OH WOW. Just got a AMAZING prototype QUAD from Walkera, the new SCOUT X4, We have unpacked the test quad, taked it appart, flown it, and frankly, its the BEST flying Walkera QUAD EVER. Holy Stuff. Matt can't stop talking about how nice it flies.
click through for the details and unbox & preview video.
NOTE This review is more than one year old. PLEASE realize there are many new quads on the market by now. Also realize some of the cutting edge features of this quad is obviously no longer super-cool..
IMPORTANTLY this review mention the ground-station which have been proven to be dangerous, I do NOT recommend flying this quad in any other manner than by the F12e controller.
You most likely can find this quad at much better prices than what was available when the review was written.
Here is the original REVIEW...
I knew Walkera were working on a new QUAD, but I did not think they were ready to spring it on the world quite yet... turns out I was wrong. Matt and I just got our hands on one. and they are expecting to start shipping these at the end of October. The factory mentioned they plan to start volume production is starting in the beginning of October.
EDIT: the long awaited Scout X8 upgrade kits are finally shipping Click here for Franks page
Say again, another quad?
At first glance it seems like Walkera is just making another quad here. So the question are.. did they loose their mind or are they breaking new ground? Having flown the new Scout X4, Im going to jump the gun and say. Oh YES, walkera are breaking new ground here, they are moving to the "Pro Sumer" level. The all important mid-range level, this is the level companies like Nikon and Canon love. its not the toy quad level and its not the movie production level. its the next level for ambitious x350pro / blade 350 / phantom pilots.
Click for the full size promotional image.
Welcome to the ProSumer niche..
This is not walkera's first stab at the semi-pro niche, they have the x800 for heavier cameras, they have the h500 hexa which is my favorite hexa at the moment, but the x800 is big and expensive, the TALI h500 is sweet, but a little tooo big to fit in smaller travel cases..
The nice SCOUT X4
A facinating compact X4 quad, its small, compact, easy to travel with, you know like a P2 or a x350pro size quad. But its more, its also a powerful quad with 4 500kv motors, 25 minute flight time, retractable landing gear, 3axis gimbal and a bit more horsepower than the average phantom size quad. The retracts let it travel very compactly. those long legs make plenty space for your choice of gimbal. As maybe not a unimportant side effect, the big retracts give the aircraft a very prominent apearence.
The monster SCOUT X8
Walkera was not happy with building just a slightly larger quad. They wanted something unique, as a result they are advertising the SCOUT with 8 motors in a X8 configuration. This beast will have serious horsepower. Walkera are promoting the Scout X8 in a kit with their new 3axis gimbal for the Sony RX100 camera.
There is no official numbers, but my guess is the X8 probably pick up and fly comfortably with about 750grams.
The X8 configuration is well documented and tested, importantly the x8 configuration have been demonstrated to be stable after loosing a prop or a motor.
The "little" X4 between the 350pro and the TALI h500,
Can it fly?
Oh yeah. Out of the box, the new Scout is the best flying Walkera multirotor I have ever flown.
The quad is powerful, it picks up like a bottle-rocket, and more imporant, when you let go of the sticks, its stable and predictable, exactly the way you want a GPS quad to be. Flying the sample QUAD was painless, easy and relaxing, not for a moment did it behave in a way that caused concern, it was plainly FUN to fly, nothing scarry nothing that would cause me to loose confidence in the quad. Its safe to say, Walkera have finally gotten their game on with the APM controller.
With the new APM firmware the SCOUT can do the tricks most new users are looking for.
Important features. The SCOUT can do "auto-take-off" Its got manual and GPS flight modes. Importantely, you can take-off and land safely in the GPS mode.
Other features include IOC, fly around object mode, and naturally RTH (Return to Home) mode.
Finally mastering the GPS-mode, is a huge deal for Walkera, because new users and step-up phantom pilots alike, EXPECT & DEMAND, easy trouble free GPS supported flying.
Mastering GPS flying, is a do-or-die deal for Walkera. With the SCOUT X4, they have finally managed this step. (On a note, we are now all waiting for Walkera to roll out the new firmware for the x350pro, the TALI h500 and the X800 as soon as posible so we all can get to enjoy this new flying goodness.)
