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
Comments
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)
It might be interesting to have a UAV based on a Skyvan
It might be simpler with a single pusher or puller, but it's got plenty of room in the fuselage and looks like it could have wings as wide as necessary.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1356263&highlig...
Good luck with yours.
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
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.
@Thon,
After participating in the RC Groups "Purpose Built FPV Model" thead, which elicited much enthusiasm from RC Group members, but eventually went nowhere, I often wonder why there is a need to design a unique version of a common design. The URSUS, as an example, is a proven aircraft with a reasonable following and build thread on RC Groups, and would allow you to start with a proven design as a baseline and modify it to your hearts content.
Just a thought.
@Sqt Ric,
Nice observation! LOL.
@Nicolas,
Take a look at the way that the URSUS wings are attached to the fuse wing mount. Simple yet very effective and robust.
Regards,
TCIII
from what I can see in the images at the top of your post, you plan on using KFM3 wings ?
That's what I'm also planning to use on my build, but I've never worked with that kind of wings before.
Do you have any experience with those ? 'Cause I have a lot of questions ;-) like: how would you join the wings with the central part ? Alu / CF tubes ? How many to use & where is the best place to put them, straight in the middle, equally spaced, ... ?
Hey, that looks like a Cessna 337 Skymaster.
Its normally these proportions
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