Avitron, next generation RC ornithopter

TIM De Ruymbek · Apr 10, 2009, 01:21 PM

Hello,

I'd like to introduce myself and my new product.
I am from France, please forgive my poor English.
For those who can remember, my father is the inventor of TIM, the original mechanical bird, powered by rubber band, distributed with great success by Schylling in the US. It was created in 1969, and has probably inspired several of the models here in this forum. By the way, it is still in the stores, and doing well.
So 40 years later, finally I created its successor. Avitron. Finally, because although working on it time to time, I had to wait until new technologies (developed for mobile phones) have allowed making it possible.
With the same spirit in mind to make an inimitable product, that will please users for years, I have pushed miniaturisation of each component to its very maximum, to reach my final goal:
The RC bird would look like, fly and glide like a real bird…Well, the most gifted of them (it really has some stunt capabilities).
To get rid of this fat body due to huge gears of reduction that makes existing products look like a hen or a Dodo in flight (if they could fly), I created my own gearbox, using an unique (and now patented) design, that allows me to put a 40 x reduction in a tiny cylinder in line with my 6 mm diameter motor and of about same diameter. Same for the fully symmetrical flapping mechanism. I worked with motor and battery suppliers to get the best ratio weight/performance they could offer, and developed the RX PCB with an electronic engineer working in the Drone field (for French army) to reach a size and weight less than a third of what I can find in other products (0.6 grams), but with a lot more features.
Finally, I worked on the direction control system, and came out with a new (patented) design to deform wings, also very tiny.
Now I’m proud to say my bird body is in proportion with its wingspan, as slim as an eagle in flight. The power/weight ratio is enough to have great fun playing with it, and the direction control response is fast and accurate.
Here are main specs:
- Wingspan 33 cm
- A little bit more than 8 grams
- 0.8 watt mechanical power
- Up to 17 Hz wing flapping frequency at wide 55° amplitude
- Direction controlled by wing bending
- Adjustable tail angle for indoor / outdoor use.
- 2.4 GHz frequency (Wi-Fi connection) Remote control
- 2 channels, digital, 128 steps each
- Over 100 m range
- Auto detection TX/RX (up to 6 birds can play in same area)
- Holographic laser process on wing/tail film to enhance viewing distance (sun reflection)
- Turbo charging system (<12 min from full discharge), plug bird directly on controller.
And a lot more.
You can find additional data’s and some videos on my website.But the video here are from an older prototype, I will post when they are updated with new one (showing stunt/glide capabilities).http://www.deruymbeke.fr/english/indexgb.htm

All comments are welcome.

Edwin Van Ruymbeke

Decnav · Apr 10, 2009, 06:30 PM

Wow, looks like a winner. Any idea on a price / time frame for availability?

anthodenn · Apr 11, 2009, 01:27 PM

Where and how can we buy it in the USA?
Is it available now?

Anthony

khaled_abobakr · Apr 12, 2009, 04:13 PM

Me too . I'd like to know when it will be available for sale, and from where I can get one ?

Thanks a lot

Khaled

TIM De Ruymbek · Apr 14, 2009, 06:10 AM

Thanks Guys,
I will produce in July. But i'm still looking for a distributor in the USA. Any suggestion?
Retail price should be around 60/70 $ (depending on distributor and store margin).
Edwin

khaled_abobakr · Apr 14, 2009, 07:39 AM

Hi Edwin

Why not try the ornithopter shop here

www.flyabird.com

I think it is a good place to start with ... most of us know that this is the place to buy ornies from , and also try the the big shops that can take large quantities from you like

www.target.com
www.wal-mart.com
www.thinkgeek.com ...very popular for it's unique high tech toys

Good luck

I really wish I could have it before july ... but I guess I will get I'm fenice for now and then buy your X-TIM Avitron when it is available ...

Khaled

NChronister · Apr 14, 2009, 10:38 AM

Dear Mr. Ruymbeke,

I'm excited to hear about your new product. The Tim Bird is a classic, beautifully engineered, and I'm glad to learn you have applied your experience and expertise to make an RC flying bird. I'm hopeful that this will at last cure the various problems associated with those we've seen so far. I'd like to get set up as a retailer for this product and I would also like to handle some of the distribution if that is possible. Please contact me at your earliest convenience. My email address is nathan at ornithopter dot org.

TIM De Ruymbek · Apr 14, 2009, 04:22 PM

Hi Khaled,
Thanks for your advices, i will contact these people about my product. I would have shipped one directly to you if i had already produced some, but the few i have now are for my salesman. I will keep you infomed.

Mr Nathan, i will send an email to you tommorow.

Edwin

khaled_abobakr · May 16, 2009, 07:50 AM

Mr Tim

here are some advantage features that Many of us would like to see in your bird

1-Make sure that the TX will charge the bird at 1C rate not fast charging to prolong the battery life.