Waypoint missions & Advanced tricks.
OK so Walkera did stop at getting GPS flying right.. with the Scout release, they prominently feature waypoint flying, and smart modes such as Follow-Me. Both of these modes can be setup and controlled from a tablet or your smartphone.
Waypoint flying is the ability to tap on a map and set points, then command the quad to fly a mission through these points. (yes Im working on a video demonstrating)
The Follow-Me mode is a sexy new mode. this year we have seen "follow me" introduced in several quads. basically you setup the distance from you to the quad, and the angle you want it to follow at.. then you stick your smart-phone in the pocket and hit the ski slopes.. the quad will follow you down the slope and be your personal camera man, capturing video of your best stunts. when you get to the bottom. pull out the smartphone.. click "LAND". and the quad lands ready to go again.
The heart of the beast, to the left is the traditional RX706 reciever, on top center the Bluetooth datalink, thats where the magic happens, the 2.4 ghz system that enables you to fly this from your tablet computer, or your smartphone. Finally to the right is the DevoM APM based flight controller.
VIDEO:
Lots of people tend to lump the quad in with the video system. The stock option come with the iLook+ camera, its a camera about as good as a mid-range GoPro, with a build in 5.8ghz video transmitterm its a 1080p camera. Walkera also ship the Scout in a GoPro configuration, the GoPro version come with a TX5803 5.8ghz video transmitter. Either of these send video that can be seen on any FatShark compatible reciever. and on the Walkera F12e radio as well.
Finally Walkera have the little lovely bird, the Scout X8 loaded with a Sony RX100 gimbal, the gimbal have a HDMI converter so again, you can see the video from the camera on your radio.
Details:
6S 5400mah QUAD configuration flight time probably about 25 minutes with a GoPro.
Weight a bit more than 1200grams
Motors 500kv
Distance, stock setup probably about 1500m
* If you want to further safely, you need to think about UHF control system.
X8 configuration, flight time unknown until we get to test one.
Android Tablet / smartphone App available, the iOS app is not yet ready.
Versions:
Walkera always offer their multirotors in a variety of equipment levels. the Scout is not different, let me try to break out the most important ones.
To keep things entertaining, the Scout packages are available in 3 colors, white, carbon grey, and CF black.
Scout X4 BNF. Stands for Bind and Fly, the BNF Scout X4 is somewhere north of $700
Scout X4 GoPro edition, with F12e radio and 3axis gimbal $1600
Scout X4 iLook edition with iLook+ and the F12e radio and 3axis gimbal $1800
Scout X8 BNF. I dont know, lets say $50 per extra motor, Im guessing just sourth of $1000?
Scout X8 with 3axis RX100 gimbal, and the F12e radio, probably about $1800 ish.
The Good the bad and the ugly.
OK, Im absolutely in love with how this thing flies, the SCOUT is absolutely wonderful, it flies like a dream, like a great dream, Walkera have finally tamed the GPS beast.
For the money you get a compact little travel friendly monster quad with retracts and room for a big gimbal. and with the big brother you get a nasty X8 with attitude and serious horsepowers. Whats not to love.?
The ugly.? Im so sorry, that thing is less than pretty. It looks like somebody said, "make a TALI quad", Personally I really wish they had used the same industrial designer for the scout as they did for the TALI, because when we talk about looks, I think the TALI is the most elegant multirotor on the market, but who the heck cares, the SCOUT kicks ass, lift heavy cameras and flies like a dream.
So there you have it 1500 words later... I really don't think the scout pretty, but oh my, its the best flying quad walkera have ever made. Im pretty sure the way it flies, will help me get over the looks, you owe it to yourself to check out a Scout up close to see if maybe its the right fit for your next quad.
