I’ve been wanting ahead to testing the DeepSpace Seeker35 for some time. I’ve genuinely liked the Seeker3, and I used to be curious to see how this barely bigger platform would carry out. However I didn’t anticipate this compact 3.5-inch FPV drone can rival 5inch by way of pace! It additionally has all the fashionable options like DJI O4 Professional help and GPS Rescue / Return-to-House. On this evaluation, I’ll break down its strengths, weaknesses, and who this drone is de facto for.
Try my evaluation of the smaller DeepSpace Seeker3: https://oscarliang.com/deepspace-seeker3/
The place to Purchase
You may get the DeepSpace Seeker35 from:
Right here’s what within the field:
- Two units of Gemfan Hurricane 3630 tri-blade propellers (8 complete)
- 2 battery straps (identical size)
- USB-C cable
- Stickers and fundamental directions
- Additional black aspect panels (orange panels come pre-installed)
- Digicam mounting {hardware} (DJI O4, DJI O3, and analog digital camera choices)
- Additional screws and a GoPro-style mount
Specs
- Body Wheelbase: 167mm
- Flight Controller: HAKRC F722 (ICM42688-P gyro, 16MB Blackbox, barometer)
- ESC: 40A 4-in-1 BLHeli_32
- Motors: Aether 2006 2550KV
- Propellers: Gemfan 3630 triblade
- Appropriate FPV Programs: Analog / DJI O4 Professional / DJI O3
- Battery Connector: XT60
- Enter Voltage: 6S LiPo
- Beneficial Battery Vary: 6S 1050–1400mAh
- Arm Thickness: 4mm
- Weight (with DJI O4 Professional, no battery): 280g
- Weight (with 6S 1100mAh LiPo): 473g
Body Choices: Deadcat vs True-X
The Seeker35 is offered in two body variants:
- Deadcat (examined right here): The entrance arms are swept again to maintain propellers out of the digital camera view—particularly helpful for broad FOV cameras just like the DJI O4 Professional.
- True-X: Usually most well-liked by hardcore freestyle pilots.
For many pilots, I like to recommend the Deadcat model. It’s merely extra versatile—nice for cinematic photographs whereas nonetheless performing very effectively for freestyle. In real-world flying, most individuals gained’t discover a significant distinction in dealing with between the 2.
Be taught extra about body right here: https://oscarliang.com/fpv-drone-frames/
Design and Construct High quality
The construct high quality is superb—premium with out feeling delicate. A number of design selections stood out instantly.
Aluminum Entrance Digicam Cage
The entrance aluminum digital camera cage design feels just like the Seeker3, additionally helps DJI O4 Professional, O3, and analog digital camera mounting choices, so that you’re not locked right into a single FPV choice. The digital camera angle adjustment vary could be very broad (roughly 5° to 45°), which is right when you swap between relaxed cinematic cruising and quick freestyle flying.
Aspect Panels
The injection-molded plastic aspect plates do extra than simply look good—they successfully defend the electronics from filth and particles. Usually, I’m not a fan of aspect panels on small quads as a result of added weight. Nonetheless, the Seeker35 has a lot energy that just a few additional grams don’t actually matter, and the added safety is helpful when you’re flying in moist or muddy situations.
DeepSpace additionally contains two coloration choices within the field, which is a pleasant contact.
Carbon Fibre Body
The carbon fibre body feels strong and powerful:
- 2mm high and backside plates
- 4mm arms
The development could be very stiff and exhibits no flex when twisted by hand, which is precisely what you need for each flight efficiency and sturdiness.
TPU Mounts
The antenna and GPS mounts are produced from 3D-printed TPU and look effectively completed.
Weight
Though the Seeker35 is a 3.5-inch micro drone, it’s clearly not designed to be sub-250g. With the DJI O4 Professional put in, the quad weighs round 270g and not using a battery, and with a 6S 1100mAh LiPo, the overall weight is available in at roughly 472g.
Digital Elements
I took the quad aside to see what’s inside, there are 10 screws on the highest plate that you must take away, which feels a bit extreme.
