I've read a lot about the NitroPlanes/ProJet MQ-9 Reaper, and mostly about how to outfit it with a camera. Before I received my plane from some ignoramus who packaged it like a 2-year-old might do, I thought that I could cram a GoPro camera into the "ball". And yes, a GoPro will fit inside the "ball"... but not the way one might like.
The 3D rendering above shows how badly the GoPro fits into the stock MQ-9 camera housing. The lens is far left and high... which would certainly bring poor results.
The above image shows my 3D model of the camera housing, rotated to view the camera at the same angle of the fiberglass housing's opening (-25°). The GoPro 3 will not fit into the housing (with a proper viewing position) without modification to the right side of the fiberglass housing.
The above image shows a hidden line view of the camera housing with the GoPro 3 camera. I have the original 3D model that created these images available for anyone who shows interest. I will soon be posting photos showing actual dimensions of the camera housing, for anyone who does not have the ability to use 3D CAD software.
These images were created using TurboCAD v16, however I can send files to you in just about any format you might like. I also have SolidWorks, but cannot translate a .TCW file into a .SLDPRT file without entirely remodeling this... which I have no intention of doing, at this point.
Comments
Thank you, Clint; both for the measurements and the high praise.
Of what ?
Send a link or pic. I'd like to see that...
Wish I could design stuff like that......
Anyway, I had a X8, sold it, got myself a Talon, with wing extensions, much better platform, for me :-)
Dave Buckley, I really love your SW renderings and the 2D views. Good work!
As for vacuum forming, I have built a vac-forming machine in the past, but I no longer have it. I'm not sure how you would vac-form this object, without some modifications to the diameter of the spherical dimension (which needs to be modified to fit a GoPro inside anyhow).
It's like anything else... it CAN be done.
A side view showing all dimensions of my camera ball, as accurately as possible without getting too anal. :)
Front view with the camera lens opening shown in blue. Those dimensions are rotated at 25° relative to the ground, which is the same angle that the ProJet part it made.
After much consideration (and comments from other DIY Drones users, I'm abandoning the MQ-9 Reaper as an autonomous drone. I knew it wasn't the "perfect" platform for aerial video, but I do love a challenge. I will fix the Reaper up and fly it manually... perhaps with a camera in the motor housing.
Otherwise, I am focusing on the Skywalker X-8, instead. But I will continue to help with any camera housing issues on the MQ-9 Reaper from NitroPlanes... because I love designing things and solving problems.
Speaking of which, Dave Buckley asked for dimensions. (And I love Solidworks, by the way.) Here are some very accurate measurements taken from the real thing.
I'd like to help design a gimbal and dome from the ground up for the GoPro Hero3, either for 3D printing or vacuum forming.
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