I built a quadcopter

ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
edited August 2012 in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Using my 3D printer</div>So I built a quadcopter with <a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:26041" target="_blank">parts</a> that I designed and printed:

<img src="http://thingiverse-production.s3.amazonaws.com/renders/a0/ce/47/a0/4a/IMG_2532_display_medium.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

I'd always intended to rig it up with FPV gear, so I could view an onboard camera through a pair of video goggles whilst flying it. I've had a spate of bad luck with the electronics, but a friend lent me his video transmitter and I hooked it up. The result was incredible:

<center><object width="450" height="356"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z70Q7wEfq4o"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z70Q7wEfq4o" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="356"></embed></object></center>

Watch it in HD.

This is my second FPV flight ever, and it is awesomer than anything.

--Scythe--
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Comments

  • ThansalThansal The New Scum Join Date: 2002-08-22 Member: 1215Members, Constellation
    Yet again, Scythe with all the awesome toys.

    I do have to say, that I'm slightly upset that you didn't have it come down and look at you as you were flying it :P
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  • KhyronKhyron Join Date: 2012-02-02 Member: 143308Members
    That first landing looked a little rough haha, much smoother in the subsequent ones. Cool project, cool results. Nice work!
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  • AlignAlign Remain Calm Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5216Forum Moderators, Constellation
    Felt like I was about to hear the HL1 apache gun sound.
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  • AngeluszAngelusz Harmonic entropist Join Date: 2003-07-10 Member: 18072Members, Forum Moderators, Constellation, NS2 Playtester
    Sweet stuff! The nice thing about those quadrotors is that they're so much easier to control than conventional heli's.

    I wish I had a 3d printer. :X
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  • SvenpaSvenpa Wait, what? Join Date: 2004-01-03 Member: 25012Members, Constellation
    edited August 2012
    Hahaha I got a nostalgic feeling @ 04:26 when the "dogfighting" began, sitting in the crosshair and all. Gods know how many hours I spent in ww2 combat flight simulator.
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  • That_Annoying_KidThat_Annoying_Kid Sire of Titles Join Date: 2003-03-01 Member: 14175Members, Constellation
    what is the operating payload? Any plans for a water balloon dropping system?
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  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    Looking good! Not so much a fan of the fisheye lens, but the vibration isolation/compensation on your rig looks to be quite good. Are you using a separate cam for recording, or splitting off that feed for your FPV TX? Thinking about an articulated cam mount and a head-tracker setup?

    Was thinking about doing this with my 450-class heli, but getting a stable camera is a pain with the increased vibration inherent. Have enough trouble just getting rid of most of the jello-effect on even a keychain cam. That and I need to find a monocular so I can just close one eye for flight, and swap when coming in to touch down... a heli won't stand for that kind of rough landing. Out of curiosity, what was the blue ring that broke on the second/third landing? Just there for orientation purposes?
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  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    edited August 2012
    <!--quoteo(post=1965230:date=Aug 21 2012, 02:10 AM:name=That_Annoying_Kid)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (That_Annoying_Kid @ Aug 21 2012, 02:10 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1965230"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->what is the operating payload? Any plans for a water balloon dropping system?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    That's flying with the throttle at about 25%. I've strapped 600g of steel to the bottom and it still flies. I suspect it could lift about 1.5kg before starting to struggle.

    <!--quoteo(post=1965310:date=Aug 21 2012, 07:55 AM:name=Talesin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Talesin @ Aug 21 2012, 07:55 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1965310"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Are you using a separate cam for recording, or splitting off that feed for your FPV TX? Thinking about an articulated cam mount and a head-tracker setup?
    ...
    Out of curiosity, what was the blue ring that broke on the second/third landing? Just there for orientation purposes?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    The camera is a gopro on loan from a friend. The HD video is recorded in-camera, and an SD stream comes down to my goggles. My camera has a smaller field of view, and doesn't do recording. I'm not that interested in a headtracking setup since the quad can rotate on the spot anyhoo. If I were flying a fixed-wing I think it would be worthwhile. In terms of vibration: I think the gopro does some of that internally, but this frame vibrates very little. In that video it was just duct-taped to the underside.

