Path to an Aerial Photography Drone

I have been doing aerial photography with a variety of RC Helicopters for a few years. The biggest problem is short flight duration and pilot work load.

I have decided to design and build my own fixed wing aerial photography platform.

Here is my project goal; A fixed wing aerial photography platform with the ability to fly semi-autonomously (take off and landing pilot controlled). The camera will be mounted on a self-leveling mount to allow for photogrammetry and 3d point cloud generation, with a 10 minute minimum mission time.

A secondary goal is remotely operated camera mount that allows 360 degree pan and 90 degree tilt with a video downlink for camera aiming. FPV operation is also an option.

An ArduPilot Mega will be used as the autopilot. The ArduPilot does allow for self takeoffs and landings.

I have built, flown, crashed, and re-built RC Aircraft for many years and enjoy the hobby. This time I am designing my own airframe from the ground up. I will be honest I will borrow from other designs during the progression to my goal, in the end the airframe will be mine.

For the moment my my primary building materials will be Foam Core, Blue Core (Fan Fold) and Depron.

Comments and critisim are appreciated.

I hope you enjoy the trip

p.s. I am behind in posts here, and have flown airframe #1

Gary - I have logged 2 hours in a Skymaster (about 10 if you count the time sitting next to my Dad when I was ten)

Nicolas - I am getting ahead of myself a bit. On Airframe #2 I plan on a KFM3 airfoil, I am still working out the details and will discuss that in a few days.

Thomas - For me it is about the learning experience, the enjoyment of taking raw materials and building something I have designed. Most importantly part, my kids have a great interest in building and flying RC-aircraft, this gives me Dad time with the monsters while they help with the design/build process and they might learn something in the process. I have bought, flown, crashed and re-built many "off the shelf" aircraft and that is not what I want to do with this project.

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Comments

Moderator

Sgt Ric November 11, 2012 at 7:53am

The Shorts brothers were not know for designing aircraft with any real loiter capability.
Yes, the Skyvan has room, but with those wings, not much of a glider.
(I had an R/C model Shorts SkyVan 40 years ago...I still had the nose somewhere around my workshop)
SilverFox April 13, 2011 at 6:00pm

I've always liked Twin Boom pushers! I've built a few from scratch and have always been pleased. The Ursus design is great, I scaled it down and built a 50" version using pictures of the 70". It is one of my favorite planes to fly. If you would like to see how I built mine, take a look here:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1356263&highlig...

Good luck with yours.
Earl April 12, 2011 at 8:50pm

I am all for cheep foam but sturdy platforms. I built an 8 footer once. Fanfold is cheep and really durable. You can take an extra wing or 3 to the field to experiment.

Just make the cargo hold neat cg same with multiple batteies.

Earl
Thon April 12, 2011 at 7:44pm

Gary - I have logged 2 hours in a Skymaster (about 10 if you count the time sitting next to my Dad when I was ten)

Nicolas - I am getting ahead of myself a bit. On Airframe #2 I plan on a KFM3 airfoil, I am still working out the details and will discuss that in a few days.

Thomas - For me it is about the learning experience, the enjoyment of taking raw materials and building something I have designed. Most importantly part, my kids have a great interest in building and flying RC-aircraft, this gives me Dad time with the monsters while they help with the design/build process and they might learn something in the process. I have bought, flown, crashed and re-built many "off the shelf" aircraft and that is not what I want to do with this project.
Moderator

Sgt Ric April 12, 2011 at 2:04pm

Hey, that looks like a Cessna 337 Skymaster.
Moderator

Gary Mortimer April 12, 2011 at 1:52pm

Its normally these proportions
Thon April 12, 2011 at 1:15pm

I can assure you that the design is mine. I have looked at many twin tail platforms and have noticed that that have pretty much the same proportions. The bigggest difference is the tail and elevator layout. The picture is a quick sketch of my second airframe. Will blog about Airframe #1 Later
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson April 12, 2011 at 9:48am

Sounds like a cool project! One tip for posts here: all of them should have a picture at the top, so people can get a quick sense of what you're doing. Got anything you can add?

This reply was deleted.