Robotics: Crenn's Third Year Project

[SXRguyinMA]

I'm wanting a full feldged Collective Pitch helicopter for research and to learn how a 'real' helicopter works!

http://www.bladehelis.com/Products/D...ProdId=BLH3500

the cheapest CP heli I found

:EDIT: cheaper as a BNF

http://www.bladehelis.com/Products/D...ProdId=BLH3580

[x88x]

Fair enough...I remember being in that position as a student. The one time you have the time to work on lots of cool projects and access to lots of cool equipment to achieve those projects...and no money to buy the parts required for those projects..

I'm guessing that the microquads went with brushed motors to simplify the motor control circuitry. Brushless motors are awesome, but they do require more components in the controller. One thing I would change about their design is, ironically, one of the main things they were trying to achieve..that is, making the PCB the entire structure. With a PCB that shape, the PCB manufacturing costs would skyrocket because of all the wasted space. Much better, imo, to use tiny CF struts that are bolted or, better, epoxied to the PCB.

[crenn]

Fair enough...I remember being in that position as a student. The one time you have the time to work on lots of cool projects and access to lots of cool equipment to achieve those projects...and no money to buy the parts required for those projects..

I'm guessing that the microquads went with brushed motors to simplify the motor control circuitry. Brushless motors are awesome, but they do require more components in the controller. One thing I would change about their design is, ironically, one of the main things they were trying to achieve..that is, making the PCB the entire structure. With a PCB that shape, the PCB manufacturing costs would skyrocket because of all the wasted space. Much better, imo, to use tiny CF struts that are bolted or, better, epoxied to the PCB.

Well, I'd have money if I can find a job, and the last job I had, they complained I was too slow preparing/painting. They paid me for the work that day, and told me they'd call me back if they wanted me again (as I suspected, they haven't called back).

Brushed motors are simple, but they have an efficiency problem, but they're not too bad to control. They do need 6 transistors per motor though. Well, the problem with using CF struts is you need to have wires still for the motors, while the PCB design, they're using the arms as the conducting path. But they haven't necessarily wasted that PCB space, they might have done other little boards when they got that PCB made up.

http://www.bladehelis.com/Products/D...ProdId=BLH3500

the cheapest CP heli I found

:EDIT: cheaper as a BNF

http://www.bladehelis.com/Products/D...ProdId=BLH3580

Cheaper as a BNF because you need a transmitter. I'm trying to find out where I can get these and if they ship to Australia.

[x88x]

Well, the problem with using CF struts is you need to have wires still for the motors, while the PCB design, they're using the arms as the conducting path. But they haven't necessarily wasted that PCB space, they might have done other little boards when they got that PCB made up.

True, true. I was thinking along the lines of producing a bunch of these, and only these. I guess if you could fill in all the empty space, or use a service that does, it could balance out.

[crenn]

Well, I looked into the helicopters that SXRguyinMA linked to, and found I can only get the BNF kit, however, the problem is then the transmitter, the transmitters I found cost more than the helicopter! However, I found a kit on hobby king, and I costed it:

Parts selected:
-Micro Helicopter-
Fire Fox EP100 Micro 3D Helicopter w/ Motor only (KIT ONLY)
HobbyKing 12A BlueSeries Brushless Speed Controller
ZIPPY Flightmax 800mAh 2S1P 20C
Hobby King S0361 3.6g / .45kg / .12sec Micro Servo
HobbyKing GA-250 MINI-MEMS Gyro
-Transmitter and Chargers-
Hobby King 2.4Ghz 6Ch Tx & Rx V2 (Mode 2)
Hobby King 2.4Ghz 6Ch Tx USB Cable for Win2000/XP
AA 600mAH Ni-MH Battery Set (8pc)
HobbyKing Variable 6S 50W 5A Balancer/Charger w/ accessories

Total cost in USD: $112.01 (excluding shipping)

I might look at getting that little helicopter first before I move up to something bigger!

Links to the parts:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...idProduct=9387
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=11429
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...idProduct=6786
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...idProduct=3715
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=15318
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...idProduct=9042
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...idProduct=9043
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=16386
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=11668

[Fuganater]

I was just looking at HobbyKing for random things. Their shipping is ridiculous. $17 cart and it cost $30 to ship it... I deleted my cart.

[crenn]

Heh, it depends on how you ship it, the micro helicopter I priced before is now $140.75 with shipping. It costs 28.74 for a 2.1kg package. That's fairly reasonable I think.

[x88x]

I was just looking at HobbyKing for random things. Their shipping is ridiculous. $17 cart and it cost $30 to ship it... I deleted my cart.

They have four warehouses throughout the world. The main one in Hong Kong, and regional ones in Germany, Australia, and the US. If you live in an area that has a regional warehouse, it's almost always much cheaper and faster to order from that regional warehouse, but if not, always order from the Hong Kong warehouse (ie, I would never order from the Germany warehouse, for example). There are a few oddities, though. For example; you would think that if you lived in Canada, ordering from the US warehouse would be best, yeah? Not necessarily. IDK about other stuff, but I know at least for batteries, orders going to Canada from the US warehouse take as long if not longer than orders coming from the Hong Kong warehouse. *shrugs* TBH though, the shipping costs from their Hong Kong warehouse are actually quite reasonable, considering.

[crenn]

No updates for this project, but I've planned out my future one on my site:
http://crennsmind.com/index.php/futu...1-micro-copter

Just need to get funds to do it...

[crenn]

I haven't updated for a while because the workload has been heavy, although things have been easing off lately. Although, I do have an exam today, even though I have an exam today, this is what I was upto yesterday afternoon: