Evolution of the Aeromapper UAV family of UAVs

So it`s been just a bit more than a year and a half since we first offered the Aeromaper UAV platform and we have seen the Aeromapper evolve significantly.

3689534762?profile=original

Since we introduced the Aeromapper Option E it has been a great success because it is a complete package with excellent features on it, that we managed to keep at a reasonable price, like the following:  

- Camera: Sony NEX 7 (24 megapixel camera!) with Voigtlander 15mm wide angle lens. It is a top quality combination for mapping. The camera mount inside the UAV also allows for enough room to use other lenses, like a Pancake lens. Not as good as the Voigtlander, but much lighter in comparison.  In addition, we received a great amount of requests from customers wanting to use as well the Tetracam ADC Lite camera on the Aeromapper option E, so we ended up adding a very light camera mount for this camera too. The user just need to switch cameras between flights. 

3689534734?profile=original

 

3689534815?profile=original3689534749?profile=original- Parachute recovery: it's been really a winning feature, because literally no RC skills are required for landing. Just flip a switch and it lands nicely & safely. The parachute release bypass the autopilot, meaning that the human pilot is always in command of it. The user don't need to wait until the mission is over the deploy the chute, it can be released at any moment during flight, which is another great failsafe feature. Normally, the chute is deployed when the plane is loitering over the home location at about 50 m or so, after the return-to-launch flight mode has been selected or the mission finished.

- Automatic trigger: many people have asked us how the triggering "sequence" works. It is pretty straightforward: flip a switch on the remote control and the camera will start shooting images every 4 seconds by default (via an infrared shutter release) but easily adjustable to 1, 2, 3, ......60 seconds, or minutes. At the same time the camera lens cover door will open automatically.  Flip the switch again and the lens door will close and the sequence will pause until new command.

3689534823?profile=originalWe also have been asked to provide only the fiberglass Payload Bay Modules (also called pods) for developers & researchers, including some universities, so that they buy only this part and integrate it to their existing airframes adding more internal volume for payload, a parachute recovery system, and the lens cover door features. For this reason we decided to offer a package with this module only, at a very reasonable price. We found it can be easily attached to a huge range of airframes. It comes with the standard 60'' diameter High Drag coefficient parachute (highest drag is achieved with a toroidal shaped chute) and kevlar lines. But for users with larger or heavier airplanes up to a 72'' diameter parachute can be installed.

This is another great & unique advantage of the modularity of The Aeromapper.

 

The Aeromapper option C is also another variant often ordered by universities for project development and payload testing. The combination of Ready to Fly status with ArduPilot Mega and telemetry, Parachute system, DX8 transmitter and price makes it very attractive.

3689534856?profile=original

E-mail me when people leave their comments –

You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!

Join diydrones

Comments

  • with the RDF900 telemetry modules

  • How do you get 20km Range of telemetry, as stated in Option E?

  • @ALK: I'm pretty sure it can be easily attached to the Graphite 2E. This glider has a weird shape in the bottom of the fuselage, it is not completely round, but I'm pretty sure it can "filled" with foam or something. If interested we'll show you how we attach the fuselage so that it stays in place and does not rotate around the fuse.

    @Wingman: we designd the pod so that not complex deploying mechanisms are required to deploy the chute. We use just gravity and it works 100% of the times!  The shape in the back of the pod is perfect to host the parachute, it's kind of round, as well as the cover, so no space is wasted in there.

  • Mauricio,

    How does the recovery parachute deploy?  Does it use expendable CO2 or pyrotechnics, or is it a reusable spring-loaded system, or something else entirely?

  • Developer

    Mauricio,

    Do you think the payload would fit a Graphite 2E (3.1m wingspan) ?

  • PM me with details, maybe the Option A or B will suit the requirements. We could probably work out a discount since it is for education

  • Admin

    :) , I am sure every penny of it is worth it but I wish I haven't asked.  Looking for a airframe that can be used for demo at agriculture institute for course on UAV usage implementation. There is no such paper/subject that is offered in any institute locally.  Would have been perfect for the said usage except for price :)).  cheers ,Good work guys.

  • Here is the link to the website of the Aeromapper UAV:

    http://www.aeromao.com/aeromapper_uav

    Pricing of the Aeromapper option E is $9,990 Canadian dollars and includes:

    - Aeromapper UAV ready to fly with all electronics with ArduPilot Mega and uBlox GPS, of course. Includes parachute recovery system.

    - Spektrum DX8 transmitter

    - Dragon Link long range system

    - RFD900 long range telemetry radios

    - Sony NEX 7 camera with Voigtlander lens ($2000 or more dollar value)

    - Set of electronics and motor batteries (x2)

    - Accucel battery charger

    - Instructions

     

    Pelican transport case with custom cut foam is additional ($895 Cad).

  • T3

    I'm in love with the idea of this plane!  Unfortunately it is too expensive for me to own as a hobby aircraft, and the university lab I work in only flies copters.  

    I bet the Pod would go great slung under a Techpod aircraft!

  • Admin

    Pricing and options would be appreciated. A link to web site too.

This reply was deleted.