This week I tested and mastered the auto takeoff feature on the APM I've installed on my Nova. It took a few tries and a cracked fuselage to get it, but once I got it performed very well; I set the flight mode to auto, I run down the field, and the motor kicks on without me telling it to, I throw it, and it takes off on it's own. Very cool. 
  

Seems to be working well, am I doing it right?

 
Next week I'll be testing the auto land feature, which will be just as exciting. 

 
Equipment Used:
Airplane: Scratch-built Nova, see http://www.MyGeekShow.com for plans and build instructions
Main Camera: iPhone 4s
Airplane Camera: FlyCamOne2
Motor: http://www.hobbypartz.com/75m55-optima450-2220-1800kv-2.html
ESC: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=13429
Battery: http://www.hobbypartz.com/77p-sl4400-3s1p-30c-3333.htmlidProduct=6306
Servos: http://www.hobbypartz.com/topromisesg9.html
Prop: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idproduct=5437

Stats:
Weight: 32 oz
Thrust: 21 oz
Wing Area: 3.33 square feet
Wing Loading: 5.3 oz per sq ft

If you're interested in building the Nova, I've got free build instructions and plans on my website: http://www.MyGeekShow.com.

-Trent

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1013469813/mygeekshow-get-into-rc-airplanes

This week I tested the Ardupilot's waypoint and autopilot functionality again, and this time, had a lot more success! I moved the GPS unit to have a better view of the sky, and it's performance improve markedly.

I also tried taping my iPhone 4s to my airplane and used it's 1080p HD video function to record the flight. Totally revealing how much better a nicer camera would look! I need to balance the prop to reduce all the waves and distortions, and of course improve efficiency and reduce damage caused by the vibrations.

Again, so far so good. I am really loving the APM and mission planner. Thank you again DIYDrones for the awesome equipment and software!

Equipment Used:

Airplane: Scratch-built Nova, see http://www.MyGeekShow.com for plans and build instructions

Main Camera: iPhone 4s

Airplane Camera: FlyCamOne2

AutoPilot/Stabilization: Ardupilot Mega from http://www.DIYDrones.com

Motor: http://www.hobbypartz.com/75m42-optima450-2220-950kv.html

ESC: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=13429

Battery: http://www.hobbypartz.com/77p-sl4400-3s1p-30c-3333.html

Servos: http://www.hobbypartz.com/topromisesg9.html

Prop: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idproduct=5437

Stats:

Weight: 32 oz

Thrust: 21 oz

Wing Area: 3.33 square feet

Wing Loading: 5.3 oz per sq ft

If you're interested in building the Nova, I've got free build instructions and plans on my website: http://www.MyGeekShow.com.

-Trent

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1013469813/mygeekshow-get-into-rc-airplanes?

As I've progressed over the past year from making little foam gliders to making the APM Powered Nova, I've decided that when I "arrived", aka was able to design, build and fly my own RC airplanes, I'd make a series of high quality videos that would help others make a similar journey. These videos would provide a resource for new people to get started, and resource for experienced people to refer newer people to (if you're like me, while I enjoy teaching others the basics, it does get a little tiring explaining the same thing over and over).

To assist me in accomplishing this, I launched a Kickstarter project for the purpose of raising $500 to pay for an HD camera, lighting, micophone, and materials to build workbench that will allow me to create the highest quality tutorial videos.

Go to my Kickstarter project page to learn all the details.

I'm currently considering the following video ideas to get started (see below). In time, I'll move onto more advanced subjects, like FPV and autopilot.

If you choose to contribute (any amount will help!), I thank you! There are "rewards" (see the Kickstarter page to learn more) that I'm giving to contributors.

Video Ideas:

Common Questions:

How do I Get Started?

How Much Does it Cost?

How Hard is it to Fly?

What Happens if I Crash?

What Kind of Range do they Get?

How Long do they Fly?

Where and When do I Fly?

Where do I buy an Airplane?

Should I Use a Flight Simulator?

What Tools Will I Need?

Are there local groups I can meet with?

What are some online resources?

What does these RC Airplane terms mean?

If You're Building Your Own or Getting an ARF/RR:

Choosing the AirplaneChoosing a Transmitter & Receiver

Choosing a Brushless Motor

Choosing an ESC

Choosing a Battery

Choosing a Servo

Choosing a Propeller

Preparing for your First Flight:

Finding the Center of Gravity (CG)

Check your control throws and direction

Charge a LiPo Battery

Checking Thrust Direction

Your First Flights:

What Repair Tools & Equip. to Bring

Conduct a Range Test

Get to Know your Environment

Final Preflight Check

How to take off an RC Airplane

How to fly an RC Airplane

How to land an RC Airplane

When (not if) you crash, what to do?

