Newb build-opinions and advice wabted

[TDM22]

So I am a complete newb when it comes to building my own craft. I have experience with the AR Drone and the 1SQ, and have some questions.

--I'm thinking of building an H-quad, or getting the Bat Bones Tri-copter(for ease traveling.) Is a tri-copter much harder to learn than a quad, after adding flight controllers and autopilots?

--Speaking of flight controllers and autopilots, no matter what I build, I'll need one. But what one? The KK2 is proven, easy to use and cheap. But it doesn't have any GPS/navigation/autopilot, so it would be pretty much just like flying my 1SQ(or any toy quad)? But they go out of stock very fast.

Then there's APM2.5/6 More expensive at $250(more than 5 times the kk2) but has capabilities for autopilot and I can use flight planning software on my PC. Plus apparently I can put this in a heli, or RC ground vehicle. It's at the top of my budget, but it does everything I want, and will work in any vehicle, airborne or ground, that I have. (FPV monster truck anyone?)

hen there's Pixhawk, and the multiwii? I know nothing about those.

And of course the DJI controllers-which seem to be like the APM, but no flight/mission planning software.

Any advice on if I should build a quad or tri for a first build? And what board should I use?

 

[jhitesma]

I haven't tried a tri yet so I can't weigh in on the first question. I went with a quad for my first since it was mechanically simpler so I figured that was one less thing for me to screw up. I do want to try a tri at some point though.

As far as flight controllers I ended up going with multiwii for my first one. KK's were out of stock and I got tired of waiting for them, APM/DJI were too expensive. I had an arduino board and some wii controllers laying around so I figured multiwii would give me a basically free controller. And it did. But I've since upgraded my sensors and replaced the arduino mega board (bad crash) - even so I paid about $15 for the Arduino and about $15 for the 3 sensors. So it's really not very expensive to roll your own. Add in a GPS for another $16 and you've got something with almost all the features of APM (And autonomous waypoint nav which is the biggie it's missing is in beta testing now.)

I've been really happy with it. But I wasn't put off by the lack of documentation and plethora of options/settings that can be overwhelming for a first time user.

I still want to try a KK at some point since they seem nice and have a huge following...but there are still so many things I want to try with my MW that I'm not in any big hurry to spend money on a board that has arguably fewer features than the "cheapie" I hacked together.

Also APM is open source so you could always get an arduino mega and roll your own. It wouldn't be as clean as the official board but you should be able to make it work. I've thought about trying to run APM or ArduPirate on mine - but haven't bit the bullet and actually read up on the details of it yet. But again that's a lot more work to figure out than just buying something and plugging some wires.

 

[Cyberdactyl]

Is a tri-copter much harder to learn than a quad, after adding flight controllers and autopilots?

I find the tricopter easier to fly. It has considerable more yaw authority and feels more 'organic' and natural.

 

[cranialrectosis]

I found the Knuckle H quad the simplest to build and the sturdiest in a crash. I use the KK2 and have a MultiWii. The KK2 is far simpler to work with. The MultiWii is for people who want flying robots.

I think the Knuckle H quad and the BatBone are about the same to learn. I found the AnyCopter X Quad to be the simplest to fly.