2- If you are not planning to offer spare parts for it, I really recommend that you provide the specs of the potential replacement motor and actuator

3-Allow the use of rechargeable AA batteries for the TX or the use of an external power supply to charge the battery through the Tx charger

I think these will give your bird a selling edge

Good luck

Khaled

khaled_abobakr · May 23, 2009, 04:24 AM

Dear Mr Edwin,

Please forgive my ignorance for violating the copyright rule of the RCG, I thought that posting your reply to my Email would promote selling your new bird.

I really did that in good intention, nothing more ,,

Again please accept my apologies and forgive my ignorance, we used to post what the manufacturer is up to produce to discuss it here. I didn't know that this would hurt your business

Thanks

Khaled

eagsalazar · May 29, 2009, 02:27 AM

I'm sort of new to ornithopters so maybe the controllers are very different but why not make it compatible with normal spread spectrum tx like bind-n-fly vapors, etc?

DESIGN ENGNR · Sep 06, 2009, 11:44 PM

Any update on this Bird?

NChronister · Sep 08, 2009, 08:06 AM

Avitron will be available soon from The Ornithopter Zone and other retailers. Dealers in the US interested in purchasing the Avitron should contact me, nathan at ornithopter dot org.

Nathan Chronister
The Ornithopter Zone

newflyer100 · Sep 09, 2009, 03:02 PM

Hi Nathan...

Looking forward to purchasing either the I'm Eledove or waiting until you have the new Avitron in stock that you mentioned is coming soon....love the videos of both that I have seen, but have a question....which in your opinion would be better for flying in my backyard, without having to go to the park?

In other words, do you have enough info yet on the new Avitron to know if it is faster/slower, quicker turning radius, etc. than the I'm Eledove to help me decide which one would be better for smaller backyard flying?

Thanks!

NChronister · Sep 10, 2009, 09:47 AM

The Avitron is much smaller, and so it would be better for flying in your back yard. The Fenice/Eledove flies pretty fast all the time, but the Avitron can be adjusted for either fast or slow flying. You would adjust it for the slower speed for flying in smaller areas, and the higher speed for larger areas and more wind.

Apr 10, 2009, 01:21 PM	#1
TIM De Ruymbek Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3	Avitron, next generation RC ornithopter Hello, I'd like to introduce myself and my new product. I am from France, please forgive my poor English. For those who can remember, my father is the inventor of TIM, the original mechanical bird, powered by rubber band, distributed with great success by Schylling in the US. It was created in 1969, and has probably inspired several of the models here in this forum. By the way, it is still in the stores, and doing well. So 40 years later, finally I created its successor. Avitron. Finally, because although working on it time to time, I had to wait until new technologies (developed for mobile phones) have allowed making it possible. With the same spirit in mind to make an inimitable product, that will please users for years, I have pushed miniaturisation of each component to its very maximum, to reach my final goal: The RC bird would look like, fly and glide like a real bird…Well, the most gifted of them (it really has some stunt capabilities). To get rid of this fat body due to huge gears of reduction that makes existing products look like a hen or a Dodo in flight (if they could fly), I created my own gearbox, using an unique (and now patented) design, that allows me to put a 40 x reduction in a tiny cylinder in line with my 6 mm diameter motor and of about same diameter. Same for the fully symmetrical flapping mechanism. I worked with motor and battery suppliers to get the best ratio weight/performance they could offer, and developed the RX PCB with an electronic engineer working in the Drone field (for French army) to reach a size and weight less than a third of what I can find in other products (0.6 grams), but with a lot more features. Finally, I worked on the direction control system, and came out with a new (patented) design to deform wings, also very tiny. Now I’m proud to say my bird body is in proportion with its wingspan, as slim as an eagle in flight. The power/weight ratio is enough to have great fun playing with it, and the direction control response is fast and accurate. Here are main specs: - Wingspan 33 cm - A little bit more than 8 grams - 0.8 watt mechanical power - Up to 17 Hz wing flapping frequency at wide 55° amplitude - Direction controlled by wing bending - Adjustable tail angle for indoor / outdoor use. - 2.4 GHz frequency (Wi-Fi connection) Remote control - 2 channels, digital, 128 steps each - Over 100 m range - Auto detection TX/RX (up to 6 birds can play in same area) - Holographic laser process on wing/tail film to enhance viewing distance (sun reflection) - Turbo charging system (<12 min from full discharge), plug bird directly on controller. And a lot more. You can find additional data’s and some videos on my website.But the video here are from an older prototype, I will post when they are updated with new one (showing stunt/glide capabilities).http://www.deruymbeke.fr/english/indexgb.htm All comments are welcome. Edwin Van Ruymbeke

Apr 14, 2009, 07:39 AM	#6
khaled_abobakr Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,292	Hi Edwin Why not try the ornithopter shop here www.flyabird.com I think it is a good place to start with ... most of us know that this is the place to buy ornies from , and also try the the big shops that can take large quantities from you like www.target.com www.wal-mart.com www.thinkgeek.com ...very popular for it's unique high tech toys Good luck I really wish I could have it before july ... but I guess I will get I'm fenice for now and then buy your X-TIM Avitron when it is available ... Khaled Last edited by khaled_abobakr; Apr 15, 2009 at 03:48 AM.

