Overview of the Xiro Xplorer quadrocopter

Introduction

Zero UAV Intelligence Technology Co. Ltd is one of the most famous companies in the UAV world and beyond. Founded in 2007 in Beijing. The company is engaged in the design and development of highly intelligent unmanned systems for professional use, as well as small UAVs for private use. Zero UAV serves government and military departments, as well as research institutes in China. Their developments are used by a great many people. For example, what is the value of the GEMINI flight controller developed within the walls of the company, the potential of which has been appreciated by millions of customers around the world. In 2015, the company decided to please the private consumer and introduced a unique drone – XIRO XPLORER.

The design of the XIRO XPLORER drone has won the Design Award more than once.

Peculiarities

Impact resistant modular design
Variable ground clearance thanks to adjustable landing legs
Brushless power plant
GPS satellite positioning
14MP FHD camera built on 1/2.3-inch Panasonic CMOS sensor working in tandem with 3-axis mechanical gimbal (for V version)
3-axis mechanical gimbal adapted to mount GoPro 3rd and 4th generation cameras (for G version)
12MP 4K camera built on 1/2.3-inch Panasonic CMOS sensor working in tandem with 3-axis mechanical gimbal (only for 4K version)
3 activity modes
IOS mode (advanced analogue of the “Headless” mode)
Auto takeoff and landing
Hold position
First person flight (FPV)
Follow Me/Follow Snap Modes
Shooting mode “Retention rate”
Waypoint flight mode (up to 16 preset waypoints)
Return to Home Mode (RTH)
Max. flight time 25 min
Max. lifting height 120m
Max. removal distance 800m
Max. horizontal flight speed 28km/h
Ready to fly out of the box

Equipment

The manufacturer offers 3 configuration options:

XIRO EXPLORER

Drone
Control equipment (with built-in lithium-ion battery)
Drone Battery 3S 11.1V 5200mAh LiPo
Charging dock (for charging the drone battery and remote controller)
220V docking station power cable
3 × network adapter options
USB cable (for recharging the remote from the docking station)
4 × rotors 9450 (2CW/2CCW)
4 × spare rotors 9450 (2CW/2CCW)
Branded belt for holding control equipment
Instructions (in the form of an illustrated insert)

XIRO EXPLORER V

Drone
Control equipment (with built-in lithium-ion battery)
14MP FHD camera in 3-axis mechanical gimbal
Range Extender
Drone Battery 3S 11.1V 5200mAh LiPo
Docking station for charging the drone battery and remote controller
220V docking station power cable
3 × network adapter options
USB cable (for recharging the remote from the docking station)
4 × rotors 9445 (2CW/2CCW)
4 × spare rotors 9445 (2CW/2CCW)
Branded belt for holding control equipment
Instructions (in the form of an illustrated insert)

XIRO EXPLORER G

Drone
Control equipment (with built-in lithium-ion battery)
3-axis mechanical gimbal adapted to 3rd and 4th generation GoPro cameras (camera not included)
4 × spare damping pads
Range Extender
Drone Battery 3S 11.1V 5200mAh LiPo
Docking station for charging the drone battery and remote control
Power cable docking station 220V
3 × network adapter options
USB cable (for recharging the remote from the docking station)
4 × rotors 9450
4 × spare 9450 rotors
Branded belt for holding control equipment
Instructions (in the form of an illustrated insert)

XIRO EXPLORER 4K

Drone
Control equipment (with built-in lithium-ion battery)
12MP 4K camera in 3-axis mechanical gimbal
Range Extender
Drone Battery 3S 11.1V 5200mAh LiPo
Docking station for charging the drone battery and remote control
220V docking station power cable
3 × network adapter options
USB cable (for recharging the remote from the docking station)
4 × rotors 9445 (2CW/2CCW)
4 × spare rotors 9445 (2CW/2CCW)
Branded belt for holding control equipment
Quick start guide

For the information of future users, we note that the developer allowed the upgrade for the standard version of the drone to the “V and G” version, through separately sold retrofit kits. Upgrade to 4K version is excluded.

Full control of the cameras is carried out through the free mobile application XIRO.

Accessories

In addition to the fact that the manufacturer is always ready to offer the consumer any spare parts for the drone, you can also purchase additional accessories:

Rotor protection
Drone lithium polymer battery
Gimbal Handheld Stabilizer for Ground Surveying
Backpack (branded case for transporting the drone and accessories)

Specification

Drone

Satellite positioning:

GPS

Radio frequency:

2.4GHz

FPV:

at a frequency of 5.8GHz over Wi-Fi

FPV picture output source:

any gadget on IOS/Android via XIRO mobile application

Max. smartphone size:

5.5 inches

Maximum removal distance:

800m

Food:

3S 11.1V 5200mAh LiPo

Charging time:

≈ 2h

Max. flight time:

25 min

Max. horizontal speed flight:

28km/h

Follow Me Mode:

Yes

iOS Mode:

Yes

Hold position:

Yes

Stabilization:

6 axis gyroscope

Motors:

brushless type

Return Home Mode:

Yes

Distance control:

Yes

Drone lighting:

LED

Drone Weight (Versions: Explorer/V/G):

1/1.3/1.24 kg

Flying environment:

Outdoors

Camera

FHD

Matrix:

1/2.3 CMOS Panasonic

Eff. pixels:

14M

Video resolution:

FHD: 1920 × 1080 at 30 fps
HD: 1280 × 720 at 60 fps

Photo resolution:

4384×3288

Media type:

8GB microSD card (included)

Video Format:

mov H.264

4K

Matrix:

1/2.3 CMOS Panasonic

Eff. pixels:

12M

FOV:

84°

Diaphragm:

f/2.8

Video resolution:

4K: 3840 × 2160 @ 24/30 fps
FHD: 1920 × 1080 at 30/60/120 fps
HD: 1280 × 720 at 60 fps

Photo resolution:

4384×3288

Photo modes:

Single/Serial

Video modes:

time capture/Slow Motion

Media type:

8GB microSD card (included)

Video Format:

mov H.264

Appearance

The quality of the Xiro Xplorer is at a high level, and its flight characteristics will surprise you from the first takeoff. The developers did their best, the drone was subjected to repeated tests in terms of such parameters as fault tolerance and reliability.

The period of adaptation and training is minimal, everything is reduced to ensure that the consumer does not waste time learning the buttons and practicing control skills. Features such as position hold, automatic takeoff and landing, automatic flight along a predetermined route, auto return to home with subsequent landing, make the quad easy to operate for users of any level.

Motors

The Xiro Xplorer quadcopter is powered by Zero UAV’s proprietary 2212 brushless motors. The developer does not specify information about the performance of the motors. The potential of the power plant is sufficient to implement a confident and stable flight even in windy weather.

Camera

Depending on the configuration, the Xiro Xplorer quadcopter can be equipped with a 14MP FHD camera (for V version), as well as a 12MP 4K camera (only for 4K version). Both models are based on a 1/2.3-inch Panasonic CMOS sensor. The cameras are installed in a 3-axis mechanical gimbal, which works perfectly for this manufacturer. In windy weather, regardless of whether the drone is flying or slowing down, the output image has always turned out to be of indicative quality. You can activate the camera in two ways, through the application, or by pressing the “Record” button on the camera itself. A light filter is included by default, it will allow you to shoot even in conditions of excessive illumination.

FPV

The video stream is transmitted in real time via Wi-Fi at a frequency of 5.8 GHz. The transmitted picture is displayed on the display of the paired smartphone. Specification max. FPV distance is 800m.

Using the mobile application, the pilot will be able to set the route, altitude and flight speed, as well as configure the camera (interface).

Range Extender

In addition, the kit comes with a range extender installed at the bottom of the control equipment. Allows you to expand both the ability to customize the control of the drone, and the distance of removal.

Automatic shooting modes

The user has 3 modes:

follow me – provides the classic pursuit of control equipment. Thanks to high-precision electronic filling, the mode works perfectly.
Follow Snap – allows you to transfer the attention of the drone to any object at the request of the user and shoot with his participation excellent photo and video material in automatic mode.
retention rate – (heading hold) ensures that the drone is kept in flight in almost any position. The mode will significantly expand the number of new angles when shooting from the air.

Automatic flight modes

Two automatic flight modes are available to the user:

Waypoints – using a mobile application, it allows you to schedule an automatic flight to pre-set points (max. up to 16 points), after which the drone itself will follow them and shoot beautiful shots.
Return to Home (RTH) – provides automatic return of the drone to the take-off place when the battery charge is low, or forcibly by the pilot by pressing a button on the control equipment.

IOC mode

IOC (intelligent orientation control) is an advanced analogue of the “Headless” mode, it disables the orientation of the drone in space, which allows you to quickly adapt to the control of the drone. Suitable for beginner pilots.

Battery

The Xiro Xplorer is powered by an intelligent lithium-polymer 3-can (3S 11.1V) battery with a capacity of 5200mAh. According to the specification, it provides a maximum flight time of 25 minutes. Such a battery is charged within 2 hours from the included docking station.

The drone electronics monitors the current battery charge in real time and promptly informs the pilot about the need to return. If the warning is ignored, the system will automatically switch to the return mode, return the drone to the take-off point and make a soft landing.

Control

Xiro Explorer is equipped with classic control equipment operating in the 2.4GHz frequency range. The manufacturer has done everything to make the process of controlling the drone using this equipment simple and intuitive. Provides a distance of up to 800 meters. Power is supplied from a built-in lithium-ion battery. Charges from the supplied docking station.

The remote control will vibrate if the drone’s battery is low, and the drone will also vibrate the remote control to inform the pilot of communication problems.

Conclusion

XIRO XPLORER from $102

Functionality

9/10

Flight time

8/10

flight qualities

9/10

compactness

6/10

Equipment

10/10

Reliability

7/10

Price quality

10/10

pros

Design/Workmanship
Modular design
Upgradable from standard version to V and G version
Flight performance
FHD camera (Xiro Xplorer V)
4K camera (Xiro Xplorer 4K)
3-axis gimbal operation
Battery with charge indicator
Automatic shooting and flight modes
Ready to fly out of the box

Minuses

According to numerous complaints from users, extremely sensitive to radio interference (prone to flying in an unknown direction)
There is no system for recognizing and flying around obstacles
Fragile camera suspension
Fragile landing legs
Curve RAW format

One of the best quadcopters in its class. The work of radio electronics, coupled with excellent suspension and cameras, will surprise any critic. When retrofitted with GoPro cameras, it delivers aerial footage of exemplary quality. Easy to operate, ready to fly out of the box. The potential of the drone will be fully appreciated by fans of high-quality aerial photography without reference to ownership experience for a completely humane price tag.