Q about platform size

Hello all. I'm new to the UAV world, but not to RC (almost 30 years). I guess you could say I'm an old guy who has returned to school, and I'm working on a thesis project involving RC, AP (both visible and near IR), and eventually, UAV. Essentially, my project is investigating whether a low cost aerial photo platform using COTS RC equipment and common digital cameras can produce scientifically useful data. I know about platforms like CropCam and Micropilot - they are well beyond the parameters of my project. I've been doing extensive reading on this subject both here and over at RCGroups, so I'm not going to ask the typical "How high? How far? Where do I start?" questions.

I'm presently slowly assembling all the components I need for my platform. Phase I of my project is using the same Easystar I've been flying for years, and will be completed by April. Phase II will be a Multiplex Mentor rigged for nadir shots. Phase III will be adding the UAV components to the Mentor - after I have fully tested them in some inexpensive aileron trainer. I was just wondering how small an airplane can be and still handle the UAV components? I was planning for my test bed to be about 1m in span, like a GWS E-Starter or MPX Minimag. Something that will let me test a full-house UAV setup before risking the larger and more expensive Mentor + cameras.

I expect this project to run through the end of 2012. Lots of stuff still to buy, and lots of flying and image processing to come.

Tony

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Q about platform size

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