The BETAFPV Pavo Pico is a micro-class CineWhoop-style flying platform meant for DJI O3, Walksnail Avatar, and Caddx Vista FPV techniques. BetaFPV despatched out a few PAVO PICO kits for analysis a couple of months earlier than the official launch. FPV fanatics throughout the globe gave their suggestions about what enhancements ought to be made to be a close-to-perfect product.
A micro CineWhoop is a small, light-weight FPV drone designed for indoor and out of doors flight. Its defining attribute is incorporating a protecting 360° body, which boosts sturdiness and permits the drone to fly safely round individuals and objects. This function makes them preferrred for capturing cinematic footage in tight areas and dynamic environments.
Once I confirmed a good friend some images of my PAVO PICO O3, he mentioned it seemed like a rickety DJI AVATA. One way or the other he’s proper. It’s a flying O3 AU digital camera with the minimal components round it.
BETAFPV Pavo Pico hands-on overview
Disclosure: I acquired this CineWhoop package as a part of a product overview collaboration with BetaFPV. Product specs and high quality might differ in response to the producer’s reliability, so I can not assure that you’re going to get a drone that performs the identical as seen in my article.
The PAVO Pico is available in a classy foam-padded cardboard field with one flight battery, an FC to Sort-C adaptor, two VTX brackets, two antenna mounts, two O3 mini dipole antennas, a set of spare propellers, a 3D printed lens hood, protecting UV lens filter, a bag of screws, and a sheet of name stickers. BetaFPV additionally despatched me two units of spare body kits, a blue and a gray one.
The drone comes virtually totally assembled with all of the digital connections made. You simply want to put in the O3 unit into the devoted cage and join the plug. The PAVO PICO makes use of the third-generation BetaFPV’s F4 AIO V3 flight controller with an built-in 12A ESC and Serial ELRS 2.4GHz radio receiver. A brief pink wire serves because the antenna for the RX. The tiny 1102 KV14000 brushless motors are matched with Gemfan 45mm 3-blade propellers. For straightforward upkeep, the motors have connectors.
The Pavo Pico has a wheelbase of 81mm and consists of three components. A 2mm thick carbon fiber body, PA12 360° duct blade protector, and the FPV system cage (bracket).
BetaFPV Pavo Pico: Meeting directions
First, you will need to substitute the inventory 2in1 antenna with two tiny dipole antennas included within the Pavo Pico package -this will prevent a few grams. When you want protecting the unique antenna for higher vary, you need to use the included TPU mount.
Subsequent, you may set up the O3 VTX and FPV Digicam contained in the injection-molded plastic mount and safe it on prime of the body. Keep in mind to make use of rubber damping balls to scale back the vibration coming from the body. Additionally, keep away from over-tightening the screws; in any other case, there will probably be a lot of jello. Lastly, it’s essential plug within the O3 AU cable.
How you can bind Pavo Pico with a transmitter?
As talked about, the Pavo Pico has a built-in serial ELRS radio receiver. It’s essential energy ON/OFF the drone 3 times to activate the binding mode. It’s essential make sure that RX and TX run the identical main ExpressLRS launch (1.xx, 2.xx, or 3.xx). In any other case, the pairing course of will fail.
PAVO Pico: BetaFlight configuration
The PAVO PICO comes pre-configured. You simply must arrange the arm swap within the Modes tab and customise the OSD display. With the intention to join the flight controller to your pc, you will need to use the tiny Sort-C adapter PCB included within the field. Actually, I don’t perceive why the FC lacks a USB port.
PAVO Pico: Flight time and battery choices
Out of the field, the Pavo Pico O3 version comes with the BetaFPV 2S/450mAh battery. The battery bay is designed for the scale of this battery. If you wish to use a distinct LIPO pack, you may lower down the battery cage and use a Velcro band. Throughout my exams, I received 3 to 4 minutes of flight time with the unique battery. In my oppionion, with a 650mAh pack, you may get shut to 6 minutes of flight time.
Value, availability, and choices
The Pavo Pico PNP package is accessible for 2 FPV choices. The O3 model proven on this overview is priced at $104.99, and the Walksnail Avatar/Caddx Vista version for $99.99. The value distinction is that the O3 features a 3D-printed lens hood and a protector UV filter. You may go for ELRS 2.4GHz or TBS radio receiver in response to your present transmitter. The O3 version is natively appropriate with the DJI FPV V2 controller. Spare body kits can be found in 4 colours for $8.99. A spare PA12 Whoop duct prices solely $3.49.
Notice: Based on BetaFPV, the primary batch of the Pavo Pico has been bought out shortly. The subsequent batch of provides is predicted to go on sale by early of Aug 2023.
