Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nickolas Myers on May 22, 2012 at 8:49am

I think we may go with this drone:

http://www.nitroplanes.com/projet-drone-2500mm-kit.html#scProductRe...

As well as the APM 2.0 with xbee, and some kind of camera.

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Permalink Reply by Vernon Barry on May 22, 2012 at 10:18am

I am building this exact plane. I just got it and IT"S HUGE! 8 foot wingspan Sick for the price!!! It's really quality right out of the box. You will be happy.

I am using this motor and 2 50amp speed controls (just use a y-splitter on the signal leads of the ESCs)

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__16618__CR23L_Contra_Rota...

2 each 5800mah 3 cell batteries

APM 1.0 (but 2.0 would work)

3DR 915mhz telemetry radios

the airspeed sensor

Haven't yet sorted out the FPV camera and video but I have a 2.4 ghz video link set to try out and a number of cameras. I also need to use my lasercutter and make a custom gimbal.

I will add the minimOSD at the ground side of the telemetryand video so it's possible to capture a clean(non-OSD) image at the ground if desired, but also have OSD info displayed in a set of video glasses.

 

I mean it's about as perfect as you can get, with high payload, good glide ratio, wire skid protectors on the wingtips and tail for landing, steerable nosewheel and 3 point landing gear. It doesn't get much better to use a drone copy for a drone.

 

Also, I think I just decided to use this for my FPV video link $120 for a good 900mhz RX and TX video link and decent camera.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__21326__900MHZ_1500mW_Tx_...

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Permalink Reply by Nickolas Myers on May 22, 2012 at 10:31am

So what parts would you say are different on yours versus the ones listed here:

http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/wohooo-my-mq9-has-arrived?id=70...

I have to place the order today so yeah...

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Permalink Reply by Vernon Barry on May 22, 2012 at 10:53am

The same plane but it's on sale so much cheaper than his list of $170

I'm using a bigger/better motor which has counter-rotating props so as to remove all torque yaw from the plane. Only $32 dollars!!! very good reviews and even I say hafter having it in my hands a steal of a deal.

you need 2 speed controls for the motor 50-60amps each

I would use 3DR radios rather than the xbees, and also use APM 2.0 rather than APM 1.0

Basically, between the plane being on sale, getting a $32 motor and cheap 60A ESCs for lest than the cost of his motor alone, APM2.0 saves you $50 over the APM 1.0

I use only genuine Spektrum stuff for my RC for a good reason, but if you wanted to go the cheaper route, one of the 9x variants will work

So, I would order the batteries, FPV stuff, RC gear, servos, ESCs, Motor, varius connectors, servo extensions from Hobby King in one order, and the plane from nitroplanes.

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Permalink Reply by Nickolas Myers on May 22, 2012 at 11:02am

I'm not sure what 'various connectors' to get I guess.   
Do I need a transformer to step down from 11.1V to 5V for the electronics?

 

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Permalink Reply by Vernon Barry on May 22, 2012 at 11:14am

The ESC has a built in voltage regulator that outputs 5 volts to power the APM via the ESCs signal input 3 wire plug. It's called BEC (Battery Eliminator Circuit), the name comes from the old days where in gas powered R/C we always have a receiver and servo battery, but in electric R/C, they decided to make it simple and let the ESC power the system since it connects to the main battery. BEC is somewhat of an outdated name, but that's the common name so it stuck.

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Permalink Reply by Nickolas Myers on May 22, 2012 at 10:55am

What voltage battery packs are you using?  Also, is that much motor necessary?

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Permalink Reply by Vernon Barry on May 22, 2012 at 11:33am

It's an 8 foot wingspan. You need as much motor as you can get. Further, the unique design of counter rotating props removes all torque steer. You don't have to run the motor wide open, but remember, if you have a 30mph wind, you have to be able to go faster than 30mph just to stand still and not get blown away. In an 8 foot wingspan you need some margin factor for safety.

I'm running 11.1 volt 3 cell 5800mah packs 2 each,a dn another guy with the same plane used 3 of those packs. By connectors, you need servo extentions because the servos are in the wings and the wires must go to the fuselage all the wayto the APM. You need 2 y-splitters for signal to the servos because you have flaps and ailerons on both wings that need tied to a single output on the APM for those 2 functions. You need connectors to match the ones on the batteries to the ESCs. The motor has male bullets, and I ordered a 10 pack of both male and female bullets to be safe (it was like $3)

My ESC came with both male and female bullets but they didn't match the ones already on the motor, thus I was smart to have gotten the 10 pack.

here:

 

COAXD3410	CR23L Contra Rotating BL System 1100kv	1	Reserved
AM1003A	4mm Gold Connectors 10 pairs (20pc)	1	Reserved
TG9e	Turnigy TG9e 9g / 1.5kg / 0.10sec Eco Micro	4	Reserved

Then batteries

 2 or 3 of these http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__21775__ZIPPY_Flightmax_5...

servo extensions

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=...

Servo Y splitters

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=...

LiPo battery  alarm get one for each battery

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__18987__On_Board_Lipoly_L...

Battery connectors

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=...

 

 Then you need a charger and power supply

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__20613__Turnigy_MEGA_400W...

power supply

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__21857__HobbyKing_540w_10...

 

Also, you need 2 full size servos for elevator and rudder.

2 each of these or any other good (if you want to spend more money)

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__9621__Power_HD_Standard_...

 

From DIY drones get this

https://store.diydrones.com/3DR_RadioTelemetry_Kit_915_Mhz_p/kt-tel...

https://store.diydrones.com/Kit_MPXV7002DP_p/kt-mpxv7002dp-01.htm

https://store.diydrones.com/APM_2_0_Kit_p/br-ardupilotmega-03.htm

for On screen video display from an FPV get this https://store.diydrones.com/Ardupilot_Mega_Minimal_OSD_p/br-apmmino...

ANd this from hobby king

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__21326__900MHZ_1500mW_Tx_...

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Permalink Reply by Nickolas Myers on May 22, 2012 at 11:46am

Thank you so much.  Now if I can just keep all of this straight in my mind long enough to make a hand full of really long purchase orders, I'll be ok. :P

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Permalink Reply by Vernon Barry on May 22, 2012 at 11:54am

I know it's a lot but I tried to be comprehensive here. Also, if Hobby king is out of the XT 60 connectors for the batteries, you can buy them from DIY drones when you order the APM and stuff https://store.diydrones.com/XT60_Female_connector_p/con-0002-01.htm get as many pairs as batteries and maybe one extra pair just in case.

Also, I forgot to say get wires for between your RX and the APM

RX power to APM https://store.diydrones.com/Jumper_cable_two_pin_female_15cm_p/ca-0...

RX signals to APM https://store.diydrones.com/Jumper_cable_two_pin_female_15cm_p/ca-0...

Just one of each of those is fine.

Honestly, I think that's everything but props

These may not be perfect, but they would at least work at first. I need to do some real world tests to see how much prop (diameter and pitch we need)

https://store.diydrones.com/APC_Propeller_set_11X47_SFP_Style_p/ac-...

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Permalink Reply by Nickolas Myers on May 22, 2012 at 12:08pm

All of the pictures I've seen have a 3 blade prop.  

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Permalink Reply by Vernon Barry on May 22, 2012 at 12:11pm

You are correct, but Hobby King is out of good matching sized props, and 3DR doesn't sell them. The 2 blades will work until I can tell you what is the actual tested best prop combo. Point being, these are a close enough match to fly well and for $8 and you are already making an order and paying shipping, start with these.

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