Ed Oates

Oh, and does anyone think accommodating something like the ribcage mod (mounts dslr type lenses to the gopro body) is worth exploring? Or no point, as then the benefits of it being a gopro are lost (small/inexpensive etc). Then you might as well use a black magic or a dslr on a proper stab?

Just got reminded of this thread thanks to email notification of above. I've got a small run happening (next version/prototype using the 32bit basecam 3axis controller, newer/smoother motors, etc). My plan was to get a few freebie test units into the hands of some pros to get some feedback... With the idea that when/if the hero4 gets released, I've got a tested thing to offer straight up. I looked briefly at getting something made professionally (ie cast plastic or CNC alloy) but I'll stick to 3D print for now. I can't see thing being in massive demand, so if it works, it works, and I'll only chase the sexy CNC alloy route should the need arise.

eucalyptus oil

ive probably just commited myself to a lifetime of chinese manufacurer email spam, but ive just sent a chinese plastic mould maker an email to see how feasible getting an injection mould made would be. gotta be chaper (and probably better) than 3D printing everything

Grayson, will do :)

oh, and one more thing... im ordering more parts over the next few days so far im planning only bits 3axis units, specifically for the hero3... ...but the 3axis electronics alone have added a total of about $150 to the 2 axis price... so first-run price for the complete hero3 3axis units is currently sitting around US$350-400 its a bit more than i originally said with the 2 axis, but feedback from you guys seemed to indicate the 3 axis would be the way to go. i hope thats still going to work for folks! specs, video, photos etc of the 3 axis ill have this week... just waiting on another control board to arrive :) cheers ed

yay... "magestic mode" works :) you can set the yaw axis to be 100% stable, and point only in one direction, regardless of mount position... OR you can set the yaw axis to follow frame, with a customisable ramp speed. itll stabilise out small yaw axis disruptions, but with sustained (deliberate) yaw movement, it'll follow. how fast, and how sensitive it is (ie how much it follows vs. how much is stabilises) you can set in the software hooked up to a laptop (nice easy user interface, dont stress!)

Wow... Ok.... Well, the first 3 axis parts arrived today :) Need to put it together and tune it, but all going well should have some first test footage this week Implementation of manual control/override of all axes, video in, audio out, and 58mm lens filter seem to all have worked out nicely. I've also made it smaller :) 3rd axis makes it about 90grams heavier I'll drop folks a message who have already contacted me when I've got complete functional units to send Cheers Ed

yep... see the thing is, every chinese manufacturer has jumped on the bandwagon in the last 4 weeks, and the multicopter market is now bombarded with chinese gimbals that, well... lets say about 75% dont work properly. they nicked controller schematics, and run a hacked version of one of the 2 recognised firware packages... problem is, one of the 2 recognised firmware bundles is buggy and a real PITA to get working (and thats the 'original' - the hacked version even more unreliable). control software/firmware aside, like a lot of chinese 'rushed to market' stuff, a lot of these are sub par, with crap components, jiggly bushes, out of balance etc etc etc. theres pages and pages on rcgroups.com discussing the multitude of gimbals... and very few well functioning gimbals. its very very early days with this technology, so it will get better, and weeding out the duds from various manufacturers will take time. plus, please dont get me wrong, but im not trying to compete with anyone. I just kinda evolved this idea as a side branch from this new tech... and came on here after a bit of chewing the idea over looking for feedback - whether you folks would find it an intersting gadget to facilitate some interesting shots. my day job is 1000miles from this area of interest, so im just in it for the kicks of designing/making something that someone else finds useful :)

