quad-copter's how to build one

Tom.in.Maryland

Where is a good source to learn how to get into a quad copter, I saw a parallax video on one and want to find out how to build one, get one, program one etc etc.???

Franklin

https://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS304&=&q=diy+quadcopter&oq=diy+quadcopter&aq=f&aqi=g6g-v4&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1980315l1987391l0l1988460l14l14l0l4l4l0l290l2096l0.6.4l10l0

Cluso99

There is a good thread here and if you follow it you will find links to other threads too.
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?133372-Ken-Cluso99-W9GFO-JasonD-s-QuadCopter-Build-Log-(updated-info-ELEV-8-availability)

LoopyByteloose

DIY-Drones has a lot of info and could use the participation of a Parallax Propeller Maven.

http://diydrones.com/

They cover winged flight as well as quad flyers and are an excellent source for DIY ESC development. These are topics that generally don't get deeply explored here.

http://open-bldc.org/wiki/Open-BLDC

Al Booth

Hoverfly has some very good build tutorial videos at

http://www.hoverflytech.com/video-tutorials.html

Al

davejames

...BTW - happy birthday fellow San Josean Al Booth!

Al Booth

Thanks Dave, but don't let that number fool you, I started counting down 10 years ago.

Back on topic here are 2 more links that might help

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1174262

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbycity/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25638

Al

Nick Ernst

Hello Tom.in.Maryland,
We have a QUadcopter platform known as the ELEV-8. It is an OEM kit that has everything you need in the kit, with the execption of a Transmitter/Receiver combo, and a battery. I have included a link to the ELEV-8's product page, where you can browse through the kit contents and documentation. I have also included this link: Ken/Cluso99/ W9GFO/JasonD's QuadCopter Build Log (updated info ELEV-8 + availability) Which is a documented thread of the Evolution of the ELEV-8 along our testing and re-designing. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us.

http://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/txtSearch/elev-8/List/0/SortField/4/ProductID/799/Default.aspx

-Nick

JasonDorie

The "how" depends a lot on what you want - Some quads are autonomous and some require constant piloting (basically behaving like a remote controlled helicopter) and some are in-between in that they self-level, but aren't way-point/GPS autonomous.

The body can be hacked together from a few tubes (round or square) rigidly held between some plastic. I've successfully used square aluminum tubing, square carbon, and round aluminum tail booms for model helicopters. I prefer square tube because it's easier to make sure all the motors are pointed vertical - if they're off it will affect your yaw stability a bit.

The electronics take a little more work, as you have to figure out how much of a payload you want to carry (if any), and what kind of flight time you need. If you're looking to do aerial photography with a heavy camera you'll need something beefier than if you're just looking to fly something around and have fun with it.

The Elev-8 is a great kit (I have one) and the HoverFly board is very stable, and all the work of figuring out the physical construction and electronics is done for you. It's also a Propeller, and I have my flight software running on it. I will be releasing it in the near future, so if you're looking to program it yourself, you can buy the Elev-8 kit and use my code as a starting point.

If you've never flown anything like this before, they're harder than they look - investing in a flight simulator or a small (toy) helicopter as a starting point will help "program" your reflexes, and the crashes will be less expensive.