I wished to take a look at the Hummingbird 305 FC/ESC Stack from NewBeeDrone as a result of it is likely one of the only a few stacks manufactured outdoors China at present. China has lengthy been the principle hub for RC manufacturing as a result of its low labor prices and unmatched provide chain benefit, so nearly all RC elements are made there. However with rising geopolitical tensions, it is sensible for some elements to diversify their sources of provide fairly than relying too closely on one nation to supply a lot of the {hardware} within the FPV interest. On this assessment, we’ll have a look at the options of the Hummingbird 305 and what sorts of FPV purposes can probably profit from this stack.
New to FPV? Be taught the fundamentals of flight controllers right here: https://oscarliang.com/flight-controller/
The place to Purchase
You will get the Hummingbird 305 FC/ESC Stack from:
Equipment Embody
FC:
- 2× 2.4GHz RX antennas
- 5× rubber grommets
- 1× 6-pin cable, 100mm (for DJI O3/O4)
- 1× SH1.0 3-pin 100mm cable for analog FPV digicam
- 3× SH1.0 4-pin 100mm cables for UART ports
- 1× SH1.0 6-pin 100mm cable for HD VTX
- 3× 120mm silicone wire 4-color cables
- 1× SH1.0 8-pin 96mm cable for FC to ESC
ESC:
- 5× rubber grommets
- 1× XT60 pigtail (12AWG, 10cm silicone wires)
- 1× 35V 1000uF capacitor
- 2× small heat-shrink tubes for capacitor
Specs
Hummingbird 305 Flight Controller
- MCU: STM32F722
- Gyro: ICM-42688
- Constructed-in receiver: ExpressLRS 2.4GHz Variety Receiver
- Receiver firmware goal: NewBeeDrone Variety 2.4GHz RX V2
- Barometer: SPL06-001
- Blackbox: SD card slot
- BEC: 10V 2A + 5V 2A ×2
- UARTs: 6 UARTs (however solely 3 full UARTs)
- 4.5V pads accessible: can energy GPS/RX via USB with out LiPo
- I2C port accessible: SCL & SDA
- Buzzer pads accessible (BZ+ & BZ-)
- LED strip help
- Helps analog and digital VTX: DJI / HDZero / Walksnail / Artlynk, and many others.
- Mounting: Normal 30.5×30.5mm
- Nano coating
- Firmware help: Betaflight and iNav
- Betaflight goal title: HUMMINGBIRD_FC305
- Default Betaflight firmware model: 4.5.2
- Weight: 11.4g (together with 2 RX antennas)
Hummingbird 305 4-in-1 ESC
- Enter voltage: 3–8S LiPo
- Steady present: 80A per channel, 10 seconds
- Burst present: 100A per channel, 3 seconds
- ESC firmware: AM32
- TVS safety: 3× high-capacity TVS diodes (complete peak energy > 1.5kW)
- PCB: 3oz copper, 6-layer blind-via gold-plated
- Further capacitor pad at every nook for 7-inch / 10-inch builds
- Mounting: 30.5×30.5
- Nano coating
- Weight: 18.1g
Options
Not Made in China
In keeping with NewBeeDrone, this FC/ESC stack is made in Thailand / Malaysia.
8S Help
8S has been all the fashion not too long ago. Once I constructed my first 8S quad final yr (construct log: https://oscarliang.com/8s-fpv-drone-build/), there have been actually only one or 2 stacks that supported 8S. It’s good to know the Hummingbird 305 helps 3S to 8S.
Onboard True-Variety Receiver
Having an onboard ExpressLRS receiver looks like a incredible concept to simplify the drone construct. There isn’t a wiring to fret about, and you don’t want to consider mounting a separate receiver within the body.
For individuals who fly lengthy vary, having a true-diversity receiver is very interesting. However for freestyle and racing pilots, that is in all probability an overkill. Additionally, as a result of the antennas must be hooked up near the middle of the quad the place the FC is situated, on a big rig like a 7-inch you’d possible want longer antennas if you wish to mount them additional ahead or towards the rear of the body. The inventory antennas are solely about 9.5cm lengthy.
I nonetheless assume utilizing a separate receiver is extra versatile, and so onboard receiver is probably not essential. This lets you select the kind of receiver you need primarily based in your want. Most individuals might be completely pleased with single-antenna receivers as a result of they’re low-cost, simple to make use of, and greater than enough with regards to vary. With a true-diversity receiver, you actually need a Gemini transmitter module (with two antennas) to get essentially the most out of it. You possibly can nonetheless bind and fly true-diversity receivers with a typical single-antenna transmitter, however you simply is not going to get the complete profit.