Pavo Pico body package (no electronics)
The frameset may be bought individually for those who want to construct your personal 100g CineWhoop. The package consists of one Whoop duct guard, two VTX brackets, one essential CF body, a CF VTX adaptor, two O3Avatar HD V2 dipole antennas, and a bag of screws. You may select from black, clear, blue, and gray. It has a 20x20mm mounting sample for the flight controller. The package consists of comfortable mounts for FC and VTX.
Advisable components for Pavo Pico body
- FC&ESC: F4 1S 12A AIO V3 or F4 1S 12A AIO V2.2
- Motor: 1102 | 14000kv Brushless Motor (3-M1.4-φ6.6 mount)
- Propeller: GF 45mm 3-Blade Propeller or GF 45mm 2-Blade Propeller
- Battery: 2S 450mAh-650mAh 45C-75C Lipo Battery
- Assist HD Digital VTX: DJI O3 HD Digital VTX, Avatar HD Digital VTX, Vista HD Digital VTX, or Runcam Hyperlink
BetaFPV Pico Pavo: Key options
[Super light and compact CineWhoop] Absolutely geared up, the PAVO PICO weighs lower than 100 grams making it the lightest 4K FPV drone.
[Split-design HD VTX mounting bracket] The Pavo Pico is appropriate with the DJI O3 Air Unit, Walksnail Avatar HD Professional, and Caddx Vista HD digital FPV techniques. The facet bracket, rubber damper vibration-damping design, lens holder, and antenna have all been bolstered to suppress low-frequency vibration and improve the protection of HD VTX, making certain a steady output of high-definition movies.
[Optimized for best flight performance] The battery bay and HD VTX mounting bracket duct top have been lowered to reinforce the general flying expertise. DIY battery fixing strategies are additionally supported, making them appropriate with batteries of various sizes and capacities
[Durable and easy to maintain] The body makes use of PA12 materials, recognized for its distinctive affect resistance and easy set up course of. The electronics may be swapped from one body to a different in lower than quarter-hour.
[High-performance all-in-one flight controller] The newly developed F4 1S 12A AIO Brushless FC V3 weighs solely 4.2 grams and is optimized for HD digital VTX. Its improved computing energy, excessive response pace, and steady flight make it a great selection for HD whoops.
[3D printed lens hood + UV filter] To safeguard the DJI O3 digital camera lens and keep constant high-definition video output throughout flight, each a lens filter and a lens safety mount are included.
BetaFPV PavoPico: Flight expertise
Within the final two weeks, I had greater than fiftieth take a look at flights. Regardless of its small measurement, the Pavo Pico is surprisingly quick and agile. You may fly into tight areas the place it will be unattainable with a 5-inch racing beast. I received a steady video and RX sign in a radius of 500 meters.
With the inventory 450mAh battery, I received a flight time between 3 and 4 minutes. When you push the throttle on the highest place, you get a low battery alarm in 1-2 seconds. The 45C discharger charge is just not sufficient for this little child. When you like freestyling, a 75C-100C LIPO could be extra acceptable.
For now, I had only some minor crashes, and the PavoPico proved to be fairly sturdy. Nonetheless, primarily based on my expertise with light-weight drones that use skinny supplies, they have a tendency to interrupt in direct collision with partitions or different laborious surfaces. As the costliest a part of this tiny drone is the DJI O3 Air Unit, and the digital camera’s lens is sort of uncovered, I like to recommend utilizing the 3D printed lens hood and UV filter.
BetaFPV Pavo Pico: Future upgrades
Regardless of its small measurement, the Pavo Pico has highly effective {hardware} inside that enables it to fly fairly far, and if one thing dangerous occurs and crashes your drone, it will likely be laborious to search out it. The very first thing you may add is a self-powered buzzer that may make a loud noise, indicating the place of the crashed plane. The VIFLY Beacon is a superb selection as a result of it has a searchlight and doesn’t require wiring.
The second security improve could be including a GPS module. This can give me telemetry knowledge akin to flight distance, pace, and the plane’s precise location. The BetaFPV F4 1S 12A AIO V3 FC has 4 UART ports, and the UART1 is free to make use of for the GPS module. Additionally, there’s a lot of area above the O3 VTX to put in GPS. This improve may also add fail-safe RTH functionality for the Pavo Pico.
In case you are on the lookout for a devoted storage answer, Daniel Schenk shared its 3D printable case on Thingiverse that may retailer the Pavo Pico and 6 flight LIPOs. For individuals who want Walksnail Avatar HD Professional over the DJI O3, an STL file to print a devoted mount can also be accessible.
