What's it like to fly with Motion controller?

[Droning on and on...]

The latest firmware for the neo and goggles 3 includes stabilized video for the live feed. I haven't tried it yet, but this would make the video just like a camera drone, so should help vertigo a lot. Don't know if the goggles N3 have this new capability too.

However, the immsersive nature of goggles can cause some disorientation too, so it's not just the horizon tilting all over the place...

 

[NeoNeo]

You have lots of company! While I took to it from the beginning, it's always great to welcome another member of the club

Can you say F22 Raptor?

Similar feelings about the MC3. Felt real limited in attack angles, sluggish and lacking precision relative to trad. sticks. DJI's stabilization and MC3 in N and S modes makes flying almost too easy. For introducing people into immersive flying a less frustrating and more "intuitive" controller. Fine controller if you don't plan or desire to learn to develop manual skills or enjoy the challenges of manual mode. Personal preference for the FPV RC3 even when flying N or S modes. But occasionally break out the MC3 for a change. It's still fun. Especially on days when I have twitchy thumbs.

For newbies to quads. DJI's N and S modes are stabilized "angle" modes. The combination makes hovering at a precise position a simple task. Position of the sticks or MC3 orientation sets the angle of attack. On paper hold a stick or tilt the MC3 to a given position and the quad holds that angle of attack. Manual mode is "rate" mode. Position of the sticks determines the rate (degrees/sec) the UAS will pitch, roll, yaw. Assuming no expo or center stick dead zone. Move the sticks 1/2 the max throw will more or less rotate the quad at half your set maximum rate. And continue to do so until move the stick to counter. Why on paper you can loop a quad forever even with minor stick input vs. a constant climb or dive angle when in N or S mode. Why without (IMHO, gimmicky) Easy Acro features you cannot roll or loop in N or S modes.

Summary. Pick the controller that will deliver the most fun for your personal needs. If new to flying quads and interested in trying immersive flying. MC3 might be a better choice. You will be flying vs. maybe crashing too often on day 1. Just set the speeds low and work up to higher speeds. Find a relatively obstruction free area to fly. Neo is a great little quad to introduce people into FPV. Robust, in N and S modes relatively slow, light weight reduces chance of it damaging most things and itself. Add for DJI a reasonable price if you don't factor in anything but the quad.

 

[NeoNeo]

I cannot remommend flying the Neo indoors with the Motion Controller. As soon as it is flying into a dark space the weak bottom camera will fail and therefore positioning will fail too, making the Neo almost unconrollable and leading to a crash. The Motion Controller works best with GPS coverage, but in atti mode it lacks control over the roll axis.
If you want to fly indoors anyway, then add a lamp to Neo's bottom, so there is always sufficient light for the camera.

Agree. A real negative with the Neo. Supposedly the latest firmware update might have reduced the issue. Haven't downloaded the latest Neo firmware. I have flown the Neo indoors with 0-3 satellites locked. Using MC3 or FPV RC3 in N mode. It's the poor quality downward facing IR sensors, firmware or both. Even outdoors with good satellite lock and bright ambient light if you cover the downward sensors the Neo goes bonkers. Indoors no issues until flying into a deep shadow. It goes autonomously ( no input control ) mode into whatever is in its way. Spec do note minimum of 15 Lux illumination. Not really ATTI mode. True Atti mode you basically just lose the DJI stabilization and end up flying what most others consider angle mode.

Right now the only way to fly indoors is using the FPV RC3 in manual mode. End result with my poor manual skills are the same. That is, crashing. You can set ATTI to be engage while in manual mode to prevent unintended loops and rolls into things.

 

[Chrislaf]

Thank you to all who have contributed to this thread - lots of valuable information is being shared.

I'm still researching what would be the best setup for me (MC3 or FPV RC3) or even if FPV is something I want to try. I probably wouldn't fly the NEO FPV indoors in my house but I would want to fly it outside. I have been flying the NEO in tight environments like through trees low to the ground and above and around streams. Often I don't have GPS reception until a few minutes into the flight and I usually loose it again periodically. So far VPS has worked well and I haven't gone into Atti mode or lost control. In these kind of flying environments would the FPV controller be better? I also watched a video that seemed to indicate that you have to flip a switch or change a setting on the FPV controller to get it in manual mode, otherwise it just behaves like a regular stick controller such as the RC-N3.

Chris

 

[NeoNeo]

FPV RC3 requires some set up to allow for manual mode. Refer to the owners manual. You can download a pdf version. Simple. Takes couple minutes. Maybe just me, but I find RC3 allows for tighter and if needed quicker maneuvers relative to the MC3. The trade off is quicker incidents. Preference for the RC3 based on options to fly all modes including Manual mode with ATTI engaged, user tunable rates and gains, higher maximum speeds. Do find the msrp to be ridiculously high for what you get. IMHO, the $65 RadioMaster Pocket ELRS/EdgeTX used on non-DJI quads is a superior Tx. $99 for the RC3 would have been acceptable. Sure hope the Hall type gimbals and switches last "forever". Clueless how to replace. That's assuming you can find replacement switches and gimbals.

You can take off in M mode. Motors turn on and off with a double tap of the contact like switch on top right. Personally find the double tap to emergency shut off the motor a fraction of second too slow v. a simple toggle switch. Part of the M mode set up that does take time and a bit of trial and error is the "gain and rates" menu. You can set the center stick dead zone, maximum rates, and expos for your needs and wants. Or just leave at default settings. For learning M mode if no sim time you may want to set a larger center stick dead areas, lower maximum rates, and some expo. Also engage the ATTI to prevent unplanned loops and rolls or excessive angle degrees of maneuvers.

You can bail out of M mode relatively fast. Couple options. Just hit the Brake/Pause contact like switch on the left top. 2nd bailout option is the mode rocker switch. Saves many crashes from happening.

You can also use the rocker mode choice switch to change modes while flying. But when switching from N or S modes to M you need to "center" the sticks on the green marks that appear on the OSD. One niggle I have is that DJI has the "you are in manual mode warning box" plastered on the bottom right side of the screen. Find it intrusive and the OSD flight mode is already noted in the normal mode indication area of the screen.

 

[Chrislaf]

Thanks NeoNeo for the detailed reply. I will check out the manual. The FPV controller might be a more natural progression for me, but it cost more than the Neo itself and almost 3 times the MC3 so that is a factor I am considering.

Chris

 

[NeoNeo]

Thanks NeoNeo for the detailed reply. I will check out the manual. The FPV controller might be a more natural progression for me, but it cost more than the Neo itself and almost 3 times the MC3 so that is a factor I am considering.

Chris

The price of most DJI hardware seems to be on the relatively high side. The price we pay to fly DJI quads.

Neo might be the exception. FPV has been all analog until purchasing the Avata2 kit. When considering a build I looked at DJI03 and Walksnail digital video systems. IIRC, the 03 stand alone last year was over $200. With any system the digital goggles are similar in price in the ~$500 region. So I decided to break down and enter the DJI world. No regrets now with the Neo. Now with the introduction of the N3 goggles digital becomes reasonable. If you don't own the Goggles3 you may want to wait until the N3 with MC3 kit is available. You need either the Goggles 3 or N3 to fly the Neo or Avata2. The goggles are your Transmitter. Input from either the FPV RC3 or MC3 are transmitted through the goggles to the quads. N3 with MC3 kit should save you some $$$s over separate purchases.