So here is what we want to do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1izlOwaEJCU&feature=youtube_gdata_player And here is how we're going to do it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CPQgyGI0n4&feature=youtube_gdata_player ...Tiger
Now we're going to have to get some alligators for the Rogue River. How cool would that be? The second video was a great introduction to tri-copters.
Ok................. this is where I lean back in the chair, scratch my head with both hands, let out a sigh and then say, ok, I am going to build one. I need to finish these helicopter projects first though. But what won me over was the hint of complexity with the anti torque control. I am a half breed German and lose interest unless there is something mechanically complex involved I knew about the coaxial nature of the quad copter for anti torque, but never really looked at the tricopters. I like how the tail is servo controlled like a rudder, and I like the shape a lot better because at a distance how can you even tell if your quad copter is coming or going? The center part would be easy to CNC out of Delrin Acetal sheet, and I will stay with the wood structure, after all it will be used to fly around in the "woods" I wonder how much that control board costs? It would need floats too for sure.
I wonder if salmon would jump out of the water after a low flying tricopter? Floats would be a must over water. Alligators, not so much. I've ordered (backorder) the OpenPilot Copter Control Board ($89+shipping). But HobbyKing has a board for about 1/3 the cost. Sure hope someone will help me learn to fly it.
OK so I, too, am on board for building one However, like Pelagic, I have too many winter RC projects on the board already I looked at the videos and followed to David's website (RCExplorer.se). Downloaded the frame .pdf and converted to .DXF to Flow-Jet it out when I find some suitable material (I'll probably go with CF). It was nice to see that David had a complete shopping list in the project build page, BUT... at the time of this posting, 90% of the items are backordered from HobbyKing :-\ Very disappointing! I think I'll go with the KK board as used in the videos just because its cheap and for my first "from scratch" build, cheap is going to be the key word! Woohoo, looking forward to some excellent Spring flying!!!
What do you use for .PDF to .DXF? I have WinTopo but it's not that great (at least how I've used it).
Oh yeah, was thinking about the cloverleaf antenna, I want to do some, but I really want to do a nice one so I am thinking about machining a radius to bend around, but then since it will have spring back I need to figure out how to deal with that, either guess on making a smaller radius, or live with it being in a non stress relieved condition........?
Before you buy a KK board there is a warning on the website that some KK boards being sold on eBay and elsewhere are fake and junk. Looks like Version 5.5 is not even out yet and it is often called the Black Board.
I use Adobe Illustrator. There isn't a .dxf option in the Save As... menu, but rather in the File menu, there is an Export to... option. Choose that, then choose .dxf and BAM, you're cutting with fire/water/mill ends!!! I don't buy electronics - RC, or otherwise - from Ebay, because of counterfitters. I was going to order it from the link provided on David's RCExplorer.se website. Going to stick with recommendations from those that have walked the road ahead of me And as for floats... OH YEAH!!!
Well... I can see this posting got some blood flowing! GPS - We need to plant the gators in the pond at Redwood. PP - From what you're saying, I think maybe you missed my posting "Some nice quadrotor links to explore" down this page a little. I'm flying my little quad right now on the HobbyKing version of the KK board ($24). The believe the board in the video was the HK board (it was a HobbyKing video). I to was quick to notice that cloverleaf antenna. It was on 1.3GHz if you didn't catch that. I think it's the perfect transmit antenna for FPV. It's omni and still has a little gain. It's a little bulky, but does have very low wind resistance. As of yesterday, I have everything for my TriCopter now except the frame. It should be here any day. I have both KK and OpenPilot boards. Not sure which one I'm going to use yet. OpenPilot has accelerometers which makes it really nice. What I've built up to this point has used the KK so I'm pretty comfortable with those. Guess I'll decide at the last minute. Smitty - We just need to hang some worms and a hook to get the salmon jumping. Actually, I watched a YouTube video of a guy fishing with a TriCopter. Think I'll wait for the gators at Redwood. ...Tiger
I'd rather see the folks in the river get eaten than the guys retrieving their airplanes at the pond.
