Solar Zephyr

Hello everyone,

 

So I suppose everybody has seen heard or read about the solar zephyr if not here's the link http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/aviation/diy-flying/sola...

 

This is amazing work and it's most probably illegal to launch one of these privately, would it be possible to construct something like that sure the component's are expensive but the frame itself looks quite simple.

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Permalink Reply by Chris McNair on January 15, 2011 at 10:43am

Its under the AMA weight. IF flown RC you would be fine with a waver. Autonomous is another story. Would be a neat project under RC stabilized flight although it will probably not need much......

 

Its defiantly doable but going to cost you a lot of time and $. Might want a few pals give you a hand! =)


ModeratorPermalink Reply by Gary Mortimer on January 15, 2011 at 11:14am

It used the power that is generated by real ale and pies for design, oh and QinetiQs space flight devision for materials.

 

http://www.suasnews.com/?s=zephyr

Permalink Reply by Danny Lombard on January 15, 2011 at 11:43am

at the look of things its made with carbon composite the wing frames in particular looks like cnc pieces that connects to each other.

 

I'm thinking here maybe this is just the above my budget project but I like it,  Chris maybe you could help us with some designs there man.

Permalink Reply by Chris McNair on January 15, 2011 at 11:50am

If somebody is willing to do the work. I would be willing to do some of the aircraft design. Its an intersting project.

 

It would need to be a large group effort. How about it? A DIY solar Zephyr type aircraft...... Throw APM in the mix!

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Chris McNair on January 15, 2011 at 11:55am

I can see it now. The guys at QinetiQ laughing their rear off!

 

This is no cake walk but with the right mix of people from DIY I am sure we can put together the right guys. Facts are some of us have as much background as their engineers. Just missing the huge funding......

 

Now who is funding this??? =)

 

 

Permalink Reply by Johann Van Niekerk on January 15, 2011 at 12:12pm
Ummmmm Great one problem .... we all have way around the world ?
Permalink Reply by Danny Lombard on January 15, 2011 at 12:17pm
Okay brainstorm just hit me I can setup a blog type website with a donation button we could list this on www.kickstarter.com I'm all the way in South Africa and I bet all you guys are mostly based in the USA but I just want to see this built and replicate it imagine your own satellite type in the sky
Permalink Reply by Chris McNair on January 15, 2011 at 1:04pm

Johann,

 

You are a correct. This is a hard one because you have individuals contributing to a project but yet the only satisfaction they get is getting to see some lucky dude build and fly it. Its a tough one that I will let Danny try and sort out.

 

Danny,

Thats a good idea if people are willing. The next step is finding the crew to build, store and fly.


This could be a very neat opportunity for DIY Drones but I will be the first to admit I have no idea if this neat opportunity is a viable or not for such a company. Maybe Chris A. can chime in....

 


ModeratorPermalink Reply by Gary Mortimer on January 15, 2011 at 1:07pm

Danny this is not a project that is even close for people without vast cheque books. We generally do have enough sun down here though, floods permitting.

 

Most of the secret sauce I believe is the stuff that resists cosmic radiation.

 

One of the pilots might chip in on this thread, he's a member here.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Danny Lombard on January 15, 2011 at 1:22pm

RSA would be perfect for such a project lots of sun and if you happen to fly something a little bit to high you might not get some trouble but the UAV community is quite tiny here as far as I know. 

 

This will be a expensive project thin-film photovoltaic arrays and lithium-sulphur batteries don't come cheap.

 

Maybe Diydrones are up for it I'm no good at fabrication from scratch but with the correct design files I can manage something


ModeratorPermalink Reply by Gary Mortimer on January 15, 2011 at 1:34pm

Well I have a few autopilots not sure they will be able to fly above 60k though. Chris Mc N is your man for airframe design though. He already has one that can fly for 24 hours.

 

What on earth would you need to get to 70k Chris?? (and stay there for a month)

 

Big compromise between weight and strength no doubt.

Permalink Reply by Danny Lombard on January 15, 2011 at 1:42pm
The only problem I foresee here is that satellite comms will be needed for this drone.

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