Looking for ideas to expand the quadcopter book!

FPV Flying....must have a hobbyist section on that.

I could fill you in on Project Wyverns uses so far, some I can release, some I can not.

The animal / wildlife research use it has been experimented with. The Search and Rescue uses that are being explored. Land Management as well (looking for soil erosion, tree loss from invasive species, farm crop management).

When the better version of the FPV / Camera are added this stuff is going to be even better too, we have even added microphones and speakers to it for voice communication on some applications. Still need to address the rotor / motor noise over the voice radio though.

Did I ever mention how busy I have been with this multi-rotor........

The Law enforcement / Military uses should not be covered like you said in the original post. I would not inform on those uses anyway....(but it is there).

 

I'd be interested in more material about autopilots and further autonomy. E.g., return to launch, following waypoints, completing the DIY Drones T3 challenges, etc. I'm not even clear if some of the "top end" drones from the book (Parrot, Phantom) support more autonomy than staying in place and return to launch. What are the baby steps a n00b should take to end up running an APM:Copter?

I'd also be interested in more community finding. E.g., should quadcopter hobbyists to join the AMA? (Membership costs more than an entry level drone!) Is there a better way than AMA event finder to meet locals? What do I need to know before I try to hang out with other enthusiasts? (e.g., radio interference)

And I wonder if there's more to be said about payload. Everybody starts with "let's put a camera on it" but the WL V959 can be equipped with a missile launcher, bubble gun, squirt gun, and grappling hook. What else are people doing?

 

$58 to join the AMA is not that bad considering all the benefits you get.....and IMHO the first "noob" step into APM as you will meet more pilots who will help you on the journey into autonomous flight. Asking and practicing with other pilots is the best way to learn.

The AMA is a good resource for the pilot to find out what local and area laws are regarding what you can or cannot do, LEARN these laws and follow them. Also USE COMMON SENSE, don't deliver a pizza to your neighbor or spy on the hotty next door with your camera equipped aircraft your just asking for trouble.............

The second step is flight time / practice with a "normal" aircraft. Learn everything you can on how the aircraft reacts to situations in the air and on the ground. When you think you have it down, then practice some more.

While practicing save money, a fully autonomous aircraft is going to need funds to support it. You will need high quality gear. The best radio system (not 2.4 Ghz stuff), best FPV receivers / transmitters (900 Mhz or 1.2 / 1.3 Ghz) , a good laptop to run / program the software, a autonomous capable flight controller that is probably going to need many custom parts / programming, not to mention the aircraft itself.

Buy or build an aircraft that will be easy to fix using easy to find hardware.....if the only place you can get that carbon fiber part is in another country you will have too much down time waiting for the replacement part. But if you can get all your parts locally then you will have a better experience. When you do buy your parts buy two or three extras, and I suggest having a fully built "second" airframe for the occasional catastrophic failure (it will happen). Build this aircraft for FPV flight using a long range radio system (I use DragonLink http://www.dragonlinkstore.com/v2/ , but there are other systems that are as good as if not better)

The FPV hardware may require a HAM radio license (USA pilots will need this), you will need a technician grade or better license so learn what it takes to get this. http://www.arrl.org/ham-radio-licenses. Your radio transmissions will have to have a way of sending your station call sign out from time to time, but the manner is debatable. I use a "On Screen Display" (OSD) that has the Text of my call sign number always showing on the video signal. I also have the call sign labeled on my aircraft and ground station (stickers make it fly better too...LOL)

Getting used to the FPV flying is going to take flight time, DO NOT start with video goggles.....start with a 7" screen (or bigger). And sit down while first starting out flying FPV, You will become disorientated, you will fall on your a$$. Your aircraft should have a "return to home" feature built into your choice of flight controller, I really think this is a must. At the very least have a radio beacon / finder (on its own battery) so you can find the lost aircraft.

You will now need to learn how the autonomous capable flight controller acts with the aircraft compared to what you learned during the regular flight time practice (hint, it is not the same as you moving the sticks). Your going to learn how the software commands can fix or totally screw up flight, your going to crash.......a lot!!!! Google FPV and read everything you can on this type of flying, and you joined AMA right..........get training from a local FPV pilot.

