Replies to This Discussion

3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on January 17, 2011 at 4:50pm

This is an incredibly complicated supply chain, involving many dozens of parts from as many suppliers--and it only takes one part to not show up on time and the whole kit goes out of stock. It may be a month before the various companies making and selling this can catch up with demand and remain sustainably in stock.  But the good news is that more companies are getting ready to make and sell ArduCopters and ArduCopter-compatible frames, so you'll soon have more choice.

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Permalink Reply by Johann Van Niekerk on January 17, 2011 at 4:56pm

Hi Davey

I understand your frustartion when wanting to get something to work again if it broke, but i would also think its kinda hard keeping the stock sustained for a community of 13000 people even if there was only 1000 using Arducopter.

 

stock , supply and command are touchy words when comes to wnatting to sustained stock buy to much and its on the shelf for to long by to little and people are kept waiting but im sure because the community is growing with such a alarming rate they guys at DIY store are doing there best to keep up with command and trying to predict how much will be needed.

 

Regards Johann 

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Permalink Reply by DaveyWaveyBunsenBurner on January 17, 2011 at 5:26pm

Thanks,

Think I will go kkmulti for now and maybe pick up on Arducopter in 6 months or so when things have settled down.

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3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on January 17, 2011 at 5:36pm

The kk is an excellent board, but as you know they don't make frames so you'll have to get a frame elsewhere, just as you could with ArduCopter. Also note that it's just a RC quad, not a UAV (no GPS navigation or position hold).

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Permalink Reply by Alexander LeBrun on January 18, 2011 at 3:58am

Buy the electronics Ardupilot and IMU etc. from DIYDrones and I can make you a frame, PM me if interested.

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Permalink Reply by SciFly on February 19, 2011 at 10:20pm

Interested...I have all but the ESCs, motors and frame.I suppose I can pick up comparable motors and ESCs anywhere.  what frame will you make the DIYD or similair- pics?

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ModeratorPermalink Reply by Hai Tran on January 18, 2011 at 5:31am

My ArduCopter kit hasn't even shipped yet and I've already started looking at upgrades, I ordered a carbon fibre hexa frame from these guys, they have a quad frame that looks absolutely fantasic http://www.rc-carbon.com/x48-quadrocopters-frame-p-97.html 

I haven't found a cheaper carbon frame on the internet yet.

 

So far all I have is the APM and IMU and RC radio.  I can't wait til me ArudCopter kit arrives.

If get tired of waiting for an ArduCopter, I'd be happy to sell you one of my 2 month old AR.Drones :-)

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Permalink Reply by SciFly on February 19, 2011 at 10:23pm

Hi Folks,

Pardon the impatience, but I need to pass along some reasonable sotck avalability timelines to my workgroup. Can you provide some approx timelines for stock of the partial kits and or just quad frames?

Thanks!

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DistributorPermalink Reply by Martint BuildYourOwnDrone.co.uk on February 20, 2011 at 5:52am

Hello SciFly,

 

The latest information I have been given is to expect the kits in March; this could well have changed as I have been waiting on an update as well. I have spoken to Jani a few days back, and the feel was about 2-3 weeks away. He may well pop in here and leave another update. Sorry I can't offer any more firm information.

 

Regards

 

Martin

 

www.buildyourowndrone.co.uk

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3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on February 20, 2011 at 8:24am

Yes, my understanding is that the beginning of March should be a return to full production at both jdrones.com in Thailand and udrones.com in Mexico. Both teams have been stockpiling gear so that they can make enough to stay constantly in stock from here on out. As you will have seen from the photos we posted of the two operations, there are a LOT of elements that have to come together before the quads can go out the door.

 

In the meantime, you can use any other quad frame on the market with the APM electronics. Sometimes you'll need to tweek the PIDs a bit, but usually it's fine right out of the box. I'm flying the Gaui 330s, and though it's too small for cameras and can't handle the wind as well as the larger ArduCopter it does fly fine.

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JDronesPermalink Reply by Jani Hirvinen on February 20, 2011 at 6:02pm

First shipments from our Chinese factories are finally arriving. Whole mainland China was on 3.5 week vacation so impact to stock levels were bad. It will take some weeks untill parts are starting to flow with steady feed.

 

jDrones is also starting to stock up other parts as well. Like Chris said, whole production relies over 30 suppliers and it will take some time until everything on new production runs smoothly.

 

We try our best to make them widely available.

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