Research and build for a sub 250 drone capable of running Ardupilot in all of its functions (including autnomous flight) to maximize flight time.

Weight minimization is key to maximize flight endurance. Batteries represent the bigger % of total weight in such a build. In order to stay below the 250 grams limit (thank you @!_* regulators), 2S voltage is practically a constraint. Therefore research has to be invested in ESCs and flight controllers able to operate under such small voltage. Li-Ion appears to be the current only battery having the best capacity/weight ratio to build a lightweight 2S battery.

Then comes the frame optimization. Most drone frames are overbuilt on purpose in a hype to resist hypothetical circumstances that never happen or are simply unrealistic. Therefore there is a huge oportunity in researching frame design improvements that minimize weight while still maintaining enough rigidity and solidity.


Frame used in this video comes as a result of many hours and discussions in our private international research group of experts. In particular I would like to thank and put Ryan forward (see quadstardrones) who holds the current worldwide record of designing and making the fastest racer drones.

cheers

Hugues

Hi,

This is a quick test and comparison between uBlox F9 and M8 series GPS. uBlox ZED-F9P is a multiband GPS that theoritically gets a better precision and faster acquisition.

Test was done using Ardusimple's SimpleRTK2B evaluation board.

Cheers,

Hugues

ARX-R V2 frame is the fastest 5"/6" class quadcopter currently on the market. It is a beautiful piece of engineering that has been developed by Ryan at https://quadstardrones.com/

Flight videos of Ryan here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_NXj...


The kit provides an option to assemble a 6" true X quadcopter or a hybrid 5"/6".

Note: this frame has been purchased and was not provided for review. I am not affiliated to quadstardrones.

Maiden flight and PID tuning of a 3" microquad (Arducopter)

Enjoy

Build video of an Ardupilot 3" micro quadcopter on a Kakute F7 ARM processor autopilot.

The build is an endurance HD camera & FPV ship with full autonomous capability thanks to Ardupilot, from take off, to landing.

Flight test & endurance video to follow...

Parts used in this build:

⦿ Frame : custom frame - watch build video here https://youtu.be/xKhgZ4hKZ-4

⦿ Autopilot : Kakute F7

⦿ ESC : Racerstar Tattoo 35A 4-in-1

⦿ Video Tx : Eachine VTX03S

⦿ HD & FPV camera all in one : Runcam Split mini2

⦿ Radio telemetry : HK MX Mini

⦿ Radio receiver : FrSky R-XSR

⦿ Motors : EMAX RS1106 II - 4500 Kv

⦿ Propellers : Gemfan 3025BN

⦿ GPS & compass : Matek M8Q-5883

Cheers,

Hugues

Hello,

This is a practical test & review of the TS100 portable solder iron, where we check if it is up to the job for our diydrones hobby's uses...

Enjoy

Hugues

We test fly a 4S3P battery (build video here : https://youtu.be/lW-3nMSkXvg ) on the sub-kilogram Ardupilot folding drone (build video here: https://youtu.be/L1RYT5_lMrc )

Li-Ion battery cells are 18650GA cells (3400 mAh) able to provide 10A current continuous discharge, in a 4S3P setup for a total capacity of 10.000 mAh.
This battery, with AWG12 cables/XT60 connector and foam board packaging (thus not optimized for weight reduction) weighs 638 grams (could be optimized down to 600 grams with less tape around it:).

The folding quadcopter, weighing less than a kilogram, embarks a full size Pixhawk1 autopilot with latest Arducopter firmware,  a 3DR telemetry transceiver (433Mhz antenna), a Drotek RTK GPS, a 5.8Ghz FPV Swift cam & 40 channels transmitter.

With 9" props, this ship is way overpowered, hovering at about 30% throttle. When carrying a ZTiny2 3-axis gimbal+Gopro camera, hovering sets right at 50%.

Cheers,

Hugues

This video shows from hardware getting ready to Arduino IDE programming how-to set up a standalone  (access point, AP) web server on a ESP8266 module hosting a web page to control remotely a servo via WiFi.

In this use case, the objective is to turn on and off the button of a flashlight ona drone via a smartphone or a tablet. See video here:

A ESP8266 ESP-07 model is used for its external antenna capability (better range than integrated PCB antennas).

Cheers,
Hugues

Hi,

This is the follow up video showing a test flight of the monster 32000 lumen flashlight mounted on a drone (and remote operated via an ESP8266 wifi DIY solution).

Fore those interested, check my previous build video about mounting the DX80 flashlight on a drone :  https://youtu.be/LlmbdMtpSWA

Cheers,

Hugues

Hi guys,

This video is a fun project to mount an Imalent DX80 flashlight to a drone. For those who still do not know what is this monster DX80 flashlight, please watch my previous youtube video about it.

The idea is to not only support the flashlight vertically under the drone but also to control its pitch orientation and remotely be able to turn it on/off (mechanically as I chose not to dismantle its internal electronics, this flashlight is too expensive!).

There are probably other ways or even better ways to do this but that is just my implementation of it.

