Neuron FBL controller

[Grumpy]

I just came accross the new 'Neuron' Flybarless controller. It seems to have a feature set as good or better than anything out there, and all at an amazing price (£93) and they don't nickel and dime you for software upgrades to turn on deliberately disabled features, like some i could mention!. And it can be used in helis, multi-rotors or planes, and no need to pay for new firmware.

If it's as good as it seems to be on paper then the established manufacturers have a big problem!

Link to website: Neuron Module!

Helicopters

• 9 Axis gyro system
• Very small and light
• Breakthrough new algorithms
• Ultra-fast calculations
• Unique performance and new flight feel
• New rescue mode with pitch management
• Dynamic select: three predefined flight types
• Setup and tuning as simple as possible
• Receiver auto-configuration
• RPM Governor auto-configuration
• Supports all cyclic servos
• Supports all tail servos

[Granpappy]

It's French. It will probably go on strike whilst your flying.

But in all seriousness it does seem to tick all the right boxes at a very competitive price.

[Peteski]

Interesting. I see it has a 3-axis compass along with the usual gyro and accelerometer, so should be able to keep a track of the heading and orientation. Could be really good if the implementation is sound. I wonder why they are pitching it so cheap? Maybe as a loss leader or are they setting a genuine precedent for future FBL unit pricing? The Spirit is generally considered "cheap" at £150 and most other serious contenders are still £200+ with a proper bailout/SL function. £93 seems almost too good to be true!

[philipjdall]

I don't choose my fbl unit on feature list or price, I choose it on feel. how easy it is to tune also counts.

The price is an introductory price anyway, so who knows what the real price will be.

[myxiplx]

I believe this has been created by the chap behind the Brain / Ikon unit, so it's certainly got potential. This is the smaller model, with a big brother coming soon. There are a lot of details on Helifreak, including replies from the designer himself:
EZnov Neuron - HeliFreak

And he's posted wiring diagrams for the three model types (Heli / Plane / Quad)
[NEURON] Wiring diagrams - HeliFreak

[Grumpy]

Thanks for the link to Helifreak, the larger version looks even better:

• ULTRA POWERFUL latest generation microcontroler STM32F4 with floating point unit
• 10 connectors for a high power installation and plug tons of servos
• 2 smart bind sats connectors
• Support for H4 helis, hexacopters, octocopters, planes with multiple servos per function, etc.
• Built-in barometer (altitude hold)
• Support for external GPS (position hold)
• Built-in FLASH memory for complete logging of any flight parameter, and analyse them directly in the software

This one ticks every box that I can think of, then some. The spec seems to be ahead of just about anything on the market at the moment. I'll be ordering one of these as soon as available if the pricing is in the same ballpark as the 'mini' version.

[Grumpy]

... £93 seems almost too good to be true!

My opinion (for what it's worth) is that established manufacturers have been fleecing us. The cloners have shown beyond doubt that the basic hardware can be retailed for £15-£20 delivered to your door, and the manufacturers and distributors must still make a profit at that. Fair enough if you add in the cost of software, support, and development etc. than the price will increase significantly, but is ten times more expensive really justifiable? Than some of them not happy with charging top dollar, then charge a load more to turn on deliberately disabled features (this seems to be a German thing!).

I'm really pleased that someone is stirring up the pot by bringing to market a top featured FBL controller at a price that must seriously embarrass other manufacturers. Introductory price maybe, but my bet is the regular price wont be much, if any, more. I hope it's a runaway success and other manufacturers have to respond.

This is of course just my opinion, others will have their own thoughts.

[Bob H]

Colour me intrigued. The first (none affiliated) reviews are going to be an interesting read/watch.

[Peteski]

My opinion (for what it's worth) is that established manufacturers have been fleecing us. The cloners have shown beyond doubt that the basic hardware can be retailed for £15-£20 delivered to your door, and the manufacturers and distributors must still make a profit at that. Fair enough if you add in the cost of software, support, and development etc. than the price will increase significantly, but is ten times more expensive really justifiable? Than some of them not happy with charging top dollar, then charge a load more to turn on deliberately disabled features (this seems to be a German thing!).

I'm really pleased that someone is stirring up the pot by bringing to market a top featured FBL controller at a price that must seriously embarrass other manufacturers. Introductory price maybe, but my bet is the regular price wont be much, if any, more. I hope it's a runaway success and other manufacturers have to respond.

This is of course just my opinion, others will have their own thoughts.

Being a free market with reasonable competition, price is all down to demand and supply. If someone can deliver this kind of tech to your door for £15 without cutting some serious corners along the way (like stealing intellectual property, exploiting their own labour force, tax avoidance, poor QC, poor customer support, etc, etc) then great. But I doubt that's a realistic target retail price for those doing it by the book. The danger is that the more conscientious players might drop out of the market and then you could just end up with a load of cheap tat to choose from.

But this does look like it could be a serious effort and if £93 is a genuinely sustainable retail price (and not simply a loss leader to get some units out there) then it's good news for the consumer. Might be worth stocking up on them too if they prove to be a success!

[Peteski]

Built in barometer sounds interesting. If you could set it up to trigger an automatic bailout at a min altitude that could be great for learning new moves. Not really interested in GPS though, might as well just spectate!

[Thor]

It would be interesting know how many FBL units are sold world wide annually. But as far as electronics is concerned, RC has got to be a niche market. Even if you assume that the gross profit for most (other) units is around £200, you still have to account for retail mark-up, distribution and support, before you even begin to recoup the development costs. At the end of the day, software development must be their number one cost. Good developers aren't cheap. This is not a business I would choose to be in for the profit.

*Disclaimer*
I am only trying to point out that in my opinion, the FBL controller market is not very attractive from a business point of view. I am not trying to defend anyone, and I am not in this business. I am a software developer myself, albeit in the arguably more lucrative enterprise software market - and even in that market it is quite hard to run a profitable business. So hats off to anyone trying to be successful building FBL controllers, much less trying to shake up the market.

[milly0812]

Surely the most important factor is how it flies ? And not the features or the price. No point if it has funny little ways or requires farting about to get it right like so many others already on the market and have failed because of it
I'm very happy with what I've got so won't be investing .........I'm out lol

[Jez N]

Awesome, i've been looking for some new printer cartridges! Cheaper than the canon ones too.......

[Peteski]

I'm very happy with what I've got

I could say that about many things, but doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. Personally I like to see things moving forward even if I'm happy with the present state, but I know others prefer the status quo.

[electricsceadu]

I could say that about many things, but doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. Personally I like to see things moving forward even if I'm happy with the present state, but I know others prefer the status quo.

a very brave man would say that to his wife
or should i say a very stupid man