Mikrokopter / UAVP / quadrocopter / quadrotor build - Page 4

Garry s · Aug 01, 2007, 10:01 AM

I am now having trouble getting replies from Daniel at lipoly. Last message was on the 13th July, saying one more week. Since then nothing and he hasn't replied to an e-mail a few days ago. I notice they now say 8th August on the site....I can live with that if they mean it but than again....

Shame as I really want an almost ready to go machine; I spend hours and hours building heli's and don't really want to add to them with this.

chargenut · Aug 01, 2007, 02:57 PM

Garry,

My sentiments exactly... Bit naffed 'orf with it all now... I'm giving them till the 8th... then If no go... I'm cancelling and building an MK. I assume that the date will change on the 7th... so evening of the 7th I'm ordering the MK bits...

Cheers,

Terry.

Garry s · Aug 01, 2007, 03:09 PM

Terry - yes, difference is, you know about PIC programming and such; I haven't a clue and am not about to learn...

Arthur P. · Aug 01, 2007, 07:02 PM

Hi Jim,

In the land of the blind one eye is king..... I haven't even flown one yet (other than a standard silverlit X-Ufo I bought out of frustration with the long wait and which without all the upgrades isn't all that stable).

For the MK small parts, other than those that you can order from the MK site, you want to check the parts lists in the manuals or on the Reichelt site (through the links from the MK site to the specific order lists) and then probably see whether Mouser can supply the same parts without the minimum Euro 150.00 order. If you do order from Reichelt you can either fill up your order with other usefull goodies such as printer cartridges, high speed SD cards, or other toys, or try and find a couple of people to do a combined order. The serial konverter is a combined programmer and ttl-rs232 converter which allows you to both program the MK controler and check it out / amend parameters. But it is dependent upon an RS232 interface. If you can find a USB alternative for ATMEL cpu programming and ttl level serial interface that should work but you'll have to figure that out on your own.

I mentioned Sparkfun in relation to the UAVP controler which uses Sparkfun breakout boards for several sensors. MK only uses the three axis linear acceleration sensor which Sparkfun also sells, but without a breakout board and I believe the price is competative. You'd probably be paying more in postage if you ordered from the separate sites.

The compass that the MK uses is a bit trickier to get, but I believe there is a robotik shop in Canada who sells the same compass. But again you'll have to check that out carefully yourself. Same for the GPS receiver if you want to try and integrate one yourself.

If you want to go for a more or less standard MK you could consider ordering the motors from the MK site as well. Those Roxy motors have a rather bad reputation for manufacturing defects. The MK guys check them out before selling. But you might be better of carefully looking at the specs of those motors and finding a similar brushless motor in the US. You will want the Holger ESCs. If you want more power than the current Roxy's and ESCs you'll have to be a little bit patient. Expect upgraded ESCs quite soon.

Arthur P. · Aug 01, 2007, 07:10 PM

Hi Garry,

The only one who offers a more or less finished machine at the moment is http://www.quattrocopter.com/ but that is a hand-built mikrokopter and currently still very much standard so not as high powered as the heavier UAVP. Even the UAVP sets are still very much kits that you have to put together although you don't have to do as much soldering as with the MK PCB and small parts...

Of note the quattrocopter site has temporarilly stopped selling full assembled and tested Holger ESCs and MK PCBs until an upgraded version is available (expected any day now). I am guessing that will include the upgraded FETS which allow 10A continues and peaks of 15 to 20A so that you can run a bit heavier motors. That will still be less than the 30A YGE30i ESCs of the UAVP offer, but should suffice for some vibration dampening and possibly some tilt mechanism and for most quickie AP shoots where the MK really would be squaring off against e.g. TRex 450s lift and size-wise I guess.

The guy who runs the quattrocopter site seems very nice. He responded quite quickly to an email reequest for info once. This is probably somebody doing this on the side, not a big shop, but you can probably expect personal attention.

Garry s · Aug 01, 2007, 07:42 PM

Thanks Arthur, you're way ahead in this game. I do want the 700g payload of the lipoly one, I have a feeling they will get there. We're building a business with an AP offering of big heli (Joker, big DSLR or HD vid cam) fixed wing and, ultimately, the quad. Plenty else to do in the meantime so the quad is not on the critical path - yet

chargenut · Aug 01, 2007, 08:09 PM

I have to admit to wanting a large payload carrying Quad as well... I think if I do go with the MK I would be looking to fit large(ish) motors and high amp ESCs to try to emulate the UAVP power options.

My main issue is that I simply have no patience

Garry I'm fairly close to you... so when I get the MK parts (I think it's a pretty much given that the UAVP will be delayed (AGAIN)) I'll look into the difficulty of getting them soldered, and will offer advice as best I can if you decide to get MK parts as well. I'm NOT however offering to solder up a board for you (yet)

After all it might be a TOTAL nightmare and therefore something I might only want to do once...

