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Permalink Reply by Michael Pursifull on June 10, 2012 at 5:38pm

Here are some links:

http://www.diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/a-newbies-guide-to-uavs

http://code.google.com/p/arducopter/wiki/Purchase

http://code.google.com/p/ardupilot-mega/wiki/Introduction

To answer you question, it sounds like you are making a multicopter. You need:

The frame

A battery (lipo)

A battery charger

A power distribution board or harness (electrically connects all your ESCs to the battery)

A set of battery connectors (deans, XT60, etc) to attach your battery to your PDB or power harness

One ESC for each "arm" of your multicopter

A set of connectors to attach each ESC to the PDB/power harness

One motor for each "arm"

screws and motor mounts to attach the motors to the arms of the frame

A set of connectors to attach each motor to each ESC (usually 3, 4 or 5mm bullet connectors) - but you can skip these and solder the cables together directly, which is sometimes recommended to reduce failure points

Solder

A soldering iron

some shrink wrap is recommended to cover over the solder joints and make it look pretty

One prop for each motor, 1/2 of the props should be clockwise and 1/2 should be counter-clockwise

Prop adaptors to fix the props to the motors

One radio control transmitter, at least five channels. 8 channels is best. Mode 2, Airplane (i.e. don't configure it for helo)

One radio control receiver

Five servo cables to connect the RX to the APM

Some type of vibration isolation (.99 cent foam from an art supply store, rubber vibration isolation screws, etc) to reduce the motor vibration effect on the APM sensors.

Some type of screws or fasteners to attach the APM to the multicopter frame

Some type of fasteners, velcro, or zip ties (or a combo of all of them) to attach the ESCs, RX, PDB/power harness to the frame

An APM2. Order the APM with the daughterboard with installed GPS and magnetometer. 

You do not need a separate IMU, all the sensors you need for a multicopter are included on the daughter board. 

The USB cable that came with the APM2

A computer with USB, Windows XP or 7

The Mission Planner software

An Internet connection to download the current firmware, and for access to online (or pre cached) maps for mission planning, and access to the manual and this forum

Optionally, I recommend you get a 3DR telemetry kit that is appropriate for your country. I think for most of Europe, it is the 433Mhz model

Spare parts (an extra frame arm or two, a few extra props)

Optionally, a multimeter may be helpful

A lot of patience

Good troubleshooting skills

Optionally, a sense of humor helps

I hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by Davide Canalia on June 11, 2012 at 2:10pm

Thank you for the help!

A last (...) question: do i need sonar? air speed sensors?

And, is it possible to program camera ptz from APM2? or i need a different board for the "camera"?

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Permalink Reply by Michael Pursifull on June 12, 2012 at 7:18am

You don't need a sonar to start with. It can help for low altitude control, but it is complicated to get working well. Electrical and EF interference is common. Start without it. 

The airspeed sensor is not of much value on a multicopter. If you build an airplane, get one. 

What is "ptz"?

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Permalink Reply by Davide Canalia on June 11, 2012 at 2:47pm

I have read your links. Very usefull!

But I have not found some more "theory-related" question...

I would like to undersrand pro/contro of the different configuration (quad vs hexa vs octa vs Y vs tri...)

and, how to choise engine? servos? or "generic" brushless?

Which is the better way to compute engines power for a defined payload?

Thank you!

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Permalink Reply by Michael Pursifull on June 12, 2012 at 7:21am

There are many posts that discuss the pro/cons of each different type. Ignore them for now. Build a quad. After you have a working quad, then you can go learn about tri/hexa/octa and other frame types. 

If you do not already know how to chose motors and props for your airframe, don't build your own. Go get the jDrones or 3DR kits. *after* you have built one that works, then you can learn about motors, props, designing your own frame and so forth.

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Permalink Reply by Davide Canalia on June 13, 2012 at 1:50pm

Thank you Mike... mine is just "curiosity"... I'll work on the sw/camera part of the project... mech and engine wull be set up my colleque.
I think we'll buy an hexa "ready to fly".. we'll study it than we'll replicate it on larger scale...

do you know which payload can be used with the 3dr kits?

PTZ=pan tilt zoom.

Ie camera that can be remoterly moved and zoomed...

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Permalink Reply by Michael Pursifull on June 13, 2012 at 7:21pm

By which, do you mean capacity? Or are you asking specifically what devices you can attach?

You do understand this is DIY, yes? Not a commercial package with specific, fixed payload options....

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