We definitely trust the APM a LOT! So we decided to create another version of our successful Aeromapper UAV....this time with a Sony Nex 7 camera, with a custom bracket so you can switch between different size lenses (Sony 16mm f/2.8 pancake lens or Voigtlander 15mm heliar len). This UAV version also comes Ready to Fly with Ardupilot Mega 2.5, with parachute recovery installed, is full composites, has the servo activated lens protective cover and it's customizable.
This UAV version triggers the camera via an infrared shutter release, controlled by a programmable intervalometer.
We plan to offer more cool products and several more versions of the Aeromapper, since we find it can fit a wide range of payloads sizes. We have many requests from customers wanting to mount different sensors.
We are also offering in our website the Pelican cases for the Aeromappers UAV, as well as some other additions to it, like a Long Range Control (Dragon Link) installed in the Spektrum DX8 or DX7, depending on the option selected by the customer.
Weather has been a bit crazy here in Canada, so we haven't gone out to fly much lately, but as soon as the weather improves we'll do a lot of flight testing of improvements and additions. One of the things we definitely want to implement this year is a launcher (car or catapult) so the UAV can carry a bit more weight (longer flight times!)
Let this be the opportunity to express a huge thanks to DIYDrones community and 3DRobotics team for their amazing work and support. Thanks to them this project is now an expanding reality!
Comments and feedback are welcome!
Comments
The camera is mounted on a carbon fiber bracket for alignment, but most of it's weight is on a quite long velcro strap going all arounf the camera's body. This distributes the weight better when parachuting.
What kinda protective box or shell do you have the nex 7 mounted to? if any? Im putting a Nex 7 on our aircraft and was wondering. also how are you working around the fireware on the nex 7.
No stabilizing gimbal yet, but it's on our planes for the future.
Thanks!!
Does the camera have gibmal that compensate pitch and roll?
BTW, nice stuff.
Thanks John for the tip,
Joshua, for the Aeromapper E (we have some more configurations with slightly different flight times) we can have around 40 mins flight time. So far we haven't had any problem colling the motor.
That's a nice package you've built. I bet she looks great up in a blue sky!
You mention launcher development to increase battery payload -- What kind of flight times are you getting with the current configuration? One other thing I was wondering, is how you get motor cooling air out of the fuse?
Just beautiful and very professional looking.
And now a bit of constructive criticism. I would not recommend the Sony NEX 16mm pancake lens. It's very soft at the edges, borderline unusable in my opinion.
We haven`t played yet with the feature of geotagging the pictures from the APM, but it can certainly be done. For now we wanted to achieve an affordable series of platform options with capacity for different cameras/payloads.
Soon we'll spend more time exploring some of all the features of the APM, including geotagging.
Anyways another version with a Hybrid GPS camera is also offered in our website, and it geotags the images directly into the camera.
Great looking product Mauricio!
Do you use the Nex 7 for mapping applications? How do you get the GPS info into the Metadata?
Thanks Phil!
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