GPS Module
The GPS module is mounted beneath the entrance GoPro-style digital camera mount, properly hidden away. Some folks may fear about GPS sign with a plastic cowl above it, however in my testing, GPS efficiency was completely acceptable, so it doesn’t appear to be a difficulty in follow.
That stated, I do suppose putting the GPS below the GoPro mount is a foul concept. Whereas it’s good that the GPS is positioned on the entrance, distant from VTX antenna interference, it does introduce a possible drawback when you determine to mount an motion digital camera on the entrance. Though most customers most likely gained’t hassle with an motion cam for the reason that DJI O4 Professional is already very succesful, including one may bodily block the GPS or introduce interference from the digital camera throughout flight.
Motors
The motors are 2006 2550KV, that are most likely the most important motors I’ve seen on a 3.5-inch drone.
Flight Controller and ESC
The Seeker35 makes use of the identical 20×20mm FC/ESC stack because the Seeker3: an F722 flight controller paired with a 40A BLHeli_32 4-in-1 ESC.
Nonetheless, on this mannequin the FC is rotated 90 levels, and I’m not a fan of this design determination. This was possible completed to accommodate the aspect panels, which block direct entry to the USB port.
To work round this, DeepSpace added a USB extension cable, which in flip requires the FC to be rotated.
This feels a bit pointless and will trigger confusion down the road, particularly for novices who have to reconfigure the drone after flashing Betaflight firmware in a while.
One other downside is the boot button, which is buried deep contained in the body behind the capacitor. Realistically, if that you must press it—one thing that often is required when flashing firmware—you’ll must partially disassemble the drone.
General, the FC format and accessibility aren’t as refined as on another micro BNF drones from manufacturers like SpeedyBee or GEPRC.
Energy and FPV {Hardware}
The battery connector is an XT60 (not XT30) and is mounted on to the highest plate. It is a good design selection—there’s no dangling battery result in threat prop strikes.
The DJI O4 Professional Air Unit is mounted on the rear with quick access to each the SD card slot and USB port.
There’s additionally a buzzer built-in beneath the body, neatly tucked away, which is a intelligent and clear implementation.
The receiver is mounted inside an injection-molded plastic protector beneath the drone. This not solely protects the electronics but additionally provides to the general premium really feel of the construct.
ESC Firmware
The ESC comes preloaded with an older BLHeli_32 firmware (v32.8). In my testing, it labored high quality and didn’t trigger any points. Nonetheless, it’s price noting that BLHeli_32 growth has formally ended, that means no future updates shall be accessible. You possibly can learn extra about that right here: https://oscarliang.com/end-of-blheli_32/
Solder Joints
All of the soldering work appears to be strong: motor wires on ESC, XT60 and many others.. However I simply want they put some liquid electrical tape or glue on the XT60 joints to keep away from unintended quick circuit.
Putting in DJI O4 Professional
The quad I obtained didn’t include FPV system, so I needed to set up the DJI O4 Professional air unit myself — however the course of is easy, right here’s a fast overview.
Take aside the drone, and take away the left aspect panel, the connector for the DJI O4 Air unit is situated on the left aspect of the FC.
The cable for the O4 is included within the field. You possibly can depart the SBUS wire related. It’s wired to UART3 (RX3) on the FC, which isn’t used, so it shouldn’t trigger any issues. Nonetheless, when you plan to make use of UART3 for one more peripheral, make certain to take away the SBUS wire from the harness or it may trigger conflicts.
Be aware that the O4 Professional Air Unit connects to UART4, however it’s NOT configured in Betaflight. To configure it, comply with directions on this information: https://oscarliang.com/how-to-setup-dji-o4-pro/#Setup-OSD-in-Betaflight
Steps:
- Go to Presets tab, seek for “osd for dji”, choose the preset that comes up.
- Within the choices, choose “map to displayport”, “set HDOSD”, and UART4. Click on Save and Reboot button.
- Lastly, go to the OSD tab in Betaflight Configurator. Beneath Video Format, guarantee HD is chosen.
That’s it.
