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Drones

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  • R Rob Philpott

    So does anyone here own a quadcopter or hexicopter - a 'drone'? My hexicopter frame arrived this morning, so all I need to do now is add motors, motor controllers, RC stuff, batteries and write some software for the Arduino Mega board I've got for it. I've already got the GPS module and ultrasonic ground detector. All good classic nerd stuff. But I do have a concern in my head, what if I lose control and it takes out a 747, or falls out the sky and kills a badger or something? Not helped by an article in today's paper about the first prosecution going through the UK courts. There's also this: http://droneflight.co.uk/pages/summary-of-uk-legal-requirements[^] So a risk evaluation is in order. Whichever way you cut it, 6 350W bladed motors hurtling around on the whim of some half-arsed coding could have consequences. I don't want to end up in Court charged with not writing unit tests. Alternatively perhaps I should throw caution to the wind, ignore the nanny state and make something cool. Thoughts/experiences welcome.

    Regards, Rob Philpott.

    L Offline
    L Offline
    Lost User
    wrote on last edited by
    #6

    Sounds entirely too dangerous to the community and puts you at severe financial and criminal risk. Stop! Stop immediately. Just so you're not tempted to continue, feel free to send all the parts to me for safe keeping: Mike Mullikin 123 Main St. Metropolis USA

    Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. ~ George Washington

    1 Reply Last reply
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    • R Rob Philpott

      So does anyone here own a quadcopter or hexicopter - a 'drone'? My hexicopter frame arrived this morning, so all I need to do now is add motors, motor controllers, RC stuff, batteries and write some software for the Arduino Mega board I've got for it. I've already got the GPS module and ultrasonic ground detector. All good classic nerd stuff. But I do have a concern in my head, what if I lose control and it takes out a 747, or falls out the sky and kills a badger or something? Not helped by an article in today's paper about the first prosecution going through the UK courts. There's also this: http://droneflight.co.uk/pages/summary-of-uk-legal-requirements[^] So a risk evaluation is in order. Whichever way you cut it, 6 350W bladed motors hurtling around on the whim of some half-arsed coding could have consequences. I don't want to end up in Court charged with not writing unit tests. Alternatively perhaps I should throw caution to the wind, ignore the nanny state and make something cool. Thoughts/experiences welcome.

      Regards, Rob Philpott.

      G Offline
      G Offline
      Garth J Lancaster
      wrote on last edited by
      #7

      Rob Philpott wrote:

      for the Arduino Mega board I've got for it

      what do you use that for ?

      R 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • G glennPattonWork3

        Sounds cool, but my question is what have you got it for... (I know I suffer from the cool I want to play with one of those syndrome, but I always have an idea of a use it can be put to). If you live near an airport or airfield be very careful, if not try to avoid heavily built up areas. As Griff says avoid VB like the plague! go and build something cool.

        R Offline
        R Offline
        Rob Philpott
        wrote on last edited by
        #8

        Gatwick, Biggin Hill. Shouldn't be a problem. Why? Because a computer controlled flying thing is awesome. I'd dearly love to ditch the radio control and have it fully autonomous. Also, the more mischievous side of me would like to put weird lighting all over it and make people think the aliens have arrived.

        Regards, Rob Philpott.

        G P enhzflepE 3 Replies Last reply
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        • L Lost User

          DaveAuld wrote:

          Flying in a field or park with nobody around or lightly populated areas, don't see the point. You aren't going to get high enough to worry planes.

          That may be true however I wouldn't skip insurance. e.g. I haven't had an accident in 10+ years so why bother paying for car insurance?

          D Offline
          D Offline
          DaveAuld
          wrote on last edited by
          #9

          That is different. For one Car insurance is a legal requirement.

          Dave Find Me On:Web|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn Folding Stats: Team CodeProject

          L S 2 Replies Last reply
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          • R Rob Philpott

            Gatwick, Biggin Hill. Shouldn't be a problem. Why? Because a computer controlled flying thing is awesome. I'd dearly love to ditch the radio control and have it fully autonomous. Also, the more mischievous side of me would like to put weird lighting all over it and make people think the aliens have arrived.

            Regards, Rob Philpott.

            G Offline
            G Offline
            glennPattonWork3
            wrote on last edited by
            #10

            I must admit the thought of something flying around that I had coded fully autonomously is cool... also put a paint ball gun on and straff the locals... Hmmmm... :-D

            1 Reply Last reply
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            • R Rob Philpott

              So does anyone here own a quadcopter or hexicopter - a 'drone'? My hexicopter frame arrived this morning, so all I need to do now is add motors, motor controllers, RC stuff, batteries and write some software for the Arduino Mega board I've got for it. I've already got the GPS module and ultrasonic ground detector. All good classic nerd stuff. But I do have a concern in my head, what if I lose control and it takes out a 747, or falls out the sky and kills a badger or something? Not helped by an article in today's paper about the first prosecution going through the UK courts. There's also this: http://droneflight.co.uk/pages/summary-of-uk-legal-requirements[^] So a risk evaluation is in order. Whichever way you cut it, 6 350W bladed motors hurtling around on the whim of some half-arsed coding could have consequences. I don't want to end up in Court charged with not writing unit tests. Alternatively perhaps I should throw caution to the wind, ignore the nanny state and make something cool. Thoughts/experiences welcome.

