Quadrotor
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Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Goodwood, Sussex, UK
Quadrotor
~ Graviman, Riff Raff .. and other noted aerodynamicists .. I was intrigued by this clip and the obvious stability and overall maneauverability of this device!
What do you suppose will be the ultimate applications of such a contraption?
Earl
What do you suppose will be the ultimate applications of such a contraption?
Earl
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,951
Likes: 90
From: After all, what’s more important than proving to someone on the internet that they’re wrong? - Manson
Earl,
Nip down to HMV and buy one for yourself and have a go. AR.DRONE
GPS, Autopilot, AHRS, RADALT (kind of) Fly it with your Apple iDevice while watching the video mounted in the nose.
Doesn't have the performance of the one in the tube video but for the price.......?
Nip down to HMV and buy one for yourself and have a go. AR.DRONE
GPS, Autopilot, AHRS, RADALT (kind of) Fly it with your Apple iDevice while watching the video mounted in the nose.
Doesn't have the performance of the one in the tube video but for the price.......?
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,187
Likes: 16
From: Waltham Abbey, Essex, UK
Various versions of the quadrotor [pretty sure that AirRobot in Germany started the genre] are around although with development they now have three, six or eight rotors. They typically cost around £30,000 but the 'toy' versions can be had for much less.
They excel in searching buildings and places those little IED tanks cannot get on their tracks. So, great for the BD types.... why put a human or dog at risk when this will do the job for you?
They are extremely light so that any unintended impact with a human is unlikely to result in injury [although the newer ones lose this advantage - like everything they are getting bigger].
Operationally though they have a flaw when exposed to sunlight and wind... in that they are not allowed to leave the operator's sight and sound and anything over a breeze will blow them into the next county. A number have already been posted missing and once out of range they autoland.
So great fun kit in its place and cheap even for the professional versions. But like all flying machines very liable to interest the CAA when they see some licence fees in the offing. There are regulations about their use on the CAA web site. Long document and a number of police forces have come a cropper operating them outside the rules. Merseyside have been in the news about their errors.... they seem to have solved that though... the machine got away from the operator and neatly 'autolanded' into the depths of the River Mersey. Glug glug.
No wonder they have volunteered to give up their EC135T2 helicopter as well!
They excel in searching buildings and places those little IED tanks cannot get on their tracks. So, great for the BD types.... why put a human or dog at risk when this will do the job for you?
They are extremely light so that any unintended impact with a human is unlikely to result in injury [although the newer ones lose this advantage - like everything they are getting bigger].
Operationally though they have a flaw when exposed to sunlight and wind... in that they are not allowed to leave the operator's sight and sound and anything over a breeze will blow them into the next county. A number have already been posted missing and once out of range they autoland.
So great fun kit in its place and cheap even for the professional versions. But like all flying machines very liable to interest the CAA when they see some licence fees in the offing. There are regulations about their use on the CAA web site. Long document and a number of police forces have come a cropper operating them outside the rules. Merseyside have been in the news about their errors.... they seem to have solved that though... the machine got away from the operator and neatly 'autolanded' into the depths of the River Mersey. Glug glug.
No wonder they have volunteered to give up their EC135T2 helicopter as well!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 600
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From: USA
Earl,
Sorry, but I know next-to-nothing about aero. I'm purely a mechanical systems guy.
As for the future implications of a quad rotor design, you could try asking Bell-Boeing . From the standpoint of the drivetrain, it looks like nothing but trouble.
riff_raff
Sorry, but I know next-to-nothing about aero. I'm purely a mechanical systems guy.
As for the future implications of a quad rotor design, you could try asking Bell-Boeing . From the standpoint of the drivetrain, it looks like nothing but trouble.
riff_raff
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 368
Likes: 21
From: I am not sure where we are, but at least it is getting dark
Not sure if a "quadcopter" is a technology that can be used for passenger carrying aircraft. Too many disadvantages, and hardly any of the advantages would carry over to a full size machine.
For example, the aerobatic capabilities would be severly limited by the limited strength of the airframe and rotor systems of a full size model.
At the same time, redundancy requirements for engine and systems failures would make the thing very complex and heavy.
I am sure we'll see a lot more of these things in the future in the form of smaller UAVs though, taking over some of tasks for which conventional helicopters are used today.
Have a look at these guys here: Luftaufnahmen mit DEDICAM.TV
This is not autonomous yet, but I'm sure it will be soon enough.
For example, the aerobatic capabilities would be severly limited by the limited strength of the airframe and rotor systems of a full size model.
At the same time, redundancy requirements for engine and systems failures would make the thing very complex and heavy.
I am sure we'll see a lot more of these things in the future in the form of smaller UAVs though, taking over some of tasks for which conventional helicopters are used today.
Have a look at these guys here: Luftaufnahmen mit DEDICAM.TV
This is not autonomous yet, but I'm sure it will be soon enough.
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
When Facts and Marketing come into conflict. 
Pascal Chretien: PPRuNe posting on 3rd September 2011.
On the 12th of August 2011; World’s First Manned Electric Helicopter takes off
E-volo: Web site.
"... on the 21st October 2011: The first manned flight world-wide with a purely electrically powered, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft succeeded."
Dave
Pascal Chretien: PPRuNe posting on 3rd September 2011.
On the 12th of August 2011; World’s First Manned Electric Helicopter takes off
E-volo: Web site.
"... on the 21st October 2011: The first manned flight world-wide with a purely electrically powered, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft succeeded."
Dave
Last edited by Dave_Jackson; 25th June 2012 at 01:23.
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 440
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From: Royal Leamington Spa
Another application:
£20,000 device enables soldiers to look at enemy territory without risk of being killed
The ‘nanodrone’ contains two cameras which allow soldiers to look over hills and inside enemy bunkers without the risk of being killed or injured.
It can be operated remotely by troops sitting in a control room thousands of miles away or by soldiers on patrol using a seven-inch tablet computer.
The 7oz helicopter that could help beat the Taliban: £20,000 device enables soldiers to look at enemy territory without risk of being killed | Mail Online
£20,000 device enables soldiers to look at enemy territory without risk of being killed
The ‘nanodrone’ contains two cameras which allow soldiers to look over hills and inside enemy bunkers without the risk of being killed or injured.
It can be operated remotely by troops sitting in a control room thousands of miles away or by soldiers on patrol using a seven-inch tablet computer.
The 7oz helicopter that could help beat the Taliban: £20,000 device enables soldiers to look at enemy territory without risk of being killed | Mail Online
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,951
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From: After all, what’s more important than proving to someone on the internet that they’re wrong? - Manson
£20,000 device
Little bit more range and speed?
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 852
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From: Brum
I wonder what you get for the extra £19,800.00 over an AR.Drone.2.0?
Little bit more range and speed?
Little bit more range and speed?
And software, amortized over a much smaller number of airframes than the Drone...
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,951
Likes: 90
From: After all, what’s more important than proving to someone on the internet that they’re wrong? - Manson
and a proper GCS with waypoint planning
Still missing about GBP 18K!
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 440
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From: Royal Leamington Spa
I wonder what you get for the extra £19,800.00 over an AR.Drone.2.0?
