NewBeeDrone LionBee 3-inch 1S 18650 Long Range FPV Drone Kit: Build, Setup, and Flight Performance Review

Mediocre Nerd

Summary:

The video reviews the NewBeeDrone LionBee, a 3-inch long-range micro quadcopter kit designed to improve upon previous 1S 18650 drones.

• Kit Components: It features a large all-in-one flight controller with an integrated battery holder (18g), an 800mW VTX, a durable 3mm thick X-design carbon fiber frame, M10 GPS with compass, 1202 11420kv motors, and tri-blade props.
• Build Process: Assembly is beginner-friendly, requiring a 1.5mm hex key and soldering iron for motor wires. A key issue found was the included motor bolts being too long and the battery terminal ends loosening after crashes, causing power inconsistencies.
• GPS Setup: Detailed steps for Betaflight configuration, including calibrating, adjusting baud rate, lowering P loop frequency, disabling magnetometer (for simplicity), and setting up GPS rescue.
• Flight Performance: The drone offers impressive power for its class, similar to 1S quads, but the stock tune was not ideal. The main highlight is its long-range capability.
• Long-Range Test: Achieved a maximum distance of 4.3 km on a single 18650 battery during a challenging flight, resulting in a 9 km round trip.
• Verdict: While powerful, durable, and excellent for long range, the recurring problem of loose battery terminal contacts is a significant drawback.

Introduction [00:00]

The video introduces the NewBeeDrone LionBee, a new long-range micro quadcopter, claiming to offer breakthroughs that redefine single-cell 18650 long-range FPV.

• Background on 18650 Drones: Single-cell 18650 drones became popular in 2021 with the Recon Nano, known for cheap batteries and over 15 minutes of flight time.
• Previous Drawbacks: However, these drones were typically underpowered due to heavy batteries, fragile, and had limited range (350mW VTX output).
• LionBee's Promise: The LionBee aims to improve upon these shortcomings by offering more power, durability, and extended range.

Kit Overview [01:08]

The video details all components included in the LionBee Developer Kit.

• Flight Controller & Battery Holder Combo:
  • This is the largest all-in-one (AIO) flight controller the reviewer has seen, weighing about 18g with the battery holder.
  • The large size is attributed to its 800mW VTX output, which is double that of normal AIO flight controllers and aids in heat dissipation.
  • It features 5 amp ESCs, which were found to be sufficient.
  • Concerns:
    • Durability: As an AIO, if one component breaks, the entire unit needs replacement.
    • Frame Compatibility: It has unique mounting hole patterns, requiring custom frames if not using the provided one.
  • Positives:
    • Simplicity: The AIO design offers simplicity.
    • Battery Tray: The integrated battery tray is well-designed and includes reverse polarity protection.
    • Terminal Ends: It uses 0.5mm brass ends for efficient power transfer, though their long-term durability against wearing out (a known issue with Recon Nano) remains to be seen.
• Frame:
  • The LionBee frame features an X-design, is 3mm thick, and feels very sturdy, indicating good durability.
  • It is possibly made of higher-grade T700 carbon fiber and has chamfered edges, a nice touch.
  • Comparison: It is larger and less flexible than the Krux 3 frame and weighs about double (10g vs 5g).
• Motors:
  • The kit includes 1202 11420kv motors, which appear to be of good quality and suitable for 1S lithium-ion builds.
• GPS:
  • A tiny, lightweight M10Q micro GPS module with a compass is included.
  • The M10 chip and compass are expected to significantly improve return-to-home and position hold functions.
• Props:
  • Standard tri-blade props are included, which was a surprise as bi-blades are often preferred for similar builds due to better performance and less prop wash. The reviewer plans to compare both.

    

• Camera:
  • The BeeEye V2 camera is tiny and lightweight but offers only decent quality, making it an easy future upgrade.
• Antenna:
  • A circular polarized right-hand antenna is provided for the VTX, which should offer better signal quality than standard dipole whip antennas.
• Battery (Purchased Separately):
  • The drone requires a high-discharge 18650 battery for optimal performance, specifically recommending the Nitro Nectar Gold 18650 (re-wrapped Ampace JP30) with a 36 amp continuous discharge rating.
  • These Ampace JP30 cells can be purchased cheaper from other 18650 vendors ($4-7 vs $10 per cell from NewBeeDrone).

