Inexpensive UAV design

Here is a simple design for those that enjoy building their airframes from scratch. This design only cost me about 30 bucks and has turned out to be an excellent performer and super stable flyer. I started off with my original design of the MRASV, but wanted to re-design it to be more easily repaired or re-built in case of damage while in the field. I decided to use 1/8th in hobby plywood and foam board. Bill of materials include: 1 aerobird xtreme wing, 2 sheets of elmers foam board, 2 blocks of 1x1 balsa, 1 roll of strapping tape and 2 carbon arrows. All materials were aquired at walmart minus the aerobird xtreme wing. Construction was simple and fast using CA for the wood parts and hot glue on the foam board..yep, hot glue.....suprisingly it works better than any other, it dries fast and bonds super strong with the foam board and balsa/ply. once the fuselage was constucted I covered it with strapping tape for added strength and durability. I have a dome camera in the nose and will be using a 500mW 900mhz AV TX. I am currently working on a power distribution system for the camera and TX so I havent flown it with downlinked video yet. I have conducted many flights using the UNAV PicoPilot NA, and since all the bugs were worked out it has been flying autonomously with no problems. The airframe is super stable and with flaps down and full elevator deflection it is capable of extremely slow stall landings. Pretty much drops down like a parachute. (will have video posted soon) The MRASV II with motor, esc, 11.1V lipo, autopilot (in enclosure) and 4.8V batt pack for GPS weighs in at roughly 4 lbs. The motor setup is capable of flying 7lbs.

Replies

Anthony Bee November 5, 2010 at 7:52pm

Where did you get the dome for the camera? my design has a simulare dome, but id rather buy one, than make one my self =/
brakar January 28, 2010 at 4:05pm

Some more details/prints from the construction job would have been really nice!

brakar
Toby Sorensen January 28, 2010 at 3:28pm

Hey Jonathan I'm building one very simular to yours. How and where did you put the servos for the two rudders?

Thanks
Samuel Rosenstein January 8, 2010 at 12:11pm

Could you please attach some instructions and dimensions about the plane. Also, how someone would go about building something like this.
Thanks,
Sam R.
Colby sts October 28, 2009 at 11:45am

amazing design, what kind of flight times do you get and where can i get that wing?
Foster
Admin

Thomas J Coyle III October 9, 2009 at 5:12pm

Jonathan,

There is a RCGroups thread that is designing a FUAV very much like yours:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1114839

Some pictures of the design are attached.

Regards,
TCIII
thumb-VK_100_FUAV_12.jpg

thumb-VK_100_FUAV_13.jpg
Hanu December 10, 2007 at 11:38am

I want to build this from scratch. I have no idea of what all motors, wireless systems that I need to buy to build the UAV like what you did. Please help me with some more details. I want to work with my kids to get this project goinhg

Thanks
Hanu
Moderator

Gary Mortimer November 29, 2007 at 11:37am

Puts me very much in mind of SPADS (Simple Plastic Airplane Designs) but somewhat more elegant.

I have flown a couple of the Spad on rails and we have had no end of fun with them.

What duration are you getting out of that??

G
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson November 29, 2007 at 7:30am

Joanathan,

That's a terrific design and an inspiration to those of us who are shoehorning UAV electronics into commerical planes that aren't designed for them. And I just happen to have two spare Aerobird Extreme wings!

For those looking for that wing, it's $19 from Hobbyzone:
http://secure.hobbyzone.com/catalog/HZ/aerobird_xtreme/aerobird_xtr...

This reply was deleted.

Discussions

Inexpensive UAV design

Replies

Activity