    The blue ring is one of the landing struts I designed and printed on my 3d printer. Each one is about 5 cents worth of plastic, when that one broke I clipped on a spare. It's designed to be thin and flex a bit on landing, but I came in with a fair amount of horizontal velocity, so it snapped sideways.

    --Scythe--
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  • TykjenTykjen Join Date: 2003-01-21 Member: 12552Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    Awesome..just so awesome.
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  • ellnicellnic Join Date: 2010-07-19 Member: 72559Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    That looks like so much fun, I want one!
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  • sheena_yanaisheena_yanai Join Date: 2002-12-23 Member: 11426Members
    i thought its a gopro, that fixed wide angle gave it away. amazingly stable and no noticable vibration on the camera mount :o. planning on adding gps position hold/return feature? and yeah, head tracking would be neat for this, building a servo stabilized gimble sounds fun. i always wanted a hexa platform for my dslr´s, but with very simple controlls and position hold so i can focus on actualy taking the picture
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  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    edited August 2012
    Sheena, most professionals who can afford it use a double-FPV setup with pilot assist; one for the pilot, and a standalone TX/RX for a camera operator who can just focus on framing and getting the shot perfect. Allows for smooth follow shots and moving pans.
    Sadly, with the current FAA ban on commercial unmanned aerial videography/photography still in place, the big houses have been restricted to non-US operation or taking video from an actual helicopter (at much greater cost), while hobbyists are getting stung for even doing small jobs (aerial shots for real estate listings, etc). Hobbyists are still fine, just something to be careful about if you'd meant to add it to any professional portfolio.

    Scythe, very nice; must have your props balanced quite well. Most of the GoPro footage I've seen gets hit pretty hard with the rolling shutter effect, unless quite a bit of vibration isolation is used. :)
    Ahh. From the initial shots at the top, looked like you were using straight leg struts.
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    Sheena is in Japan, so different laws probably apply there. Probably a good idea to read up in any case.
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  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    I went flying today and had a bit of an altercation with a tree. I lost all control of the quad but the autopilot kept it happily drifting off towards the treeline. No fatal damage, I just need to rebuild some bits. I downloaded the telemetry logs afterwards, here they are in google maps KMZ format:

    www.tjhowse.com/misc/logs.7z

    The last one is the one featuring a long, straight line ending at a tree.

    --Scythe--
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  • HellbillyHellbilly A whole title out of pity... Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 3931Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    You sir, are quite awesome!
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  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    So, uh, anyone else curious about the toy that made the toy? What kind of 3D printer ya workin with Scythe?
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  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    <!--quoteo(post=1966950:date=Aug 27 2012, 11:10 AM:name=Caboose)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Caboose @ Aug 27 2012, 11:10 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1966950"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->So, uh, anyone else curious about the toy that made the toy? What kind of 3D printer ya workin with Scythe?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Home-made sells mendel reprap. There's an ooold thread <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=111259" target="_blank">here</a>, with some photos of old and newer prints.

    --Scythe--
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  • TemphageTemphage Join Date: 2009-10-28 Member: 69158Members
    <img src="http://www.ncsx.com/2012/052812/Hungeree/catcopter.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
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  • CplDavisCplDavis I hunt the arctic Snonos Join Date: 2003-01-09 Member: 12097Members
    ha really neat. now you just have to add a machine gun to it lol
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    Better idea: Add a flower scent spray nozzle. Or maybe a confetti spinkler. Or a loudspeaker that plays smooth jazz. You know, something happy and uplifting. Something <i>nice.</i>
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    Maybe add a scalpel so you can do surgery on people who are in need of medical attention. Save lives, be a hero, etc.
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  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    All this time those manhacks were just trying to remove Gordon's pre-cancerous skin ulcers, caused by radiation exposure in black mesa. What a horrible tragedy.

    --Scythe--
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