The RTF (Ready-To-Fly) drone offers an affordable option for those who want a successful FPV drone without the hassle of building one from scratch. Built on the foundation of SpeedyBee’s recently introduced technology, this innovative drone is designed to be flight-ready with minimal setup requirements, simply requiring a receiver to get airborne. Here’s a comprehensive assessment of the Mario 5: an unflinching examination of its unboxing, aerodynamic prowess, and definitive judgment on its merits as a worthwhile addition to your First-Person View (FPV) drone collection.
The drone comes in two versions: a standard model without a First-Person View (FPV) system, and another equipped with the DJI O3 Air Unit for enhanced immersive flight experiences. All models of fashion quadcopters utilize a uniform flight controller, electronic speed control (ESC), and frame design.
The Super Mario 5 can be accessed through two main methods:
- Delivers precise control, ideal for freestyle flighting. Although using the DJI O3 might result in visible propellers, potentially disrupting the seamless cinematography experience.
- When using a motion camera or the DJI O3, retaining the props out of frame enables cinematic-quality footage. If capturing high-quality video is a top priority, consider using a deadcat microphone with a body-style design.
I’m reviewing the equipment, which includes a DJI O3 camera and GPS technology.
Within this field lies.
- A set of four 5.12-inch by 4-inch by 3-inch propellers.
- : Two SpeedyBee rubberized straps.
- Spare components including screws, propeller mounts, additional faceplate units, and a receiver cable are available.
- : Mario 5
- : SpeedyBee Storm 2306.5 1880KV
- : SpeedyBee F405 V4
- SpeedyBee 55A 4-in-1 Brushless Speed Controller (Flashed with Bluejay Firmware)
- : DJI O3 Air Unit
- : HQ J40 5.1x4x3
- Aspect panels featuring integrated LED strips?
- : 6S 1000–1800mAh
- Market maximum velocity of 190 km/h.
- Within a 5-to-10-minute time frame.
- :
- With out battery: 497g
- With 6S 1100mAh: 697g
- Within a sleek package weighing just 1051g
The moment I removed the Mario 5 from its packaging, my initial impression was that this product resembles a piece of art. Its sleek design features transparent side panels and an integrated LED strip that adds a touch of flair without being overly flashy, creating a purposeful aesthetic. While considering weight optimization, eliminating these panels could have a marginal impact on flight efficiency, a task I will address in subsequent evaluation.
The chassis is designed with 6mm arms and paired with 0.5mm carbon fiber top and bottom plates, reinforced by a CNC aluminum digicam cage at the front for enhanced rigidity. The construction of this high-quality product is truly impressive, showcasing meticulous attention to detail through the precise routing of wires, robust motor mounting, and secure fastening mechanisms.
The design allows for a wide range of customization options, providing pilots with the flexibility to tailor their FPV systems to suit their specific needs and preferences.
While the aircraft’s engineering is commendable, whether advanced or not, the inclusion of elaborate ornamentation may be considered non-essential by many pilots. The sturdy 5-inch drone, tipping the scales at 497 grams without its battery, exudes a sense of crash-resilience, albeit perhaps slightly heavier than ideal for a 5-inch FPV drone. For comparison, which I recently reviewed, tips the scales at a mere 340 grams. While the Mario 5 features an analog quad setup, its weight increases by approximately 130 grams when considering the O3 Air Unit. It’s A LOT.
The iconic Mario startup sound, a delightful and nostalgic treat that brings a smile to gamers’ faces. When powered up, the Mario 5 plays an iconic rendition of the Mario theme song, accompanied by sound effects that bring the game’s characters to life. Although it’s a minor detail, it still adds to the overall pleasure of the experience.
The drone’s design incorporates a mounting area for a camera, which I would strongly recommend enhancing to facilitate GPS rescue mode functionality seamlessly. Having this feature enables your drone to autonomously return home when signal is lost, proving particularly useful for long-distance or uncharted flight operations.
