Hello everyone!
I hope this thread still retains some loyal followers. A few days ago I started building a Bushwacker kit that I think could work as a platform to test some ideas I have to make this project work.
I have been going through this thread and reading your comments and ideas and have been doing some thinking and the truth is that the idea of using a servo to open and close the smoke is not so good. If the plane is going slow not much smoke is really going to come out. Then I would like to take up the idea of a small EDF or simply a motor + prop that forces the pwder out.
View attachment 240905
However, following the idea of keeping the system simple and light, I was wondering if it would be possible to use a micro fan powered by a servo board as an ESC. Or maybe a micro ESC and some really small motor.
here are some options:
1A ESC
View attachment 240906
Motor
View attachment 240909
View attachment 240908
Most of this small ESC are 5V 1A so i guess it can be powered directly from the RX. This would allow me to simply connect the system to any channel of the Rx and be able to vary the motor speed from 0 to 100% which would mean closed - fully open. The disadvantage is the extra power consumption and the cost compared to a servo.
On the other hand I could modify a servo to use both its board and motor to run a small fan. However the servo motor is not as powerful and also the fan would be able to move CW and CCW so it would have to be adjusted in the Tx configuration.
What do you think of these variants?
Do you think I can get from the Rx the energy I need to move this motor?
Will it be necessary to use an extra servo connected in Y to the motor to open and close the smoke outlet valve?