Terry.

Djago · Aug 01, 2007, 10:23 PM

Hi,

Don't want to steal Arthur's threat but if you wait for a couple of weeks I can present you with a RTF heavy lift multirotor.
Some info: it can carry 1 kg for about 15 minutes...how this is done I will not disclose yet.
FYI: Since it is a commercial ARF/RTF multirotor and not DIY like MK/UAVP all technical info is "closed source" so to speak.
It's specific goal is as a DSLR/HD video cam carrier for AP/video flights.

Greetz,

Peter

Hogster · Aug 02, 2007, 02:30 AM

Ooh, now THAT sounds interesting!

Can you tell us more? Maybe in a new thread?

David

AEROFOKUS · Aug 02, 2007, 09:17 AM

Yes Peter tell us more please

It sounds great, but I have a feeling it will cost an arm and a leg..right?

cheers

jovo

Djago · Aug 02, 2007, 09:44 AM

Hi,

I will post more in another thread.
Since it is meant as an alternative to Trex 600 or Maxi Joker 2 the price is in that range ,which is still way cheaper than an MD, Airobot or Draganflyer.

Peter

Pigs dont fly · Aug 02, 2007, 09:44 AM

Wow Peter you got that done quickly! Has DJ got his one yet?

Best of luck. I'm interested too

Arthur P. · Aug 02, 2007, 03:08 PM

Good work Peter !!! You're welcome to piggy-back in my thread !

Arthur P. · Aug 02, 2007, 03:54 PM

Little update form the Mikrokopter site: Their shop is now offering the upgraded FETs per set of 6 pairs, i.e. enough for 2 ESCs. I imagine it should be possible to run with 2 normal and 2 upgraded ESCs, so selling per pair of ESCs would be logical. They expect to be able to offer fully populated upgraded ESCs in about 8 weeks.

airfoto.se · Aug 02, 2007, 05:18 PM

how about ready to go ctrl boards?, i looked at the site but cant handle the language!

Aug 01, 2007, 10:01 AM	#46
Garry s A new day, a new gadget Join Date: May 2006 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 364	I am now having trouble getting replies from Daniel at lipoly. Last message was on the 13th July, saying one more week. Since then nothing and he hasn't replied to an e-mail a few days ago. I notice they now say 8th August on the site....I can live with that if they mean it but than again.... Shame as I really want an almost ready to go machine; I spend hours and hours building heli's and don't really want to add to them with this.

Aug 01, 2007, 02:57 PM	#47
chargenut S.C.R.A.P.S Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Haslemere, Surrey. Posts: 1,056	Garry, My sentiments exactly... Bit naffed 'orf with it all now... I'm giving them till the 8th... then If no go... I'm cancelling and building an MK. I assume that the date will change on the 7th... so evening of the 7th I'm ordering the MK bits... Cheers, Terry.

Aug 01, 2007, 03:09 PM	#48
Garry s A new day, a new gadget Join Date: May 2006 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 364	Terry - yes, difference is, you know about PIC programming and such; I haven't a clue and am not about to learn...

Aug 01, 2007, 07:02 PM	#49
Arthur P. Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hoofddorp, Netherlands Posts: 3,599	Hi Jim, In the land of the blind one eye is king..... I haven't even flown one yet (other than a standard silverlit X-Ufo I bought out of frustration with the long wait and which without all the upgrades isn't all that stable). For the MK small parts, other than those that you can order from the MK site, you want to check the parts lists in the manuals or on the Reichelt site (through the links from the MK site to the specific order lists) and then probably see whether Mouser can supply the same parts without the minimum Euro 150.00 order. If you do order from Reichelt you can either fill up your order with other usefull goodies such as printer cartridges, high speed SD cards, or other toys, or try and find a couple of people to do a combined order. The serial konverter is a combined programmer and ttl-rs232 converter which allows you to both program the MK controler and check it out / amend parameters. But it is dependent upon an RS232 interface. If you can find a USB alternative for ATMEL cpu programming and ttl level serial interface that should work but you'll have to figure that out on your own. I mentioned Sparkfun in relation to the UAVP controler which uses Sparkfun breakout boards for several sensors. MK only uses the three axis linear acceleration sensor which Sparkfun also sells, but without a breakout board and I believe the price is competative. You'd probably be paying more in postage if you ordered from the separate sites. The compass that the MK uses is a bit trickier to get, but I believe there is a robotik shop in Canada who sells the same compass. But again you'll have to check that out carefully yourself. Same for the GPS receiver if you want to try and integrate one yourself. If you want to go for a more or less standard MK you could consider ordering the motors from the MK site as well. Those Roxy motors have a rather bad reputation for manufacturing defects. The MK guys check them out before selling. But you might be better of carefully looking at the specs of those motors and finding a similar brushless motor in the US. You will want the Holger ESCs. If you want more power than the current Roxy's and ESCs you'll have to be a little bit patient. Expect upgraded ESCs quite soon.