This week I tested the Ardupilot's waypoint and autopilot functionality, and it had mixed results, which I now have identified as total user error. Go figure. :)

The waypoint feature performed as good as it could, it struggled a bit as my GPS module only has about a 25% view of the sky, which is clearly not ideal. I'm working now on a better mounting location that will give it 100% view.

Why do I think it's the GPS mounting location?

1.) Its mounted in a location that only gives it a 25% view of the sky, that alone is bad.

2.) I've since gone out and flown it, and the GPS couldn't get a lock for like 5 minutes. I moved the APM and GPS out of it's mounting location and into a full view of the sky, and it got a lock in like 20 seconds, really really fast. So clearly its got such a bad mounting location that it may not even connected as it is.

3.) After improving it's mounting location even just a little bit, it flew much, much better. That flight (just made yesterday) will appear on next week's episode.

So far so good. I am in total love with the APM and mission planner. Thank you DIYDrones for the awesome equipment and software!

Equipment Used:

Motor: http://www.hobbypartz.com/75m42-optima450-2220-950kv.html

ESC: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=13429

Batt: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6306

Servos: http://www.hobbypartz.com/topromisesg9.html

Prop: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idproduct=5437 

Stats:

Weight: 32 oz

Thrust: 21 oz

Wing Area: 3.33 square feet

Wing Loading: 5.3 oz per sq ft

If you're interested in building the Nova, I've got free build instructions and plans on my website: http://www.MyGeekShow.com.

-Trent

This week I constructed, installed and tested an APM on my Nova. Everything went great! Stabilization worked like a charm and RTL worked flawlessly! Can't wait for the next few months as I explore this "new" technology. (well, new to me!)

Thank you DIYDrones for the AWESOME equipment and software... very, very cool.

-Trent

This week I focused on getting the Nova ready for the FPV system I'll be installing, and it flew great!I added a new wing that has a larger wingspan (62in.) and better locations for the ailerons (closer to the wing tips for greater leverage). This added a little more stability, slowed the airplane down a little, and allowed for the additional weight.

I also tested the wing loading by using the heavier battery (a 4.4Ah battery that weighs in at 12oz) and 4oz of extra dead weight to simulate the FPV gear that will be added next week.

Lastly, flying it in heavy wind (10-12 mph) was a pretty good test of it's general strength and stability. It handled it very well, and has inspired me to get some stabilization to help me out.

So far so good! Can't wait to FPV maiden the Nova!

This week I connected and ground tested my FPV system. Its a very basic FPV system, cheap and won't be a long term solution, but I just wanted to get started in FPV and learn from mistakes/learn what I like/don't like etc. And there isn't as much at stake if I crash/lose it!

FPV System: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__13443__900MHZ_1500mW_Tx_Rx_1_3_inch_CCD_Camera_NTSC.html

Monitor: http://www.airaccent.com/8gb-jxd-990-mp4-mp5-player-silver-p-8210.html

 Very interesting set of YouTube videos of representatives from the AMA and FAA discussing UAVs, Altitude Limits, etc.

 #1: (above)

#2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5nUG0RhSwY&sns=em

#3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeLV7ymo59E&sns=em

#4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVPoEelEn70&sns=em

#5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsZF9nyOJMQ&sns=em

#6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Jd2ZZDSQ2g&sns=em

I've had a lot of questions recently about the USA trip I'm planning, and thought I'd provide some additional details about what plane, FPV, AP, RTH, etc system I'll be using for the journey.

Basically, I'm planning on scratch building a twin engine airplane with a 6 -7 ft. wing span. It will fly at 60 - 80 MPH for as long as possible (hope to get an hour or more at that speed). I'll land it, replace the batteries, service the airplane, and take off again, repeating this until I reach the other side of the US.

I'll need a team of 4: a pilot, a driver (of the chase car we'll ride in), a navigator (works between pilot and driver to maintain proper proximity with the airplane), and an engineer (charges batteries, watches current airplane performance, etc.)

Planning on doing it in 2014. Why? I want lots of experience before attempting this, and, I need to save up some cash to pay for it all! Sponsors welcome!

Feel free to provide feedback!

Thanks!

Put together a quick series of my favorite clips of MyGeekShow over this last year, and quickly discussed 2011's goal and how it was acomplished with the Nova.

Was able to go from building simple gliders to building the Nova - an airplane completely designed, built and flown by me, a huge success as I can now create an airplane to specifically meet the needs of any objective.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your support DIYDrones and members! Your support has truly made this show possible. Thank you!

As a hint for 2012, I'll be mastering FPV and AP... so you can expect future content to be more applicable to you in the coming year.

Finished the Nova this week! Everything went as planned, CG appears to be a little further back than I planned, but I'll have to wait to get it in the air to really determine its location. I'm not totally sold on the way the wing is held down (with velcro tape) and I've got a few ideas on how to improve it...

Not sure what else to say! It's going to be a great FPV/AP platform!

-Trent

This week I did testing on my scratch built clark y airfoil to compare it to the Easy Star's wing.

