Replies to This Discussion

JDronesPermalink Reply by Jani Hirvinen on August 20, 2010 at 6:33pm

Mike,

I am using both 2200mAh and 4400mAh batteries on my ArduCopter without any problems. Ok i have not been having extra 500g payload onboard but I cannot see any reasons why it would not handle it. It can lift quite much.

I'd say on this point bigger issue is that do you want to put heavy camera on it or not. I would not put any expensive equipment on it yet due our software is still early beta and there are a some stability issues still on software. It is not yet save enough for that.

After we get our latest software back to as stable as it was earlier, I will do some payload tests with it. Currently we are working on some heavy changes on code and code structure to make future path better...

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Permalink Reply by Mike Lombardi on August 20, 2010 at 6:42pm

Thanks Jani,

I'm still waiting for the kit to be released, so I won't be flying for weeks. I plan to do at least 10-20 hours of test flights before putting on any camera equipment. Thanks again for all the hard work from you and the team, it is very much appreciated.

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Permalink Reply by roger on November 7, 2010 at 5:48am

Jani,

In on your expert opinion, what do you think is the maximum flying weight of the arducopter based on the current combination of motors, esc, frame, etc of the pre-order kit (i.e, arducpter components + payload)?

If you don't see any reason for the arducopter not to lift the extra 652g indicated by Mike, how much more you think can the quad carry as you did indicate It can lift quite much?

Thanks.

Roger

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JDronesPermalink Reply by Jani Hirvinen on November 7, 2010 at 7:06am

Roger,

I have not tested it's maximum lift capacity and well in overall it's a bit deceiving to give one. It is more or less question of how long you want to fly with your designed weight.

MK prove that they can fly MK about 45 minutes. Yeah sure you can but on what conditions. They had their test on indoor badminton/tennis hall, no moving around, no flying around just basically hovering. And with what equipment, I bet it was rather light and just minimal electronics. Ok 45 is still great achievement.

As said, I have not made maximum payload tests but I have tested motors what we use on our kit's. Those 850kv motors with ArduCopter propellers can lift 433gr each motor with 50% throttle, with 75% throttle they lift 855gr. at 50% current was 3.4Amps with 3S LiPo, 75% 9Amp. (100% thr, 1095gr, 12.2Amp)

Current motors are good allrounders but I'm still looking more and better motors every day...

ArduCopter kit (i will confirm total later after all official parts has arrived) is around 850-900 gr with full electronics and full flying weight with 2200 mAh flightmax lipo was around 1010gr if i remember correctly. I have flown same quad with 1400gr flying weight and it takes of like rocket and flies nice. (camera/mount + bigger batt onboard)

If you have heavy payload, you need to tune your PID settings to make it really stable. Everything depends on how heavy and how far GC is from originals so it will be difficult to say how to tune at this point. My 1010 / 1400 gr flights were done with same settings.

After we get more ArduCopters up in sky, we can start forming better hand rules for different weights and camera/other setups.

With bigger ArduCopter motors (optional) you can get even more lift due their maximum thrust is about 1350gr with 12x45 propeller. So really rough maximum for them would be 5.4 Kilos with 100% throttle.. Ok well you would need to provide 80Amp too to achieve that power :)

I should have detailed weight information etc around end of next week, then all latest parts should be at "home".

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Permalink Reply by roger on November 7, 2010 at 5:27pm

Jani,

Thanks for the reply.

Just to provide a background, my main interest is fitting the arducopter with a camera system able to get downward looking images hoping to extract the R and IR bands of the images for vegetation health monitoring. I'm more into getting to the right altitude and maintaining a hover above a certain area (this is where the GPS hold comes handy). Flying time may not be as long as people from MK as you've indicated as it will become a competition between battery weight and time in air.

Based on the figures you've given, is it a simple matter of multiplying the lift figure by 4. I mean thrust at 50, 75 and 100% throttle will mean theoretical lift capability of 1732, 3420 and 4380g respectively. Using rough estimation, given the ESC used on the kit to be 20amps extrapolated lift value could be around 2200g. Of course lots of other factors can come into play that can drive this value down.

You think that estimate is reasonable?

Thanks and looking forward to those hand rules.

Roger

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JDronesPermalink Reply by Jani Hirvinen on November 8, 2010 at 8:36am

Roger,

Well i'd say your estimations are not so far off. Ok to have good control i would try to keep weight:thrust ratio somewhere around 1:3. But even 1:2 should be still ok.

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Permalink Reply by DODY on November 8, 2010 at 11:41am

Hello, @ Jani, Mike, Roger,
A few year ago, I have make test on engines and the Hypérion engines gave me of good result.
See table

regard
Dody

http://www.aircraft-world.com/shopexd.asp?id=2800
http://www.aircraft-world.com/shopexd.asp?id=3340
http://www.aircraft-world.com/shopexd.asp?id=564

Attachments:

• Twinstar Herve.txt, 9 KB

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Permalink Reply by roger on November 8, 2010 at 7:20pm

Jani,

Thanks.

I'm afraid I am not familiar with the weight to thrust ratio so correct me if I'm not getting it.

The figure of 2200g lifting weight I've indicated in my earlier post is presumably based on a 1:2 weight thrust ratio or is it the other way around of thrust to weight ratio based on your reply?

If its the former, so the thrust of the motor included in the kit is 4400g (total thrust that is with individual motor ~ 1100g) or if the latter, 1100g (/4 ~ 275g per motor)! There's no spec included in the motor being included in the kit (I could be wrong) and searching for AC 2830-358 motor did not yield any information.

Roger

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Permalink Reply by Hari on November 12, 2010 at 11:49pm

can any1 help me suggestbest ESC for me? Currently the turnigy Basic 18A v3.1 Brushless Speed Controller is out of stock. im using hacker Style Brushless Outrunner 20-22L... pls help me...

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