Evaluate: CaddxFPV GM1, GM2, and GM3 Digital camera Gimbals - Setup and Firmware Replace Information

The CaddxFPV digital camera gimbals (GM1, GM2, and GM3) are designed particularly for the Walksnail Avatar Digital FPV system, providing a singular mix of superior options and high-quality video seize. On this overview, I’ll clarify the aim of those gimbals, stroll you thru the set up course of, and share my expertise utilizing them, together with sensible insights that will help you get probably the most out of this setup.

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Discover ways to arrange the Walksnail Avatar system right here: https://oscarliang.com/setup-avatar-fpv-system/

The place to Purchase

You should buy the CaddxFPV Gimbals from:

These gimbals are available in three variations: GM1 (single-axis), GM2 (dual-axis), and GM3 (three-axis). Every mannequin gives various levels of motion freedom, with the GM3 being probably the most superior and versatile, but it surely has 3 motors, so it’s additionally the heaviest.

What’s within the Field:

GM3 Gimbal
Person Handbook
Two cables: One with 4 wires and one other with 8 wires

Why Use Caddx’s Gimbals and Headtracking?

Headtracking, mixed with a digital camera gimbal in your plane, offers you exact management over the place your digital camera factors, enhancing the immersive FPV expertise. Whereas DIY digital camera gimbal setups with servos have been utilized in FPV earlier than, they typically include technical challenges and jittery motion resulting from low-resolution servos.

Enters the Caddx Gimbals, a extra polished {and professional} product made by Caddx. These gimbals are designed to work seamlessly with Walksnail Avatar HD goggles, permitting head monitoring with minimal effort. The gimbal contains a built-in MIPI cable, which means all you’ll want to do is join your Walksnail digital camera and VTX to the gimbal.

With the Walksnail Goggles L head tracker, the gimbal follows your head actions, simulating a cockpit view for a extremely immersive FPV expertise. These gimbals use brushless motors for easy and exact motion, eliminating the necessity for complicated wiring and making the setup easy.

Moreover, these gimbals will be managed by way of PWM indicators from third-party {hardware} like your radio or flight controller, making them versatile for various setups.

Past head monitoring, the gimbals additionally assist scale back digital camera shake throughout flight, delivering clearer and smoother footage, even in unstable environments. The soft-mounted design utilizing rubber grommets additional reduces vibrations, bettering video high quality.

When To not Use Gimbals

Digital camera gimbals are glorious for floor automobiles, planes, or drones with autonomous mission functionality, however they will not be appropriate for each kind of flying.

For freestyle FPV drones, utilizing a gimbal can intervene along with your capacity to guage the drone’s perspective, making it complicated and tough to regulate. Moreover, for long-range flights, gimbals may not be preferrred in the event you’re utilizing directional antennas in your goggles. Shifting your head would misalign the antenna, probably inflicting sign loss. Hopefully this could possibly be mitigated by utilizing a floor station with the Walksnail VRX on a tripod, however I’m not positive if the VRX will be made suitable sooner or later.

Compatibility

Sadly, the 6-axis head tracker within the Walksnail Goggles X shouldn’t be suitable with Caddx Digital camera Gimbals. A 9-axis head tracker, just like the one in Goggles L, is required. Nonetheless, Caddx has introduced plans to launch a brand new head tracker board for Goggles X, which ought to resolve this difficulty. I’ll get one and present you guys the way to change it within the Goggles X when it’s out there.

The GM1, GM2, and GM3 gimbals are suitable with most Walksnail VTX fashions, however there are exceptions. As an example, these gimbals can’t be used with the V1 VTX, Mini 1S, Nano V3, or the GT VTX. Nonetheless they’re suitable with the V2 VTX, V2 VTX Twin, and Moonlight VTX.

Specs

GM1:

Digital camera Compatibility: 19mm FPV Digital camera
Picture Stabilization: ±0.005°
Max Controllable Pace: ±1500°/s
Max Managed Rotational Vary: Pitch ±120°
Dimension: 32.2×38.1×20.5mm
Weight: 16g
Management Mode: PWM / UART
Head Monitoring Management: Supported
Voltage: 7~26V
Static Energy Dissipation: 1.0W

GM2:

Digital camera Compatibility: 19mm FPV Digital camera
Picture Stabilization: ±0.005°
Max Controllable Pace: ±1500°/s
Max Managed Rotational Vary: Pitch ±120°, Roll ±60°
Dimension: 46.7×46.5×26.2mm
Weight: 30g
Management Mode: PWM / UART
Head Monitoring Management: Supported
Voltage: 7~26V
Static Energy Dissipation: 1.2W

GM3:

Digital camera Compatibility: 19mm FPV Digital camera
Picture Stabilization: ±0.005°
Max Controllable Pace: ±1500°/s
Max Managed Rotational Vary: Pitch ±120°, Roll ±60°, Yaw ±160°
Dimension: 50×46.5x53mm
Weight: 46g
Management Mode: PWM / UART
Head Monitoring Management: Supported
Voltage: 7~26V
Static Energy Dissipation: 1.5W

Tips on how to Setup Caddx Gimbals

The GM3 gimbal will be managed in two methods:

Utilizing UART: Should you plan to make use of the Walksnail Goggles’ head monitoring function, UART is the way in which to go. Join the 4-wire cable (black, white, pink, and grey wires) to the gimbal for this setup.
Utilizing PWM: If you wish to management the gimbal via third social gathering {hardware}, like a change in your radio, you need to use PWM indicators. For this, use the 8-wire cable on the gimbal.

Notice: UART and PWM can’t be used concurrently.

Firmware Replace

Earlier than establishing the gimbal, be sure that your suitable Walksnail VTX and Goggles have firmware model 38.43.4 or newer.

Set up Course of

Put together the Digital camera: Begin by eradicating the 4 screws on the again of the digital camera and gently detach the coaxial cable utilizing tweezers or your fingernail.
Connect the Gimbal: Join the GM3 gimbal’s coaxial cable to the digital camera, making certain it’s safe. Mount the digital camera onto the gimbal and screw it in, being cautious to not pinch or bend the coaxial cable.
Join the VTX: Take away the duvet plate on the VTX unit, change the unique coaxial cable with the gimbal’s cable.
Wire the Setup:
- For head monitoring, use the 4-wire cable (black, white, pink, and grey wires) between the gimbal and the VTX.
- For PWM management, use the 8-wire cable.

Powering On

Energy on each the GM3 gimbal and the Walksnail VTX concurrently.
Flip in your Walksnail Goggles L.
Within the Goggles L settings, allow head monitoring and set the mode to “PTZ” (Pan-Tilt-Zoom).
The gimbal ought to now observe the actions of your head. If the gimbal is off-center, press the again button on the goggles thrice to recalibrate. Additionally you’ll be able to simply re-center the gimbal by urgent the again button on the goggles thrice—useful for correcting orientation mid-flight.

Gimbal Firmware Replace

The gimbal itself runs by itself firmware, which you would possibly wish to replace recurrently. Nonetheless, the gimbals don’t include the required cable and FTDI adapter (USB to serial adapter) for updating the firmware, which i discover a bit inconvenient.

Obtain Firmware Replace Program

To maintain your gimbal performing optimally, it’s necessary to replace its firmware. Nonetheless, Caddx doesn’t present the required cable and FTDI adapter (USB to serial adapter), so you will have to amass one.

Obtain Firmware: Use the improve cable to attach the improve port, join the opposite finish to the PC, and go to https://caddxfpv.com/pages/download-center/ to obtain the Gimbal Config.exe software program.
Extract the Recordsdata: As soon as downloaded, extract the information to your most well-liked vacation spot folder in your pc. Contained in the extracted folder, you’ll discover subfolders and information, together with a “gimbal config” folder.

Join the Gimbal to the Programming Machine

You will want a USB TTL (or FTDI) adapter to interface your pc with the gimbal. Right here’s the way you do it:

Wiring the Connections:
- GND: Join the bottom pin from the gimbal to the bottom on the USB TTL module.
- TX: Join the transmit pin (TX) from the gimbal to the obtain pin (RX) on the USB TTL module.
- RX: Join the obtain pin (RX) from the gimbal to the transmit pin (TX) on the USB TTL module.
Present Exterior Energy: The gimbal wants exterior energy throughout the replace course of.

Updating the Firmware

Begin the Firmware Replace Course of:
- Plug the USB TTL module into your pc’s USB port.
- Restart the gimbal_config.exe software program to make sure it detects the right COM port.
- Click on on the “Open Port” button. It is best to see real-time sensor information from the gimbal, confirming that it’s correctly related.
Start the Firmware Improve:
- Click on on the “Open Firmware” button and navigate to the folder the place you downloaded the firmware.
- Choose the firmware file and click on “Begin Improve.”
- A progress bar will seem, indicating the standing of the improve. The replace course of is fast, taking only a few seconds to finish.
Full the Improve:
- As soon as the replace is completed, the standing will show “Firmware improve full.”
- Disconnect the USB TTL module out of your pc and the gimbal.

Conclusion

The CaddxFPV Gimbals convey a brand new dimension to FPV flying and RC crawling, notably when used with the Walksnail Avatar HD system. Though there are some limitations, similar to the shortage of compatibility with the Walksnail Goggles X, and the necessity for added cables for firmware updates, the general efficiency and ease of use make the Caddx Gimbals a compelling possibility for FPV pilots wanting so as to add head monitoring to their flights.