              Regards, Rob Philpott.

              N Offline
              N Offline
              NormDroid
              wrote on last edited by
              #11

              6 350W bladed motors hurtling around That's a mighty big chopper you have there.

              Web | News | LinkedIn

              R 1 Reply Last reply
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              • G Garth J Lancaster

                Rob Philpott wrote:

                for the Arduino Mega board I've got for it

                what do you use that for ?

                R Offline
                R Offline
                Rob Philpott
                wrote on last edited by
                #12

                Ah well, that's the 'flight computer' it takes PCM data from the remote receiver, GPS data from the GPS, distance data from the ultrasonics, inertial data from the 'IMU' (tilt, acceleration and rotation) and continually in real time sends out 6 control signals to the motors. I haven't figured the logic out yet. 3 motors spin one way, the other 3 the other. Slow one set and the thing rotates, increase the one's at the back and it tilts and moves forward, overall power takes you up and down. These are my *assumptions* - hence the danger of low altitude decapitation until I get my coefficients correct.

                Regards, Rob Philpott.

                G 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • N NormDroid

                  6 350W bladed motors hurtling around That's a mighty big chopper you have there.

                  Web | News | LinkedIn

                  R Offline
                  R Offline
                  Rob Philpott
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #13

                  Why thank you very much. It's designed for heavy loads.

                  Regards, Rob Philpott.

                  OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • R Rob Philpott

                    Why thank you very much. It's designed for heavy loads.

                    Regards, Rob Philpott.

                    OriginalGriffO Offline
                    OriginalGriffO Offline
                    OriginalGriff
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #14

                    Rob Philpott wrote:

                    It's designed for heavy loads.

                    Like the batteries it's gonna have to carry? :omg:

                    Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

                    "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                    "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                    R 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • D DaveAuld

                      Yep, Got an X-Aircraft X650, (First big crash video: here[^]) You can get RC aircraft liability insurance via some of the flying clubs. It is recommended if you are planning to fly in public areas. Flying in a field or park with nobody around or lightly populated areas, don't see the point. You aren't going to get high enough to worry planes. You could always program a ceiling limit or a loss of comms fly back to home.

                      Dave Find Me On:Web|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn Folding Stats: Team CodeProject

                      R Offline
                      R Offline
                      Rob Philpott
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #15

                      Well that's my thinking, in a remote area the chances of actually hitting anything are slim. Video will have to wait to tonight - no youtube here :( Indeed, fly home and height limiting are in the brief, but what if the board crashes? Need to check the specs but I think the PCM signals are hardware generated and hence there's a danger of the instantaneous power becoming a continuous power and dreadful things happening.

                      Regards, Rob Philpott.

                      P enhzflepE P 3 Replies Last reply
                      0
                      • R Rob Philpott

                        Ah well, that's the 'flight computer' it takes PCM data from the remote receiver, GPS data from the GPS, distance data from the ultrasonics, inertial data from the 'IMU' (tilt, acceleration and rotation) and continually in real time sends out 6 control signals to the motors. I haven't figured the logic out yet. 3 motors spin one way, the other 3 the other. Slow one set and the thing rotates, increase the one's at the back and it tilts and moves forward, overall power takes you up and down. These are my *assumptions* - hence the danger of low altitude decapitation until I get my coefficients correct.

                        Regards, Rob Philpott.

                        G Offline
                        G Offline
                        Garth J Lancaster
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #16

                        :cool: I guess with all of that you need a flight computer - I remember the days of 1 motor and a few servos (planes), primitive by comparison but fun all the same have fun Rob 'g'

                        1 Reply Last reply
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                        • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                          Rob Philpott wrote:

                          It's designed for heavy loads.

                          Like the batteries it's gonna have to carry? :omg:

                          Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

                          R Offline
                          R Offline
                          Rob Philpott
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #17

                          Yes, that as well. Ah, the lithium polymer. People bang on about how Apple 'invented' the smartphone but the enablers were low power CPUs and a new generation of battery, really. Actually I read somewhere that a LiPo volume for volume can contain about 1/4 of the energy of petrol. That's pretty cool. They also enable the rather wonderful e-cigarette too which could, if they let it, save millions of lives.

                          Regards, Rob Philpott.

