3D Robotics

Building a real Predator UAV

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Here's a semi-scale Predator. Pretty cool, but it's an ARF so I can't do too much bragging. I just modded an inexpensive ($80) Nitro Models kit with a AXI 2208 brushless motor and added some proper landing gear and an airscoop to cool the motor in the back. (BTW, Nitro sells two Predators. Get this one, not the similar camo version with a slightly smaller wingspan. That one's wings don't come off! I have no idea how you're supposed to transport it, short of a van).

But there's more to this Predator than meets the eye. It's not just a model of an Autonomous Aerial Vehicle--it is a UAV! How can you tell? Look closer.

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This is a Pentax W30 camera, which is one of the smallest cameras to have a proper programmable time-lapse photography setting. Why would I want to strap a camera with a time-lapse function to the bottom of a R/C plane? Because it's not just a R/C plane!

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Here's what's under the canopy, or at least the first layer of it. It shows the installation of a UNAV Picopilot GPS-guided autopilot. This makes the Predator totally autonomous. You can enter up to 20 GPS waypoints, and the Predator will fly to them and then return home afterwards. That, in turn, explains the time-lapse camera. It snaps a 7 megapixel picture every ten seconds while the UAV is following its programmed course. Which means that you can stitch those pictures together and create a super high-quality aerial view of any area you choose. They're WAY better than Google Maps resolution, and you can update the aerial views anytime you want to.

But how can you take off and land the Predator? The Picopilot can't do that. Fortunately, there's another layer in the Predator's electronics bay.

IMG_4203 Underneath the autopilot floor, there's space for all the standard R/C stuff: A Futaba 2.4 GHz receiver, a 1,500 mAh Li-Po battery and an electronic speed control. When the transmitter's gear switch is down, this lower layer controls the plane manually. When you switch the gear lever up, it transfers control to the Picopilot and the Predator goes into autonomous mode. Just like the real thing!

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Comments

  • hello, I got picopilot system, but I have the software, someone could facilitarelo? thanks

  • Not that it probably matters a great deal but contrary to the manufacturers naming, the BIQ (bird in question) appears to be a MQ-9 'Reaper' UAV, not a MQ-1 'Predator'. The tail section on the Predator has 'down' wings, while the Reaper has 'up' wings.
  • That is a super nice build. It looks like a nice kit.
  • This design looks very impressive and must be fun to see it in air. Looking forward to make some thing similar with a small fuel engine about 25 HP. If anyone can help me with it.
  • The whole intent of a UAV is to have the ability to fly outside of radio range. I know that the failsafes SHOULD kick in (set when you bind the TX/RX) when you leave radio range so I'm wondering how things work there...even if the aircraft is in GPS mode.

    If nothing else I'll use 72MHz gear.
  • The whole intent of a UAV is to have the ability to fly outside of radio range. I know that the failsafes SHOULD kick in (set when you bind the TX/RX) when you leave radio range so I'm wondering how things work there...even if the aircraft is in GPS mode.

    If nothing else I'll use 72MHz gear.
  • 3D Robotics
    Jason,

    It works fine normally (although you'll want to use the servo signal booster/filters as always), but I've never tried the fallback when leaving radio range. Have you heard that it's a problem?
  • Chris,

    I see you're using the 2.4GHz Futaba FASST system.

    How does this work with the PicoPilot?

    When you switch from 2.4 to PicoPilot and fly out of radio range...the failsafe doesn't kick in on the RX?

    I'm in the the planning stages of my own UAV and intend to use my Spektrum gear in the plane. The one issue I haven't seen addressed is the use of 2.4GHz systems and the failsafe settings that are stored during the bind process.

    Care to explain?
  • 3D Robotics
    It crashed. Turns out that the motor wasn't powerful enough, and the V-tail-only control just didn't have enough authority. I replaced it with a very similar Preadator that has ailerons and a more powerful motor (that also has better cooling). That one flies great and is now my standard Predator UAV platform.

    My build log on the new one is here:
    http://diydrones.com/profiles/blog/show?id=705844%3ABlogPost%3A3769
  • Ok, now im starting to get up to speed on this!
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