Supporting a total takeoff weight of 18 pounds, the Spreading Wings S900 Hexacopterfrom DJI is optimized for installing a gimbal such as the Zenmuse Z15 enabling capture of aerial videos and photos. It features carbon fiber frame arms to cut down on weight, which fold down for storage and transport. Used with a 6S 12000mAh battery, available separately, the S900 can fly for up to 18 minutes fully laden.
This version of the S900 features the DJI WooKong-M flight control system, a collection of hardware which acts as the hexacopter's brains. It takes data from the GPS, gyros, barometer, and other sensors while applying any pilot inputs to help ensure stable flying and smooth video. The WooKong-M can be configure for different flying styles and pilot skill levels, with features like Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC), Point of Interest (POI), one motor fail protection, and a Return-to-Home fail safe in the event contact is lost with the transmitter. Thanks to CAN-bus peripheral ports, it can integrate other accessories, such as the iPad Ground Control Station (GCS).
Airframe Design
Folding Arms
The prop arms are made of carbon fiber, which is used because of its high strength-to-weight ratio. For transport and storage, the arms fold down while the propellers split down the middle further reducing its size
Retractable Landing Gear
The landing gear raise above the level of the gimbal during flight to give you a full 360° of shooting. In addition, the gimbal bracket is separated from the main airframe by specifically designed dampers. This significantly reduces high-frequency vibrations to help make your shots clearer and sharper
Removable Upper Center Board
The upper center board can be removed, allowing access to the flight controller and IMU, and giving you a convenient way to setup the power distribution system. This design also simplifies installation of the main controller, iOSD, Lightbridge, or any other accessories that interface with the flight computer
Secure Power Distribution System
Gold-plated metal bearings with a unique screw design secure the power cords, ensuring cables will not come loose during flight and are designed to provide easy setup
Sparkproof Plug
The terminal connectors on the electrical wiring are shrouded to prevent accidental short circuiting and possible damage to sensitive electronics when connecting or removing them
Performance
Greater Power
A 40A electronic speed controller (ESC) is built in to each arm. Combined with its 4114 motors, high performance 1552 folding propellers, and V-type mixer design, the S900 has a maximum thrust of 5.5 lb. The motor adopts a single wire stator design, offering improved heat dissipation, better performance, and a more reliable system than earlier models
Angled Arm Design
Each arm is designed with an 8° inversion and a 3° inclination, making the aircraft more stable when rolling and pitching, yet more flexible when rotating
WooKong-M Flight Control System
Built-In Gimbal Stabilization Function
The gimbal stabilization module is compatible with most 2-axis gimbal systems. The system will adjust the camera according to the attitude of the aircraft after setting the parameters the first time. The supported gimbal servo output frequencies are: 400 Hz, 200 Hz, 100 Hz, and 50hz - with higher frequency outputs being more efficient. Meanwhile, the limit of the gimbal servo roll and pitch is extended to 90-degrees
Supports iPad Ground Control Station (GCS)
WooKong-M GCS (gimbal control system) supports the iPad so that you no longer need a laptop in the field (currently the iPad 3, iPad 4, and iPad mini are supported) - just plug in a Bluetooth datalink and the BTU module (available separately)
Assistant Software for Smartphone
The WooKong-M provides assistant software for configuration and diagnostics using the iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad mini, and iPod Touch 5. You can adjust parameters at any time using your mobile device. To connect, it uses low power Bluetooth to minimize the power consumption of your mobile devices
Precise Position and Altitude Hold
With WooKong-M, the it is possible to achieve position and altitude lock in windy conditions. It offers hovering with less than 6.6' horizontal and 1.6' vertical drift
Motor Arm/Disarm Mode
To Start Motors: Pushing throttle stick before takeoff will not start the motors - instead, you have to execute any one four Combination Stick Commands (CSC) to start the motors
To Stop Motors: There are two options: Immediate and Intelligent. In Immediately Mode, once the motors start and throttle stick is over 10%, motors will stop immediately when throttle stick drops back under 10% again. The motors will still restart if the throttle stick is pressed above 10% in less than five seconds - otherwise a CSC is required
In Intelligent Mode different control modes each have their own way of stopping motors. In Manual Mode, only executing CSC can stop motors. In Attitude or GPS Attitude Mode, any one of four methods will stop the motors
To Stop Motors: There are two options: Immediate and Intelligent. In Immediately Mode, once the motors start and throttle stick is over 10%, motors will stop immediately when throttle stick drops back under 10% again. The motors will still restart if the throttle stick is pressed above 10% in less than five seconds - otherwise a CSC is required
In Intelligent Mode different control modes each have their own way of stopping motors. In Manual Mode, only executing CSC can stop motors. In Attitude or GPS Attitude Mode, any one of four methods will stop the motors
Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC)
On multi-rotor aircraft-- as with airplanes--pressing "forward" on the transmitter (radio controller) moves the nose forward. However, because multi-rotors are largely symmetrical, it can be easy to lose track of which way the nose is pointing, causing the controls to become counter-intuitive. To avoid this, IOC--when enabled using the assistant software--defines movement relative to the pilot so that, for example, pressing forward will always result in the aircraft moving forward from the pilot's perspective
Point of Interest (POI)
When the GPS signal is good, users can record the current position of the aircraft as a point of interest by a preset switch on the transmitter (radio controller). The aircraft can achieve a circling flight around the point of interest with the nose pointing at the POI in an area of 16.4 to 1,640' radius, when the roll command is given. This function is ideal for shooting of a fixed or stationary object, creating an aerial tracking shot
Intelligent Landing Gear Function
Once you enable the Intelligent Landing Gear function in the assistant software, the landing gear will default at the lower position when the aircraft is on the ground. The system will also lower the landing gear in an emergency, the event of motor failure, or on auto landing, to protect the aircraft and gimbal. You can lower or retract the landing gear using a switch when the aircraft's altitude is over 16.4' from the ground
Return to Home Failsafe
Assuming the GPS has been properly calibrated and enough satellites are available, the aircraft will automatically return to its home point in the event contact with the transmitter (radio controller) is ever lost
It is also possible to assign a button using the assistant software that, when pressed, will cause the aircraft to automatically return to the home point
It is also possible to assign a button using the assistant software that, when pressed, will cause the aircraft to automatically return to the home point
One-Motor Fail Protection
Available when the aircraft is in attitude or GPS attitude mode. In the event one motor fails the aircraft can maintain a stable flying condition, enough that it can safely be brought back home and landed