Yuneec Typhoon H - Yuneec steps up the game

Last year Yuneec became a major drone player by putting out the Q500 and then the Q500 4K with a hugely updated camera.  This spring they upped the game by releasing a well flying hexacopter with a updated camera.. so far early adopter are reporting that Yuneec have hit a home-run.  Click through for unbox, and thoughts about the new Yuneec H.  

Bookmark and come back tomorrow for more - POST IN PROGRESS - IM WRITING this NOW :-)

The new Yuneec Typhoon H is a completely reworked product for Yuneec.  Last Years Yuneec Q, was a mediocre flyer and most happy when the wind died down,  it was famously quiet and sported Yuneec's trademark super-stable gimbal, but with a somewhat underwhelming camera.  Fast forward one year and BAM.  Yuneec is back, super-stable gimbal in hand, with a much improved 4K camera sporting everything from 1080p to 4K UHD video recording, with manual and automatic controls.  Mounted on a completely new hexacopter platform, and the hexacopter is really what wraps the 2016 yuneec prosumer video-drone into a very compelling platform.  Maybe particularly for prosumers and professionals like real-estate and local video production users.

UPDATE: The Yuneec Typhoon H is in stock & available from CarolinaDronz click link for product page.

Check out the UNBOX and introduction video, in this video I go through the components of the basic kit.

 

 

The new CG03+ camera, featuring a full line of resolutions from 1080p to 4K UHD,   and able to save still images as JPG or RAW files.
One of the huge features of the CG03+ camera is the 360 deg pan, you can keep panning all day, unlike my DJI inspire-1 which can do one revolution pan, but can't keep going, the Yuneec H can do non-stop panning if required.
The CG03+ connect to the handheld radio via 5.8ghz WiFi signal, (the camera can also connect to your phone when used as a handheld camera gimbal)  the official range is 1 mile, however I find the practical range for the video transmission is a bit less than a mile most days.  this is not really a bit issue as you can buy a aftermarket antenna that will let you fly multiple miles, which can be installed in a matter of seconds. LINK TO LONG RANGE ANTENNA  

Obstacle avoidance system
The Yuneec H have two flavors of obstacle avoidance, the basic version come with two ultra-sound emitters which will detect and stop for objects roughly 6 feet in front of the aircraft.   There is a more advanced obstacle avoidance system which will ship later in 2016 the "real-sense" with a INTEL based technology,  this is estimated to be a $300 upgrade to the basic kit, and most importantly, its plug-n-play with the basic unit, this means you can install it at home in a matter of minutes.
The current obstacle avoidance detect objects in range and will slow and stop the aircraft,  when engaging the obstacle avoidance system the aircraft max speed will be reduced enough that the aircraft can stop in time for a obstacle detected with the ultrasound.  note the real-sense system have longer range and the max speed when using obstacle avoidance will be increased. 
Naturally you have to test the function,  I let the H hoover and walked up to it with my hand up in the air,  BAM at a specific distance the H started backing up.. pretty cool to watch.   you can push the H back wards with your hand in the air.   
IMPORTANT.. remember the obstacle avoidance do not look backwards, and only protect you when flying into something while moving forward, and also only protect you when you turn it on. 

Retractable Landing Gear
We can't discuss the Yuneec H without looking at the retracts and the form-factor.  This have two aspects that both is valuable to professional users.
The first and obvious aspect is naturally that you can retract the landing gear and accommodate un-obstructed 360 degree panning of the camera.  
The other effect here is not quite as directly camera or flight oriented.   the first time you pop the Yuneec-H up in the air in front of a crowd or customers you will know it.  up in the air and flip the switch to retract the landing gear while you push forward flight.. and you will instantly get the "WOW that is so cool" reaction from your audience.  
This audience "WOW" clearly don't take better pictures, but it add to the perceived value of your skill and video service.  Simply because you are not flying a white quad that looks like the one their kid have.

ST16 radio system
The stock radio for the Yuneec H have borrowed the look from Yuneec's professional ST24 radio.  like the Q500 its signature feature is the huge build in screen,  basically yuneec offer a super value on their radios by including a Android tablet, build into the radio, unlike some other copters on the market, you don't have to buy a tablet or smartphone to setup or operate the Yuneec H.   