Flight Efficiency
DeepSpace recommends 6S batteries from 1000mAh to 1400mAh, which is actually the identical vary utilized by most 6S 5-inch freestyle drones. I examined the Seeker35 with BetaFPV Lava 6S 1100mAh and GNB 6S 1300mAh LiHV, and each proved to be wonderful choices for this quad.
Acceleration and Pace
Hover throttle sat at round 20%, and actually, the uncooked energy feels similar to a full-size 5-inch drone. This factor is principally a mini rocket.
In my testing, the Seeker35 reached a high pace of over 170 km/h, which is definitely larger than my GEPRC Vapor 5-inch, which topped out at round 165 km/h utilizing the identical battery. I didn’t consider it at first and repeated the check thrice, constantly getting the identical consequence. This makes it the quickest 3.5-inch quad I’ve examined to this point.
Acceleration felt nearly on the spot—small throttle inputs translate into huge actions. For those who’ve by no means flown a strong 5-inch earlier than, this quad will completely shock you.
Try some flight footage:
Dealing with and Smoothness
Regardless of being extraordinarily highly effective, the Seeker35 didn’t really feel uncontrolled. It’s extremely agile and nimble, but nonetheless manageable because of a comparatively linear throttle response—till you hit full throttle, at which level it actually turns right into a rocket. That stated, it doesn’t really feel fairly as exact as a 5-inch, particularly at excessive speeds.
The quad is nearly vibration-free, and with no props in view, it’s a wonderful platform for easy cinematic flying. It handles wind noticeably higher than the smaller Seeker3, though a full-size 5-inch nonetheless has the benefit relating to stability in harsher situations.
Noise
Regardless of being smaller, the Seeker35 is definitely louder than my 5-inch drones. That’s not shocking given how briskly it’s. The sound could be very high-pitched, and other people inside half a mile may most likely hear you flying.
Effectivity (Lengthy-Vary Potential)
The Seeker35 may be surprisingly environment friendly when flown gently. Nonetheless, as quickly as you begin flying aggressively, present draw ramps up rapidly, so flight time relies upon closely in your flying fashion and throttle administration.
With a 6S 1100mAh LiPo, I used to be getting round 5 minutes of flight time whereas flying onerous and doing freestyle strikes.
I additionally examined it with a 6S 3000mAh Li-ion pack from Auline. With light cruising, you’ll be able to anticipate 16-18 minutes of flight time. Cruising at 50 km/h, it ought to be able to masking roughly 13-14km of complete distance.
GPS and Rescue Mode
GPS lock is quick—below 1 minute to get an preliminary repair (round 8 satellites), with a most of 20 satellites after roughly 10 minutes.
GPS Rescue Mode is a incredible function — it’s basically a return-to-home operate that brings your drone again to its takeoff level if you lose sign. It’s particularly worthwhile for novices and long-range pilots who need peace of thoughts in case of a failsafe or lack of orientation.
Out of the field, GPS Rescue is configured because the failsafe motion, that means it’ll routinely activate when you lose sign. Nonetheless, it’s not assigned to a swap within the Modes tab, so that you’ll have to set that up if you would like to have the ability to activate it manually. In my testing, it labored reliably in open fields, however it is best to at all times fine-tune Rescue Mode settings to fit your flying surroundings.
Full tutorial right here: https://oscarliang.com/setup-gps-rescue-mode-betaflight/
Present Sensor Calibration
The present sensor isn’t correctly calibrated from the manufacturing facility and considerably overestimates present draw. Setting the amperage meter scale to 275 introduced the readings a lot nearer to actuality.
Higher PID Tune
The inventory PID and filter tune on the Seeker35 is already fairly good, and most pilots shall be completely completely happy flying it straight out of the field.
If I needed to be important, although, the inventory tune feels barely comfortable and never as snappy or locked-in as I personally desire. It’s a conservative tune, which is smart—it’s extra forgiving of bent props and minor vibrations. That stated, there’s undoubtedly room to tighten issues up and push the PIDs and filters additional to make the quad extra responsive and higher at dealing with propwash.
