SAN FRANCISCO — As wildfire season begins in Western landscapes that were covered in smoky haze for weeks at a time last summer, the federal government’s…
"Speechless... Eager to see some videos of it in action!"
Latest Activity
Aurelio R. Ramos commented on Mohcine's blog post Introducing OpenGSU : Cross-Platform Ground Station
OG commented on Andreas's blog post RCTimer Brushless Gimbal and Controller"JUST AN FYI to all you DIY Hard DIY guys I am selling the controller for 20% off & I do have them in stock as well as 10 different style gimbals for GoPro to SLR .
http://offthegridwater.ca ;"
Stone1295 commented on Andreas's blog post RCTimer Brushless Gimbal and Controller"Not affiliated with this company but for folks in the US it's worth mentioning... http://www.uavobjects.com carries the same stuff and may (I haven't ordered from them yet) be quicker to deal…"
DeveloperOlivier ADLER replied to Marc Cretten's discussion Noob help
"The multis are another world but basically the same rules apply.
You'll need an APM 2.5 kit with the U-Blox GPS, perhaps an external compass specially if you plan to do a heavy lift machine (can be added later), the 3DR power module (with…"
DistributorFelix Meissner replied to Felix Meissner's discussion UAV-store, der Online Shop mit Produkten von 3DRobotics in the group German Ardu-Group
"Hi Jonathan
ja, das Batteriekabel ist immer inklusive (in der XT60 Ausführung).
Hier die technischen Daten:
- maximale Eingangsspannung: 18 V
- maximale Ampere: 90 A
- Ausgangsspannung 5.3 V und 2.25 A max.
das Batteriekabel versorg den APM…"
Don Shappelle replied to Don Shappelle's discussion Arducopter spins, doesn't look balanced (Rebuilt after flyaway/crash)"Ha just answered my own question, thanks!"
Andreas Breitenstein replied to Don Shappelle's discussion Arducopter spins, doesn't look balanced (Rebuilt after flyaway/crash)"Don,
check the link, they have to rotate a specific way for this to work.http://code.google.com/p/arducopter/wiki/AC2_Props_2"
Daniel B replied to Craig Elder's discussion APM Copter 2.9.1.b has been released"Another thing, (although you probably know this already but just to make sure ;-), when you do the re-calibration, if you do have a GoPro, make sure to turn it on (FPV and record) as it does makes some difference on the calibrated offsets. …"
3D RoboticsChris Anderson commented on Joshua Ott's blog post Thirty Days (#17): 12-rotor close up
"Bruno, yes, we always recommend that the APM be mounted as high as possible (ideally on a platform, as shown above), to avoid magnetic interference from the PDB and ESCs."
Mike T commented on Andreas's blog post RCTimer Brushless Gimbal and Controller"FYI. received and assembled mine. and its all working! Gimbal & Controller from RCtimer
Typical of RCtimer i was missing a screw, and had to use several of my own as the packaged ones were far too short. apart from that, a pretty solid…"
Georacer commented on Georacer's blog post Altitude Comparison: barometer vs GPS"The platform is an ST Model Discovery. The one you can see here: http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/hill-cruiser-an-rc-model-autopilot
I don't know what this dip was. You can see a similar one here:
And also on at the end of the flight…"
Don Shappelle replied to Don Shappelle's discussion Arducopter spins, doesn't look balanced (Rebuilt after flyaway/crash)"My ESCs are all connected the same way. Is this incorrect? I don't believe I changed anything with them."
Josh Potter posted a discussion1-2 Hz oscillations only in wind - stabilize
Currently I'm seeing moderate oscillations only when I fly in the wind, but only in the wind. With no wind it's rock steady. I've tried tuning the basics, Stab_P (3.0 to 6.0), Rate_P (0.1 to 0.130), Rate_I (0.1 to 0.3), and Rate_D (0.001 to 0.005) and nothing seems to change this, which makes me think it's more of a compound problem than just one thing. Any ideas, or help on where to start looking tuning? Here's a short video (20 seconds) you can see the wobble with the help of my ACME wind…See More
Andreas Breitenstein replied to Don Shappelle's discussion Arducopter spins, doesn't look balanced (Rebuilt after flyaway/crash)"Hi Don,
Firstly, look at the direction of your motors, some of them seam to be spinning the wrong way round.