FLIGHT MODES

Its actually not as complex as it looks,  the basic modes are SMART MODE (which is not a name I like for this) and ANGLE MODE.    ANGLE mode is the regular RC orientation mode, when you push the stick forward the aircraft move to its, the aircraft's forward direction.

SMART mode,  is also the "IOC" mode which stands for Intelligent Orientation Control,   this type of mode became popular when we started getting better GPS systems in the multirotor aircrafts. 
Briefly, SMART MODE centeres 100% on the location of the controller,  and it change the use of the right stick, now the pitch stick move the aircraft  "Away-closer" relatively to your position, and the roll stick moves the aircraft to YOUR right or YOUR left.   so if you push the aircraft 30 feet away and move the stick to the right, the aircraft will start a circle around you at 30 feet distance, thats the ORBIT-ME mode essentially.   

FOLLOW-ME.  basically when you put the aircraft in the SMART mode it is also in follow-me automatically because the smart mode centers on your position.. if you start walking the aircraft will follow you.   you can update this mode by selecting WATCH ME on the controller and now the camera will look at you no matter what you do.

 

QUICK LINKS
Yuneec Typhoon H  - Typhoon H BASIC kit - in stock and shipping 
Yuneec Typhoon H - Long Range antenna kit - 
Yuneec Thyhoon H - Backpack case for the foam
Yuneec Typhoon H - Propellers kits   - Clockwise PROPS type A - Counter Clockwise PROPS type B 
Yuneec Typhoon H - Battery -
Yuneec Typhoon H - RED Landing Pads
Yuneec Typhoon H - Graduated ND filters

AFTERMARKET firmware for the ST16, I have not tested this but here is the link  CLICK HERE

GREAT example of flying with the H by Ryan K from Yuneec
  

 

Comments

[Alice Tayllor]

Yuneec really stepped up the game with this one. I love the design, but I love what it has to offer even more, and considering all the features, I think that the price is more than fair! However, It's smaller cousin, the Q500 is also worth mentioning!

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Luke,
I would get a ST10+ off eBay for the camera operator ;-)

[luke]

If they are essentially specktrum radios does that mean it is possible to bind a (less expensive) spectrum to the H as a 2nd radio to control the camera? (dual operator setup without a second expensive ST16?)

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey David, yeah I figured it will work, those are essentially spectrum radios. however the part that may not work so well is obviously the custom features for the Typhoon-H. this is probably the root of customer service's statement.

[David W]

Hi Bo-you are right-as usual. I did see one YouTube video showing the operation of the Q with the ST 16. It does seem to work, but this is an improvised set up. I checked with Yuneec support and they told me it could not be done. Obviously they were wrong. They did say that there may be a firmware update in the future to add specific (other) models to the ST 16 model menu-like an app, I suppose. I will try to bind my ST 16 with my Q this weekend and see how it goes.
Thanks again!

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey David,
Ive seen several video demonstrating the ST16 flying the Q500, I would do a quick YouTube search on that ;-)
Not sure about the satellite count, but if its a better GPS system than they originally advertised then Im all for it.

[David W]

Something very unfortunate about the Yuneec line of UAV's: I received my H the other day and was disappointed to learn that as of now, the ST 16 cannot be used to control the Q500 line. This seems like a big mistake or oversight on Yuneecs part by not making the ST 16 compatible with its other products. Perhaps they will do a firmware update allowing the Q500 in the future...
By the way, Bo, on your CES video of the H you made a while back the Yuneec rep said the H only has single GPS. I have locked 20 satellites with my H so it appears that it has dual GPS.

[Anthony Francese]

Curious Bo, where would you place the H.? For someone (with drone/helicopter experience) looking for a video drone considering the H, and the X Star premium...

Regards,
Anthony

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Brent,
Thank you for the kind words on the YouTube channel.. much appreciated.
Per your questions I just aded a bunch of links to the post for the parts. see the bottom of the post. I still gotta get a lot of still shots and more details about the Typhoon H in the post as well.

[Brent Wickerham]

Where did you get the red ends for the landing gear?
I saw you had an updated antenna also for the controller?
All for the Typhoon H model. I need extra battery's too?
I love you you-tube page. Very informative...