I've been using a Skywalker for taking aerial maps. By destroying my previous camera, I've learned two things:
1. Protect the camera lens from dust upon landing
2. Protect the camera from batteries during rough "landings"
So I've come up with the solution in the video above.
It works incredibly well! A sample of a stitch while using the system:
Click here for the full-resolution (14MB) image: http://www.cde.co.za/share/Stitch2.jpg
Compared to Google Earth:
Fun with drones!
Comments
Rory, it looks great! You really have to go out of your way to destroy your Skywalker - it's very fixable. I've had crashes with more bits of foam lying around and could repair it to fly perfectly after one night. There are a few tricks have a look at the rcgroups thread.
Just make sure you fix your rubber bands like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgTAffKvylk.
@Rory - a few grams in the tail can make a difference - the further you move away from the center of the plane, the larger the effect, like moving forward or backward on a see-saw.
I have very heavy batteries (10mAh 4S), move them 5mm makes a massive difference to handling. I think 90mm from the leading edge is perfect to start with, move it back until you see the plane porposing (dragging nose-up), then you know you've gone too far. Unless you want to fly real fast, which will warrant a little forward bias placement.
On the Skywalker, if you're nose heavy and you're in a bit of a dive, the elevator can lose all authority and you'll crash, it's happened again and again. If you're CG is 15-30mm behind the servo wire groove, you're safe(r). Be sure to reinforce the elevator with CF strip.
@Mike, I haven't been so successful getting the timing perfect. It happens that the camera runs end of sequence before it's done with the circuit, or I need to make an unscheduled landing because COG is not right, or something else is wrong. This way I can let it take pictures indefinitely, allowing me more freedom. Enough can go wrong as it is!
I'd love a picture too! Please pop in for coffee? E-Mail me on hein@cde.co.za.
@Rory - remember the COG is 30mm behind the SERVO LINES, the manual's recommendation is incorrect!
@Carl indeed it does, Thanks!
@Rory The batteries are behind the camera to the rear of the fuselage. It's hard to get the correct COG on the Skywalker with less than 5000mAh of batteries. I'm flying 4S 10000mAh.
Form follows function! Very ingenious! Have a Good Day!