:: EconoCopter Project ::
*PROJECT ON HOLD*
*PROJECT ON HOLD*
After watching a bunch of tricopter videos by David, I got the disease as well.
I had never looked that greedily at tricopters because most are a bit more expensive than the usual plane... So I started a thread asking about multicopter motors. I posted a question about the Blue Wonder motor, an economic, lightweight and effective motor.
Burg and Anas were kind to answer a lot of my questions.
Colorex, that HXT 25gr 1300kv is a good motor.
Best performance with a 8x4 props on a 3cell and 9x6 on a 2cell.
That makes it suitable for lets say 500mm quad / tri frames (hobbyking V1 in light spec).
So I got inspired and I thought, OK, now I'll try to make a project: Build a tricopter for us economically limited people (also for cheapskates).
Considering good and bad points about building a tricopter, I encountered the following:
+ Flying a tricopter is something new to learn since it's not like flying a plane.
+ A tricopter can be flown in limited spaces (with practice).
+ A tricopter can be easily transported to almost everywhere.
+ A tricopter can carry an FPV system, and can be used for AP.
+ Aerial Photography from a tricopter could earn me a few bucks.
- A tricopter uses thrice the power of a plane, so
- Batteries last one third of what they would last on a plane.
- A tricopter takes more damage from a crash than a foam plane.
- A tricopter is supposedly hard to build.
So, all in all, I think a tricopter would be a good idea.
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Basic tricopter building blocks:
So that is:
- 3 Blue Wonder motors
- 3 HXT900, one for tail servo, two spare
- A HK v2 Control board
- 3 9g 10amp Plush ESC's
- 6 8x4 DD props and 6 8x4 RD props (not sure which one to use)
- A programming device for flashing the control board
- A Turnigy programming card
- 2-4 Turnigy 2200mAh 20-30C LiPo's
- Maybe a helicopter blade grip
- Voltage meter
- Maybe a low voltage buzzer
- A bunch of collet type prop adapters
Making some calculations:
The motors are said to have 400gr thrust at full throttle.
400gr x 3 = 1200gr
The weight of the complete tricopter (with 2200 3s battery) might come around 500 - 600gr, so I would be hovering at about half throttle (Burg said this was good).
(Considering that I'm getting a Bixler, I like the fact that the Bixler too can use 2200 mAh 20C batteries, so I can get good use of my batteries.)
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So. What do you have to say? I'm all ears to your suggestions.
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