I am excited to dive into the latest offering from SpeedyBee—the F405 Wing Mini flight controller. Speedybee has a reputation for delivering quality products that offer great value for money, and this compact version of the popular F405 Wing flight controller is no exception. Let’s check out its specs, features, and how well it works.
Check out other iNav compatible flight controllers: https://oscarliang.com/inav-fc-planes-fixed-wings/
Where to Buy?
You can get the SpeedyBee F405 Wing Mini FC stack from these vendors:
Inside the package, you find the power distribution board (PDB), the main flight controller board, and a USB board complete with a buzzer. Additionally, the inclusion of two shield boards, a variety of connection cables, straight and angled pins, and all necessary standoffs.
Specifications
There are 3 separate boards in the Speedybee F405 Wing Mini FC stack. Here are the specifications for each board. The total weight of the stack is 23g.
FC board:
- MCU: STM32F405, 168MHz, 1MB Flash
- IMU (Gyro & Accelerometer): ICM-42688-P
- Barometer: SPL006-001
- OSD Chip: AT7456E
- Blackbox: MicroSD Card Slot
- UART: 6 sets (UART1, UART2, UART3, UART4, UART5, UART6 – Dedicated for Wireless board Telemetry connection)
- I2C: 1x (Used for magnetometer, digital airspeed sensor)
- ADC: 4x (VBAT, Current, Analog RSSI, Analog AirSpeed)
- PWM: 12x (9x pin headers + 2x solder pads + 1x “LED” pad)
- ELRS/CRSF Receiver: Supported, connected to UART1
- SBUS: Built-in inverter for SBUS input (UART2-RX)
- LED: 3x LEDs for FC STATUS (Blue, Green) and 3.3V indicator (Red)
- Analog RSSI: Supported, Named as “RS”
- Dual Analog Camera Switching: Default to Camera1 Video Input (C1). Switch between C1 and C2 using ArduPilot Relay or INAV Modes/USER. Both cameras should have the same video format, either PAL or NTSC.
- Supported FC Firmware: INAV: SpeedyBeeF405WING (default), ArduPilot: SpeedyBeeF405WING
- Weight: 5.6g
PDB board:
- Input voltage range: 7V-26V (2S to 6S Lipo/Li-ion)
- Battery Voltage Sensor: Connect to FC board VBAT, 1K:10K (Scale 1100 in INAV, BATT_VOLT_MULT 11.0 in ArduPilot)
- Battery Current Sensor: 80A continuous, 150A peak Connect to FC board Current (Scale 195 in INAV, 50 A/V in ArduPilot)
- TVS Protective diode: Yes
- FC BEC output: Output 5.2V +/- 0.1V DC Continuous current 2 Amps, 3A Peak Designed for FC, Receiver, GPS module, AirSpeed Sensor, Telemetry module
- VTX & Camera power supply: The VTX power interface Vv offers two power supply options: direct battery voltage or integrated BEC 5V (sharing the 5V4A Servo BEC voltage). By default, it is set to battery voltage. Switching to 5V power supply is possible via pad jumper (using Servo BEC output).
- Servo BEC output: Output 5V +/- 0.1V DC Continuous current 4 Amps, 5A Peak Voltage adjustable, 5V Default, 6V via jumper Designed for Servos.
- Weight: 5.5g
Wireless USB Extender:
- Wireless Configuration: (long press BOOT button for 6 seconds to switch modes); INAV: Make sure the MSP switch on UART 6 is turned on and set to a baud rate of 115200. ArduPilot: Make sure the Serial 6 is set to baud rate 115200 and protocol Mavlink2.
- BLE mode: Connect to Speedybee APP
- Wi-Fi (AP) mode: Able to connect to Speedybee APP, QGroundControl APP, MissionPlanner, etc. WiFi: Speedybee eFLY-WIFI Password: 88888888
- Wi-Fi (STA) mode: Able to connect to QGroundControl APP, MissionPlanner, etc.
- Step 1: turn on Personal Hotspot;
- Step 2: Set hotspot, locate NAME/Device Name/Hotspot name/etc.
- Step 3: change the current name to eFLY and the password is, 88888888
- Wireless off mode
- USB Port Type: Type-C
- Buzzer: 5V Active Buzzer
- Weight: 3.2g
Design and Features
Right off the bat, the size of the Speedybee F405 Wing MINI is its most striking feature. This compact flight controller is significantly smaller than its sibling, the standard F405 Wing FC. Its small form factor is a huge advantage for builds where space is at a premium.
Despite its smaller size, it brings several notable features to the table. The ability to switch between C1 and C2 cameras is a fresh addition not commonly seen on F405 boards, enhancing versatility for pilots who utilize multiple camera setups.
One of the standout features is its wireless tuning capability, proved to be useful in setting up and making parameter adjustments without the hassle of plugging in the USB cable.
The inclusion of SBUS input pins and exposed pins for UART1, allowing for compatibility with various radio systems like Frsky, ExpressLRS and Crossfire, is a thoughtful touch.
With 11 PWM outputs, six UARTs (one reserved for WiFi), and support for both digital and analog video transmitters, the F405 Wing Mini is designed to cater to a wide range of flying styles and preferences.
The kit includes both right-angle and vertical header pin options for connecting servos and receiver, enhancing the flexibility in mounting based on the available space within your build. The board also supports dual cameras and digital FPV systems, catering to a wide range of user preferences.
Installation and Setup
The Speedybee F405 Wing Mini comes with everything needed for assembly, avoiding the common frustration of hunting for compatible cables or connectors. The thoughtful inclusion of a capacitor and different boards for bottom mounting options speaks to Speedybee’s commitment to user convenience.
One thing to note is the orientation of the power distribution board, which is designed to sit at the top.
Setting up the FC was a breeze, thanks in part to the detailed manual and the SpeedyBee app’s intuitive interface. While wireless firmware flashing is not supported by the SpeedyBee app yet, it does support INAV 7 from the get-go which is a major plus. You can also flash firmware and configure the FC the traditional way using your PC via USB cable.
The F405 Wing Mini’s small size did not compromise its capability to deliver a stable and responsive flight experience. The board’s design facilitates easy wiring and component attachment, although the unusual mounting hole pattern may require some adaptation, such as using double-sided foam tape for installation.
Final Thoughts
The Speedybee F405 Wing Mini flight controller stands out for its compact size, comprehensive feature set, and ease of use. Its design caters to both novice and experienced users, providing everything needed for a successful build right out of the box. That’s why they also call this FC “Easy Fly” which makes a lot of sense.
You can get the SpeedyBee F405 Wing Mini FC stack from these vendors:
For those looking to experiment with iNav or seeking a reliable, space-saving solution for their RC aircraft, the F405 Wing Mini is a compelling option. Speedybee continues to impress with their innovations in the RC flight controller market, and I’m eager to see how this mini controller will be received by the community.