    

• Freestyle Capability Claim: While primarily a long-range drone, it's claimed to handle light freestyle, though the reviewer is skeptical about the battery holder's ability to maintain sufficient power transfer for aggressive maneuvers.

The Build [06:27]

The assembly process for the LionBee kit is straightforward and beginner-friendly.

• Manual and Tools: The kit comes with a comprehensive manual featuring clear step-by-step pictures and screw sizing information. Essential tools are a 1.5mm hex key, a soldering iron, and solder.
• Plug-and-Play Design: Most components are plug-and-play, simplifying the build.
• Motor Wiring: Motor wires require soldering directly to the pads on the flight controller. This direct connection is chosen to maximize power transfer, which is crucial for this drone. The motor pads are generously sized, making soldering easy.
  • Preparation: Wires need to be cut from plugs, stripped, and tinned (though pre-tinning would have been a nice addition).

    

• Motor Bolt Issue: The included motor bolts (which come with the motors) were slightly too long. Using them caused one motor to bind slightly. The reviewer recommends using 4mm bolts for a proper fit.
• Wire Management: Strips of tape are provided for securing wires, contributing to a clean build.
• Battery Strap: A strap is necessary underneath the battery mount to prevent the battery from disconnecting easily during flight.
• Frame Bolt Installation: The bolts that anchor the components directly into the carbon fiber frame were a tight fit, causing some difficulty during assembly and even deforming the screwdriver tip.
• GPS Installation: The GPS wire threads easily through its mount and plugs in, simple and clean.
• Aesthetic and Weight: The finished quadcopter looks clean and appealing. The dry weight (without battery) is 64g, and the total weight (with battery) is approximately 112g.
• Initial Flight Controller Issue: The first flight controller received was a dud, failing to connect to the radio. NewBeeDrone support confirmed it was an isolated incident and sent a replacement.

GPS Setup [09:08]

Setting up the GPS rescue function correctly is critical for long-range flights.

• Betaflight Calibration:
  • Connect to Betaflight and calibrate the quadcopter to ensure it is level, which is essential for GPS rescue.
• Ports Tab Configuration:
  • Change the GPS baud rate in the Ports tab to a higher value for faster GPS operation.

    

• Configuration Tab Adjustments:
  • Lower the P loop frequency (e.g., to 4000) to reduce CPU load (which was initially at 45%).
  • Turn off the magnetometer, as it requires extensive calibration and can cause GPS rescue to malfunction if not set up correctly.

    

• Power & Battery Settings:
  • Adjust lithium-ion battery settings, setting the warning cell voltage to 3.0V (or higher for long-range reminders).
• Receiver & Modes Tab:
  • Verify receiver stick movements on the avatar.
  • Configure flying modes (Angle, Horizon, Acro) on Aux 2.
  • Assign a failsafe switch (e.g., Aux 3, switched all the way towards the pilot).
  • Assign a GPS rescue button (e.g., Aux 4).
  • Add an ESC beeper function (e.g., Aux 3 in the middle position).

    

• GPS Tab:
  • Enable Galileo for faster satellite acquisition.
  • Set "home point once" to record the home location on the first arming.
  • The GPS icon will turn yellow when at least five satellites are connected (it will be red indoors).

    

• OSD Tab:
  • Enable essential telemetry on the On-Screen Display: throttle position (for hover value), number of satellites, speed, distance from home, and a home arrow.
• Motors Tab:
  • Confirm correct motor order and spin direction.
  • Adjust motor idle to preference, noting it will affect the hover throttle value.
• Failsafe Tab (GPS Rescue Specifics):
  • Toggle on the GPS rescue option.
  • Choose between fixed altitude (e.g., 10m preset height) or max altitude (returns to highest flight altitude).
  • Leave speed ratings at default.
  • Crucially, set the throttle hover value accurately, then bump it up by approximately 5% to ensure the quadcopter ascends slightly at the start of GPS rescue, rather than falling.

