Test Flying a Cheap Drone

Tech Specs

These are the exact details as given in the included instructions. I noted my actual experiences with bold comments in the list below. The actual flight time was about what the instuctions outlined. The main issue seems to be with the controller antenna, which could make for an interesting DIY upgrade project.

Features

• 360° flips & tricks
• 2 speed settings
• 6-axis gyroscope
• 0.3 MP camera (photo & video) with SD-card slot
• Control distance: up to 150 feet (actually 40-50 feet)
• Headless Mode
• Auto-Reverse
• LED Navigation Lights
• Operating time: 6-8 minutes
• Charge time: 60-80 minutes

Includes

• 2.4 GHz remote control: requires 6 AA batteries (not included)
• Built-in rechargeable lithium polymer battery
• USB cable for battery recharge
• 4GB SD card
• Screwdriver
• 4 replacement rotors
• User's guide & warranty

The drone performs well on a full charge. However, it will rapidly lose that charge as you fly and video recording seems to drain it rather quickly. The two main takeaways from this test seem to be that the controller's range is low and the battery life is really short. Pressing the video or photo record buttons turned out to be rather hit or miss.I'm considering packing my Chromebook for future flights so I can insert the SD card and verify that footage has been recorded. Upgrading the battery is going to require some extra research and testing as it is a cheap part that will likely need some custom modifications in order to support an upgrade.