Syma Forum

JamDJ said
Hi Mike, Red5 and all,

   I got my FAA license about a month ago and I didn't see any ban on goggles.

The only requirements I saw was that the heli/quad/drone had to be at least a

1/2 lb in weight and able to fly outdoors via RF as opposed to IR control. 

  Thank goodness Spring is almost here, days are starting to get longer here in the

Western Hemisphere and it's soon time to re-condition the batteries on my

collection of outdoor fliers, after, of, course, I add my FAA # to them!

  Any response would be great! Meanwhile, safe and happy flying to you all!

Hello, JamDJ,

Re: Goggles:  Go here: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums.....?t=2192501   See Paragraph 2.  The rule is Line Of Sight, meaning no goggles, no FPV.  

And I believe it's going to get worse -- a lot worse if a rogue drone causes harm or serious damage.

Based on what I've read the FAA is poised to bring the hammer down on this hobby.  Further, Someone on the Yuneec website said he learned from a connected relative that Homeland Security is pushing for restrictive regulation because of the significant terrorist potential posed by hobby drones.  For that reason Amazon is having trouble getting approval for its plan to use drones for immediate delivery of packages up to 15 pounds.  And when we consider the kind of damage a 15-pound block of C-4 could cause their concern makes sense.

Yes, spring is almost here and the drones will soon be flying.  There is a small field near me which is adequate for buzzing around with my Syma x5c, but the overhead power-lines and the surrounding trees make it quite inadequate for flying anything like a Phantom or a Typhoon, which I've had my mind on.  I had been thinking about two places here in Central NJ, wide-open spaces which would accommodate flying a sophisticated drone.  But I just found out from a local cop that they've just been declared off-limits to drones.  

So it looks like I'm left to envy those drone pilots who live near sparsely populated wide-open spaces.

Mike--

Redfive said
I agree, a charge up and play quad it the higher specs would be super. I had no idea that America has banned fpv goggles, I think they are the only way to use fpv as I struggle to watch a monitor if it is on the controller as it is such a different way of controlling compared with looking directly at the quad. I think a quad school would help!! along with a shop for repairs.  

Bryan,

Yes.  The FAA believes that LOS (Line Of Sight), meaning eyes on the drone, is the safest way to fly.  While they are tolerant of an FPV monitor screen they believe goggles substantially reduce a pilot's awareness of the surrounding environment.  They believe that flying entirely by FPV is dangerous because it eliminates peripheral vision.  FAA says its ban on goggles is based on information compiled from percentage of drone accidents, some of which caused injuries and property damage.    

When you think about it, the leading drones in the professional category, DJI Phantoms, Yuneec Q500, etc., are actually flying cameras  the primary purpose of which is aerial photography.  One comment I read on the DJI Phantom message board was by a professional photographer who said he refers to his FPV monitor screen only to briefly check certain telemetry information such as remaining battery life, air speed, ceiling, etc., and to be sure his subject is properly framed in the camera lens.  He says 98% of his flying is LOS.  

Have you checked out YouTube videos on the DJI Phantoms and the Yuneec Q500 and their FPV features?  I'd like to know your opinions.  

Mike--

Redfive said
Hi Mike, I have been thinking that maybe a plug in monitor that you could either clip to the controller or set in goggles maybe the way to go, What do you think?

Bryan

Hello Bryan!

I don't know the situation in the UK, but here in the US the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has imposed a ban on FPV goggles.  

Re: a plug-in monitor, that's what DJI Phantoms use.  their controllers have a fixture for clamping a smart-phone or a tablet which will contain a downloaded software application.  I think that set-up is physically awkward.  The fixture is weak and there are reported examples of failure and breakage, and I personally dislike tinkering around with software.

Yuneec, which is the second ranking best-selling quad, has a 5-1/2" FPV monitor built into the controller.  The downside is it's smaller than an 8" tablet and the Yuneec's drone (the Typhoon) is not as versatile as the DJI Phantom.  

Right now the Phantom models range from $800 (Phantom-3) to $1,400 (the Phantom-4 was released yesterday).  The Yuneec Typhoon is presently priced at $1,000.  There is no question that the way this technology is progressing, new models being introduced every day, these prices will be coming down fast and soon -- which is one factor that holds me back.  I would hate to spend that much on a drone only to have the price reduced by half in a year or so.  But the problem is I'm nearly 80 years old and haven't got much time left to wait around for price increases.

So take it easy.  Good to see you back again.

Mike--

Redfive said
I would agree with the spec apart from the built in fpv. I have a fpv quad ( hubsan h107d ) that has the monitor in the controller but find it hard to not fly it looking at quad rather than the monitor. I think a set of goggles plugged into the controller would be better.

Hello, Bryan!

I've been wondering what happened to you.  It's good to see a familiar voice.

I understand your feelings about FPV, and because you have a bird with FPV I regard yours as the voice of experience.  What I don't like about the goggles concept is you are locked into what the camera sees, which is okay if you're flying in a wide open space.  But where I live (and fly) there are power lines and a virtual forest of trees which I need to carefully evade, so LOS (Line Of Sight) is critically important to me as the main method of control.  But there are times when I would like to have FPV capability and at such times I would like a big, clear screen.  

What I dislike about Phantom-3 is FPV requires a smart-phone or tablet.  I don't have a smart-phone or a tablet, nor do I want either one, and I am especially apprehensive about the software (and "firmware") tinkering required to accommodate the use of these devices.  I would much prefer a 7" FPV monitor screen built into the controller.  The Yuneec Q500 has a screen built into its controller but it's situated at the bottom rather than the top, which makes it difficult to combine with LOS viewing -- and it's only 5-1/2".  

DJI is about to announce Phantom-4 and has reduced the price of Phantom-3 (from $1,300 to $1,000).  In fact the prices of drones are being driven down by introduction of competitive and innovative products almost every day.  So I think it's a matter of time 'til what you and I both are looking for will be available at reasonable cost.  

I'm hoping Syma has something on the drawing board, because they know how to turn out good, affordable products -- such as the S-107 and the now-revered x5c.