Name: BetaFPV Matrix 1s Brushless Flight Controller (5in1)
Brand: Aerial Outlaws
Price: 49.99 USD
Availability: InStock

MY REVIEW

This is the 5in1 Matrix Flight Controller (FC). It's very similar to the Air version of the 5in1 but thicker/more durable and about 0.2g heavier.

This is NOT the 3in1 matrix which only has the receiver, FC, and ESCs built in (made for external HD vtx). This 5in1 includes the FC, ESC, receiver, VTX, and analog OSD all on one board, which means it's made for analog builds.

The VTX doesn't seem to be fantastic, which is to be expected from any integrated VTX, but I have passed tech inspection with it, including at the USAF race in Dayton, Ohio.

Make sure the receiver antenna is away from the board or it will cause VTX issues. This doesn't seem to be an issue with older boards, but the newer BetaFPV 5in1's suffer from extreme video issues if the receiver antenna isn't away from the board. Most people will wrap this antenna a sturdy/secure camera mount or canopy.

This is easily my favorite AIO FC that you can currently get which is the reason I stock it. I don't love AIO boards but this one is at least usable in my experience and allows you to build without doing any soldering, which I think is cool.

FROM BETAFPV

The Matrix 1S Brushless Flight Controller is a highly integrated solution designed for beginners and FPV enthusiasts. Its robust 1mm-thick board ensures durability during intense training, while the built-in motor connectors simplify installation, eliminating welding. Upgraded with the G473 processor, it delivers a 55% performance boost over the F411 for more precise control in racing and freestyle. Plus, its premium 5.8GHz 400mWVTX ensures stable, high-quality video transmission.

Attention

The Matrix 1S Brushless Flight Controller is crafted for beginners and casual pilots, offering enhanced durability with its thicker board and no welding required—making it perfect for entry-level users. As a result, it is slightly heavier than the Air Brushless Flight Controller 5IN1 version. For advanced FPV pilots seeking a more responsive, race-oriented experience, the Air Brushless FC 5IN1 version is highly recommended. The Matrix 1S Brushless FC and Air Brushless FC 5IN1 Version have undergone rigorous testing and meet competition-grade standards.

Flight controllers are covered for manufacturer defects. Issues arising from user errors, physical crash damage, damage during installation or dismantling, modifications, power surges, electrical fires, or water exposure are not covered.
VTX Power: Higher VTX power consumes more energy and generates more heat, reducing flight time. For better flight time in indoor scenarios, use 25~100mW power.
VTX Antenna: Connect and install the image transmission antenna before powering on the flight control. Alternatively, set transmission power to 0 to avoid burnout.

Bullet Points

Built Tough: The Matrix 1S Brushless FC features a robust 1mm-thick circuit board. While slightly heavier, this design enhances durability for everyday training. For advanced pilots, the Air Brushless FC 5IN1 Verion provides a lighter alternative.

Simplified Installation: The Matrix 1S Brushless FC is a true all-in-one flight controller with integrated FC+VTX+OSD+ESC+RX, plus standard motor connectors, making setup and maintenance remarkably easy. Ideal for FPV beginners, this design requires no welding and ensures a smooth installation experience.

Upgraded Performance: Upgraded with the G473 processor, the Matrix 1S Brushless FC achieves a remarkable 55% increase in computing speed over the F411, delivering swift response for precise racing and complex freestyle maneuvers.

Premium Video Transmission: Equipped with a high-quality 5.8GHz VTX supporting up to 400mW, the Matrix 1S ensures stable, accurate transmission for both daily flying and competitive racing.

