Hi all~
My friend and I are working on an (hopefully) industrial grade carbon fiber quad frame (X4 and X8). We would like to share the progress with the community, and we would really appreciate your feedback:)
The designed frame size is 1050mm with 28 inch blades, but since the arms are switchable, it can be extended or shrunk to a variety of sizes.
The prototype is currently being printed before we finalize the mold. The prototype is an X4 that comes with landing gears installed under the motors. The design also allows a different kind of landing gears attached to the main body, so that we can accommodate X8, or X4 with blades under the arms (we learned that this layout can significantly boost the efficiency).
Still debating between fixed and switchable batteries, a fixed one seems to make life easier for us in most cases, but not sure if it is the case for other users.
Thanks for your time~~
Comments
Hi Victor, that's a good point... Yes the H-frame is already lined up next, and I agree a semi recessed nacelle would be awesome!
As for this frame, we designed it mostly for three applications: 1- spraying, 2- lifting, 3- precision ag imaging... We actually didn't think much about landing gears getting into the picture -- please correct me if I am wrong -- since the NDVI cameras would point downwards.
Hi George, your detailed feedback is very much appreciated! We plan to use Pixhawk for this frame, and we have assumed the standard mounting...
Besides aerodynamics, what would you say are the reasons for users to prefer a dome shape? This would mean a major revision if we were to modify the shape.
So far everyone tells us to use removable batteries...
Swappable arms do come with a price, and we had a little fight for swappable arms vs. foldable ones.
Thanks again~
Hi Julian, thanks for the comments. Excuse me for my English vocabulary, do you mean increasing the height of the main body? Thanks...
Looks good - however the camera gimbal will have to hang a good bit below the middle of this design - this means you will have to consider retractable landing gear (mounting points, weight etc).
If I were you - I'd be doing it a little different - H frame - with the camera up front on a three axis gimbal in a semi recessed nacelle.
Start with the Camera - then design around it........
It seems you're taking away from the user the choice of flight controller orientation - 'x' or '+'
Personally, I use 'x', but at times, '+' may be preferred (and I think '+' is actually the default in APM).
Don't make the central housing so directional. Make it a dome instead (also more aerodynamic).
Avoid taking away options from the user as much as possible (and you'll end up with more users). All the unique, molded frames look cool, but they can't be adapted much, so lots of people will avoid them. (And this is a DIY site, after all).
In the same spirit - removable batteries, not fixed (I personally would never buy a frame with built-in battery).
Swappable arms is a great concept, but it must be hard to execute without losing frame stiffness and vibration-resistance.
Good luck.
George
Why so boxy? If youre molding it you may as well loft all those things and increase the internal area while youre at it, no?