Foldable frames for tri, quad, Hexa, Okto

Since a while I started to search a frame for an AP platform with foldable arms. The advantages are obvious for people that need to travel with their gear.

Do you know any others? Please post here if you do.  

Sepa - kopter a great water proof design
http://www.mikrokopter.de/ucwiki/SEP...eNachbauten%29

Okto-klapto - my personal favourite
http://www.mikrokopter.de/ucwiki/Okt...eNachbauten%29


Draganfly X8 and X6 - well known and out of reach for most people. Outrageous prices but great design. 

http://www.draganfly.com/uav-helicop...r-x8/index.php


A german one like the Sepa
http://www.armokopter.at/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=477


A great tricopter with folding arms. Simple and easy to build. 

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1232881

Another great okto kopter with folding arms with same approach as the Okto klapto

http://gallery.me.com/imagecatcher/100191

Xaircraft x650- the Chinese newcomer . A great frame ... A lousy suport and bad electronics+software .

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1238341

A Russian hexacopter 

http://apnaview.com/y/o58MV39dGYE/Y-...ypoint-flight 

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...&postcount=140

First flight of the prototype:

v3.4 (1 min 16 sec)

Finished version:

Tricopter cowboy. (1 min 7 sec)

High wind and rattling canopy:

v3.5 outside (2 min 13 sec)

Originally Posted by bas10an

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...&postcount=140

That is a nice one. From your experience is it better to have longer arms for AP? I see you have them quite long on the tricopter. I heard it becomes more stable.

Thanks,

I find that long booms are good but not too long, in the >1kg class 30-35cm booms will keep it quite stable.

My foldable frame is very stable with Quadpowered board
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...postcount=7998
cheers
Maximus

Originally Posted by maximus-rc

My foldable frame is very stable with Quadpowered board
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...postcount=7998
cheers
Maximus

I realy like your frame it is similar with one I am designing at the moment and I am interested in how it works. Can you post some pictures with the folded arms? Can you pack it small? And I would like to know if it is practical.

A question for all of you- what would you improve on your folding frame? And do you find fixed frames better and more stable for AP?

About the arms - not too long and not too short as a first conclusion.
Thank you all for joining the discussion.

Originally Posted by danielpetrescu

I realy like your frame it is similar with one I am designing at the moment and I am interested in how it works. Can you post some pictures with the folded arms? Can you pack it small? And I would like to know if it is practical.

A question for all of you- what would you improve on your folding frame? And do you find fixed frames better and more stable for AP?

About the arms - not too long and not too short as a first conclusion.
Thank you all for joining the discussion.

Here Daniel !
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...4#post14987335
From this time, I have made the arms little longer...

Cheers
Maximus

Originally Posted by maximus-rc

Here Daniel !
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...4#post14987335
From this time, I have made the arms little longer...

Cheers
Maximus

Hi Maximus,

Great frame, it is just what I have on paper now and great idea for the arm hinge. What is the total wheight of the quad?

I see you have chosen the QuadPowered board would you recomended for a AP platform? I was thinking about UAVX for the GPS. what are your thoughts? Thanks,
Daniel

Originally Posted by danielpetrescu

Hi Maximus,

Great frame, it is just what I have on paper now and great idea for the arm hinge. What is the total wheight of the quad?

I see you have chosen the QuadPowered board would you recomended for a AP platform? I was thinking about UAVX for the GPS. what are your thoughts? Thanks,
Daniel

Quad is about 880g without battery.
Basic Quadpowered board is very fast to make it work (plug and fly) and you can use standard ESCs. My frame works very well with 2830/11 motos kv1000 and EPP1045 props (4400mAh 3S lipo).
The Accelpower board doesn't work perfectly and George is going to produce a new board that will support GPS...later...
Maximus

Originally Posted by maximus-rc

Quad is about 880g without battery.
Basic Quadpowered board is very fast to make it work (plug and fly) and you can use standard ESCs. My frame works very well with 2830/11 motos kv1000 and EPP1045 props (4400mAh 3S lipo).
The Accelpower board doesn't work perfectly and George is going to produce a new board that will support GPS...later...
Maximus

Thanks Maximus,

I might wait for a while and maybe George will make that board available till than. For the next few month I am busy working and have no time for this. Did George say when the new board will be avilable?

This is my first AP machine so I am new to it but do you think FPV and OSD are a good adition to the platform? Thanks.