Specifications

FC

MCU: STM32G473CEU6
Gyro: ICM42688P
Blackbox memory: 16MB
Sensor: Voltage & Current
BEC: 5V, Max. 3A
UART: UART 1, UART 2 (For VTX), UART 3 (For RX), UART 4
BetaFlight OSD: AT7456E
ESC: 5A continuous
RX: Serial ELRS 2.4GHz (V3.4.3)
VTX: 5.8GHz 48 channels, Max. 400mW
FC firmware: Betaflight_4.5.0_BETAFPVG473
USB port: SH1.0-4Pin
Motor Connector: JST1.25
Battery connector: BT2.0
Mounting hole size: 26mm x 26mm
Weight: 3.92±0.1g

ESC

Power input: 1S Only
Current: 5A continuous, 8A peak
ESC firmware: A_X_5_96KHz_V0.19.hex for BB51 Bluejay firmware
Digital signal protocol: DShot300, DShot600

VTX

Output power: 25/100/200/400/PIT
Frequency: 5.8GHz 48 channels, with Raceband: 5658~5917MHz
Channel SEL: SmartAudio2.0
Modulation type: FM
Frequency control: PLL
All harmonic: Max -50dBm
Frequency stability: ±100KHz (Typ.)
Frequency precision: ±200KHz (Typ.)
Channel carrier error: ±1.5dB
Antenna port: 50 Ω
Operating temperature: -10℃~+80℃

Diagram

Below is the diagram for Matrix 1S Brushless FC.

Comparison Between Matrix 1S, F4 1S 5A AIO & Air 5IN1

The Matrix 1S Brushless FC is designed with beginners in mind, offering enhanced durability and performance compared to the original F4 1S 5A AIO FC. With a 1mm-thick board, it’s more rugged than the 0.8mm-thick F4 1S 5A AIO board, and its built-in motor connectors simplify installation, eliminating the need for welding. With the advanced G473 processor and 5IN1 configuration, including a 5.8GHz 400mW VTX, the Matrix 1S is a better choice for beginners. For advanced pilots seeking a extremely lightweight, race-focused experience, the Air Brushless FC 5IN1 version is the best choice.

Serial ELRS 2.4G RX

Serial ELRS 2.4G RX uses the Crossfire serial protocol (CRSF protocol) to communicate between the receiver and the flight controller board. So the Serial ELRS 2.4G RX is available to support upgrading to ELRS V3.0 with no need to flash Betaflight flight controller firmware. Enter binding status by power on/off three times.

Plugin and unplug the flight controller three times;
Make sure the RX LED is doing a quick double blink, which indicates the receiver is in bind mode;
Make sure the RF TX module or radio transmitter enters binding status, which sends out a binding pulse;
If the receiver has a solid light, it's bound.

The Serial ELRS 2.4G RX can be updated via Wi-Fi or Betaflight serial passthrough. Here is the way to update the Serial ELRS 2.4G RX firmware through passthrough.

Plug in your FC to your computer, connect to ExpressLRS Configurator instead of Betaflight Configurator;
Choose target "BETAFPV 2.4GHz AIO RX";
Flash using the BetaflightPassthrough option in ExpressLRS Configurator.

How to flash firmware via Wi-Fi here.

Betaflight Firmware and CLI

Betaflight official developers recommend using version 42688 of the gyroscope, and many issues with ICM42688 have been fixed in version 4.5.0. Please learn more from version 4.5.0.

FC firmware: Betaflight_4.5.0_BETAFPVG473, Download the firmware and CLI dump file
Reference link: https://github.com/betaflight/betaflight/releases/tag/4.5.0

Bluejay ESC Firmware

With BB51 ESC solution, Matrix 1S Brushless Flight Controller is based on A_X_5_96KHz_V0.19.hex for BB51 Bluejay hardware, it supports D-shot300, D-shot600, and even RPM filtering in Betaflight, offers 24KHz, 48KHz, and 96KHz fixed PWM frequency for options, and custom start-up melodies.

DO NOT flash the firmware with a shorter interval, otherwise, there will be a certain chance of stalling and burning the flight controller.

How to Use Serial Ports, Intergrated RX and VTX

Please note that by default, UART2 is connected to the VTX and UART3 is connected to the RX. To release UART3, please remove the resistor. Additionally, this FC reserves 2 complete full-featured serial ports that can be used for external CRSF/SBUS receivers, GPS, HD VTX, or other serial devices. You can refer to the below pictures.