Here are some photos and a short video of a 80mm diameter fully articulated turret Ball, currently fitted with the FLIR TAU-2 IR video camera.
Camera and lens is approx 100grams. Complete assembly is 220grams. Camera line of sight view is from 15deg below horizontal, full 360deg coverage. The Ball can be fitted with the smaller Sony Block cameras as well. Ball is 78mm OD - see the dimensions added to the one image right at the end.
The complete structure is made from composite. Male and female molds were machined from Polypropylene for the two half-domes. Timing gears and belts all from RS Components in South Africa.
From start of 3d CAD model to this prototype was 2 weeks.
The Gimbal is currently fitted to our SurVoyeur Aircraft, ready for Night Flight trials with the Ministry of Nature Conservation here in Namibia.
Here is a YouTube video of it working:
all Underside Assembly Side View
FLIR TAU-2 camera
Comments
I just stumbled across this now, looks very similar to the one I did way back in 2009, I posted pics and video over on rcgroups. Nice job never the less. I'd like to see any updates to this one!
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showatt.php?attachmentid=2542573
what is the latest on this? interested
really nice!! would you sell one or sell the cad drawings?
best regards
buiter
Would like to know a little more about this product and would like to know if you are prepared to sell one im interested in purchasing one please with camera
Please email me the complete instructions and parts list and where to get them, I have looked for a turret camera and would really like to build one. If you had one for sell that would be great too.
Thanks for that Gisela & Joe! That is the information I was looking for.
G'day Joe and Gisela,
My earlier reply disappeared but great to see you continue to turn out terrific looking equipment. Is it possible to point me (us) to where we might see some of the output - particularly with reference to your FLIR equipment.
Something to aspire towards.
MJ
This is almost identical to a design we have but we have been focusing on airframe development. We may be interested in manufacturing such a unit. Perhaps we can work together on this. If you are interested please contact me at organisation@x-craft.co.nz
@ Leonardthall
RS do not have the gears able to fit servo splines directly - I used stock gears - all 2.5mm pitch, and machined holes to fit the servo spline - I used a stainless steel servo shaft with a spline on it, as a tool and pressed it into the gear hole, creating a spline - just made a small jig to keep all the bits properly aligned. If you want the RS part no's I can supply.
@mark Colwell
Lens cover not required - the ball points backwards and has a 'home' position which is to the rear and 30deg up from horizontal, ie, inside the fuselage.
@Doug
That is a Senscomp Ultrasonic Rangefinder - an excellent device - from the Mini-A series. It gives a 0-5v output which is either 0-20ft or 0-40ft range. The 0-40ft unit is a little variable over odd terain, grass etc. The 0-20ft is dead on, over soft sand, gravel, grass up to 10cm tall, etc. We use that for the height AGL sensor for autolanding. It is really very good - far superior to the Maxbotics , etc, type sensors. Fit and Forget...
What is the instrument mounted ahead (or maybe behind) of the gimbal in the fuselage?
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