Best position to attach strobe light on Air 3S

[BenThe]

Hello folks,

I just purchased a small strobe light to attach onto my Air 3S, so I am looking to find the ideal position on where I could attach the strobe light module. The module itself is small, about 40mm x 30 mm x 15 mm. The ideal position ideally (yes) offers the least disruption to fuselage airflow when flying forward and during side wind, while balancing weight distribution.

I heard the Air 3S is a bit front heavy due to the bigger gimble and Lidar module up front, but I couldn't really tell by trying to balance it on my fingers (I don't know how else to find the weight distribution, and I only have one small kitchen scale). Arm or bottom mounts are not considered as I consider those to severely impact weight distribution/sensor function.

I decided to put it about the mid point of the top of the fuselage, covering the DJI logo. I have seen photos online where the strobe light is placed near the front topside of the fuselarge, i.e. above the Lidar. Granted the sample aircraft is an Air 3, but I feel like the strobe light would interfere with the OA sensors or even the camera itself, while worsening the Air 3S's front heaviness.

Thoughts?

Example picture:

 

[MS Coast]

There are no worries about weight and balance issues with a strobe on that drone. The weight is insignificant and the intelligent independent speed control of the four motors precludes any balance issues. I've attached strobes with Velcro at the center of the top of the fuselage or slightly aft and never had issues, including GPS or sensor interference.

 

[motocatfish]

I have my top strobe where it is shown in your photo. Everything works fine.

I have a bottom strobe just behind the gimbal, so I can see the drone at night. When I point the gimbal straight down to see my landings, the camera gets the bright flashes across it from the bottom strobe. D'OH! So use a slow strobe setting.

Good luck!

Catfish ...

 

[wco81]

I noticed those available on Amazon refer to 3M Dual Lock mount.

What is this, it's some adhesive to put the mount on the drone and the strobe itself slides or snaps into the mount?

 

[MS Coast]

I noticed those available on Amazon refer to 3M Dual Lock mount.

What is this, it's some adhesive to put the mount on the drone and the strobe itself slides or snaps into the mount?

EDIT

3M Dual Lock is a hook-and-loop fastener material, akin to Velcro, but more secure. See post #9 by @Bigger Hammer.

I mount strobes with just Velcro. Light, simple, cheap, effective. Never had a problem.

 

[Cafguy]

Drones dont need to be balanced they are programed to make up for those things. (PID)

 

[BenThe]

Thank you for everyone's input! I have stuck it on basically the mid point of the fuselage topside. Considering the fuselage is tiled anywhere from 10 to maybe 45 degrees max during forward movement, the small bump from the strobe light probably didn't add too much to drag. Maybe a little bit more susceptible to side wind, but can't be helped.

Thanks all!

 

[Phantomrain.org]

If you only have 1 light and you want to get the best bang for your efforts , I recommend you use a compression band and place the Light on a tilt so you can see it from the ground as well as from the top, This give you so much more coverage with just one light, It would look something Like this but without the Wet Suit on your Air 3 or Air 3s or mavic 3 series drones. So you get Two Light sources as well as it keeping the balance of drone away from the Camera.




Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly your Drone in the Rain,

 

[Bigger Hammer]

Technically "3M Dual Lock" is not "hook and loop." That's Velcro.

Dual Lock is the same on both sides. It's a pad of "mushroom looking" doo-hickeys (yes, that's the technical term) that when pressed together, the heads of the mushrooms slide past each other and then lock into the base of the nearby, opposing mushrooms.

It closes with an audible "snap" that lets you know that the mushrooms have locked into one another.

Here's a link that shows the mushrooms and how they lock together. https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/dual-lock-reclosable-fasteners-us/. The site also describes various uses.

There are different strengths of hold available by mixing and matching various densities of the mushrooms.

Velcro can be clogged by media that gets between the two surfaces (hooks and loops), such as dirt, mud, snow, etc. Dual Lock can be cleaned with soap and water or air, and that restores the strength of the original setup. It doesn't sag, as Velcro may do in vertical applications, or where the materials are pulled in different directions.

Velcro usually increases in hold strength the longer it sits after joining the surfaces, as the hooks are always looking to grab more loops. Dual Lock is more linear in its holding strength, starting out strong and saying about the same, throughout its working life.