Hi all, I wonder what is the availability on the market of semi-industrial grade RC helicopter bodies.
For example like this one, Aquila UAV from UAVS Poland.
Is it possible to buy something resembling this off the shelf, with holding space for a gimbal cam in the nose?
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I would also look into Airstar International (http://www.airstarintl.com/). I have flown both the Bergen Observer and the Mongoose and would pick the ASI Mongoose every time! I an not a huge fan of the canopy that some of them ship with, but the mechanics are solid and has plenty of lifting capability.
Without comparing, three companies I know that take their business serious:
- http://geocopter.nl/
- http://www.flying-cam.com/en/products.php
- http://www.higheye.nl/
For most practical definition of 'industrial' I use 'inaccessible for financial reasons for amateurs, built with initially clear picture of useability by someone else, inspired by profit, sometimes with justifiable design costs, designed for repeatable production'.
There are literally dozens of companies selling stuff like this and they have been for decades.
Something like the Yamaha RMAX or Shiebel would be on the higher end including the autopilot and could run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. As mentioned, if you just want the frame with a front mounted sensor area look at the Bergen Observer. They've been around for decades and the cost could be well under $5000 depending on options.
That UAV is built on the http://www.copterworks.com/ air frame.
The word "industrial" is over-used by marketing types, in my view. The only thing that qualifies having that moniker is something that's actually used in industry. This also doesn't mean that it's of higher quality than something that a hobbyist may be flying. Unless the airframe manufacturer quotes specific capabilities that they are ready to back up, I would be a little sceptical about any claims of "industrial". :-)
Well, Bergen RC markets one of theirs as the "Bergen Industrial Twin" for example. What makes it "industrial". I guess it's just semantics, but everything about their machines is very heavy duty. Probably much stronger than Vario, but I can't say for sure. His side frames are full 1/8" thick fiberglass, for example.
There's also this which definitely qualifies as industrial in anybody's book:
http://rmax.yamaha-motor.com.au/
Oh btw, what about that Polish airframe qualifies it for "industrial". Looks like a standard heli frame to me, with some fancy covering.
Check out a company called Vario. They make all kinds of large scale helicopter frames. Not sure what you mean by industrial. There are technically no industrial rc airframes, because they are not used for industrial purposes, without government certification.
Oh, if you are looking for semi-industrial grade airframes, check out Bergen Helicopters.
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