Transcript Basic Drone: Bits and Pieces

Basic Drone: Bits and Pieces
Core Components:
 Plane Kit
 Motor + ESC + Batteries
 Autopilot + GPS + Compass
 Rx Receiver + Servos
Optional Components:
 Mapping Camera + Trigger
 Telemetry Tx
 FPV Tx + Camera
Basic Electronics
Android Ground Station
$3 OTG Cable + $50 Receiver
Fixed Wing Planes
“Skyhunter” 1.8m, 2.5 kg Payload
$140
Portable Field Mapper
“X-6” 1.5m, 1+ kg Payload $140
Cameras
Sony Nex-5r + Sigma Lenses
“Brushless” Gimbal
Brushless Gimbal Stabilization Revolution
Alexmos Control Board
Fixed Wing Component Costs
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Commiditization of components – global sourcing.
Example:
• Foam Planes → China: $50-$200
• Autopilot → California: $200
• Fixed wing Gimbal → Vermont: $150
• Motors, ESCs, etc → Hongkong: $300
• Entry level FPV → California: $250
Drone Cost: ~$500 - $1,300
Multirotor Drones
High Quality Heavy-Lift Hexacopter
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Heavy lift Hexacoper Frame Kit: $325
6 motors and 6 ESCs: $400-700
Autopilot: $200
Telemetry: $100
2 Axis Brushless Gimbal: $250
Mini 2-axis Alexmos: $150
• Cost ~$1,500-$2,000
Performance
Fixed Wing (2m)
 Endurance: ~1+ hr.
 Speed: cruise 40-70 kph (100+kph max).
 Payload: Gimbal + Camera < 800g.
Multirotor (800mm)
 Endurance: 15-20 min.
 Speed: <50 kph.
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Payload: ~3 kg (dslr + 3 axis gimbal).
Pros / Cons Multicopter
PROS
 Good in rugged terrain, where a fixed-wing would be difficult to operate.
Landing a fixed-wing = DAMAGE.
 Auto-takeoff and landings.
 Very stable in hover.
 Optimal for small site mapping.
CONS
 Short flight times.
 More expensive than fixed-wing.
 More complicated.
 Parts failure can be catastrophic.
Fragile
My Project - Maps
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The use of Drones for High Accuracy Photogrammetric Mapping:
 Orthorecified images
 DEMs (Digital Elevation Models)
 3d Models
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Fixed Wing: Small area mapping
 Typical 1-10 km2 (5-30cm GSD).
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Multirotor: Site specific
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Ideas to Explore:
 Brushless Gimbal Systems (Alexmos) – worth the trouble?
 Optimal Camera + Fixed Lens