Don't worry about payloads at first, a GoPro or similar for taking pictures sure, but carrying stuff point to point will come later. Sure its cool to fly a soda to your friend, but it is also dangerous to to this, remember the common sense rule...........think flying lawn mower.......not pretty thinking about that is it.

Ask here any other questions too, and do not think that my answers are the only answers........because I learn something new from someone else every flight too.

 

Too bad the AR Drone with GPS is only working with apple right now, the android version should be out soon though

 

Ice,

Just out of curiosity, why don't you like 2.4 Ghz for Tx? I have a Spektrum and I've never had a single control drop with it so far (knock on wood). True I'm not flying massive distances for the most part, but I've been out close to a mile several times and never had a problem with control dropout.

 

I bought a Spektrum DX7s for the MiruMod on my AR Drone II (has since been removed for a WiFi antenna booster), now keeping in mind I was flying at the local park in my neighborhood where there is tons of WiFi signals, but I lost control more times than I felt comfortable with.

2.4 GHz is not the best signal when you lose "line of sight" too, the wave length is too short to penetrate obstacles and the higher the frequency the less range it has (5.8 GHz systems are even worse). 2.4 and 5.8 GHz frequencies are overused by too many everyday items (WiFi is everywhere, cordless phones, TV / DVD's, even power and water meters are using these frequencies), and a radio control system has to deal with this radio traffic......too me it is just too much of a chance to lose control of a potential damage / injury causing aircraft.

FM radios (27 - 72 MHz) or long range (1.2-1.3 GHz) systems can penetrate obstacles and with ranges of up to 30 Km are far superior due to the "lack" of radio traffic interference. This means if you lose line of sight you wont lose radio contact, when flying FPV I normally cannot see the aircraft at all (its too far away or behind a line of trees).......knowing that I can keep control by radio (and the autonomous "return to home" system as backup) and the "radio traffic" is not as heavy gives me piece of mind.

There is a place for these 2.4 GHz systems, and they are not bad for it.........small (less than 1 M / 3 foot long) aircraft (park flyers) can use these, as long as your keeping the maximum range under 300-400 meters and maintaining line of sight while flying. Anything more than that I would not use them for........IMHO

 

Hmmm, I guess it's definitely a your mileage may vary type of thing. I have the exact same TX with an ar8000 receiver on my quad and have never once lost TX control. I've had it out over a kilometer and while my video was hanging on by a thread my TX was rock solid. I also fly it from I side my house and while this is very short range around my yard I've never had a problem. Maybe the rx on the mirumod isn't all that, or maybe there's something Amiss with your TX, but mine has been rock solid. It's easily converter to dragon link or something if I do start having problems but so far it's been a non issue for me. As I said, I guess your milage may vary.

 

It could be the receiver of the MiruMod, it only has a single antenna not the diversified duals the Spektrum receivers have......but its still true on the 2.4 GHz and higher frequencies not being able to penetrate obstacles and having shorter ranges........yes I could convert it to Dragon Link, but my Futaba's are so much nicer..............

BTW, the MiruMod and Spektrum are for sale.....if anyone's interested in them I am a PM away

 

Yeah that's the truth. My video is running on 5.8 which is even worse at penetrating objects so I guess that works as a bit of a warning system. If my video is getting glitchy then I know I'm blocked and it's time to climb. One thing that is nice about the higher frequencies though is the small antennas. I don't think I'd want to slap a 1.3 GHz cloverleaf on a mini quad, but I'll bet something of the Eye One Extreme size or larger can carry a 5.8 just fine. Everything is a trade-off I guess. That's a great point about object penetration though, I suppose if I ever convert my video to 1.3 I'll have to go over to Dragonlink or EZYUHF or something to make sure I don't lose my control link when flying behind obsticals. Money money money, it never ends does it?

 

I made blog on balancing quickly ballpark balancing your props for brushed quads:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1977200

 

I think they can contribute to minor imbalance, but the majority is from the props.