TOTAL COST: $113.89
Creative engineering on the adjustable camera shock mount and the landing gear mounts and legs.
I've recently finished a new large quad-copter designed to carry my Nabi Square HD camera aloft (excellent GoPro clone camera). I was surprised to find that this quad-copter is a better photography platform than my Tri-copter. It has a yaw rate (rotation to the left or right) that is smoother and more stable than the tri-copter. It is also more stable in a hover. I've been experimenting with different materials to suspend the camera underneath the copter body. It is necessary to isolate the camera from the frame vibration that is induced from the motors and propellers. Even though motors and props are carefully balanced, there is still vibration, often caused by propeller-tip flex when there is a wind gust or when there is rapid rise or fall of the copter. I've found several materials that work well...still trying to figure out what will do the best job. When vibration is transferred to the video camera, the resulting distortion is referred to as jello, since the image looks much like a block of jello wiggling back and forth.
I did much of my testing during a couple days when there was snow flying and pretty strong wind, especially when flying above the treetops. I blended together several clips from the test flights. This combined clip has been uploaded to You Tube.....see the link below. The still photos are photos taken during construction of the big quad-copter. The motor arms are 30" from tip to tip. I started out with a commercial frame (cheap copy of a DJI flame wheel frame). It flew okay but I just wasn't impressed with its flight capabilities, especially when I considered using it as a camera platform. So I built my own frame, using a LOT of materials that I had on hand. This kept the cost of the new quad-copter pretty modest, especially when compared to commercial products, which typically cost 10 to 100 times as much as my home built design.
I'm getting 10 minute flights when equipped with the camera from a 2200mah 3s zippy 25C battery. Without the camera, I've gotten close to 13 minute fights with the same battery.
BIG QUADCOPTER BUILD COSTS
I have a very complete wood working shop in my basement, so milling the 1/2" square wooden arms is a simple and inexpensive task for me.
Wooden frame arms: 1 @ 1/2 x 1/2 x 30" aircraft spruce: N/C (stock on hand)
Wooden frame arms: 2 @ 1/2 x 1/2 x 14.75" aircraft spruce: N/C (stock on hand)
Wooden frame spacer pieces, 1/2 thick from aircraft spruce: N/C (stock on hand)
5 minute epoxy to join the half moon pieces into the round frame: $0.60
Half moon body pieces: 4 @ 4" diameter x 1.5" O.D to I.D. N/C (stock on hand)
Stainless Steel 440 hex head screws: 8 @ $0.04 each $0.32
Stainless Steel 440 nylon insert lock nuts: 8 @ $0.05 each $0.40
4 motors from HobbyKing (int. warehouse): DST-1000 @ $7.19 each $28.76
4 30amp SimonK ESC's from ebay: Includes shipping from china $25.26
KK2.1.5 flight control board from HobbyKing: $21.99
3.5mm bullet connectors for 4 motors and 4 speed controllers: $3.40
XT60 to 6 X 3.5mm bullet Multistar ESC Power Breakout Cable: $3.07
4 Landing gear mounts made from copper clad circuit board material and cut off .223/5.56mm shell casings....shell tops soldered to circuit board: N/C (stock on hand)
Aluminum camera mount plus carbon fiber hollow tube: N/C (stock on hand)
Various cable ties: N/C (stock on hand)
4 landing gear legs made from broken Cabela's 220 arrows: N/C (stock on hand)
4 ping pong balls for landing gear bottoms: $1.60
miscellaneous heat shrink material: N/C (stock on hand)
Self adhesive velcro material for battery attachment: $0.20
1/2" x 3" joining strap made from copper clad circuit board: N/C (stock on hand)
miscellaneous small screws: N/C (stock on hand)
4 aluminum motor mounts made to mount the DST-1000 round motor bases: N/C (stock on hand)
Paint, spray cans and acrylics: N/C (stock on hand)
8 hex head screws 2.5mm x 10mm to mount motors (local hobby shop): $4.00
Receiver for 9x radio, Hobby King 2.4Ghz Receiver 6Ch V2: $9.82
10CM Male to Male Servo Lead (JR) 26AWG -- 5 pieces used: $2.47
SUBTOTAL: $101.89
fast shipping from HobbyKing International: (approximation) $12.00
TOTAL: $113.89
Video shot a sunset. Camera mount now modified with short pieces of large silicone fuel tube lining the carbon fiber tubes...a loop of braided picture frame hanging wire suspending the camera platform.
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