Tag Archives: multirotor

Interesting video from BBSRC: Octocopter! Experimental drone for agricultural research

I am glad to share here this great video on an experimental Octocopter for agricultural research.

Credits to BBSRC, check out the original article by Arran Frood. Here’s a short excerpt:

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An advanced eight-rotor model dubbed the octocopter (see ‘Flight-al statistics’), has been put through its paces by researchers led by Andrew Riche of Rothamsted Research, an institute devoted to plant, soil and agricultural science that receives strategic funding from UK bioscience funders BBSRC.

octocopter-for-agricultural-research

Rothamsted is the site of the longest running field experiments in the world, where farm systems and inputs such as fertiliser, pesticides and crop growth have been running for more than a hundred years. In the 21st century, they want to see if drone surveillance can take much of the drudgery and footwork out of these large-scale experiments that span over 200 hectares of picturesque English countryside. As a demonstrator technology, the researchers are embarking on a rigorous programme of regularly recording experiments over five hectares (the size of seven football pitches) to see exactly what this airborne marvel is capable of.

“This year we have focused on monitoring crop height through the season and also crop maturity, says Riche. “Different wheat lines mature at different rates, and we regularly monitor this on the ground – this year we hope to have done it from the air.”

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Check out the full article here. All inquiries to Arran Frood, arran.frood@bbsrc.ac.uk

Stay tuned on the Personal Drones Blog for the latest quadcopter and multirotor news!

UgCS ground station software goes commercial

I am glad to publish the following release by SPH Engineering. Click on the image below to visit their web site:

UGCS web site
UGCS web site

Also check out this video, in which the software is used together with 3D Robotics multirotors:

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SPH Engineering is pleased to announce that UgCS is now out of Beta stage and is available for purchase.

Our work for nearly two years have resulted in UgCS version 2.1 Which now we have tested to be exceeding or having abilities at least on par with native mission planning software of supported vehicles.

UGCS ground station software
UGCS ground station software version 2.1

Currently we support vehicles equipped with following autopilots: MikroKopter, Ardupilot APM/Pixhawk, DJI Naza-M(Phantom 2)/Wookong-M/A2, ARDrone, Microdrones. Our skilled engineers can add support to additional autopilot by request in less than 3 months including field tests. Continue reading UgCS ground station software goes commercial

Dronelife Launches droneservicefinder.com, the First Comprehensive Aerial Photography Services Finder Application

A Dronelife Press Release
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Dronelife.com Launches droneservicefinder.com, the First Comprehensive Aerial Photography Services Finder Application for the Burgeoning Commercial Drone Industry

Photo by Michael MK Khor https://www.flickr.com/photos/mk-creatures/
Photo by Michael MK Khor

Online Publisher SAJ Technologies, Inc. today launched droneservicefinder.com, the first comprehensive aerial photography services finder application for the burgeoning commercial drone industry. Continue reading Dronelife Launches droneservicefinder.com, the First Comprehensive Aerial Photography Services Finder Application

Hobbyking’s KK2 / KK2.1 / KK2.1.5 board firmware update/upgrade: how to

KK2 boards from Hobbyking are a great and inexpensive solution as flight controllers for all sorts of multirotors. In particular in the latest versions, such as the KK2.1.5, they really fly great and stable. One of the main advantages of these boards is that they have an embedded LCD screen that displays configuration settings in an easy to navigate menu, with clearly laid out options that you can navigate and change with the 4 little black buttons at the bottom of the board. Therefore, connection to a PC is not required for configuration and adjustments (for example gains adjustments), making setup and tuning quite handy even directly in the field.

Hobbyking's KK2.1.5 board
Hobbyking’s KK2.1.5 board

I often get questions about KK2 board firmware upgrades. How do I update the KK2 board software to the latest version? Does this require superior programming and informatics skills? Well, the answer is yes it does. You don’t have to worry though, just send yours over and I will upgrade it for you for a miserable 100$. The very latest, coolest firmware, I promise.  Or, keep on reading. Continue reading Hobbyking’s KK2 / KK2.1 / KK2.1.5 board firmware update/upgrade: how to

Pilot looses control of big multirotor during a video shooting session in Treviso, Italy

During a planned video session aimed at capturing the “Duomo di Treviso”, the big multirotor starts to drift slowly in a random direction. The pilot, apparently unable to control it through the radio link anymore, likely for a radio interference, first tries to control it manually, but then the situation gets out of control.