Cheers,

Hugues

Hi Guys,

In, this video, I test and review the most powerful LED flashlight that exist on the market right now : the IMALENT DX80,

also known as "The End of Darkness", producing an insane 32.000 Lumens !

This flashlight contains its own battery pack (4S2P). Its reflector is designed to be both a good thrower (more than 700 meters) and a good flooder (more than 125 degrees) which makes it a good candidate as the most powerful search and rescue drone light.

Of course you will not be able to use this on your DJI play toy as you need to carry this 1.2Kg payload with enough endurance for a SAR mission.

So build yourself a serious X8 multicopter with Arducopter!

Cheers,

Hugues

Wanna see more videos of my YouTube videos ? : https://www.youtube.com/c/HuguesD       

Hi guys,

Did you know you could build your own Li-Ion battery pack ?

Li-Ion batteries have the highest energy density per unit of mass available to us.

In comparison with LiPo batteries, you get 30% less weight for the same mAh capacity, which translates into direct endurance or increased flight autonomy.

Ready made LiIon batteries for dorne users are not mainstream (they are not sold on hobbyking, nor any other main RC online shops), and are quite expensive.

A DIY assembled pack is a fun project and will get you a much cheaper LiIon battery made to your custom requirements.

You can select individual cells based on their total capacity, based on how many amps they can continuously discharge.

You can then add them up in series to get the tight S voltage, and add them up in parallel to get the right minimum amps continuous discharge rate.

In the video I show how I've built a 4S battery which is able to output 30 amps continuously, with a 10 500 mAh capacity. It will be used on my 300 class folding quadcopter for an endurance test.

cheers,

Hugues

Hi Guys,

This is part 2 of building a DIY  folding quadcopter. The episode is about designing a detachable camera gimbal (a Z Tiny2, 3-axis) and a landing gear.

 Part 1 is here:

Cheers,

Hugues

Hello,

Here is a DIY design & build of a small  (300 class, 9" props) compact foldable  quadcopter you can take in a backpack, weighing less than a kilogram (including a Drotek RTK GPS, CUAV V3 pro pixhawk autopilot , telemetry radio)

It can fly a good 30 minutes with a 3-axis Gopro type gimbal (subject of part2). The frame is foldable (with and without props attached).

It flies of course with Arducopter firmware V3.4.6.

For those inetrested , I had made a previous review of the CUAV V3 pro (Pixhack) autopilot :

https://youtu.be/ax5obKcmSmA

Cheers,

Hugues

A little laugh with a joke  starring my chickens, Penny and Pepsi :)

 Oh yes, even chickens may benefit from Arduino tech.

Next step : make ardurover find the path to the chickens house, then recognize if eggs are layed and pick up them up Can DEVs take care of that in a next release ? :)

For RC/UAV uses, a balsa core laminated with carbon fiber makes an ultra light construction panel with very high stiffness. While you can buy ready made panels (usually expensive), this video shows how easily you can make it yourself with no special tools.

This video does not pretend to show the best way of doing these panels. It is merely one quick and cheap way of doing it (like using a vacuum system , use rollers to spread and squeeze the excess resin out, etc)

Unboxing / Disassembly / Review of the CUAV V3 autopilot.

We take a look at one of the latest generation autopilot running the Ardupilot software. How is its build quality and functionality ?How does it compare to a Pixhawk autopilot ?

This is a quick and short review, setup and tutorial of the RTK XL GPS from uBlox/Drotek.

Test & Setup is done on Ardupilot + Pixhawk, using mission planner as the ground control station.

Note that this product was not provided for review by Drotek and the review is unbiased.

The RTK XL product can be found here:
https://drotek.com/shop/en/home/792-x...

U-Center software from uBlox can be downloaded here:
https://www.u-blox.com/en/product/u-c...

Drotek's product documentation can be found here:
https://drotek.com/en/lessons/comment...

Hello,

This is a synthesized basic explanation of how precision GPS methods work:
-Differential GNSS (DGNSS)
-Real Time Kinematics (RTK)
-Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS)
-Precision Point Positionning (PPP)

Cheers,

Hugues

This is the maiden flight of the latest X-UAV model : "Clouds". It is a V-Tail fixed wing platform, similar to their previous model "Talon".
It runs Arduplane 3.7 on a Pixhawk1 (I try to get a Pixhawk2 for months without any success...Frustrating).
I was supposed to have a flight buddy who would throw the plane while I would hold the Taranis, in order to first maiden it in FBWA. As he cancelled on the last minute and I really wanted to fly the thing, I decided to burn a few steps and try directly this fixed wing alone by programming an auto take-off (hand launched : that means that the following parameters have been set:
•TKOFF_THR_MINACC was set pretty low to 5
•TKOFF_THR_DELAY was set to zero because it is a front propelled fixed wing. Don't do this with a pusher airplane or you might shred your hands !
•TKOFF_THR_MINSPD was set to zero

I have a digital airspeed sensor installed but it was obviously not yet calibrated since this was the first flight. However the EKF managed to fly it through its auto mission correctly on the first try.

I still find amazing how Ardupilot works great, even after dozens of builds I've done with it. Tridge and Randy are just two geniuses (and all other dev I don't know).