SCOUT X4 Features:
- Remote control: DEVO F12E FPV Transmitter 2.4Ghz and Video at 5.8Ghz
- Support both Apple IOS and Android based devices
- Waypoint mission planning / Designated flight / Follow Me mode
- Hybrid, can be changed from 4 for to 8 motors
- 2.4G bluetooth datalink ground station (BT-2401A/B FCC / BT-2402A/B CE)
- Flight time: Up to 25 minutes
- Flight range: up to 1500 meter
- Receiver: DEVO-RX707(CE) / RX709(FCC)
- Real time flight data (telemetry) monitoring
- Auto return to home (RTH)
- Motors: Brushless WK-WS-34-002
- ESC: WST-16AH(R/G);
- Battery: 6cell 22.2V 5400mAh Li-Po
- Size: 335x335x275 mm.
- Rotor Blades Length: 233mm
- Weight with battery: 1770g
- Flying Weight: <2270g
- Bonus: film set aluminum case, to pack your flying machine easily for transportation
Very good blog thanks for sahring with us.....................
Posted by: E.S AKSHAY | 07/16/2016 at 03:02 AM
Hey CHE MAT, there should not be a dilemma, the Scout is last year technology, the P3pro is a significantly more advanced aircraft. at the moment I would pick a P3pro over the scout, this opinion may chance in the future if Walkera matches the P3 technology..
Posted by: Bo Lorentzen | 10/07/2015 at 04:56 PM
Hi. I am in dilemma whether to go for Phantom 3 PRO or Walkera Scout X4. From your personal opinion, which one i should go for. This will be my first copter and i dont have an experience on flying copter before. Thanks in advance.
Posted by: CHE MAT | 10/07/2015 at 03:51 PM
Gilberto you need to work it out with the support group, ;-)
One of the hard things with supporting in comments is that in this post you told me that you can operate the legs (radio is bound) you did not in the first, so its virtually impossible for me to guess what I have been told and not told. these things are easier to work out in a quicker moving group. :-)
You may want to check if the radio state a measured battery voltage from the copter. or if it lost the voltage telemetry entirely. thats information the support group will need.
Posted by: Bo Lorentzen | 09/05/2015 at 07:45 AM
Thanks Bo... I actually posted on FB before, someone reply, telling me about the Micro TF, I don't know what he mean.
The thing is that I can put on calibration mode, use the landing gear, FPV and Gimbal, but can't unlock the motors and the control beeps.
Posted by: Gilberto Zhu | 09/05/2015 at 02:20 AM
Hey Gilberto, sounds like the radio is not bound.
Do post the question to the Walkera support group on FB and they should get you setup quickly.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1616876018546562/
Posted by: Bo Lorentzen | 09/04/2015 at 04:58 PM
Hello Bo, Hello, I have problems with my Scout X4, when I turn it on, the Devo F12e don't stop beeping and can't unlock the motors, I don't know what happen, I got a flash message I couldn't read, I think read "...size..." or something like that and it never shows again, I'm sure is not the throttle message.
I check the settings, turn off External Battery in the sensor settings (set to 21.6V) and stop beeping, I turn the Scout Off and change the battery, but still can't unlock motors, both batteries are fully charged. I turn on the External Battery and set it to every Voltage to see I the beeps stops, but nothing.
I did a Model Reset, put all the settings again and nothing.
Help me please, I have to use my Scout in a week.
Posted by: Gilberto Zhu | 09/04/2015 at 04:52 PM
Hey Maurizo, that can be for soooo many reasons.. ;-)
Post in the Facebook support group here and we will get you fixed up
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1616876018546562/
Posted by: Bo Lorentzen | 08/29/2015 at 04:58 PM
Hi, I need help for my Gimbal camera on Scout x4;
the camera don't assume the right position when Scout x4 start to fly.
Help please!
Posted by: Maurizo | 08/28/2015 at 11:15 AM
Hey Bjoern, move the throttle stick DOWN and LEFT to arm the Scout X4
Posted by: Bo Lorentzen | 07/19/2015 at 09:08 AM
Hi Bo.
Do you know what is wrong when the red led dont flash on a WALKERA X4? And nothing will work.
From Bjoern.
Posted by: Bjoern | 07/18/2015 at 08:43 AM
Bo, had a bad experience with my Scout maiden flight. The left front motor just stopped at about 1 meter of the ground, flipped over and damaged all four blades. It appears to be a bad speed control board or motor. Started to take the body apart but can’t seem to get front clip loose. Any help on how you got yours apart would be very helpful.