A moment of the multirotor crash in Treviso, Italy
A moment of the multirotor crash in Treviso, Italy
Here's the multirotor, a big dodecacopter
Here’s the multirotor, a big dodecacopter

Here you go with the video:


Damages to the drone are estimated at 10.000 euros, while damages to the bar external premises are in the order of 4000 euros.

Sources: YouReporter, Corriere

Stay tuned on the Personal Drones blog for the latest multirotor and quadcopter news!

Some multirotors and drones models at the RomaDrone Expo in Rome 24-25 May 2014

I recently attended the RomaDrone Expo in Rome, Italy and would like to share some of the models exposed. The expo was very much oriented at the professional market. Models were mainly big multirotors with high payloads, to lift DSLR cameras, and some “wings” models for mapping. This is not a comprehensive overview, just some models that attracted my attention.

Click on the pictures to see the full size versions.

IDS Colibri

Web: https://www.idscorporation.com/fr/drones/ids-drones/item/121-ia-3-colibr%C3%AC

IDS Colibri, full view
IDS Colibri, full view

Continue reading Some multirotors and drones models at the RomaDrone Expo in Rome 24-25 May 2014

QUADLUGS MODULAR MULTIROTOR SYSTEM QUADCOPTER BUILD AND REVIEW – PART 2

In part 1 of this build and review article I have been looking at the general features of the Quadlugs multirotor modular system and some preparation steps required before the actual frame assembly, namely the drilling of holes in some of the lugs.

2. Quadlugs quadcopter frame assembly

Before we actually assemble the frame, we have adapt the bottom plate, which is slightly larger than possibly needed.

The original size of the provided bottom plate is 17,9 x 10,1 cm (and 3 mm thick):

Measuring the bottom plate
Measuring the bottom plate height
Measuring the bottom plate
Measuring the bottom plate width

The plate could actually fit in the frame as it is, so why do we have to trim it down? Continue reading QUADLUGS MODULAR MULTIROTOR SYSTEM QUADCOPTER BUILD AND REVIEW – PART 2

QUADLUGS MODULAR MULTIROTOR SYSTEM QUADCOPTER BUILD AND REVIEW – PART 1

I have received a nice USPS box from Danny, funder of the Quadlugs multirotor modular system and started a build with the main purpose of testing this original piece of technological equipment for strengths and weaknesses, report to our blog readers and providing a build blueprint for others that might want to built their own Quadlugs based multi rotor.

A packet from Quadlugs!
A packet from Quadlugs!
A mounted Quadlugs frame
A mounted Quadlugs frame
480 mm Quadlugs quadcopter for FPV
The result of quite some work on the packet contents: a Quadlugs 480 build for FPV, straight from the Personal Drones Blog! Stay with us and build yours by following our simple instructions

Continue reading QUADLUGS MODULAR MULTIROTOR SYSTEM QUADCOPTER BUILD AND REVIEW – PART 1

18 yr old french Thomas Nans prosecuted for “endangering other people lives” after taking an aerial video of the city of Nancy with a multirotor

According to this article on Franceinfo, a young french entrepreneur, 18 yr old Thomas Nans, is being prosecuted for “endangering other people lives” after taking an aerial video of the city of Nancy with one of his multirotors.

Here’s the video, great stuff:

Thomas Nans was called to appear in Nancy court for this accusation.

Continue reading 18 yr old french Thomas Nans prosecuted for “endangering other people lives” after taking an aerial video of the city of Nancy with a multirotor

Peeking into our future – The Black Knight Transformer multirotor manned Vehicle

The Black Knight Transformer seems to come right out of a science fiction movie. Those scenarios of cities from the future filled with flying vehicles might be a step closer. 

See the Black Knight in action in this video on youtube:

And the official press release:

EL SEGUNDO, California, 8 January 2014 – Advanced Tactics Inc., a small aerospace company, released details about its AT Transformer vehicle technology and announced that a full-scale technology demonstrator has completed its first driving tests.

The AT Black Knight Transformer, the world’s first roadable VTOL aircraft. It is designed to be a low-cost rapid response ambulance to evacuate wounded soldiers from the battlefield or transport cargo.
The AT Black Knight Transformer, the world’s first roadable VTOL aircraft. It is designed to be a low-cost rapid response ambulance to evacuate wounded soldiers from the battlefield or transport cargo.

Continue reading Peeking into our future – The Black Knight Transformer multirotor manned Vehicle