3D Robotics

Which Quadcopter should we adopt?

The DIY Drones and Sparkfun teams are thinking about selling and supporting one of the quadcopter platforms. But there are dozens of them out there--which one should we choose?

Here's what we need:

--Open source
--Cheap (sub $1,000 all in)
--Easy to make
--Full UAV--including GPS navigation and ground station.
--Capable of indoors and outdoors flight (ie, bigger than the Parrot AR.Drone, but not as big as the Hollywood-quality big camera lifters)
--Pretty mature in terms of software and community

Which projects fit the bill best?

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Replies

  • Got one !! coming out in july http://www.maximus-racing.com/fr/maxicopters/xaircraft_650.html

  • Moderator
    I could probably get this frame for OK price!

    I know you are going for a full system?



    Price for frame should be around 120-140 $.

    Length: 500mm (wing diagonal length)
    Height: 185mm
    Weight: 220g
    Material: Glass Fiber Air laminate +
  • Moderator
    I think that MultiBoard and Multi Pilot Project is better choice . Is possible to support different kind of of project on it.
    I yet port and implement aeroquad firmware : i2c / Hexa Mixertable / 1 Channel PPM Decoder
    Testing ArduImu and it work fine,too .
    Develop first variable pitch qaudricopter :)
    We're working on a hybrid Quad . VTOL airplane .
    http://code.google.com/p/lnmultipilot10/
    Regards
    Roberto
  • Developer
    It is great to see these two good quad productions will be joined as one. I hope to see some great results soon :)

    Way to go Jose, Ted and Chris

    --jp
  • Hey all! I agree with Jose, the APM board looks ideal for a quad platform. I like the fact that it is using the Invensense gyros which are well immune to frequencies seen in quadcopter applications. I've been speaking with Chris and a partnership between DIY Drones and AeroQuad looks to be a good win/win situation. I would also look forward to collaborating with Jose in his excellent work with developing his DIY Drones Quad if he's open to it.

    Can't wait to start working with the board! The AeroQuad software should be a quick port since we already have common code that supports the Duemilanove and the Mega... it's pretty cool that we are all apart of the Arduino family!

    Ted (Mikro from AeroQuad)
  • What about starting up a Quadcopter based shield for the ArduPilot Mega or even ArduPilot? ArduPilot Mega main board would be a capable main controller. The community could create the shield with custom sensors and features specific for a quadcopter. The guys at AeroQuad already uses Arduino for their main controller. Maybe some persuasion is in order. :)
  • Chris,

    I think one of the requirements for a DIY Drones platform should be "Arduino based". The Aeroquad is one of the better known units, but there have been a few others as well I believe.

    I would not consider the UAVX a good choice (not that it seems to still be in the running) partly because it's not Arduino, but mostly because the hardware is already supported quite well by the Quadroufo shop.

    Cheers,
    Rusty
  • Chris,

    Thank you for the prompt, and may I say rather blunt response.

    I did not however ask you to "adopt" UAVX which is going just fine by itself. My suggestion was that you consider listing it under other APs.

    Regards,
    Greg
  • Hi Chris,

    It seems to me that UAVX and the associated hardware obtainable from www.quadroufo.com satisfies the criteria for listing under "Other APs" in that it is actively used forum members and has their support, it is open source and the hardware is readily obtainable commercially.

    The relevant links are contained in Jim and Don's posts.

    You may wish to consider this.

    Greg
    Quadroufo.com
  • I vote for the AeroQuad it's...

    --Open source
    --Cheap, about 400$ if memory serves me correctly.
    --Easy to make. You can follow wiring directions or better yet use the AeroQuad shield (http://carancho.com/AeroQuad/store/index.php?main_page=product_info...)
    --Full UAV is currently under development, including GPS navigation and ground station.
    --Capable of indoors and outdoors flight. There is currently a small 544 gram version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg5KSKa9Ol4&feature=player_embedded) but most of the ones that have been built are twice the size at 1000 grams and can carry 500 grams. A VTOL airplane is currently being tested with it to further enhance it's performance (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3200283)
    --Has a very active community. This thread is basically about the AeroQuad (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1066119). It also has it's own forum (http://aeroquad.com/forum.php).
    -Currently uses basic hobby PWM ESC's. 12c is being worked on as well.

    If you can't wait for the GPS, ground station and such to be finished then I'd consider UAVX.
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