Hello I was searching on the web for software & hardware that could be applied to the physical structure of a Model Airplane for a low cost but highly efficient RC plane.Min range between 60-100 miles electric or fuel. On board camera/s using wireless technology.I have a cost effective company that is top of the game for developing larger than human size model planes both fuel and electric. However their main strength is RC thus line of site.Adding the technology from this site along with other my other components should see me able to construct a relatively low cost version to the following product using my own design.http://www.draganfly.com/uav-airplane/tango/specifications/Is there anyone here that can guide me on how best to accomplish this with minimal cost?I also came across this article which is ages old by now but none the less quite interesting. I assume your info here covers this and more, but I am not sure.http://news.stanford.edu/pr/96/960116gpsplane.htmlObjectives:Be able to operate like a predator drone for surveillance and reconnaissance forsearch and rescue gathering of information for fishermen lost at see etc.Also being able to pre-program unit to operate hands off freeing up hands on for actual operation.Areas of Interest are:Aerial PhotographyAuto Pilot hardware, Software & AlgorithmsGPS
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I'd like to see a video in which the DraganFly Tango is landing on something else than tall grass :-)
I wonder why there's no landing footage in the promotion vid...
Firstly cost effective airframes are easy. I am midway through construction of a PVC pipe, carbon golf shaft and EPP foam build UAV with about 40km range.
Your best bet may not be the tandem wing due to complicated design, though Burt Rutan will definitely agree it is the ultimate long endurance airframe. Take a look at Proteus or Voyager hehe, both of them have massive range.
Go fuel, endurance all the way. Electric is much nicer and I am a fan.. but at that range forget it.
Unless you make your own battery pack. Get on dealextreme or ebay and check the prices of lipo and li ion cells.
In terms of communications.. this is where you are going to have trouble.
You are going to be spending more here than anywhere else because your options are rather limited.
Depending on were you are are going to need to be careful with licencing and such.
For telemetry use either 900mhz or a cellular connection.
For video use 2.4ghz, the other other option is 5.8ghz but that will be difficult and expensive.
To get the range out of the 2.4ghz use a 24dbi grid antenna on the ground and use something to point it using gps.
I am working on an tracking antenna mount at the moment.
That should just about do you for stuff to research for now.
Feel free to ask more specific questions.
Joseph.
Replies
I wonder why there's no landing footage in the promotion vid...
Firstly cost effective airframes are easy. I am midway through construction of a PVC pipe, carbon golf shaft and EPP foam build UAV with about 40km range.
Your best bet may not be the tandem wing due to complicated design, though Burt Rutan will definitely agree it is the ultimate long endurance airframe. Take a look at Proteus or Voyager hehe, both of them have massive range.
Go fuel, endurance all the way. Electric is much nicer and I am a fan.. but at that range forget it.
Unless you make your own battery pack. Get on dealextreme or ebay and check the prices of lipo and li ion cells.
In terms of communications.. this is where you are going to have trouble.
You are going to be spending more here than anywhere else because your options are rather limited.
Depending on were you are are going to need to be careful with licencing and such.
For telemetry use either 900mhz or a cellular connection.
For video use 2.4ghz, the other other option is 5.8ghz but that will be difficult and expensive.
To get the range out of the 2.4ghz use a 24dbi grid antenna on the ground and use something to point it using gps.
I am working on an tracking antenna mount at the moment.
That should just about do you for stuff to research for now.
Feel free to ask more specific questions.
Joseph.