By technical editor Matt Allard:
The HexH2o claims to be the worlds first waterproof production multirotor housing a gimbal, that allows you to capture fully stabalised video from both above and below water. Designed and built by Thailand based QuadH2o the HexH2o comes in either kit form or pre-assembled ready to fly, or swim!
The body is made of Epoxy fibre composite which makes it very strong, lightweight and rigid. The viewing dome is perspex whilst the rear hatch and various internal parts are 3D printed. The booms, top plate and motor mounts are carbon. Although It’s been designed to be a sealed, water-tight unit, it does feature two breather tubes which allow the barometer to measure outside air pressure.
It was designed specifically to carry a GoPro. Paired with the Zenmuse-h3-3d gimbal and Gopro 3, 3+ or 4, QuadH2o claims you can capture amazing footage both above and below the waterline. While it technically does’t go under the water, the camera actually sits below the waterline and allows for up to 90 degrees of vertical filming. Don’t expect to take it out into the surf as it has been designed to be operated in calm waters.
It can stay up in the air for up to 25 minute flight with a 2 lipo set up and approximately 15 minute flight times when using a single lipo. The drone with a GoPro weighs in at 10.4 lbs (4.7kg) and can be controlled using a DJI Naza, a popular flight controller for multirotor drones. The overall size of the HexH2o is L650mm x W740mm x H240mm (unfolded). The body size is L400mm x W380mm x H150mm. Transport (box) size (when folded) would need to be W750mm x L380mm x H240mm (internal dimensions).
Amazingly QuadH2o claim it is built for speed and agility, easily keeping up with jet skis, speed boats and other water based vehicles. This is flying speed not the speed on the water.
The HexH2o has been designed and tested utilising the DJI E600 tuned propulsion system and that is what is recommended in order to achieve the best results from the HexH2o. However if you want to use your own configuration you will need 400KV brushless motors and 30A SimonK ESCs.
The HexH2o ready to fly kit is $3,755US (that does not include the GoPro or batteries) and includes the following:
Complete HexH2o RTF kit
Painted body (yellow) – all mounting holes pre-cut
Foam buoyancy aids & retainer strips
Rear hatch door with retaining clips and seal
Perspex viewing dome with retaining clips and seal
Bolt and grommet kit
6 x Black Anodized ESC heat sinks (frame holes pre cut)
Carbon top and bottom plates
6 x Carbon Fibre 16mm arms
6 x Lightweight motor mount assembly
Cooling Fan
6 x Folding centre arm assembly
Removable electronics tray with Naza, fan and gimbal mounts
Distribution board and mount
Custom GPS Mount
10 x Cable location mounts & cable ties
3M Tape
HexH2o sticker kit
GoPro anti reflection cover
2 x HexH2o hex keys
HexH2o ‘first flight’ instructions
Professional Build
HexH2o kit pre-built and sealed as per our build guide
Extended motor leads
Fan installation
Electronics mounting and wire location installation
ESC heat sink mounting and frame installation
Custom wiring harness to distribution board
Naza V2 installed and configured
Transmitter programmed and switches set
Gimbal installation and tested
Fully bench tested
‘Ready To Fly’ Components
Hitec 2.4Ghz Aurora 9 Transmitter & 7 Channel receiver (UK charger plug)
DJI E600 Tuned Propulsion System (tuned motors, ESCs and props)
DJI iOSDMini
DJI Naza V2 with GPS
XT60 connectors (other types available on request)
3.5mm gold plated connectors
DJI Zenmuse H3-3D Gimbal
ImmersionRC 5.8Ghz video transmitter (This item may require a licence to operate in your country. Please read notice below.)
7″ Black Pearl Monitor with built in battery and 5.8Ghz diversity receiver (no blue screen, no messy wires) & hard sun hood (UK charger plug)
FPV monitor mount (mounts monitor to TX)
ImmersionRC Spironet Antennas (for monitor and HexH2o)
ImmersionRC Patch Antenna (for monitor)
SMA extension lead
SMA adaptor
A do it yourself kit retails for $995US if you feel like taking on a project and sourcing a lot of the additional components yourself.
While QuadH2o claim their HexH2o is a world first, I did a little research and found another drone called the Mariner from a company called Ambient Real Life that has also been around since last year.
