3D Robotics

Blimp UAV update: Minimum and Maximum versions

We've forked the Blimp UAV into two projects, a minimum and a maximum one. The maximum one is the one that's using the NorthStar "synthetic GPS" directional system and all sorts of other goodies to be a real indoor UAV, with full room sense and navigation ability. That's moving ahead really well, and I hope to have PCBs and code to show you soon. But we also wanted to create a "minimum" blimp UAV that was the cheapest, simplest robotic blimp possible. Here's what the Minimum Blimp UAV consists of: * A BlubberBot envelope and dual thruster motors and mounts (we cannibalized a few other bits from this kit, such as the battery holder and voltage regulator). * A pair of Pololu IR transceivers (one a beacon on the ground, the other onboard) * A third motor for vertical control * A Parallax Ping))) ultrasonic sensor for altitude sensing. * A Boarduino board with ATMega168 chip (Arduino clone). * Two Pololu twin motor driver microboards All that this Blimp UAV is designed to do is to maintain a constant altitude and navigate around a stationary IR beacon on the ground (it just heads towards the beacon, overshoots, turns around and heads back at it). But that's the beginnings of real autonomy! Target price: <$100 (we're not there yet). Here's a video that shows how the Pololu IR transceivers work (and here's some BS2 code to test them):
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  • 3D Robotics
    Ozkan,

    As a beginner, you should start with our Blimpduino kit (Arduino-compatible Atmel Atmega168--see tab above). You can modify the software to interesting stuff like course following, to satisfy your thesis requirements.
  • Hello,
    I want to build an indoor blimp as a thesis. I search from the internet and read some papers. First of all, i have to decide which microprocessor that i should use.Someone uses Atmel328 but i m not sure. Is it suitable for a blimp that weights 2 kg.
    And ı dont know how many ultrasonic sensors i should use. I suppose 2 ones for side lobs and another one for the front of the indoor blimp. But i have a question: Do these sensors' signals interfere with each other? What can i do as a beginner.
    Thanks for attention!
    Regards,
    Ozkan
  • 3D Robotics
    that envelope can lift around 125-130 grams. Something that could carry 900 grams would be HUGE (almost 2 meters?) and take more helium than what i want to think about.
  • Hello,
    Any chance you could tell me the volume and lifting capacity of the envelope there. I am trying to make a UAV as a university project in Dublin, Ireland, and my blimp supllier was shot down, so I am looking for a replacement. It has to carry about 900 grams, or so, but we could probably get that down a bit.
    Thanks,
    Dónal "Blimpin' is Living" Troddyn
  • Developer
    Hi Alasdair Allan

    You can buy it from here, they ship overseas, Good Luck!

    http://www.homefly.com/products.asp?id=32&pg=2
  • 3D Robotics
    You you buy and toy RC blimp (they usually cost less than $30) and either mod it (as we're doing with the next version) or cannabalize its motors, where tend to be similar to the N20s.
  • Does anyone know where I can pick up an equivalent to BPHobbies MOT-N20ULV motor here in the UK? It looks like they don't ship overseas...?
  • 3D Robotics
    The Maximum blimp will be unveiled in April at the FIRST Championships in Atlanta. We may give a few early glimpses here before that.
  • Looks like you have a successful design. Maybe for the max blimp project because of the increased range, but the current part has good documentation and an easy to use interface. Is there a page for the max blimp yet?
  • Developer
    =) Huston the blimp is fully working,,,
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