Hawkeye Firefly Micro Cam 2

[SaschaUhlig]

Hi guys, seems like there'll be a new version of the Hawkeye Firefly Micro Cam (2) out in March, demo videos look quite promising. But with 31g it's more heavy than version 1, also a bit bigger. Do you think it will work with the Tello anyways? I assume the bigger size might be a bigger problem than the weight of 31g, especially if one only uses cable ties to fix the camera on the Tello.

More info here:
HawkEye Firefly Micro Cam 2

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Multipla Studios]

Those 3 gram won't make any difference. Except of the flight time maybe, it could be like 5 seconds less.

 

[SaschaUhlig]

Those 3 gram won't make any difference. Except of the flight time maybe, it could be like 5 seconds less.

Oh, thought it's more than 3g difference, read that version 1 is 14g.

 

[Multipla Studios]

Oh, thought it's more than 3g difference, read that version 1 is 14g.

just looked it up again it is 22 grams. But the Tello can carry things without any problems up to 60-70 grams, so it will definitely be fine!

 

[SaschaUhlig]

just looked it up again it is 22 grams. But the Tello can carry things without any problems up to 60-70 grams, so it will definitely be fine!

Sounds good, thank you!

Just got a Tello a few days ago, sorry for the newbie question, the quality of this cam made me a bit excited though.

 

[Multipla Studios]

Sounds good, thank you!

Just got a Tello a few days ago, sorry for the newbie question, the quality of this cam made me a bit excited though.

No problem. I actually build a second camera myself with a raspberry pi zero and the pi zero cam. But i am still waiting for the mini powerbank i ordered on ebay

 

[Louis08]

Someone empirically tested max load capacities of Tello in this thread: Maximum weight a Tello can carry

Quick results:

No weight (drone, battery, and prop guards only): average hover time was 10 min 35 seconds (shorter than I had expected)
20 grams of added weight: average hover time was 7:58
40 grams: average hover time was 5:40
60 grams: Tello hovered for approximately 2 minutes and then started spinning, acting erratically, and landed before the battery was fully depleted

 

[volate!lo]

No problem. I actually build a second camera myself with a raspberry pi zero and the pi zero cam. But i am still waiting for the mini powerbank i ordered on ebay

why not take power from the micro USB port? I don't know how much it can support but RPiZ doesn't need that much juice so worth a try

 

[Multipla Studios]

why not take power from the micro USB port? I don't know how much it can support but RPiZ doesn't need that much juice so worth a try

Does it work that way? I would have expected the Tello could only be charged at this port. Or maybe you would have to hack the firmware...

 

[volate!lo]

I don't know how much power it can supply, but its works as a OTG host. Tello just doesn't do anything with this capability.

 

[spamaro]

I don't know how much power it can supply, but its works as a OTG host. Tello just doesn't do anything with this capability.

Hi, a newbies question... if a raspberry can be carryed by Tello. Do you think it would be possible to developp an app, installed on the raspberry, which would catch the wifi video stream from tello ? Then maybe video quality could be better with the proximity ?

 

[volate!lo]

yes, that would be possible if RPiZ can be powered off the USB port. I need to check my drawers, I know I have a RPiZ W somwhere...

 

[spamaro]

No problem. I actually build a second camera myself with a raspberry pi zero and the pi zero cam. But i am still waiting for the mini powerbank i ordered on ebay

Hi, great idea, hope you will share the result of that mods !!

 

[Multipla Studios]

Hi, great idea, hope you will share the result of that mods !!

i definitely will!

 

[Multipla Studios]

yes, that would be possible if RPiZ can be powered off the USB port. I need to check my drawers, I know I have a RPiZ W somwhere...

can two devices be connected to the Tello at the same time? Otherwise you would need to control the tello over the pi over bluetooth!?

 

[volate!lo]

You'd need to use the Pi as a relay / man in the middle. That is app connects to Pi and Pi connects to Tello.

AFAIK the normal Pi can be both Wifi AP and client at the same time. I read someone articles of people using it for filtering wifi which used exactly this feature. No clue if the PiZero W can do the same. If it can, then this should work.
It wold work only in close rage, as the Tello has certainly better antenna & wifi compared to the Pi. OTOH this would also allow to build some truly autonomous functions, like a real RTH even with wifi lost.


BTW: My Pi Zero W boots when connected to the micro USB port.

 

[Multipla Studios]

You'd need to use the Pi as a relay / man in the middle. That is app connects to Pi and Pi connects to Tello.

AFAIK the normal Pi can be both Wifi AP and client at the same time. I read someone articles of people using it for filtering wifi which used exactly this feature. No clue if the PiZero W can do the same. If it can, then this should work.
It wold work only in close rage, as the Tello has certainly better antenna & wifi compared to the Pi. OTOH this would also allow to build some truly autonomous functions, like a real RTH even with wifi lost.


BTW: My Pi Zero W boots when connected to the micro USB port.

Amazing, and stupid me actually bought a 400mah Powerbank twice (both don't work(pearl.de Schrott)) and now bought fake Fingerpow Powerbanks on ebay...

 

[volate!lo]

I have not tested if Pi Zero works inflight. I might well be that the power load is too large then, or too much noise introduced into the Pi.
So maybe you'll need the powerbank. Good luck

 

[Multipla Studios]

I have not tested if Pi Zero works inflight. I might well be that the power load is too large then, or too much noise introduced into the Pi.
So maybe you'll need the powerbank. Good luck

I will try it tomorrow, thanks!

 

[spamaro]

I will try it tomorrow, thanks!

Hi, if the tello usb power doesn't work inflight, the power with Li-Po battery would not be more lightweight and convenient than powerbank ? I have seen on the web few ways to do that with "Zero LiPo" or "JuiceBox Zero" cards.

Sorry @SaschaUhlig, i am a little far from your initial thread...