The XT60 pigtail protrudes from the top plate, strategically positioned for ease of use, but may impede camera tilt if used with a GoPro. To gain greater flexibility in camera angles, relocating the XT60 connector to the rear may be a more practical approach.
The O3 Air Unit’s exterior features a sleek design, with aluminum facet panels serving as an efficient heat sink. Fortunately, you still enjoy convenient access to the USB-C port and SD card slot, making it a breeze to download O3 footage. Although I reside in an area where temperatures are cool enough to prevent overheating, I intend to remove the heat sink to reduce weight.
Considering Mario 5 aside, my initial impression was significantly influenced by SpeedyBee’s thoughtful approach to detail. The cables have been trimmed to precise dimensions, and the solder joints exhibit a clean and professional finish. While this meeting meticulously optimizes robustness, it also proactively mitigates long-term vulnerabilities—testament to SpeedyBee’s commitment to foresight in its design approach.
I additionally acknowledge that the synergy between components is seamless – the entire package comprising the body, flight controller, ESC, and motors, all sourced from the same model, harmoniously coexist to create a well-oiled machine where every component is meticulously calibrated to work in perfect synchrony with the others.
One major drawback is the lack of clarity on the flight controller’s display. To access the facet panel, you’ll need to remove a single screw beforehand.
The design doesn’t provide enough clearance for inserting a USB cable, making this a somewhat awkward experience.
To access the side panel, I removed the aluminum fin after the camera, allowing for easier opening. Alternatively, configure the drone using the SpeedyBee app on your smartphone, which allows for wireless control via Bluetooth connectivity.
The facet plate also shields the SD card slot on the flight controller, potentially presenting an issue if you intend to utilize Blackbox. To access it, you’ll need to remove the facet plate; I’ll guide you through this process later in the evaluation.
Technically, the Mario 5 lacks a receiver, rendering it inauthentic as a true bind-and-fly drone; rather, it functions as a mockup or dummy. While this unconventional approach may initially seem inconvenient, it actually provides the flexibility to select your preferred receiver type.
Installing a receiver with an ELRS system is remarkably uncomplicated. The drone comes equipped with a receiver cable that can be easily soldered to your preferred receiver, allowing for seamless integration and straightforward plugging into the drone. Here’s an improved version: With its straightforward installation process, you won’t need to completely disassemble the drone to get started, making it an appealing option for those eager to take to the skies quickly.
From lift-off, it was evident that this drone embodies a vital force. While the Mario 5’s overall weight bias is towards the heavier side, its motors – a relatively compact 2306.5 – still generate an impressive amount of thrust, despite being smaller than those typically found in 5-inch drones (often using 2207 motors). This lightweight yet powerful FPV drone delivers exceptional speed, precision, and agility, making it an ideal companion for thrilling aerial experiences.
The sleek Mario 5 effortlessly glides along at a steady 100 km/h, cruising with ease. The sleek design of this sports car makes it incredibly successful in high-speed chases.
While the inventory tune leaves some room for enhancement, it provides a smooth and uneventful flying experience. While the controls may appear slightly subdued due to their conservative tuning, they nonetheless strike a pleasant balance for novice pilots and those prioritizing smooth, cinematic flight experiences. To unlock the full potential of aggressive flyers in Mario Kart 5, subtle adjustments can significantly enhance responsiveness.
Here’s a graph of the noise characteristics in our inventory tone.
For a typical 6S 1100mAh LiPo battery, I achieved a consistent flight time of approximately 5:30 to 6:30 minutes, depending on the specific flying model utilized. While hovering at around 21% throttle with a fully charged battery, the quad’s performance is somewhat hampered by its heavier construction and smaller motors compared to other BNF quads – yet, it still delivers ample power and handles more adeptly in confined spaces.
The GPS performs smoothly, quickly acquiring a signal after just a few minutes. Regardless of this, you will still need to set it up yourself? I have some information right here to help anyone who needs assistance.
While the current sensor performs accurately outside the field, there’s potential to enhance its capacity by a factor of three for optimal results.