Secondly, you need to re-level the copter in Mission Planner.
That should get you going.
"
Daniel B replied to Craig Elder's discussion APM Copter 2.9.1.b has been released"Jan,
I use an HMC5883L from sparkfun w/c sits on top of a pole.. (wiki for configuring an external mag) I'll let the attached picture speak for itself..
Cheers.
Daniel
"
Drone Savant commented on Hooks's blog post APM 2.5 from hobbyking""I've never heard DS give credit where credit is due"
That is because my original account, back when I was a fanboi like you was censored and I felt the need to delete it. I actually once thought that 3DR brought unicorns and…"
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Forum
Noob help
Started by Marc Cretten in ArduCopter 2.x (multicopter). Last reply by Olivier ADLER 31 minutes ago. 3 Replies 0 Likes
Arducopter spins, doesn't look balanced (Rebuilt after flyaway/crash)
Started by Don Shappelle in Quadcopters. Last reply by Don Shappelle 34 minutes ago. 4 Replies 0 Likes
APM Copter 2.9.1.b has been released
Started by Craig Elder in ArduCopter 2.x (multicopter). Last reply by Daniel B 40 minutes ago. 806 Replies 9 Likes
1-2 Hz oscillations only in wind - stabilize
Started by Josh Potter in Flying/Tuning Mulitcopters 1 hour ago. 0 Replies 0 Likes
Damaged winding, motor still runs?
Started by Andrew Chapman in Engines/Motors/Props. Last reply by Bill Bonney 1 hour ago. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Drone plugged in and recognised - but no data in Mission Planner
Started by Nikita Makarov in ArduCopter 2.x (multicopter) 1 hour ago. 0 Replies 0 Likes
ArduCopter 2.9 / 2.9.1 released
Started by Randy in ArduCopter 2.x (multicopter). Last reply by Harley Engholm 1 hour ago. 3584 Replies 34 Likes
Now let's start the party: Skya 450 V2 with ArduFlyer 2.5 + u-Blox CN-06
Started by Gerd Lobmeyer in ArduCopter 2.x (traditional heli). Last reply by R_Lefebvre 1 hour ago. 31 Replies 0 Likes
Issues with RTF Hex copter (FINAL UPDATE)
Started by Steve Burton in ArduCopter 2.x (multicopter). Last reply by Steve Burton 1 hour ago. 39 Replies 0 Likes
PPM SUM with other than 8 channels
Started by Norbert Kipp in RC equipment. Last reply by Bernhard Kullmann 2 hours ago. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Just another happy ArduPiloteer... my new rig flying great
Started by Magnus von Rosen in ArduCopter 2.x (multicopter). Last reply by Justin Miller 2 hours ago. 1 Reply 0 Likes
One hot ESC on quadcopter
Started by koen.hufkens in ArduCopter 2.x (multicopter). Last reply by koen.hufkens 2 hours ago. 10 Replies 0 Likes
CAMERA MOUNT
Started by DVS QUAD in Aerial photography. Last reply by Euan Ramsay 2 hours ago. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Airshinp
Started by UAV in AeroBalloon 3 hours ago. 0 Replies 0 Likes
RTL climb altitude
Started by Assaf Weiss in ArduCopter 2.x (multicopter). Last reply by Olivier ADLER 3 hours ago. 1 Reply 0 Likes
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Welcome to DIY Drones!
This is the home for everything about amateur Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Use the tabs and drop-down menus above to navigate the site. (About us/Site rules)
This community created the Arduino-based ArduPilot, the world's first universal autopilot (planes, multicopters of all sorts and ground rovers). The APM 2.5 autopilot hardware runs a variety of powerful free UAV software systems, including:
- ArduPlane, a pro-level UAV system for planes of all types.
- ArduCopter, a fully-autonomous multicopter and heli UAV system.
I'm new to all this--where do I start? Are amateur UAVs legal? (yes)
Examples of civilian uses of drones Glossary of confusing terms
Blog Posts
Interesting-sounding drones conference in NYC in October
Posted by Chris Anderson on May 23, 2013 at 10:27pm 1 Comment 1 Like
Roofs inspection test with VR Brain Pro on GolaKele Frame
Posted by Roberto Navoni on May 23, 2013 at 10:00pm 1 Comment 4 Likes
Dear Friends,
on VirtualRobotix we are working in new advanced platform based on GolaKele Frame and VR Brain Gold and PRO configuration.
