Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chuck on April 29, 2011 at 4:57pm

I'd use (4) Jetcat P80 engines in rotating nacelles.

The rest would pretty much be fuel tanks and electronics.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Zachariah L Hanson on April 29, 2011 at 5:13pm

^-- Is a noob and not very reliable for information, so use mine lightly...lmoa

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Max Oltersdorf on April 29, 2011 at 6:15pm

Thanks for the replies thus far!

As a mechanical engineering student I can make new blades for the edf's that ill be using.

I am not concerned about the electrical issues that will arise as I already have help with that.

I am however in dire need of assistance with the coding... and "auto pilot" / stabilizer / mixing hardware selection and or design. 

# of channels needed = 9 minimum, 11 preferred

• 6 channels for ducted fans
  • 4  for downward nacelle thrust
  • 2 for aft thrust ( left / right)
• 1 for landing gear
• 1 for rear door (optional)
• 1 mode selection of auto pilot (or could be a physical switch)
• 2 for nacelle servos (left right)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Max Oltersdorf on May 3, 2011 at 7:00pm

Correction to # of channels

# of output channels needed = 8 minimum, 10 preferred

• 6 channels for ducted fans
  • 4  for downward nacelle thrust
  • 2 for aft thrust ( left / right)
• 1 for landing gear (optional)
• 1 for rear door (optional)
• 2 for nacelle servos (left / right)

# of input channels = 5 minimum, 7 preferred

• 1 channel for throttle
• 1 for left / right spin
• 1 for forward / backward / tilt up / down
• 1 for roll left / right
• 1 mode selection
• 1 landing gear (optional)
• 1 rear door (optional)

landing gear and rear door can be direct remote no need to be automatic in any way

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gerry Lichter on May 3, 2011 at 9:18pm

You intend to design and make EDF blades?

I must not understand. That sounds like a senior project in and of itself.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Max Oltersdorf on May 4, 2011 at 5:35am

i intend to "copy" the one that i have then flip the blades. no real design and analysis

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gerry Lichter on May 4, 2011 at 8:09am

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=805319

I bet it would be an interesting project but unless you want to do it, it doesn't sound like it's absolutely necessary.

What manufacturing process were you intending? Just sheet metal bent in to a turbine or something more exotic?

Laser sintering seems like the only additive process which would have sufficient strength to handle high rpms.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Max Oltersdorf on May 4, 2011 at 9:21am

For the "copied" blades I'd probably use molded epoxy or some other plastic resin. with the possibility of just CNC cutting small aluminum ones if the mass works out to be close to the same as the originals.
The rest of the EDF would be reused. I'm using small ones 55mm.


As for the rest of the aircraft it will most likely be made out of CNC'd 1 lb density EPS foam, with balsa reinforcements were needed.


As I have said before, my major concern is the mixing of the output channels and stabilization of the craft via some sort of on board computer system such as the APM+IMU. However, I don't have enough experience with programing to work out the complex coding.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gerry Lichter on May 4, 2011 at 12:30pm

Interesting.

 

As far as programming, someone just rewrote the ardupilot code to include the latest APM libraries(http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/ardupilot-lives)

 

I haven't looked at the code, but a work in progress might have fewer features and therefore be easier to identify and understand the core functionalities. Similarly, some of the earliest versions of ardupilot code would likely be equally informative.

 

http://code.google.com/p/ardupilot/downloads/detail?name=ArduPilot1...

 

I'm not much of a programmer either but I can't think of a better way to learn. I'm working on a similar project attempting to add dead reckoning functionality to the code.

 

If you do decide to machine some molds, you may consider selling counter rotating blades as there seems to be an unmet demand. So long as you're making a solids or surfaces model, you might consider uploading it to thingiverse.

 

Good luck with your project.

Cheers,

Gerry

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Max Oltersdorf on May 4, 2011 at 12:44pm

Thanks Gerry!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Max Oltersdorf on October 11, 2011 at 8:44am

Please pretend for a moment that you are actually interested in purchasing a RC Pelican

 

Customer Survey

Remote Controlled Vertical Take Off and Landing Aircraft

 

       The project is to develop a scaled prototype remote controlled VTOL hybrid aircraft modeled after the Halo Pelican drop-ship.  By answering the questions below you will help determine the relative importance of each feature.  Please take a few minutes and answer. 

 

How important is each of the following:

1= low importance     5= high importance   Please circle your answers.

 

 

1)      Similarity of appearance to Halo Pelican Drop-Ship (not exact)

 

                        1          2          3          4          5          N/A

 

2)      VTOL ( vertical take-off and landing)

 

                        1          2          3          4          5          N/A

 

3)      Flight stability

 

                        1          2          3          4          5          N/A

 

4)      Low cost

 

                        1          2          3          4          5          N/A

 

5)      Safety and Indoor safe flight

 

                        1          2          3          4          5          N/A

 

6)      Legal to fly in the USA

 

                        1          2          3          4          5          N/A

 

7)      Simplicity of preflight setup

 

                        1          2          3          4          5          N/A

 

8)      Fitting into a trunk of midsize car, fully assembled

 

                        1          2          3          4          5          N/A

 

9)      A known scale ratio (size only)

 

                        1          2          3          4          5          N/A

 

10)  Easy for one person to fly

 

                        1          2          3          4          5          N/A

 

11)  Inexpensive  replacement parts

 

                        1          2          3          4          5          N/A

 

12)  Durability

 

                        1          2          3          4          5          N/A

 

13)  Easy to Assemble and maintain

 

                        1          2          3          4          5          N/A

 

14)  Please list any other specific features which you would like to see included on possible future models.  _________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________.

 

 

Thank You!

 

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page