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FAQ's

 

Below are some questions we receive daily. If you have any questions you would like to see here, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

  • Are they hard to fly?

They take a little time getting used to, but compared with an RC Heli they are much easier to control. We recommend training with the AeroSim flight simulator. Multi-rotor models are available and you get a great feel for the 4 channel controls (throttle, yaw, pitch, roll) and orientation of the real thing.
It is important to take your time when learning to fly. Simple exercises like hovering at head height and landing will be the most beneficial when learning to fly. It is important to keep your copter in your line of sight at all times. It is easy to thrash the copter around on a simulator, but would you do it with the real thing?

  • Which radio is required? How many channels?

You need a radio with 7 or more channels. This will allow you 4 (throttle, yaw, pitch and roll), 1 for GPS hold, “come home”, altitude hold, 1 for camera tilt, 1 for camera focus and shoot, 1 for MK’s new “CareFree” firmware (controls are the same no matter where the nose is facing – great for panning shots)
We choose to use JR radios (or Futaba) with Jeti Telemetry. Jeti telemetry monitors information like your GPS position from home (with GPS and Navi), Altitude, Battery Levels (an alarm will sound when levels are low), Speed controller temperature (when ESC's approach 100 degrees celcius, the copter does not respond well and can result in an accident), radio signal. This system provides many safety features which most radios cannot.

  • Is there altitude hold?

Yes, in-built in the Flight Controller with Pressure Sensor.

  • What happens if I go out of range?

Mikrokopter's new firmware includes a FailSafe ensuring your Aerobot will find its way home if signal is lost. GPS setup is necessary for this to work. If your Aerobot loses signal, it will automatically gain altitude, in order to avoid obstacles on its return, then automatically fly back home, and land. Please see this video for a demonstration. If you have Jeti Telemetry, you can program your fail-safe to “come home” if signal is lost (with GPS). You can also monitor your signal by using the Jeti system and an On Screen Display. It is important to remember to fly within line of site so that you do not lose orientation, or find you are too far away to return home on the power you have left

  • Is there position hold?

Yes, with GPS, NAVI and Compass

  • Can I program waypoints?

Yes, you can do this through the MK tool and GeoMapTool.de program that uses Google Earth.
To program waypoints during flight, you need a telemetry system. XBEE telemetry works in conjunction with the MK Tool.  Please see this video for a demonstration

***WARNING*** We do not recommend autonomous flight until you are a confident pilot. It is important to be able to regain manual control should something go wrong. I.e. As the copter is flying through the specified flight path and "coming home", if it overshoots the pilot, the controls are reversed and the pilot has lost orientation. 

  • Can I operate tilt, focus and shutter?

Yes. Tilt will need 1 channel, and shutter requires another channel. A 2-stage remote interface will allow for half press (auto-focus) and full press for shutter. Unfortunately there is no way to manually control the focus or zoom on a DSLR camera as yet.

  • Can I have a live video-feed from the camera to laptop?

Yes, this will require an onboard wireless video transmitter to transmit the video to your receiver in your ground station.

  • How will I know when my battery is running out?

A buzzer will sound or flash on the Aerobot, as well as your Radio (depending on your radio). We configure our Aerobots with LEDs which will flash when batteries are getting low. The Jeti box will sound an alarm will when your battery is running out.

  • What is the difference between Mikrokopter and DroidWorx?

Quite simply, Mikrokopter make the brains, DroidWorx make the frames
Mikrokopter also offer aluminium frames, which are a little lighter than the carbon fiber DroidWorx frames. This means they fly for a slightly longer time than the DroidWorx models, however DroidWorx offer the convenience of a collapsable frame - ideal for travel.