Hello everybody,
This is my beginning with UAV applications and DIY Drones Forum although I`ve been reading many of threads here for quite a long time. It surely is a best place to find a great piece of knowledge, practical tips and tricks about UAV`s!
I am planning a project to create an affordable UAV platform for crop mapping, NDVI sensing and overall agriculture applications. Seems like the AdruPilot is the best autopilot solution for now, I got a bit confused about choosing the right airframe to be a starting point for that project.
A must is at least about 1h of flight time, good flight stability and ability to carry up to two Canon / Sony digital cameras at the same time (one for standard photography and other for NDVI mapping - probably MaxMax camera but I am also considering other solutions).
My option for now is Bormatec MAJA platform (also beacouse it is available in Europe) but I guess there are other airframes successfuly used here for similar applications. Based on your experience and custom projects, what can you reccomend to best suit the above needs ?
I know that Model Hobby offers many platforms but choosing the right one based on the information on their website is not an easy task to deal with.
Looking for any recomendations and ideas!
Replies
the pictures on your website are computer generated. have any real pictures of the raptor family? are the winglets functional?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RiNODgQs-Q
here is a video of the gemini 3 hr endurance demo while carrying a payload.
I'm very impressed with your creation. You have some very well thought out ideas, well implemented.
I like the wing hard-points, it really opens up payload possibilities.
Thank you for sharing, I have subscribed to your channel and eagerly await your next video.
Just so happens i have been working on just such an airframe. I am from the hobby/FPV community, but my new airframe would be just what you are looking for, i believe. the following video is for the first prototype. it demonstrated almost 3 hr flight time, and about 100km total distance covered per flight, while carrying a one camera payload. i estimate it could fly about65 km, and for about 2 hrs carrying a 2 cam payload. I'm working on the design for a commercial version right now with larger payload bays (2 of them) and increased weight carrying capability, and ruggedness. also, be easier to build. keep in mind, this was just a tech demonstrator, and a prototype, but the stability is awesome, and efficient. weighs 17 lbs, loaded with payload, and 10 lbs of it is batteries. let me know if there is interest, and what payload requirements there are, and i'll try to work them in as i refine the design further. thanks everyone for input!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8hpn7SDRpQ