Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cliff Gill on February 3, 2012 at 6:50am

Beautiful. Pardon my ignorance, but what is a DJI, and what is an AMP? Is the blue foam just for fabrication, or will it remain as part of the structure?

It appears that your camera is mounted on a base plate with dampening between it and its gimbal? Are you using the Hitec magnetic encoder servos for gimbal roll?

Will the modified APM-2 for camera control be mounted on the camera, or on the platform?

Thanks for sharing.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Denny Rowland on February 3, 2012 at 7:15am

Hi Cliff

For  AMP read APM2  

DJI Innovations make the WookongM, which is currently the buzzword in flight control stuff but I think that is all about to change.Yes the Hitec mag.encoder servos are used. The APM2 will not be mounted on the camera gimbal . The reason is that it will be set at 250 deg/sec and tweaked to a very high gain sensitivity  which would oscillate if it was being used in any kind of feedback system.. Even the servo opposite reaction movement would be picked up off axis. The camera imu is a separate development from the standard FC unit, but there will be cross integration for special flight filming modes. The blue foam is part of the floatation system should it run out of power over the water. It is there to allow it's retrieval, not to be a waterproof concept. More follows.... 

• ▶ Reply

DistributorPermalink Reply by Dany Thivierge on February 3, 2012 at 7:02am

Hi Denny! 

Did you consider to break it apart in more modular parts? That way when something wrong happen you will only have to replace that part instead of the full frame... Looks good overall, but again the one piece frame scares me!  :) 

Let us know how it goes with the APM2 and of course you need to show us more!  Great job so far! 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Denny Rowland on February 3, 2012 at 7:47am

Hi Dany

I thought about many ways to make it modular but it would only add weight, I just don't like nuts and bolts. You would be surprised at how much of a modern F1 car is bonded together these days.

It will be hard to break this model but if you do then you can repair it yourself with epoxy. The molding is a composite structure made from end grain Soft Balsa, Carbon, Kevlar and some Alum. hard points. 

For a fun type of model then it could be made much simpler with a basic polyester lay-up.or even a vac formed plastic.

• ▶ Reply