May 23, 2009, 04:24 AM	#10
khaled_abobakr Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,292	So sorry Mr Edwin , I thought this would promote selling your new bird Dear Mr Edwin, Please forgive my ignorance for violating the copyright rule of the RCG, I thought that posting your reply to my Email would promote selling your new bird. I really did that in good intention, nothing more ,, Again please accept my apologies and forgive my ignorance, we used to post what the manufacturer is up to produce to discuss it here. I didn't know that this would hurt your business Thanks Khaled Last edited by khaled_abobakr; Jun 04, 2009 at 04:19 PM.

Sep 09, 2009, 03:02 PM	#14
newflyer100 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 73	I'm Fenice/Eledove vs. Avitron for flying in the backyard Hi Nathan... Looking forward to purchasing either the I'm Eledove or waiting until you have the new Avitron in stock that you mentioned is coming soon....love the videos of both that I have seen, but have a question....which in your opinion would be better for flying in my backyard, without having to go to the park? In other words, do you have enough info yet on the new Avitron to know if it is faster/slower, quicker turning radius, etc. than the I'm Eledove to help me decide which one would be better for smaller backyard flying? Thanks!

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Apr 10, 2009, 06:30 PM	#2
Decnav Front Yard Flyer Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Edgewood MD Listening the the army make big booms Posts: 401	Wow, looks like a winner. Any idea on a price / time frame for availability?

Apr 11, 2009, 01:27 PM	#3
anthodenn Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 716	Where and how can we buy it in the USA? Is it available now? Anthony

Apr 12, 2009, 04:13 PM	#4
khaled_abobakr Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,292	Me too . I'd like to know when it will be available for sale, and from where I can get one ? Thanks a lot Khaled

Apr 14, 2009, 06:10 AM	#5
TIM De Ruymbek Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3	Thanks Guys, I will produce in July. But i'm still looking for a distributor in the USA. Any suggestion? Retail price should be around 60/70 $ (depending on distributor and store margin). Edwin

Apr 14, 2009, 10:38 AM	#7
NChronister Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 281	Dear Mr. Ruymbeke, I'm excited to hear about your new product. The Tim Bird is a classic, beautifully engineered, and I'm glad to learn you have applied your experience and expertise to make an RC flying bird. I'm hopeful that this will at last cure the various problems associated with those we've seen so far. I'd like to get set up as a retailer for this product and I would also like to handle some of the distribution if that is possible. Please contact me at your earliest convenience. My email address is nathan at ornithopter dot org.

Apr 14, 2009, 04:22 PM	#8
TIM De Ruymbek Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3	Hi Khaled, Thanks for your advices, i will contact these people about my product. I would have shipped one directly to you if i had already produced some, but the few i have now are for my salesman. I will keep you infomed. Mr Nathan, i will send an email to you tommorow. Edwin

May 16, 2009, 07:50 AM	#9
khaled_abobakr Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,292	Mr Tim here are some advantage features that Many of us would like to see in your bird 1-Make sure that the TX will charge the bird at 1C rate not fast charging to prolong the battery life. 2- If you are not planning to offer spare parts for it, I really recommend that you provide the specs of the potential replacement motor and actuator 3-Allow the use of rechargeable AA batteries for the TX or the use of an external power supply to charge the battery through the Tx charger I think these will give your bird a selling edge Good luck Khaled

May 29, 2009, 02:27 AM	#11
eagsalazar Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 69	I'm sort of new to ornithopters so maybe the controllers are very different but why not make it compatible with normal spread spectrum tx like bind-n-fly vapors, etc?

Sep 06, 2009, 11:44 PM	#12
DESIGN ENGNR Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: LaVergne, TN Posts: 174	Any update on this Bird?

Sep 08, 2009, 08:06 AM	#13
NChronister Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 281	Avitron will be available soon from The Ornithopter Zone and other retailers. Dealers in the US interested in purchasing the Avitron should contact me, nathan at ornithopter dot org. Nathan Chronister The Ornithopter Zone

Sep 10, 2009, 09:47 AM	#15
NChronister Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 281	The Avitron is much smaller, and so it would be better for flying in your back yard. The Fenice/Eledove flies pretty fast all the time, but the Avitron can be adjusted for either fast or slow flying. You would adjust it for the slower speed for flying in smaller areas, and the higher speed for larger areas and more wind.