unanswered question

[sodman12]

I have looked around for quite some time now for an answer for my questions. but i have not had any luck. so im just gonna put everything i want out there and see how it goes! :D

I want to build an electric glider that can carry a decent payload. I want to have a 10 miles live video downlink hooked up to either a digital camera or a camcorder. As a back up if my downlink were to fail i would like to have a automated pilot to help in the return of the plane to where it was lauched. it doesnt have to land it or take off i just want it to fly back over where it started incase of a failure.

my biggest problem so far is with the 10 mile downlink. 10 miles isnt set in stone but i would like at least 1-2 miles with the ability to upgrade if i needed to in the future. o i almost forgot that i of course will need my radio equipment controlling the airplane to also be able to go this far. just incase you forgot that fact. im assuming you could just have one signal for both things and have them riding on the same signal, but you know what happens when u assume. :D

[sodman12]

BTW thanks alot if you can help me out. if you have any kind of knowledge about this type of thing please point me in the right direction even if to you it seem painfully obivious.

[Joe2003]

Not much interest huh?

Well Im gonna use a 2w transmitter which should give a mile range at least:-

http://www.pakatak.com/web/transmitters/

Guessing if you use a yagi then you could increase that?

The cheapest form of autopilot is probably an fma copilot with a microcontroller hooked up to the rudder. Then you can interface that with a gps system, loads of different types out there.

[fhhuber506771]

define "decent payload"... I might onsider the ability to lift an egg decent... any 2-meter sailplane converted to electric power can do that with ease.

You want 10 mile downlink range.... well.. you'll need FCC licence for a control system with that range and you'll need FCC licence to operate the downlink with that kind of range. (and they may ask why you want to do it in this time of fearing global terrorism)

Practicly speaking... hobbiest level AP you don't need more than a couple thousand foot downlink range. If you are going to operate under model aircraft rules (no licencing by the FAA) then you'll basicly need to follow the AMA safety code, which means keeping line of sight ability to control your aircraft.

Ask the LA County Sherrif's office if the FAA can regulate your AP UAV or not... they found out the hard way.

*********

Overall.. your questions exhibit a lack of understanding of model aircraft in general.... might want to learn to fly a model before trying to do AP or a hobbiest UAV.

[sodman12]

Decent payload to me is a few pounds.

I just need a platform that can handle the weight needed to carry autopilot equip. downlink, video camera, and maby a few other add on's.


how about i take that 10 mile range down to 1-2 miles.

Also ive heard that 900mhz is the best for a downlink. instead of 2.4 ghz. anyone else heard this?

[fhhuber506771]

Well.. a kit that can easilly handle a 5 lb payload is the Sig Kadet Sr. Use a .61 (or electric equivelant which is an AXi 4120/18 on 5 cell LiPo with 13X6.5 APC prop) and it can get off the ground in under 100 ft at 17 lbs. Since the plane plus power system will have you in the vicinity of 6 to 7 lbs... you have a good margin.

Kadet SR ARF... I've never tried. Not sure how easy that would be to revise for your purpose.

The kit version... you can build to look like darn near anything. Its a big box of sticks and sheet balsa. (lots of cutting and gluing and sanding...) With a little planning you could have the AP/UAV equipment inside the fuselage and have the camera viewing out through plexi windows. (Protects the camera well)


I had a WAY overweight Kadet Sr "scratched" together from the plans. (don't know who did the framework... I got it "in the bones") Whoever built it used some super heavy hardwood for the wing spars... the stuff sank if put in water. (normally uses balsa spars) The thing was still a good trainer at 13 lbs takeoff weight. (no payload and I didn't have my light system in it at that weight... it was a BEAST of a heavy model.)

The Kadet SR is a very stable platform to work with. Easy to fly.