Do you need to see a customized tune? Let me know. If there’s sufficient curiosity, I’ll make one and share it on my Patreon.
The best way to Setup for First Flight
FC / ESC / RX Firmware:
- Flight Controller Board Goal: HAKRCF722V2(preloaded with Betaflight 4.4.3). Unique CLI Diff accessible right here.
- ESC Firmware: BLHeli32 (Model 32.8)
- Receiver: Generic ESP8285 PA 2.4GHz RX operating ExpressLRS v3.5.1
Setup Directions:
Connecting the drone to Betaflight Configurator:
- Setup the Modes Tab: Configure your arm swap, angle mode, and turtle mode. For steerage, see this tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/betaflight-modes/#How-to-Setup-Arm-Change
- In Energy tab, set Amperage Meter (present sensor) scale to 275 for extra correct present / mah drawn readings.
- Setup DJI O4 in Betaflight as I discussed in “Putting in DJI O4 Professional” part.
That’s it—your Seeker3 ought to now be prepared for its maiden flight!
Right here’s the included handbook, very fundamental and doesn’t embrace any photographs, not very newbie pleasant TBH, however for knowledgeable pilots you most likely don’t have to learn it in any respect.
FC wiring diagram:
Remaining Verdict: Ought to You Purchase the DeepSpace Seeker35?
The DeepSpace Seeker35 is among the strongest 3.5-inch quads I’ve examined to this point. Construct high quality is premium, the inventory tune is strong, GPS Rescue works out of the field, and it delivers that uncommon mixture of being wildly quick whereas nonetheless feeling controllable.
For those who’re prepared for a compact adrenaline machine that seems like a 5-inch drone in a smaller body, the Seeker35 is a simple suggestion.
Seeker35 vs 5-Inch
From left to proper: GEPRC Vapor 5inch, Seeker35, Seeker3
You possibly can fly the Seeker35 very similar to a 5-inch. It’s simply as quick—if not sooner—wonderful for aggressive flying, and able to easy cinematic photographs too. Nonetheless, it’s not going to completely change a 5-inch.
If you would like a drone that may actually do every part outside, a 5-inch stays the extra versatile selection for most individuals when you’re above the 250g mark. It carries full-size motion cameras effortlessly, is extra succesful for hardcore freestyle, and tends to be extra environment friendly for cruising. With a big Li-ion battery, a 5-inch can even double as a really succesful long-range platform.
By way of noise, the Seeker35 is simply as loud as a 5-inch—if not louder—attributable to its higher-pitched sound profile.
The Seeker35’s foremost benefit is solely measurement.
Seeker3 vs Seeker35
Regardless of solely a 0.5-inch distinction in prop measurement and using the identical FC/ESC stack, the Seeker3 and Seeker35 belong to fully completely different lessons relating to uncooked energy.
Left: Seeker35; Proper: Seeker3
The Seeker35 is considerably sooner and extra highly effective, basically on par with a 5-inch. If you would like a quad that’s quick and extra wind-resistant, the Seeker35 is clearly the higher selection.
Nonetheless, the load distinction is substantial. If staying below 250g issues to you, the Seeker3 is the plain choice. It’s simpler to hold, extra travel-friendly, and higher suited to flying discreetly in smaller parks. It’s additionally a lot quieter, whereas the Seeker35 is as loud as a 5-inch—if not louder.
In terms of vary, each drones use comparable {hardware} (DJI O4 Professional and ELRS), so uncooked RF vary is comparable. The true limiting issue is flight time. The Seeker35 has a bonus right here since it may carry bigger batteries, together with Li-ion packs. That stated, neither drone is actually designed for long-range flying—if that’s your purpose, a purpose-built platform just like the Flywoo Explorer could be a more sensible choice.
Anyway, you actually can’t go incorrect with both drone actually, each provide wonderful efficiency and top-notch construct high quality—it simply comes down as to whether you prioritize uncooked energy, weight or noise.
Try my evaluation of the smaller DeepSpace Seeker3: https://oscarliang.com/deepspace-seeker3/