Thanks Tom
Posted by: Tom | 03/21/2015 at 06:22 AM
Hey Wayne, yeah you are right about that. the Scout is quickly becoming a bit dated, I think the ultimate with the build in FPV camera really is the logical progression for the scout.
Posted by: Bo Lorentzen | 03/05/2015 at 12:14 AM
That's it...the Ultimate. that is a sweet looking quad. Pretty impressive. I need to win the lottery so I can get some of these new ones coming out. Although I still like the Scout X4, it appears the others are advancing way beyond it now.
Posted by: Wayne Lincoln | 03/04/2015 at 06:27 AM
Hey Conny, flying the scout or TALI 2km is fairly straight forward. if you have seen my videos you will notice that I religiously fly with a "flight camera" which is a hard mounted FatShark 700tvl camera, I use a immersionRC 600mw video transmitter with a blue-beam antenna, and a 5turn helical on my FatShark goggles.. pointing the antenna towards my flight direction easily get me video for 2km.
Control signal is another issue, basically off the shelf, you can expect max 1.5km range from a 2.4 ghz system.
There is a fairly low-tech solution. you can use it for both your 2.4ghz control signal. check out this system http://carolinadronz.com/products/walkera-upgrade-super-compact-dual-antennas
Posted by: Bo Lorentzen | 03/03/2015 at 07:42 PM
Hey Jorge, unfortunately its not possible to geo-tag the images from the iLook+
Posted by: Bo Lorentzen | 03/03/2015 at 07:34 PM
Hey Wayne. are you talking about the original 350? that one is probably out of production.. at the moment Im eagerly avaiting the 350ultimate (which have not started shipping yet)
Posted by: Bo Lorentzen | 03/03/2015 at 07:33 PM
Bo,
Has Walkera canceled their production of the QR350 or just not started production? I can't find anything else about it.
Posted by: Wayne Lincoln | 03/03/2015 at 06:09 PM
Hi Bo,
not sure what happen to my post but when I hit preview I was kicked to disney.com ???
Anyhow, I have a F7 receiver and a SONY HDR AS 100V action cam and I am looking for a good aerial platform. Where I live I have plenty of room to do flying so I am looking for something that can take me 2 km with good video feed.
I stumbled across the WALKERA SCOUT X4 and seems to be a good fit for my needs. Problem is, which configuration should I get? If I get the BNF version it comes without video feed so what should I look for and which modifications do I need to do to it to get it 2 km away with good feed and do you know of any gimbal I can mount my SONY AS 100 action cam on?
Posted by: Conny Hertzberg | 03/01/2015 at 07:14 AM
can i geotag the images with the ilook+ in the x4?
Posted by: Jorge Beacon | 02/28/2015 at 01:52 PM
Hey James, if I could pick ONLY one quad to do video with, I would take a q500 because of the better camera gimbal.
the Scout is a sweet ride and much faster, but the Walkera gimbal just is nowhere close to the q500.
Obviously things can get more complicated, because you can use a GoPro4 which is better than the q500 camera.. and you could do a Matt Kim upgrade to the Scout gimbal.. but with a GoPro and a Matt Kimm upgrade. you are into $2000 so the $1300 q500 is still the better deal overall.
Posted by: Bo Lorentzen | 02/27/2015 at 10:23 AM
Based on money-to-quality/feature ratio (taking into account camera quality), for someone looking to purchase 1 drone and 1 drone only, would you recommend the Scout X4 or the Q500? Thanks.
Posted by: James | 02/20/2015 at 01:31 PM
Bo, awesome overview! This quad looks truly amazing and will definitely give DJI a run for it's money.
Posted by: Ben | 02/20/2015 at 08:31 AM
Hey Ben, dropping from 40 feet is now how its supposed to work. :-) I would join the walkera support group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/1616876018546562/
And also shoot a email to Allan at iUASinc.com he is the main tech guy for north-america at the moment.
Posted by: Bo Lorentzen | 02/19/2015 at 08:40 AM
Hey Sebastian, check the file section on the Walkera owners group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1616876018546562/
Posted by: Bo Lorentzen | 02/19/2015 at 08:38 AM