TBS Discovery

The Team BlackSheep (TBS) Discovery is a purpose made FPV platform based on the DJI Flame Wheel F450 frame base. It has a asymmetric structure, incorporates traces on the central structure plates to minimize wiring, has space for both a flight camera and HD recording camera (GoPro) in the front and a protective cage for a high capacity LiPo battery in the back.

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Specifications

• Released:
  • DJI Flame Wheel: November 2011
  • TBS Discovery: June 2012
• Type: Spider quadrotor
• Airframe: Caron fiber reinforced
• Diameter: 450 mm - Flame Wheel, Discovery is a bit wider
• Height: xx mm
• Weight: 460 grams [1]
• Takeoff weight: 800 grams to 1600 grams
• Propellers: 10 × 4.5 in or 8 × 4.5 in
• Battery: 3S-4S LiPo
• Motor: 22×12 mm or 22×15 mm
• ESC: 30A switched
• Recommended flying area: 25x25 meters
• Product pages:
  • DJI Hobby - Flame Wheel kits and NAZA flight control
  • Team BlackSheep - TBS Discovery FPV specific base

Frame kit

The quad is build using separate base frame and electronics. In other words, it is a purpose built kit. It is built on DJI Flame Wheel base.

• 1x DJI F450 Flame Wheel arms set, black and white - from any DJI vendor
• 1x TBS Discovery top and bottom plate including screws and damping tape - from TBS
• 1x TBS CORE video power distribution and OSD - from TBS
• 1x TBS 100A current sensor - from TBS
• 1x TBS RF Tin Shield for TBS CORE - from TBS

My setup

Base setup

This is the basis for the quad and makes for a perfect platform to start testing equipment.

• Motor: RCTimer 2830-14 750 Kv outrunner motor with 5.0 mm collet adaptor for 3.17 mm shaft [2]
• Propellers: Graupner E-Prop 10x5 inch propeller set [3]
  • Alternate propellers: Gaui G-222800 10-inch propeller set (2 norm, 2 rev for GAUI 500X quad) [4]
• ESC (4x): Hobby King F-30A Brushless Programmable ESC with bare leads - reprogrammed with RapidESC firmware
  • Alternate ESC: RCTimer 30A Brushless Programmable ESC with bare leads - reprogrammed with RapidESC firmware, internal oscillator (not optimal)
• Flight Controller: DJI NAZA-M flight controller
• Receiver: FrSky D6FR 2.4 GHz ACCST 6 channel two-way receiver
• Transmitter: Spektrum DX7 radio with FrSky DHT 2.4 GHz 60mW transmitter
• Battery: Turnigy nano-tech 3300mah 35~70C 4SP1 14.8V Lithium-ion Polymer xx grams battery

Upgraded setup

• Motor: RCTimer 2830-14 750 Kv outrunner motor [5]
• Receiver: ImmersionRC EzUHF Lite 8 channel 433 MHz receiver with Sander Style UHF antennas
• Transmitter: Spektrum DX7 radio with ImmersionRC EzUHF 433 MHz transmitter
• Flight Controller: OpenPilot CopterControl flight control - limited availability

Motors

• RCTimer 2830-14 750 Kv 185W outrunner motor
  • Suggested setup: Hobby King F-30A 30A ESC Simon flashed, Gaui 500X 10-inch set, Nano-tech 4S 2200mAh, OpenPilot CC [6] [7]
• NTM 28-30A 750 Kv 140W prop drive series motor
  • Suggested setup: Turnigy Plush 25A ESC Simon flashed, Gaui 500X 10-inch set, Nano-tech 4S 1800mAh [8] [9]
  • Suggested setup: Graupner E-Prop 10x5 set, Nano-tech 4S 3300mAh, 1420g with GoPro, 14 min flight time [10]
• NTM 28-26A 1200 Kv 250W prop drive series motor
  • Suggested setup: Turnigy Plush 30A ESC, Nano-tech 4S 3300mAh, APC 8x3.8 propellers, OpenPilot CC [11]
  • Suggested setup: Hobby King F-30A 30A ESC Simon flashed, APC 10x4.5 propellers [12]
• DJI 2212 920 Kv brushless motor
  • Suggested setup: DJI OPTO 30A ESC, Gaui 8-inch set [13]
  • Suggested setup: Graupner E-Prop 10x5 set, DJI NAZA controller [14]
• Suppo 2810/12 1000kv 225W brushless motor
  • Suggested setup: Graupner E-Prop 10x5 set, DJI OPTO 30A ESCs, DJI NAZA controller [15]
• Suppo 2814/8 1000 Kv 380W brushless motor
  • Suggested setup: Graupner E-Prop 9x5 set, DJI OPTO 30A ESCs, 4S 3000mAh+1800mAh, DJI NAZA controller [16]
• Tiger MT-4006-13 740 Kv motor - no punch, vibration free
  • Suggested setup: 4S battery, 11-inch propellers, DJI NAZA controller [17] [18] [19]
• Graupner Compact 300 9.6V - expensive
  • Suggested setup: Graupner ESC 18-SC, DJI NAZA controller, Nano-tech 4S 3300mAh [20]

Accessories

• USBasp AVR Programming Device for Atmel controllers - Hobby King
• 3M Double-sided tape pack - Hobby King

Tips and tricks

• To get rid of vibrationse, use only good quality propellers, e.g. Graupner [21] [22]
• For longer flight times, use low Kv motors and large propellers but watch the power usage
• To avoid propellers in the GoPro view, use Wide setting for 8-inch propellers and Medium for 10-inch propellers
• A 25A ESC is more than enough for this frame, max. 60A full throttle for all four controllers equals 15A per ESC, 10A margin [23]
• To a clean ESC install, solder the 3.5 mm socket motor connectors directly on the controller board [24]
• The standard DJI motor and propellers use a 8 mm bore, APC is 6 mm and has to be adjusted [25]

Build logs

• Juz' OpenPilot build log
• Enthlapy's OpenPilot build log
• meme's build log
• Rensen's DJI Build Log
• Traveller's Disco build adventure
• kloner's TBS Discovery build log

Tools

•  eCalc - find the optimal propeller+motor combination

Shops

• teamblack-sheep.com - Home of TBS Zephyr I & II, Discovery, CORE
• rctimer.com - Lots of motors, ESCs and clone Flame wheel
• flying-hobby.com - DJI items and great prices
• goodluckbuy.com - Got DJI equipment and a lot of other accessories
• uavproducts.com - Source for DJI frames in the USA
• hobbyking.com - Motors, ESCs, batteries and a lot more
• hobby-wing.com - DJI parts and clones
• servocity.com - Pan and tilt systems

Video

This is the official Team BlackSheep video of the final production frame.

References

• TBS DISCOVERY - New quadrocopter frame