This is first example of service where we use the our multicopter for roof inspection.
In the test use also Wookong DJI on other Hexa for doing some comparison on two different kind of…
Afterflight: A browser-based system for analysis and annotation of video and sensor data from UAVs.
Posted by Aaron Curtis on May 23, 2013 at 9:00pm 3 Comments 3 Likes
Several months ago I started working on a system called Afterflight to organize and browse my tlogs and dataflash logs, sync them with video, and view them along with a map GPS display. It still has a long way to go, but there is a fair amount of working functionality so I figured I'd get it out there…
Continue
Battle Drone Crash Test & DIY Walkthrough
Posted by Marque Cornblatt on May 23, 2013 at 7:23pm 3 Comments 3 Likes
Here is a short video of the design, build and crash testing of the Game of Drone's Battle Quad. It's waterproof, bulletproof, and can fly away from almost any crash.
"Fly 'em hard and put 'em away wet. They're only drones"
"Drones: The future of disaster response"
Posted by Joshua Ott on May 23, 2013 at 6:30pm 2 Comments 2 Likes
Thirty Days (#17): 12-rotor close up
Posted by Joshua Ott on May 23, 2013 at 4:30pm 15 Comments 10 Likes
I had a couple of requests for a still shot of the 12-rotor beast that Joe and Justin cooked up, so here it…
Continue Altitude Comparison: barometer vs GPS
Posted by Georacer on May 23, 2013 at 3:30pm 2 Comments 1 Like
This might be a common knowledge, but in the last months I haven't seen a similar post. Maybe someone new to barometers might be interested in this data.
The GPS receivers return altitude data, but this is inaccurate. The error margin depends on the satellite constellation geometry…
Continue Black Box Stories: Mid-Air Crash
Posted by Georacer on May 23, 2013 at 3:10pm 3 Comments 5 Likes
Last Wednesday I went out to the field for some flight tests and gains trimming. Other people where flying their model planes there too. We usually follow a counter-clockwise pattern while flying to avoid collisions. That day I was flying especially slow, so when I took the turn, I did so on the spot and…
Continue
F.A.A.’s Concerns Hold Up Use of Wildfire Drones
Posted by elad o on May 23, 2013 at 2:27pm 7 Comments 1 Like
Maggie Rogers/Alaska Division of Forestry
Greg Walker, the director of the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aerial Systems Integration, preparing a drone for launching.
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Lithium battery dreams
Posted by Dave C on May 23, 2013 at 12:14pm 6 Comments 2 Likes
New lithium-ion battery design that’s 2,000 times more powerful, recharges 1,000 times faster... I'm drooling!
Can anyone put me into hibernation for 5…
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Contests
Season Two of the Trust Time Trial (T3) Contest has now begun. The fourth round is an accuracy round for multicopters, which requires contestants to fly a cube. The deadline is April 14th.A list of all T3 contests is here.
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UAV news from sUAS News
Unmanned aircraft can protect crops from locusts
by Gabino Martinez Serrano The world population is growing at a rapid pace. Today we are almost seven billion people and it is estimated that the figure will exceed 10 billion in 15 years. The world’s need for food will double, but the world’s arable land remains the same. Experts say that to increase performance, it is important to plant each crop where it can best develop, increase the yield potential of plant varieties and to reduce adversity posed by pests which have become a real problem. Failure to protect crops from pests would reduce harvests to just over half. Locusts are unique because they undergo a phase change. This means that under certain circumstances related to climate and population density, their behaviour changes and they move, eat and behave as a group, forming gigantic clouds and can travel great distances devouring crops in their path. These pests can affect 20 per cent of the surface of the earth, spreading through Africa, the Near East, and Southwest Asia. More than 65 countries may be at risk of swarms, invasion and reproduction. The last powerful plague occurred in 1988-89, threatening as many as 43 countries, one fifth of the world as [...]