manual control of all three axis can be implemented, thats easy... question is, either a ) wired control, with knobs on a handgrip or b ) remote control, using say a simple RC model aeroplane transmitter to control the 3 axis or both options and a plug/unplug possibility everything is doable, but i kinda need a single direction to focus on, to get a couple of these into the hands of some folks. if i try and implement every option all at once, ill never get a single unit working, finished and sent! and FYI - for the 3 axis, there is a function similar to majestic mode, still with the possibility of manual override. i havent played with it yet, but the guys developing the software have posted some good video. ill try and implement integrated plugs for SD AV out, and x3 integrated plugs for manual override control. you can then connect an RC receiver to these 3 plugs, and theres youre remote control, or you can connect 3 hard-wired potentiometer knobs, and thattll give you local manual control and to whoever asked about the filter mount... the filter mount will be fixed, and cant be removed. but the filter mount itself, without an installed filter, will have no impact on field of view even at 170deg wideangle. the benefit of having a filter for outdoor shooting though, is significant, especially with a CP filter, even if it restricts you to use to medium wide. but yeah, as i said, if you dont want a filter, it wont impede the field of view, so no stress :)

Ok, overwhelming feedback is an understatement! Pm's coming in left and right. Thanks guys very much for the feedback and support. I'm tweaking the design in response to comments so far. Seems everyone is using a hero3 these days huh? I must be the only one left who's not upgraded :) Things I'd like some feedback / comments on - including a standard 58mm filter mount. With a filter in place (nd or cp for example) it'll lightly vignette on the full 170deg wideangle settings. Without a filter, no artifact. Otherwise I reckon a filter mount is a good idea? - hard wired sd video out RCA plug on the body? - manual tilt control knob? - 3rd axis? - if using the gimbal remotely, and using a wireless video transmitter, is sd video through an RCA (male) plug adequate? Need to accommodate the video transmitter too? Or can that be rigged separately? - I'd prefer to keep the gimbal itself simple and small. Too many Add-ones consume space and weight, and detract from the very small nature of this contraption. Or atleast that's how I'm thinking... Thoughts? What would you consider essential / desirable??! Cheers Ed

Hey mark, If I pull my finger out, I could get a run of say 10 units done, and get them into the hands of people who might be able to create something more skillful and interesting than videos of their own feet :) If it went gangbusters though, then I'd need to sit down and figure out how to commercially make them, and that's something I have no idea about! But again, cart before the donkey... I've had some messages from some folks who'd be keen to get one and give it a go. If there's anyone else (including say your friend, Torch) who reckons they'd have some use/enjoy rigging one up, let me know. But long story short, I think you're right Mark. Get a couple into the hands of people who can take advantage of its potential, and let it ether prove or disprove itself. Figure out the next bit after that!

Figured I should actually make a vid of it working... :) Cheers Ed

To be fair to Erics comments, my passive observation of GoPro and theyre marketing is also that they are very consumer-market based, and products and marketing itself is very "consumer driven / dependant"... theyll offer cheap cameras and gear to higher profile 'extreme' stuff, but their marketing is carried out by the consumer themselves. quite clever really. same with aftermarket products and accessories. they have their core product (plus minus), and the aftermarket firms fill the consumer market (and their various, highly diverse factions) with all the bolt on gizmos etc. trying to cover all the niche mini markets would be a crazy task, and a financial nightmare. i dont think this gimbal would raise an eyebrow more than any of the various other cool go pro accesories you can dig up. that said, to those who could use something like this to get shots that have not been previously acheiveable, its quite exciting. i personally find the development in the stabilisation hardware and software quite remarkable! what these things are capable of is nuts :) implementation is the key, and how best to blend it into existing equipment and workflow. any thoughts on how it could better do its job? - hard wired monitor and mic connections? - smaller? stronger? cheaper? - different mount? printing is a laser scinter printer (i ordered mine from shapeways). most 3D printers for home use are filament deposition. i prototyped several versions using that (cheaper/faster) but the laser scinter process is by far neater and stronger. it would be great to eventually injection mold it, but thats getting the cart in front of the donkey cheers ed

you can make it for under $250 complete inc controller, motors and hardware, its basically opensource, the parts can be purchased directly from shapeways (3D printing company). i mean, i could also make one and send it for about $350 give or take - but thats not my aim (nor do i have heaps of time for that kind of thing! lol) but why does it 'have' to be cheap? cause its junk? just not useful? or do you mean in relation to folks jumping on bandwagons of relatively simple technology and charging a lot for it?