Barrel waterproofed with silicone glue, but water got in from the glass / plastic lens itself :/ Hope you understand what I mean...

[@MrShutterBug]

Yes, I also put UV glue around the front of the lens to seal the ring which holds the glass. Good question. UV glue is nice to work with because it doesn’t set until you’re ready.

[@MrShutterBug]

Yes, I also put UV glue around the front of the lens to seal the ring which holds the glass. Good question. UV glue is nice to work with because it doesn’t set until you’re ready.

[@VicknairDoesThings]

75 MHz is what you need to get control signal to work underwater, not sure if the video is possible, maybe 1.3 GHz?

[@frankwarner7279]

What did you use to record the video? It’s nice and clear!

[@MrShutterBug]

PowerPlay DVR: bit.ly/power-play-dvr

[@CharlieFaulk]

Is that pool have a salt water system? Probably rougher on everything if it is.

[@MrShutterBug]

Salt would make things much worse. Not only does it conduct electricity, but hydrolysis can cause metals to rust in no time. Luckily there’s no salt in this pool.

[@CharlieFaulk]

@@MrShutterBugFor sure my parent's salt pool eats up the kids pool toys. They usually only last one summer.

[@alexmoil6256]

Dis you see the new 85pro version ? It has gemfan. Thats props seems vert good, but i have to do more tests. Happy christmas

[@MrShutterBug]

Yeah I saw that. Haven’t tried them yet though.

[@nikotttin]

I should start coating drones.... Any link for EU based Shutterbug fans? Aside of this I love my Shutterbug85. It's one of my favourite despite the years 😜 Thank you!

[@JustinHunnicutt]

I'm surprised no one mentioned that kotking stuff. How does that stack up in relation to these water proofing techniques? Also I'm pretty sure their youtube channel shows them controlling it at the bottom of a pool.

[@Adam-ql5cm]

Try Kotking and you won't need Styrofoam. It also releases heat with coating.

[@TheMadmacs]

you can make usb plugs with hot glue, just slowly introduce hot glue, almost cooled down completely into usb port, ideally it should be just warm enough to conform but not warm enough to be sticky.

[@zeroblade6599]

Did you notice any weird flying side effects from having that styrofoam on except for the extra weight? Like did it act as a wing or an air anchor or something?

[@Cre8ionz.]

⚠ Conformal coating Tips ⚠ 1⃣. safety glasses 2⃣. N95 mask ( fumes ) 3⃣. gloves 4⃣. Well ventilated area 5⃣. UV light ( dark room ) .......

[@Nine_883]

Your wife must really like you. Mine would be calling a lawyer if I tried drone testing on our vacation!! 😂

[@propcounterfpv]

My Beta 65s Got 12 Times in my Pool and it's Alive!

[@MatthewTaylor3]

@11:50 did he say that he was having a problem with that Right-Left motor?

[@kyon_03]

how did you do the 60fps dvr record?

[@MrShutterBug]

PowerPlay DVR: bit.ly/power-play-dvr

[@gonebdg]

Amazing

[@wrhythm]

Use a water displacer like wd40 on the motors to prevent rust and corrosion.

[@007-h3v]

He could conformal coat the windings as they never move. Same with the bell as the magnets never touch the inside. Not sure about wd40 on the bearings but maybe

[@2toeninja]

Do you find conformal coating holds in heat?

[@MrShutterBug]

Normally I don’t think it is a problem. If you layer it really thick like I did here, then yeah it might hold in some heat. Fortunately my drone is water cooled! 💦

[@overdosed51]

Kotking is the only way to do this!!!! (Trust me it works)This being said before kotking was available i used conformal coating. 3-5 coats on everything! worked wonders for wet grass and moisture. Kotking just seems to build a much thicker layer quicker and easier. $10 could save you a lot of $ and racedayquads.com has it in stock lol As for arming it under wayer i believe you need to be on crossfire. Im assuming 2.4 won't push thru.

[@divingfalconfpv4602]

If u conformal coat do u not need to worry about vtx or receiver touching flight controller anymore or conformal coating will eventually rub off?

[@MrShutterBug]

Should be fine. Conformal coating does not rub off but it could get soft if the vtx got really got. I would put some electrical tape or Kapton tape between them just in case.

[@divingfalconfpv4602]

@@MrShutterBug Thank you just ordered some Kapton tape.

[@kyon_03]

cool test hahhaa

[@divingfalconfpv4602]

I got a bottle awhile ago and never did it yet. Keep saying I'm upgrade them so I'll wait.. But now snow coming and I want snow video. But trying to decide which drone

[@007-h3v]

I coat all my electronics right out of the box before I do my builds. Then just solder through the stuff as needed/ do touch up on the solder points later. It’s a habit I’m very happy about now :)

[@gernith]

chlorine can short out the RF as bad as salt water.

[@007-h3v]

Time to build a FPV hovercraft

[@SHOTbyGUN]

haha drone go splat!

[@erikzirger2131]

Petersripol made a video about lego rc submarines and had to use 75 mghz in order to penatrate the water.

[@MrShutterBug]

Yeah, but what about video. The ultimate would be aquatic FPV!

[@erikzirger2131]

It stands to reason that the same principle could be applied to the video feed. I guess the question is, what vtx can you use that will go to such low frequencies?

[@AntonKoba]

Cooool!

[@MatHelm]

Not that you're likely to find it outside, but you know pure water (zero contaminants) does not conduct electrons at all. And I'd be will to bet those circuit board baths are done in distilled (pure) water.

[@georgeaura]

All antennas would have to be on the surface of the water for it to work

[@slickwithit5499]

i would coat the Styrofoam with something water repellent also

[@MrShutterBug]

But don’t use conformal coating on the styrofoam. It will literally dissolve! Yup... I tested that.

[@Crftbt]

Wonder what it would be like if it was all flipped over so that the camera was underwater instead of point up. :)

[@MrShutterBug]

You don’t have to wonder. That’s the view when it turtles! 😉

[@Duutse1]

Good video, but your music is way too loud

[@justanotherfpv]

Research submersible drone. Answers are there