Review of the Xiaomi FIMI A3 quadcopter with advantages and disadvantages

FIMI A3 is a new portable unmanned device from the best manufacturer Xiaomi and FIMI Technology Ltd, a set of advantages which can compete with the popular Spark model.

Based on the experience of early drones (MiTu and Mi drone 4K), the creators managed to make a worthy contender for this market. That is why today's article provides a review of the Xiaomi FIMI A3 quadcopter with advantages and disadvantages.

Positioning

A3 from Xiaomi corporation is a quality drone with GPS function and a gimbal camera. Exactly like the DJI Spark, as well as the Parrot Anafi, the gimbal suspension of the novelty is mechanically stabilized in two directions, and it is electronically processed along the yaw axis.

With another rival in the form of Hubsan Zino, DJI will soon have to respond or they could lose the lion's share of sales, according to buyers.

There is not a single drone on the market that has the parameters of a new model at the price offered by Xiaomi, and only 2 products at a cost of less than 27,500 rubles can be compared with it in terms of functionality.

The novelty looks as if it is determined to take away the lion's share of the DJI Spark implementation, and will compete with Hubsan Zino to achieve its own goal. And here FIMI has a plus - its cost is lower when compared with competitors.

It is worth noting that Xiaomi has previously produced drones that can safely compete with DJI. For example, the Mi drone was released to “fight” the Mavic, and the MiTu product was launched against Tello.

Overview

A3 from Xiaomi corporation is an inexpensive drone with a minimalist appearance, made in the corporate style, which the brand has been delighting its own customers with for several years.

The drone contains a video recording unit for recording videos in 1080p resolution at 30 FPS, with a viewing angle of 80 degrees, aperture ratio of 2.0 f and a maximum resolution for photography due to an 8 MP module. All this is complemented by ISP Ambarella.

Equipment

The budget drone comes with:

• 2,000 mAh battery;
• Control equipment with integrated FPV LCD screen, which diagonal is 4.3 inches;
• USB cable;
• 6 quick-detachable rotors;
• Balanced memory;
• Charging connecting cord;
• User manual (ENG).

Motors

The robust drone is equipped with a brushless motor. At the moment, the creator does not specify the information about the power. By the way, the power plant is adapted for quick-release 7.5-inch rotors.

Camera

The camera is equipped with an 8 MP photographic module. It can shoot 1080p videos at 30 FPS. The fastening is carried out on a mechanical biaxial gimbal, and is electronically stabilized along 3 axes.

The camera is equipped with a 1 / 3.2 sensor and has an aperture of 2.0 f. The viewing angle is 80 degrees, and the limit bit rate is 60 Mbps. These are, of course, not parameters for ultra-high quality shooting, but much higher when compared with the descriptions of other drones in the spectrum of this cost.

How long does the battery last?

Inside the productive drone is an impressive "smart" 3-cell lithium-polymer battery, the capacity of which is 2,000 mAh with an ordinary charging port (LiHV - provides the ability to safely charge within 4.35 V per cell). Guaranteed 25 min flight time limit.

Control

To control a convenient drone, specialized equipment is enough, equipped with an integrated 4.3-inch FPV screen. By the way, it functions in combination with an analog video receiver.

The video signal frequency is 5.8 GHz, the radio monitoring is 2.4 GHz. All this is powered by an integrated 1S battery with a capacity of 2950 mAh.

Autonomy from one charge is approximately 2 and a half hours, the battery charging time itself is not specified. Charging is carried out from the supplied USB-cable. The equipment guarantees a maximum control range of 1 km.

Need to know! For error-free implementation of SMART-modes, the control equipment was equipped with a full-fledged navigation system.

Important! The integrated video recorder on the control equipment supports the installation of flash drives in order to store information about the video stream, taking into account flight telemetry with a resolution of 720 x 480 px.

Remote control

One feature that significantly distinguishes this drone from others is the integrated display in the remote control. No need to search for a wireless network or install auxiliary software. This makes it possible to increase the rate of climb.

The claimed signal is 5.8G, but it is unclear if this is a 5.8G wireless signal or a 5.8GHz digital signal. In addition, the DVR option is declared on the remote control, as mentioned above.

Flight modes

The drone can be controlled in the following modes:

1. Navigational (standard) - guarantees extreme stabilization and positioning. Independent flight modes are also available. The maximum flight speed in a horizontal position is 36 km / h. The maximum descent and ascent speed is 10 km / h.
2. SPORT - reveals all drone functionality. The angles are extreme, and the navigation block is used to maintain position without error. Independent flight modes available. The maximum flight speed in a horizontal position is 64 km / h. The maximum climb speed is 21 km / h, and the descent speed is 18 km / h.
3. ATTI - turns on when GPS signal is lost or due to compass malfunction. In this mode, the drone does not maintain its position and will drift horizontally. Independent modes are not available. Flight in this mode is permitted in open areas away from animals and people within the line of sight of the drone.

SMART modes

The owner is provided with 6 modes:

1. Following - the drone flies after the control equipment, keeping the user centered in the frame. Available in navigation and SPORT modes. Enabled if control equipment and the drone have six or more satellites to communicate. The user is given the opportunity to set the maximum flight altitude for the "Following" mode, as well as the distance between the drone and the remote control.
2. Orbit (Around-point) - allows you to fly around the designated point. The user is given the opportunity to change the range, speed and altitude using the sticks on the equipment.
3. Fixed-wing - when activated, the drone is able to fly only in a straight line and at a constant speed. The user is given the opportunity to control the speed and route of the drone using the control sticks on the remote control.

4. Droni (Self-timer) - before turning on, the owner sets the position of the drone so that the subject is in the center of the frame. Then the angle of inclination of the photographic module is set. Following the activation of the mode, the drone will independently "move away" from the object along an ascending flat line at a distance of 150 m and a height of 120 m. Upon reaching the limit, the quadrocopter will automatically return to its original position.
5. Return to Home (RTH) - turns on automatically during signal loss, low battery voltage of the drone and forcibly at the request of the user. It guarantees free return of the drone to the lifting point with further landing.
6. Headless - deactivates the forward / backward orientation of the drone, allowing the beginner to quickly get used to controlling the UAV, and the experienced user to concentrate on shooting.

FPV

The first person flight for the best quadcopter of this year is carried out at an analog type frequency of 5.8 GHz through a 40-channel video transmitter.

The image from the photographic module is transmitted in real time to the LCD screen integrated into the control equipment, the diagonal of which is 4.3 inches. The video stream quality is 1080p, and the maximum video stream transmission range is 1 km.

Advice! To fly in FPV goggles or helmets, you just need to activate the automatic search for a busy frequency on the connected FPV device. The transmitted image is also allowed to be output to any gadget that supports connection via an AV cable.

DIY slot

A DIY connector is needed to connect different payloads to monitor them from a distance. The creator provides 3 methods of use:

1. Electronic fuse for igniting fireworks from a distance;
2. LED type backlight;
3. Servo.

Specifications

Advantages and disadvantages

• Portability;
• FIMI 3rd generation flight controller based on Cortex M7 core;
• Navigational positioning GPS + GLONASS;
• Brushless power plant;
• Quick-release rotor.

• Not detected.

How much does it cost and where is it profitable to buy?

Xiaomi's FIMI A3 drone is currently open for pre-order on Banggood. The average price is 19,000 rubles. The first deliveries start on 30.12. 2018.