I'll start right off by stating the purpose of this topic. I'm hoping to start an aerial photography company with the use of a quadcopter and I have a number of questions on how to build a quadcopter and the legality of using uavs commercially. But first a bit of relevant information.
I'm 17 with 55 flight hours in a Diamond Eclipse and I'll hopefully have my private pilot license on the 31st, weather permitting. As for uav construction experience, the closest I have is a little experience in building computers.
On with the questions:
1: Tips on building a drone, I know I want a quadcopter, capable of lifting a 2 pound camera, but I'm not sure what specs I should be looking at.
2: The legal system. I know I need to submit a petition via FAA section 333, any tips on that would be helpful.
3: Whether this is even viable given my maximum fixed cost budget of $1,000
4. Is it cheaper to build a drone, or to buy a prebuilt one?
5: Any extra tips?
Thanks in advance for any help/
Replies
So what your saying is that I should build a say $300 quad copter now and practice with it. Then once the FAA introduces their new registration proccess and I'm more comfortable with flying uavs, I should build a hexacopter or X8 and then start up?
Two questions on that.
1: Would it be possible to use the flight computer and rc controller/transmitter and receiver from the cheaper uav on the photography uav when I upgrade? That would allow me to cut down on costs and to learn how the the flight computer works.
2: For the cheaper have I would probably go with a quad copter, but for the photography one, should I go with a hexacopter, Y6, or X8? I'm asking this now so that if the flight computer is transferable, I could get one that supports the later configuration as well as the cheaper practice quad copter.
If you buy a Pixhawk you will be able to fly virtually any copter configuration. The other option is DJI, which costs more and offers less flexibility. It is simpler to learn however, so it is very popular for those that don't want to "tinker". Think of DJI like Apple, and Pixhawk like Linux. If you want to save money for now, buy a used or clone APM2.5 for $40. Then upgrade later to a pixhawk.
1) A 2 pound camera is a heavy one, and I'm guessing quite expensive. Motor, propeller, or ESC failures are not uncommon. You want 6 or better 8 rotors to get safely on the ground in case of a failure. I would definitely reconsider your camera choice and plan on something that weighs under a pound.
2) Right now you would need a 333. However the FAA is planning on releasing the new regulations in less than a year. In the meantime you need to get some experience. Don't bother with the 333, just wait for the real certification process. You have many crashes ahead of you before you start operating commercially.
3) You can make it happen for around $1000, barely.
4) Its much cheaper to build your own, and a critical part of the learning process. With your budget, you need to DIY.
5) Don't be in a rush to start making money. Build a little quad copter from inexpensive parts, and learn the flight computer inside and out. Crash, rebuild, repeat. That's the only way to really learn.