Aug 01, 2007, 07:10 PM	#50
Arthur P. Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hoofddorp, Netherlands Posts: 3,599	Hi Garry, The only one who offers a more or less finished machine at the moment is http://www.quattrocopter.com/ but that is a hand-built mikrokopter and currently still very much standard so not as high powered as the heavier UAVP. Even the UAVP sets are still very much kits that you have to put together although you don't have to do as much soldering as with the MK PCB and small parts... Of note the quattrocopter site has temporarilly stopped selling full assembled and tested Holger ESCs and MK PCBs until an upgraded version is available (expected any day now). I am guessing that will include the upgraded FETS which allow 10A continues and peaks of 15 to 20A so that you can run a bit heavier motors. That will still be less than the 30A YGE30i ESCs of the UAVP offer, but should suffice for some vibration dampening and possibly some tilt mechanism and for most quickie AP shoots where the MK really would be squaring off against e.g. TRex 450s lift and size-wise I guess. The guy who runs the quattrocopter site seems very nice. He responded quite quickly to an email reequest for info once. This is probably somebody doing this on the side, not a big shop, but you can probably expect personal attention.

Aug 01, 2007, 07:42 PM	#51
Garry s A new day, a new gadget Join Date: May 2006 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 364	Thanks Arthur, you're way ahead in this game. I do want the 700g payload of the lipoly one, I have a feeling they will get there. We're building a business with an AP offering of big heli (Joker, big DSLR or HD vid cam) fixed wing and, ultimately, the quad. Plenty else to do in the meantime so the quad is not on the critical path - yet

Aug 01, 2007, 08:09 PM	#52
chargenut S.C.R.A.P.S Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Haslemere, Surrey. Posts: 1,056	I have to admit to wanting a large payload carrying Quad as well... I think if I do go with the MK I would be looking to fit large(ish) motors and high amp ESCs to try to emulate the UAVP power options. My main issue is that I simply have no patience Garry I'm fairly close to you... so when I get the MK parts (I think it's a pretty much given that the UAVP will be delayed (AGAIN)) I'll look into the difficulty of getting them soldered, and will offer advice as best I can if you decide to get MK parts as well. I'm NOT however offering to solder up a board for you (yet) After all it might be a TOTAL nightmare and therefore something I might only want to do once... Terry.

Aug 01, 2007, 10:23 PM	#53
Djago Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 103	Hi, Don't want to steal Arthur's threat but if you wait for a couple of weeks I can present you with a RTF heavy lift multirotor. Some info: it can carry 1 kg for about 15 minutes...how this is done I will not disclose yet. FYI: Since it is a commercial ARF/RTF multirotor and not DIY like MK/UAVP all technical info is "closed source" so to speak. It's specific goal is as a DSLR/HD video cam carrier for AP/video flights. Greetz, Peter

Aug 02, 2007, 02:30 AM	#54
Hogster HeliAP'er! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Surrey, UK Posts: 7,207	Ooh, now THAT sounds interesting! Can you tell us more? Maybe in a new thread? David

Aug 02, 2007, 09:17 AM	#55
AEROFOKUS Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 32	Yes Peter tell us more please It sounds great, but I have a feeling it will cost an arm and a leg..right? cheers jovo

Aug 02, 2007, 09:44 AM	#56
Djago Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 103	Hi, I will post more in another thread. Since it is meant as an alternative to Trex 600 or Maxi Joker 2 the price is in that range ,which is still way cheaper than an MD, Airobot or Draganflyer. Peter

Aug 02, 2007, 09:44 AM	#57
Pigs dont fly How high does it go?..duh Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: ruined UK Posts: 2,256	Wow Peter you got that done quickly! Has DJ got his one yet? Best of luck. I'm interested too

Aug 02, 2007, 03:08 PM	#58
Arthur P. Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hoofddorp, Netherlands Posts: 3,599	Good work Peter !!! You're welcome to piggy-back in my thread !

Aug 02, 2007, 03:54 PM	#59
Arthur P. Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hoofddorp, Netherlands Posts: 3,599	Little update form the Mikrokopter site: Their shop is now offering the upgraded FETs per set of 6 pairs, i.e. enough for 2 ESCs. I imagine it should be possible to run with 2 normal and 2 upgraded ESCs, so selling per pair of ESCs would be logical. They expect to be able to offer fully populated upgraded ESCs in about 8 weeks.

Aug 02, 2007, 05:18 PM	#60
airfoto.se Peter Eriksson Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sweden, Umea Posts: 123	how about ready to go ctrl boards?, i looked at the site but cant handle the language!