ESCC to use donated unmanned aerial vehicles for science
Ted Shockley MELFA — Launching unmanned aerial vehicles from the Eastern Shore could be a financial plus for the area, and Eastern Shore Community College is positioning itself for an associated educational and training partnership. A link between the two was seen recently when an Aerosonde aerial vehicle donated to the college was unveiled in front of a gathering of staff members and industry experts. “We have something tangible, real, that the students can see,” said College President Linda Thomas-Glover of the unmanned airplane, which from wing to wing was bigger than a typical dining-room table. The particular model was used for years out of Wallops to gather weather data and has flown into hurricanes, said Jon Borcik, a program manager for AAI Corp., which oversees the Aerosonde program. He called it a “coming home mission” for the plane, a fitting place for an aircraft based at Wallops to continue its service. The plane will be used to stimulate an interest in science and also be studied by various college classes. The donation was arraigned by Peter Bale, board chairman for the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and a former program manager for Aerosonde North America at Wallops. At a [...]
Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Achieves Milestone C Approval
Insitu announced today that RQ-21A reached Milestone C under the Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (STUAS) contract with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). The achievement will enable the program to transition from the Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) phase to a Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase and enter initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E). “This milestone represents the dedication and commitment of the entire government and industry team to executing a challenging and fast-paced EMD program,” said Ryan Hartman , Insitu’s senior vice president of Integrator Programs. “I couldn’t be more proud of the Insitu team. Our greatest asset is our engineering talent and this event represents yet another significant engineering achievement for them.” “This milestone and the LRIP decision is a great accomplishment for our NAVAIR and Insitu team. The rapid development, systems engineering and testing has been superb. The sense of urgency and driving force behind our NAVAIR and Insitu team has been, and continues to be, the simple fact that the RQ-21A UAS will be the first organic & dedicated multi-intelligence UAS for U.S. Marine Corps and Navy tactical commanders. The real-time, actionable intelligence and maritime domain awareness coming from multiple sensors off an expeditionary and ship-capable Group [...]
NM drone testing center could soon face competition
Dan Mayfield New Mexico could lose its lead on unmanned aerial vehicle development when the Federal Aviation Administration lays out a new set of rules that allow more airfields to test UAVs, a state leader in the industry said. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Test Center, an airfield run by New Mexico State University and the FAA, is the only FAA-approved UAS, or drone, flight test center in the nation. The center logs data from about two flights daily of commercial drones, which weigh anywhere from 15 ounces to 600 pounds. But last year the FAA said it will authorize six more sites for drone testing. “As soon as the FAA opens the door, there will be an explosion,” said Dennis “Zak” Zaklan, the director of the UAS FTC. “At this point, nobody knows. It depends on the FAA. It creates competition.” http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2013/05/22/drone-test-center-could-face-competition.html Bookmark It Hide Sites
A degree in drones (or, unmanned aircraft systems)
by Lizzie O’Leary Ben Trapnell says, given the chance, “I absolutely believe that unmanned aircraft systems will have more money invested in them from a civil context than they ever did from a military context.” Trapnell helped found and now teaches at the Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems at the University of North Dakota. The program offers — essentially — a degree in drones. Trapnell says there’s been little development of what unmanned aircraft systems can do outside of law enforcement and first responders “so a lot of the students are working with civil contractors that are providing services for the military.” Some of the program’s students finds jobs that pay them well out of college — starting at $60,000 or $70,000 a year. He says many of the stereotypes around drones and what they’re used for are incorrect. Of his students, “not a single one of them has flown an armed unmanned aircraft” though they do work with military contractors, using drones to gather intelligence for troops on the ground. Trapnell also objects to the use of the “d-word”: “I think the term “drone” creates a lot of hate and discontent in people’s minds. They get afraid of it.” As for a [...]
UAV news from Flight Global
Maritime Heron UAV supports European airspace trial
Europe has advanced a project to prove the feasibility of using satellite communications to enable UAS operations in non-segregated airspace ...Brazilian navy begins UAS evaluation
The Brazilian navy has begun to evaluate two Israeli-made unmanned air systems for maritime surveillance missions ...Indian air force to launch micro UAS evaluation
The Indian air force is to evaluate several micro unmanned air systems from around 10 companies in early May ...VIDEO: Eurocopter demonstrates unmanned EC145
Eurocopter has unveiled an optionally piloted vehicle (OPV), based on its EC145 light twin, which has been in development since September 2011.Israeli F-16 downs another Hezbollah UAV
An Israeli air force Lockheed Martin F-16 has shot down an unmanned air vehicle launched from Lebanon by Hezbollah militants ...
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