You may as well disable the onboard ELRS receiver and use your personal receiver as a substitute.
You additionally must deactivate it by disabling the corresponding UART within the ports tab (which is UART6 for this FC).
Blackbox Logging
The FC comes with an SD card slot for Blackbox logging.
The primary benefit is that even with a small SD card, similar to 4GB, you’ll virtually nearly by no means run out of house for Blackbox logs.
Nevertheless, you do want to purchase a separate SD card, and it must have first rate write pace, in any other case your logs could skip information and corrupt your logs.
SD card necessities:
I hope NewBeeDrone considers utilizing onboard flash reminiscence sooner or later as a substitute. Sure, flash reminiscence is often restricted to solely 16MB or 32MB, however that’s usually greater than sufficient for PID tuning and troubleshooting, and you don’t want to fret about sourcing a separate SD card.
Further Pads for Further Capacitors
When you’ve got ever constructed an enormous drone like an 8-inch or 10-inch, you’ll know the way tough it may be to solder a number of capacitors onto a single energy pad.
This text explains why extra capacitors may be helpful on a quad: https://oscarliang.com/capacitors-mini-quad/
To deal with this, NewBeeDrone added further + and – pads at every nook of the ESC. This lets you solder as much as 4 separate capacitors to the 4-in-1 ESC far more simply.
I suppose you would additionally use these pads to energy different peripherals straight from battery voltage, similar to LEDs or a VTX.
Firmware Help
In keeping with NewBeeDrone, in addition to Betaflight, the Hummingbird 305 FC additionally helps iNav firmware (v9). The firmware file may be discovered on their product web page.
Not 6 Full UARTs
Should you open the Ports tab in Betaflight, you will notice 6 UARTs listed. Nevertheless, not all of them are totally damaged out to solder pads. And a few of them are reserved.
- UART1 – solely RX1 pad damaged out (for SBUS)
- UART2 – free full UART
- UART3 – solely RX3 pad damaged out, devoted for ESC telemetry
- UART4 – free full UART (for VTX / Air Unit)
- UART5 – free full UART
- UART6 – reserved for onboard ELRS receiver, TX/RX pads usually are not damaged out
So technically, you solely have entry to three spare full UARTs on this FC.
That’s nonetheless sufficient for most individuals. For example, if you happen to use 1 UART for DJI Air Unit and one other for GPS, you continue to have one left over. However it’s value mentioning in case you intend to attach extra peripherals.
Construct High quality
Construct high quality appears top-notch.
They put Kapton tape over the USB-C connector and the SD card slot, presumably to forestall electrical shorts. Very considerate.
The solder pads on the FC are comparatively small and all grouped in the identical normal space. They aren’t unfold out throughout the board as strategically as on another FCs, such because the T-Pastime Velox, which could make cable administration barely more durable. That stated, the solder pads are nonetheless giant sufficient and workable.
The ESC connector can also be bolstered with glue, which is one other good contact.
Last Ideas — Professionals and Cons
This stack is barely costlier than funds stacks just like the T-Pastime Velox, which I reviewed not too long ago, and the SpeedyBee F405 V5. However that’s to be anticipated, as a result of it isn’t made in China and manufacturing prices are possible increased. Even so, NewBeeDrone has nonetheless managed to maintain it comparatively competitively priced contemplating it has an onboard range RX.
Nevertheless, as talked about, I’ve blended emotions concerning the onboard true-diversity receiver. I believe it pushes this flight controller in direction of a extra area of interest market, and the upper price additionally makes it barely much less aggressive. However for the proper of pilot, it’s a incredible function. Aside from that, I believe it is a very strong FC/ESC stack.
It isn’t actually competing straight with funds stacks similar to T-Pastime Velox — they every have their very own execs and cons. In order for you a good-value funds stack, the Velox continues to be the my favorite. However in order for you a flight controller with an onboard receiver to simplify setup and scale back wiring, the Hummingbird is a incredible choice. And the truth that it isn’t made in China may very well be one other level in its favor if that issues to you.
You will get the Hummingbird 305 FC/ESC Stack from:
This stack goes into my subsequent construct, so keep tuned.