The new wing:

-Generated more lift, and consequently more drag.

-Required an increase in rudder size and throw to get the proper control

-Could carry more weight while maintaining good flight characteristics

-Flew slower and more stable

-Was less prone to tip stall

-Was more active in correcting when experiencing rudder roll

-Used less energy to maintain flight

Next week I'll announce and detail my next airplane!

This week I completed the first flight of my scratch built wing on the GeekStar. It has different lift properties that required a larger rudder to be added to maintain control of the aircraft, and after increasing the rudder size, it flew just fine.

That officially marks the end of the scratch built mission I've been on for the last year or so; being able to create a RC Airplane from scratch that can meet or exceed a kit's performance. 

Next week will be all about testing this wing against the easy star wing to determine if it really does perform as well or better.

I did some wing loading testing this week in an effort to determine 1.) the affects of adding more weight to flight and 2.) determine the safe maximum wing loading / thrust to weight ratio that my scratch built airplane could handle.

This learning will help me as I seek to build a FPV/Drone airplane next year.

Detailed Results:

(Easy Star wing's surface area is roughly 368 square inches. Wing loading (wl) is reported in grams per inch)

Standard Weight: 747g, wl= 2.03 (Great Takeoff, Half throttle needed cruise, Great climb rate, Easy Landing)

2oz & case added: 813g, wl = 2.21 (Unchanged performance)

4oz added: 868g, wl = 2.36 (Slightly affected climb rate)

6oz added: 924g, wl = 2.51 (Cruise and climb rate affected, landing and take off faster)

8oz added: 980g, wl = 2.66 (Cruise and climb rate affected, landing and take off faster, controls were less responsive)

10oz added: 1,037g, wl = 2.82 (Almost maxium weight for this power/wing set up. Full throttle needed)

12oz added: 1,092g, wl = 2.97 (Maximum weight. Fast take off, fast landing, full attention needed at all times to not crash)

Starting next year (2012) MyGeekShow will be getting into FPV / technology aided flight (autopilot, flight stabilization, etc). However, we’ll need your help selecting and installing the right equipment, which is where you come in!

What are we doing?
We’re putting together a small team of people we can go to for help/advice as we start exploring this “advanced” field of our hobby. As we learn from you and from firsthand experience we’ll publish videos each week showing how-to’s, product reviews, episodes, etc. showing others what we’re learning (see MyGeekShow on YouTube to see what’s been posted over the last year).

What’s in it for you?
-You’ll get to work and network with other experts in this field who you can teach and learn from.
-We’ll pass on the knowledge you give by posting videos on YouTube, sharing your knowledge with thousands of viewers.
-Assist in our goal of flying an RC Airplane 3,000+ miles to cross the U.S.
-Opportunity to participate in future MyGeekShow projects.

What is required to be on the team?
-At least six months to one year of experience in some kind of FPV or “technology aided flight” (example: autopilot, flight stabilization, data logging, etc).
-Willing to participate in the team for 6-12 months.
-Contribute on a weekly basis to an online discussion group.
-Show respect to other team members.

How do I join?
-Email trent@mygeekshow.com and let us know you’re interested and what kind of RC experience you have.

What is MyGeekShow?
MyGeekShow is a YouTube channel focused on the exploration of the RC airplane world with a 5 year mission that cumulates in a weeklong 3,000 mile flight to cross the United States. Learn more by going to www.MyGeekShow.com or visiting our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/MyGeekShowdotcom

Hope to hear from you!

-Trent

This week I crashed, repaired and conducted endurance/efficiency testing on the GeekStar. Compared to the Easy Star and it's brushed / NiMh set up, it performed very well.

Each flight I used full throttle on takeoff, and half to less than half throttle to maintain altitude.

5 min. of flight - consumed 231mAh

10 min. of flight - consumed 399 mAh

15 min. of flight - consumed 575 mAh

I then pushed it HARD (3/4 throttle to full throttle) for 12.5 minutes. It landed nice and cool!

12.5 min of hard flight - 1,178 mAh

Now I'm off to make my own wing, and then I'll truly have a scratch built airplane.

Electronics Used:

Motor: http://www.hobbypartz.com/75m42-optima450-2220-950kv.html

ESC: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=13429

Batt: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6306

Prop: http://www.hobbypartz.com/60p-dyp-1001-propeller.html

Successfully maiden'd the Geek Star this week! (Geek Star = MyGeekShow version of the Easy Star) It flew very, very well, better than I anticipated. Its still a little tail heavy due to servos being placed so far in the tail, but that can easily compensated for.

I'm going to use the Easy Star's wings for a while, but will eventually move to a total scratch built airplane.

It flies pretty solid at half throttle and can really climb/cruise at full throttle and after landing, the electronics are very cool.

Motor: http://www.hobbypartz.com/75m42-optima450-2220-950kv.html

ESC: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=13429

Batt: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6306