smallest autonomous UAV

[Unterhausen]

I was thinking about making a UAV out of a Cutie wing in a home-built pusher configuration. Any thoughts on this idea?

Here's the original plane. Apparently it suffers somewhat from an overweight fuselage:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185272

[Tom Harper]

Beautiful model - should work well with a module level GPS.

[Myron]

I think the folks in Isreal have you beat.. Look up the "Black Widow" It has a sub 13" wingspan and it is full auto.. Used alot over the West Bank and Gaza.

Myron

[s2e3s2z2]

The Black Widow has a 6" wingspan and was developed by AeroVironment, Inc. (a California based U.S. company) for DARPA.

[Unterhausen]

I've seen some UAV's with 12" wingspan. I think I've seen some that were smaller yet that used video and horizon detection to fly. I'm not sure if they are self contained or have ground assistance though.

I figured "smallest UAV that a normal person could put together without an insane amount of work" might not fit in the title. What I really want is a parkflyer sized uav.

[icebear]

I think that should be very doable! The Cutie was my first kit build and I like it in spite of the somewhat heavy body.

One of my Hobby UAVs is about the same size - 42" wingspan - the Super Impress II from Wattage. AUW 30 oz with GPS & Picopilot & 3S-2000 LiPO. Runs for 30 minutes @ 30 mph with a range of about 15 miles. To bad is doesn't carry a camera though...
The lack of camera is the reason I went with the slightly bigger Miss 2 (54")

Will be very interesting to see what you come up with!

/Icebear

[Capt. Crunch]

When you load up the Cutie with a GPS, Aotopilot, WayPoint sequencer and a TV camera, you'll hate the performance. Speed 400 aircraft should weigh about 20-22 oz.

I've seen Aerovioment's Black Widow, very impressive that they've got all that in such a small package. See http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/spiesfly/uavs_21.html for full Nova article.

[Unterhausen]

I guess I'll have to start weighing my components then.

[Mel Duval]

Check out the college team micro UAVs.....

http://www.project240.net/photo/mav06/general.html

[Unterhausen]

Check out the college team micro UAVs.....

http://www.project240.net/photo/mav06/general.html
Thanks for that link. Most of the launch pictures are pretty funny. Lots of them are using FMA Copilots or similar devices. I like the composite fish (http://www.project240.net/photo/mav06/pages/mav%20510.html)