Backpack Folding Quadcopter

January 5, 2015|MaxPower

I wanted to make another folding quadcopter that would fit in a backpack or toolbox. I was searching around the web and came across a template for a folding copter on DYI Drones that looked very promising.

Here is the the posting:

http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/folding-quadcopter-for-the-holidays

What I like about this design is the frame can handle larger prop sizes but still fold up to be compact. I designed mine to handle 10" props but the original design was using 15" props, I did this by shortening the frame. Eventually I would like to go with larger props and lower KV motors so I can get some longer flight times and better effeciency.

What makes this design nice is the offset front and rear arms allowing the arms to fold nicely and the prop to fold side by side.

The plates are made from 1.5mm or 1.3mm G10 and the arms are 12mm hollow aluminum arms, the hardware is #6 bolts and nut. Also a 1/8" drill bit is the perfect size for #6 bolts.

I got the G10 here:http://www.aliexpress.com/item/G10-500x400-1-5mm-thickness-glass-fiberplate-panel-sheet-board/632931719.html

The specs:
Motors: Sunnysky-V2216-11-900KV
ESC: Hobbyking 20amp ESC flashed with simonk
Flight Controller: DJI Naza M-V2
Battery: 4s 5000mah Turnigy Li-po 20C
AUW with 5000mah, FPV, GoPro: 1950g
Copter Frame weight: 1240g

With a4s 5000mah battery I am getting around 15 minutes of flight time.

Here are some videos:

The Frame:

The Finished Quadcopter:

Here are some pictures of the build:

I did not follow the plans exactly, I did not have the folding arms use the sliding "stops", I instead used a bolt as a stop for the arms when unfolded.

You can see in this picture the configuration I used for the bolts. Only one bolt per arm whereas the original design has two, I found that to be too complicated for me to cut without a laser cutter.

I made a slight modification to the plans, the original plans had the front arms in a T configuration, I changed the position of the holes so the arms kicked out a few more degrees like the rear arms.

12mm or 1/2" Aluminum arms from Hobby King, I prefer aluminum because it is strong and doesn't shatter if you get into a crash or a hard landing unlike some carbon fiber. Landing gear is bent aluminum bar stock.

JST power connectors for accessories

Front plates, bolts and nuts are #6

Power distribution with 3.5mm bullet connectors

David Windestål's Camera Tray, I have been using his camera tray on all my builds and I love it but on this build I made a mistake and used wire that was too thin (I ran out of the thicker piano wire) and not rigid enough so it caused the tray to bounce up and down, making the video very bad, you can see it in the video. I am working on a replacement tray once I get some more wire.