I am looking for help to build a plane similar similar capabilities found in the BAT 4 UAV (http://www.spyplanes.com/pages_new/products.htm) but on a shoe-string budget.Payload 30 lbs + fuelGPS Guided for route and altitudeRugged and Smart Design for CraftManual or Automatic Takeoff and Landing2-stroke engine11k Foot CeilingFixed Landing Tundra Gear100 Mtr Run WayI have a small gold mine that I am starting up in Ecuador, South America. I would like to co-develop a UAV that could transport super-concentrates and gold ingots from the mine to a secure location for refinement and to market. I have spent most of my budget on the project so we are very limited, until we are in full production.Our problem is that we will have to drive our gold through long winding dirt roads in the Andes Mountains. Roads and assault are a risk for any vehicals driving from a gold mine, even in safe countries like Ecuador. Like the majority of mining companies, a private helicopter is not in our present budget.I do have access to a fairly high tech machining shop and would be glad to fly a tech down here, cover expenses and perhaps forge a partnership to develop a UAV company specific for the needs of precious metals and gems sector. Many developing countries have more relaxed laws concerning drones and are more open to market. I also have friendships with high level military personal involved with government contracts in Ecuador. With the right developer, we might get their attention.I also have many connections in the mining sector including Africa, South America, and Asia. I would be interested in developing a UAV with specific intent to market for the transport of precious minerals and gems from small and medium miners.If you are even remotely interested, lets talk.Cheers!
Paul,
I work with a company that has developed a model that fits your description please check us out Peak-Aviation the yellow plane on my profile has 30 + lbs pay load , we use Cloud cap auto pilots .
Wayne
What range do you need for your "deliveries" (point"A" to point "B"). Max altitude is one thing: what kind of climb rate is needed to pass those mountains ?
And dont forget: To lower the hijacking threat, you must have ample power/ carburant reserve in order to vary the flight path
I saw a nice cub at the flying field last weekend. It looked pretty real. Now these private heli's are not getting messed with? Fly high and fake em; Just use a larger scale plane(*cough* 30LBS ).
If you can get a high rate of success then the smaller payloads might give you larger gross; Being the cargo costs more than the plane(?) I would would detect gunfire and initiate small rapid course changes. Sounds dangerous: Good Luck.
Hi Paul sounds like a a worth while application of hardware, spent a few years doing a system upgrade for the airforce. Interested to have more comms with you machineman@telkomsa.net
Hi Paul, please take a look at our web site and if we can be of any assistance please let us know. Our UAV would easily suit your application. www.avitus.com.au
Kind regards,
Simon
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Hi Paul, this is something that can be done, and would be interested in exchanging notes privately please. Could you email me at peterho@hopetechnik.com ? Thanks
This is a fun challenge to think about ... what kind of range/endurance do you need? Something like the 12' wing span telemaster is the first thing that comes to my mind. For flying from point A to point B with nothing fancy, the little ardupilot would probably be enough to handle the task.
Then I start thinking about winds and weather in remote locations with probably not great weather forecasting services ... if your aircraft gets into some dicey weather, you could lose the whole thing along with the payload.
If you are flying rocks as your payload, the temptation will be to fly it right at the edge of what it can carry, and that brings a lot of risks of landing and takeoff mishaps, long take off runs, high approach and touch down speeds, etc ... especially if you are operating on a hot day at altitude. If nothing else, this will be really hard on the airframe. On the other hand, you don't have to necessarily wait for the clouds to lift in order to fly a UAS mission ... well if you have an IMU based autopilot that is.
There's probably less general aviation and military aviation traffic in Equador as compared to the USA, but I'm sure there's still a fair amount, so whatever you do would somehow need to take that into account. You'd be flying a pretty large aircraft with a lot of weight and momentum. It would be a bummer to accidentally wipe out a manned aircraft.
You would probably need to fly some sort of simple 72mhz RC gear rather than 2.4ghz because the recovery person is not going to have the same transmitter as the launch person. And you'll need a person on each end with pretty good manual flying RC skills ... to handle a grossly overloaded beast in tight locations and potentially difficult weather conditions.
If you really are serious about doing something like this you probably want to have at least a couple airframes. You'd need to be prepared to deal with some non-zero attrition rate, which also means you'll need to be willing to lose a load of rocks now and then.
If there are people out there looking to snag your payload, then you won't want to fly regular routes and regular times. There's probably more than a few ways to knock one of these guys out of the sky if you are ready when it comes by.
Comments
I work with a company that has developed a model that fits your description please check us out Peak-Aviation the yellow plane on my profile has 30 + lbs pay load , we use Cloud cap auto pilots .
Wayne
Bryan
bcmdesigns@hotmail.com
And dont forget: To lower the hijacking threat, you must have ample power/ carburant reserve in order to vary the flight path
If you can get a high rate of success then the smaller payloads might give you larger gross; Being the cargo costs more than the plane(?) I would would detect gunfire and initiate small rapid course changes. Sounds dangerous: Good Luck.
www.avitus.com.au
Kind regards,
Simon
If someone knew...they could easily take pot-shots at it and then go and find the gold where it fell.
Then I start thinking about winds and weather in remote locations with probably not great weather forecasting services ... if your aircraft gets into some dicey weather, you could lose the whole thing along with the payload.
If you are flying rocks as your payload, the temptation will be to fly it right at the edge of what it can carry, and that brings a lot of risks of landing and takeoff mishaps, long take off runs, high approach and touch down speeds, etc ... especially if you are operating on a hot day at altitude. If nothing else, this will be really hard on the airframe. On the other hand, you don't have to necessarily wait for the clouds to lift in order to fly a UAS mission ... well if you have an IMU based autopilot that is.
There's probably less general aviation and military aviation traffic in Equador as compared to the USA, but I'm sure there's still a fair amount, so whatever you do would somehow need to take that into account. You'd be flying a pretty large aircraft with a lot of weight and momentum. It would be a bummer to accidentally wipe out a manned aircraft.
You would probably need to fly some sort of simple 72mhz RC gear rather than 2.4ghz because the recovery person is not going to have the same transmitter as the launch person. And you'll need a person on each end with pretty good manual flying RC skills ... to handle a grossly overloaded beast in tight locations and potentially difficult weather conditions.
If you really are serious about doing something like this you probably want to have at least a couple airframes. You'd need to be prepared to deal with some non-zero attrition rate, which also means you'll need to be willing to lose a load of rocks now and then.
If there are people out there looking to snag your payload, then you won't want to fly regular routes and regular times. There's probably more than a few ways to knock one of these guys out of the sky if you are ready when it comes by.
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