With minor tweaks to its design and operation, this drone’s efficiency could be significantly enhanced. Having invested two hours in crafting a tailored tune for this quad, I’ve made the settings available through my online presence. Through meticulous fine-tuning of filters and PID settings, I successfully refined the Mario 5’s performance, imbuing it with exceptional accuracy and responsiveness, yielding a highly reactive and agile flight experience ideal for freestyle maneuvers.
Here are a few shots from my flight footage to illustrate the difference.
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The default CLI dump of a file could be discovered and analyzed to reveal its structure.
Organizing the SpeedyBee Mario 5 FPV drone for its maiden voyage is a straightforward process:
- Solder your BetaFPV Nano 2400 receiver to ensure a secure connection.
- The DJI O3 module arrives fully activated, eliminating the need for any setup or configuration.
- For fine-tuning settings, including arming and mode adjustments, akin to an angle mode configuration.
- : Apply my OSD template:
- That’s it!
Pre-programmed with Bluejay firmware version J-H-40 0.19, operating at a sampling rate of 48 kHz, the ESCs arrive ready for immediate use, eliminating the need for any additional setup or configuration.
Before altering settings in Betaflight, consider removing the side plates first. Alternatively, the i icon on your cellphone indicates that you can configure settings remotely using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, ideal for quickly adjusting settings when moving between areas.
To reduce weight and achieve a discount, I optimized the design by streamlining components, such as removing the facet panels and O3 heatsink, where possible. While these embellishments may enhance the aircraft’s visual appeal, they inadvertently compromise its aerodynamic performance by introducing unnecessary mass. A 45-gram reduction in weight on a 5-inch quad setup is substantial.
While upgrading to a new O3 heatsink with standoffs, I noted that the device’s top plate measured precisely 23 millimeters in height, necessitating the use of 23mm standoffs for proper installation – an uncommon dimension that may warrant special consideration. I’ve got 22mm and 24mm standoffs, but unfortunately, there’s none in 23mm. In the end, I opted for a straightforward solution: using 22mm standoffs with a 1mm spacer to achieve the desired result.
While the Mario 5 boasts many impressive features, there are several aspects that could potentially benefit from further development.
- Accessing the USB port on the flight controller necessitates a partial teardown process. While the SpeedyBee app effectively addresses most configuration needs, a more straightforward USB interface would further enhance its usability.
- With an integrated ExpressLRS receiver, this setup becomes a true BNF (Bind-N-Fly) option, eliminating the need for extra soldering and meetings.
- At 497 grams, this 5-inch quad falls squarely on the heavier side of the spectrum. By removing the facet plates and steel components, the vehicle’s weight can be significantly reduced by up to 45 grams, resulting in enhanced agility and a more environmentally conscious design.
- The existing inventory tuning still presents opportunities for enhancement. While SpeedyBee has adopted a cautious approach, its conservative strategy provides a safety net against potential errors, reducing the risk of motor overheating; more skilled pilots may opt for a bolder configuration to maximize performance.
- It has flashy LED lights, but that’s about it. Let’s clarify the priority. 🙂
The SpeedyBee Mario 5 offers a convenient entry point into FPV racing or an upgrade to a powerful, pre-assembled 5-inch 6S quadcopter without the hassle of building one from scratch. The Mario 5 seamlessly integrates premium components, thoughtful engineering, and streamlined aerodynamics to deliver a comprehensive package that empowers pilots with an unparalleled flying experience, practically ready to take to the skies.
While some may view the requirement for a receiver as an added complexity in the setup process, and the body design’s limitations might pose some inconvenience, it’s essential to consider that neither of these factors is a showstopper. With subtle refinements, targeted adjustments, and unwavering dedication, these barriers can be surmounted.
With its reliable and sturdy construction, SpeedyBee’s Mario 5 FPV drone has successfully delivered a high-performance quad that meets the demands of discerning FPV enthusiasts for a seamless flying experience. If you’re in the market for a robust and reliable quadruped that eliminates the need to build one yourself, the Mario 5 is an excellent choice.
Are you seeking to enhance your freestyle performance? Try my tailored tuning option available at dot. Benefit from the flight!