    

• Testing GPS Rescue:
  • To test, fly at least 15m away (default setting).
  • Return to Home Test: Pressing the GPS return to home button successfully brings the drone back at a fixed altitude (10m) and descends near the launch spot.
  • Failsafe Test: Triggering failsafe (RX loss) causes the drone to automatically return home at 10m altitude, as expected.

Flight Impressions [14:56]

The initial flight experiences with the LionBee reveal both strengths and areas for improvement.

• Power and Handling: The drone demonstrated impressive power, comparable to 1S quads, and was not sluggish despite its weight.
• Stock Tune Issues: The stock tune was found to be unsatisfactory:
  • The throttle idle was set very high, making descent difficult.
  • Flight rates felt off, impacting maneuverability. These are all adjustable settings.
• Propeller Performance: The trib-blade props worked well, though some prop wash was observed, suggesting bi-blades might offer a smoother experience in that regard, at the cost of acceleration.
• Crash Behavior: Small crashes consistently caused the drone to power off, requiring a full power cycle before it could be re-armed, which was a minor annoyance.
• Persistent Battery Terminal Problem: A significant issue encountered was the loosening of the battery terminal ends after crashes.
  • This loss of firm contact results in inconsistent power delivery.
  • While temporarily fixable by bending the contacts back with pliers, it is a recurring problem that indicates NewBeeDrone has not fully resolved this weakness, which was also present in the Recon Nano.

    

• Durability: Aside from the antenna and battery terminals, the quadcopter proved to be very durable overall.

Long Range Test! [16:33]

The primary objective of the LionBee is long-range flight, and it was put to the test.

• Test Setup:
  • The reviewer used Skyzone 04O goggles with Menace RC Pico patch and Omni antennas, and a Radiomaster Pocket transmitter at 250mW output (250Hz).
  • On-screen display (OSD) showed distance from home and radio link strength.
• First Long-Range Attempt:
  • The drone surpassed the reviewer's previous micro quad record of 600m.
  • It reached 1.5km with a strong radio link and decent video feed.
  • Challenges: Flying into a strong headwind caused high throttle input and inefficient battery consumption.
  • An RX loss occurred but control was regained.
  • The decision was made to turn back at 2.5km due to low battery voltage (3.1V).
  • During the return trip, the battery voltage did not recover as hoped, landing with about 3V.
  • The round trip covered 9km, but was characterized by inefficient flying (speeds around 60 km/h).

    

• Second Long-Range Attempt (Improved Efficiency):
  • The reviewer adopted a more conservative throttle approach, aiming for better battery management.
  • This resulted in significantly better battery voltage (3.64V) at 2.6km.
  • The drone was pushed further, reaching a maximum distance of 4.3km, despite the video feed becoming quite degraded.
  • The radio link remained surprisingly strong even as the video feed broke up.
  • Battery voltage dropped dangerously low (around 3.0V) again, prompting the return.
  • Similar to the first attempt, the return journey was rushed, with speeds of 50-60 mph (should have been 30 mph), leading to inefficient battery use.
  • Dropping altitude helped conserve some battery on the way back.

    

  • An emergency landing was made in the park with critically low battery, though the drone remained connected.
• Result: The drone successfully completed a round trip of 9km, reaching a maximum one-way distance of 4.3km, showcasing impressive long-range capability for a micro drone.

Final Verdict [20:05]

The NewBeeDrone LionBee largely lives up to its claims, but with a notable flaw.

• Performance Evaluation: The LionBee is more powerful, durable, and offers better range than comparable drones in its class.
• Unresolved Issue: The persistent problem of the battery terminal fittings wearing out and causing inconsistent power remains a significant headache. This flaw was not addressed from previous 18650 drone designs.
• Overall Impression: Despite the terminal issue, the reviewer finds the LionBee to be an endearing and convenient aircraft, praising its captivating long-range ability.