The FPV System has 2 new functionality implemented in OSD to increase safety and performance of long range FPV flight.We call it wind assistant and thermal assistant. It will be available in firmware with number 2.40 and bigger.

Wind Assistant

Is used to measure wind speed and direction at current altitude, usually different then speed on ground. It not require and additional hardware, only needs to make a full circle in the air on constant throttle and constant altitude stick position. Internal algorithms calculate drift of the plane and display numeric value on the OSD screen. Wind speed and directions can be displayed on radar screen area or in the air/ground speed control. It will not display until first valid measurement will be performed.

Information about wind speed and direction can be crucial to plan and perform long range flight.

Thermal assistant

Is used to visualize position of the detected ascending and descending thermal currents. Having that points are on radar screen, it is easier to circle in the ascending currents to get the higher altitude and finally increase the distance of the flight. Position of points is all the time recalculated using data from wind assistant to follow real thermal moved by wind. If new thermal currents will be detected, the old one is cleared.

Thermal assistant can be used by any kind of plane, not only gliders.

This functionality require Autopilot module, because variometer sensor is mounted on autopilot board.

For more details about assistants please read document: Wind Assistant and Thermal Assistant in PitLab & Zbig FPV System.

We are in the final phase of testing the functionality of the FPV system allowing aided landing in low visibility conditions such as fog or night. The purpose of this function is to carry out the model at right angles both horizontally and vertically at the airport in the absence of visual contact with the ground. The elements of this functionality is to visualize the airport runway and marker analogous to the ILS system, showing the deviation from the ideal landing approach path. Both of these elements are visible in the centre of the screen in the picture below.

The whole consists of the ability to define the device to 8 airports with predefined approach angle.

FPV System with those features you can order in our FPV shop.

With the winter time change, for modellers has come "workshop times". I want to help you effectively consume this time by increasing offer of accessories designed to build DIY multirotors. This time I want to announce you composite tubes made of carbon fiber. The tubes material designated as a 3K means the each thread is made from 3000 carbon fibers. Characteristic of carbon composite weave called "twill" provides high mechanical strength compared to the classic straight fibers.

At this moment I can offer tubes with an outer diameter matching the boom blocks: 12mm, 16mm, 22mm, 25mm and 28mm, such as on photo:

 All pipes has length 1m, each is packed in protective foil. Tubes are delivered to customer in cardboard tubes ø=10cm, l=105cm.

Some time ago family of boom block for multicopters has grown. Just draw and cut few next members of motor mount family compatible with boom block for 25, 28 and 30mm diameter of arm. Below is family photo:

New motor mounts are optimized for holding motors with large diameter. Biggest rotor fitting in the contour of the screws can have 69mm diameter. Biggest known motor with 87mm rotor like T-Motor has slight lift of the bottom part, so also should be used here.

Wholes for screws are the same in all 3 mounts. It differ only with boom block mounting wholes.

We are started to accept Bitcoin payments in in PitLab.Shop. It is result of searching fast and low cost method of transferring money from customers to our RC store. I test many method of payment but all traditional method based on banking system are costly.

For example PayPal has fast confirmation, but has 3-4% fee for payment and 2-3% money exchange fee. Money withdrawn is possible after 3-4 working days.

Bank transfer  need 3-5 days to be confirmed and transfer cost few Euro. It need about one day money exchange operation outside bank, or fast, but with bad bank course.

Card payment has 2-3% of fee but forced exchange on very bad bank course.

Skrill has fee compared with Paypal, additional fee on withdraw and withdraw is possible after 14 days.

Bitcoin has optional fee 0,1mBTC (0,0001 BTC) or even can be transfered free of charge. Is relatively fast: first information is about minute after payment, full confirmation from few sources is after less then  hour. Exchange to any national money is possible on many stocks. From my actual point of view this method is better then traditional payment.

How to do payment in PitLab.Shop?

You need to have a wallet to store Bitcoin. I use standard wallet from http://bitcoin.org/ installed on my PC and mobile Bitcoin Wallet on my android phone. In Wallet you store your Bitcoins, earned or bought on market.

In shop after dropping goods to shopping cart, you select payment method as BitPay:

After selecting shipment method and confirming purchase by green button on the page bottom

Will be displayed payment screen visible below.

It include big QR code for mobile transaction - just scan the code with your phone and mobile wallet application will be executed. You can also open mobile wallet and press camera icon to start decoding QR code.

After decoding QR code wallet application will show payment screen visible below (image shows other transaction):

If you want to pay from PC wallet, just press the link starting from 1F3Z... The Bitcoin Core Wallet will be opened with screen as below:

Pressing "Send" you will send payment to shop.

Notice the value is displayed in mBTC - this is mili Bitcoin, because 1 bitcoin can be divided not to 100 cents like Dollar or Euro, but it divide to 10^8 units called Satoshi. So:

100 Satoshi = 1 uBTC (micro Bitcoin) = 0,000001 BTC

100000 Satoshi = 1000 uBTC = 1 mBTC (mili Bitcoin) = 0,001 BTC

100000000 Satoshi = 1000000uBTC = 1000 mBTC = 1 BTC

In last weeks was 2 big changes in shop offer. Boom block family has grown with sizes for 25mm, 28mm and 30mm booms. Now whole family looks like on the picture below.

Actually all sizes: 12m, 16mm, 21,5mm, 22mm, 25mm, 28mm and 30mm are on stock.