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Skycat XS for DJI Phantom 4
- Lightweight system (85g)
- Quick lock system : easy to attach and detach
- Launcher & parachute included
- Patented system
- Optimized parachute design, slower fall than comparable parachutes
- Battery & RC not included
- Real flight time for the Phantom 4 equipped with this parachute : 16 min
- Theoretical descent rate : 4.43 m/s (15 J)
The Skycat XS is a parachute system specifically designed for the Phantom 4.
Thanks to its hooks, the whole system can be easily snapped on the drone and as easily removed when you don't need it.
The launcher technology has been patented and allows to reduce servo wear and forbid the accidental ejection in case of a power loss.
Parachute :
The canopy of the parachute is designed to optimize the drag. The greater the drag, te slower the fall.
Compared to other parachutes, the XS is also more compact when folded.
Included :
The quick lock system, parachute lines (three meters), the parachute, the launcher system and a servo.
What you will need to add to trigger the parachute :
Controller and receiver for triggering, you will need to add your own remote system (or use the Phantom 4 receiver if possible). Skycat suggest to use a small and lightweight receiver such as the Spektrum AR610. You may use this receiver with any Spektrum controller. The simple 2 channels controllers from Spektrum, such as the ones use to control RC cars, starts at 60USD. To power the receiver, you will also need a small 2S battery, 350 mAh should be enough for most use cases and a voltage regulator.
Notes :
You will still need to stop the motors manually as indicated in the Phantom 4 manual.
You should rely on the parachute as last resort, if your drone flys away, it is recommended to try to regain control first.
The theoretical descent rate with this system deployed on a Phantom 4 with the Fruity 36-SL parachute 4.3 meters per second and the energy upon impact 15 Joules
| Total system weight (in ounces) | 5.3 |
| Parachute weight (in grams) | 65g / 2.3oz |
| Operating voltage | 2S |
| Maximum aircraft weight (in kg) | 1.39kg / 3lbs |
| Aircraft recommended weight range (in kilograms) | 1.39kg / 3lbs |
| Deployment method | Servo |
| Total system weight (in grams) | 150g / 5.3oz |
| Parachute weight (in ounces) | 2.3 |
| Maximum aircraft weight (in pounds) | 3 |
| Aircraft recommended weight (in pounds) | 3 |
| Supported Flight Control System | DJI Phantom 4 flight controller |
| Supported Multi-rotor | DJI Phantom 4 |
| Sink rate (in m/s) | 4.3 |
1. How many channels does the eject require from the receiver?
- Just one channel.
2. How quickly does the parachute eject from launch command?
- The parachute ejects within 0.08 to 0.2 seconds.
3. Does Skycat parachutes uses RC servos or CO2 pressure for launch?
- No they don't.
3. If they don't use servos or pressure, what is it that makes the parachute eject?
- The patent-pending method uses a strong spring, held in tension by a fuse. Once the fuse is blown by pilot's command, the parachute gets ejected. It's a multi-use system with high reliability and short reload time.
4. Does the launch harm the battery?
- Not in any way, about 30 A is pulled from the battery for a very shot time.
5. How strongly does the launcher need to be installed on the UAV frame?
- If it doesn’t fall by itself and can withstand eject recoil, it is enough. The parachute is attached to the UAV frame directly, which avoids strong forces to the launcher itself.
6. Does the launcher carry a parachute deploy impact forces and a copter weight?
- No, it just kicks the parachute out.
7. Where is the parachute attached to the copter?
- To the strongest points of your UAV frame, using the attachment set available in the store.
8. What is the correct size of the parachute?
- It depends how big of an impact is acceptable for you. See the tables below.
Descent metrics for a 2.5 m2 and IFC-48-S parachutes
| Drone weight, kg | Descent speed, m/s | Impact energy, joules | Freefall equivalent, meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | 4.6 | 37 | 1.08 |
| 4.0 | 5.1 | 52 | 1.32 |
| 4.5 | 5.4 | 65 | 1.47 |
| 5.0 | 5.7 | 80 | 1.63 |
| 5.5 | 5.9 | 97 | 1.80 |
| 6.0 | 6.2 | 115 | 1.96 |
| 7.0 | 6.7 | 157 | 2.29 |
| 8.0 | 7.2 | 205 | 2.61 |
| 9.0 | 7.6 | 260 | 2.94 |
| 10.0 | 8.0 | 321 | 3.27 |
| 11.0 | 8.4 | 388 | 3.59 |
| 12.0 | 8.8 | 461 | 3.92 |
| No parachute, comparison: | |||
| 10.0 | 50.0 | 12 500 | ∞ (infinity) |
Descent metrics for a 4 m2 and IFC-60-S parachutes
| Drone weight, kg | Descent speed, m/s | Impact energy, joules | Freefall equivalent, meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | 3.4 | 20 | 0.59 |
| 4.0 | 4.0 | 32 | 0.81 |
| 4.5 | 4.3 | 42 | 0.94 |
| 5.0 | 4.5 | 51 | 1.03 |
| 5.5 | 4.8 | 63 | 1.17 |
| 6.0 | 5.0 | 75 | 1.27 |
| 7.0 | 5.3 | 98 | 1.43 |
| 8.0 | 5.7 | 130 | 1.65 |
| 9.0 | 6.1 | 167 | 1.90 |
| 10.0 | 6.4 | 205 | 2.09 |
| 11.0 | 6.7 | 247 | 2.29 |
| 12.0 | 7.0 | 294 | 2.50 |
| No parachute, comparison: | |||
| 10.0 | 50.0 | 12 500 | ∞ (infinity) |
9. Does the launcher ship with an automatic eject system?
- No, the pilot is responsible for launching the parachute.
10. Does launcher support an automatic eject system?
- Yes it does. Connect the trigger unit to your autopilot's PWM eject command channel and it will work.
11. Is it possible to use more than one trigger units for redundancy?
- Yes, you can connect as many trigger units as you need. For Pilot, Autopilot, Camera operator and ground station for instance.
12. Is there a Skycat parachute for DJI Inspire 1?
- Yes, the X55 all-in-one launcher is ideal for DJI Inspire 1 in size.
13. Is there a Skycat parachute for DJI S900?
- Yes, the X68 all-in-one launcher with IFC-60-S parachute is ideal for DJI S900.
14. Is there a Skycat parachute for DJI Phantom?
- Not yet.
15. Does Skycat sell a flight terminator / kill switch?
No, but their trigger unit helps if you want to make a simple one yourself. Use large enough NC relay(s) for motor power. The trigger unit can open the circuit upon an eject request. Use a Y-split from the trigger unit to control the motor relays, and to blow the launcher fuse, simultaneously.
16. May I use 6S battery with Trigger
- Officially the answer is no. However, Skycat has run lab tests using a 6S/10Ah without problems. They don't officially support 6S yet, because they haven't had a chance to perform long-term evaluations with it.