                          OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • R Rob Philpott

                            So does anyone here own a quadcopter or hexicopter - a 'drone'? My hexicopter frame arrived this morning, so all I need to do now is add motors, motor controllers, RC stuff, batteries and write some software for the Arduino Mega board I've got for it. I've already got the GPS module and ultrasonic ground detector. All good classic nerd stuff. But I do have a concern in my head, what if I lose control and it takes out a 747, or falls out the sky and kills a badger or something? Not helped by an article in today's paper about the first prosecution going through the UK courts. There's also this: http://droneflight.co.uk/pages/summary-of-uk-legal-requirements[^] So a risk evaluation is in order. Whichever way you cut it, 6 350W bladed motors hurtling around on the whim of some half-arsed coding could have consequences. I don't want to end up in Court charged with not writing unit tests. Alternatively perhaps I should throw caution to the wind, ignore the nanny state and make something cool. Thoughts/experiences welcome.

                            Regards, Rob Philpott.

                            G Offline
                            G Offline
                            GenJerDan
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #18

                            Simplest solution is to attach a label of some sort - "If found, please return to "

                            We won't sit down. We won't shut up. We won't go quietly away. YouTube and My Mu[sic], Films and Windows Programs, etc.

                            OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • G GenJerDan

                              Simplest solution is to attach a label of some sort - "If found, please return to "

                              We won't sit down. We won't shut up. We won't go quietly away. YouTube and My Mu[sic], Films and Windows Programs, etc.

                              OriginalGriffO Offline
                              OriginalGriffO Offline
                              OriginalGriff
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #19

                              And on the other side "If decapitated, please return to " with a different address.

                              Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

                              "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                              "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                              G 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • R Rob Philpott

                                Yes, that as well. Ah, the lithium polymer. People bang on about how Apple 'invented' the smartphone but the enablers were low power CPUs and a new generation of battery, really. Actually I read somewhere that a LiPo volume for volume can contain about 1/4 of the energy of petrol. That's pretty cool. They also enable the rather wonderful e-cigarette too which could, if they let it, save millions of lives.

                                Regards, Rob Philpott.

                                OriginalGriffO Offline
                                OriginalGriffO Offline
                                OriginalGriff
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #20

                                Rob Philpott wrote:

                                They also enable the rather wonderful e-cigarette too which could, if they let it, save millions of lives make billions of dollars a year for the tobacco companies.

                                http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/tobacco-companies-move-into-e-cigarette-business/[^]

                                Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

                                "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                                "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                                R M 2 Replies Last reply
                                0
                                • D DaveAuld

                                  That is different. For one Car insurance is a legal requirement.

                                  Dave Find Me On:Web|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn Folding Stats: Team CodeProject

                                  L Offline
                                  L Offline
                                  Lost User
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #21

                                  I can see the same thing happening with these "toys" too. I would prefer compulsory club membership and insurance over a total ban on model flying or new laws regarding their use. I do belong to a couple of clubs and have BMFA membership/insurance.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                                    Rob Philpott wrote:

                                    They also enable the rather wonderful e-cigarette too which could, if they let it, save millions of lives make billions of dollars a year for the tobacco companies.

                                    http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/tobacco-companies-move-into-e-cigarette-business/[^]

                                    Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

                                    R Offline
                                    R Offline
                                    Rob Philpott
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #22

                                    Very, very cynical. It's terrible news for tobacco companies, and of course they'll want to get their market share. But they will be playing catch up for a long time.

                                    Regards, Rob Philpott.

                                    OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • R Rob Philpott

                                      Very, very cynical. It's terrible news for tobacco companies, and of course they'll want to get their market share. But they will be playing catch up for a long time.

                                      Regards, Rob Philpott.

                                      OriginalGriffO Offline
                                      OriginalGriffO Offline
                                      OriginalGriff
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #23

                                      Rob Philpott wrote:

                                      Very, very cynical.

                                      "Follow the money" The tobacco companies have had a stranglehold on anti-smoking legislation for decades to protect their (obscene) profits, and they have fought tooth an nail to prevent the changes over the last few years. I think that diverted their attention from e-cigarettes, and they were caught on the wrong foot but they won't take long to be the big market players: they can see the writing on the wall with the current situation. Me, I'm just damn glad I gave up ten years ago...

                                      Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...

                                      "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                                      "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • R Rob Philpott

                                        So does anyone here own a quadcopter or hexicopter - a 'drone'? My hexicopter frame arrived this morning, so all I need to do now is add motors, motor controllers, RC stuff, batteries and write some software for the Arduino Mega board I've got for it. I've already got the GPS module and ultrasonic ground detector. All good classic nerd stuff. But I do have a concern in my head, what if I lose control and it takes out a 747, or falls out the sky and kills a badger or something? Not helped by an article in today's paper about the first prosecution going through the UK courts. There's also this: http://droneflight.co.uk/pages/summary-of-uk-legal-requirements[^] So a risk evaluation is in order. Whichever way you cut it, 6 350W bladed motors hurtling around on the whim of some half-arsed coding could have consequences. I don't want to end up in Court charged with not writing unit tests. Alternatively perhaps I should throw caution to the wind, ignore the nanny state and make something cool. Thoughts/experiences welcome.

                                        Regards, Rob Philpott.

                                        H Offline
                                        H Offline
                                        HobbyProggy
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #24

                                        Mount an M249 Saw on it, everybody sayin something against flying gets fired :-D

                                        if(this.signature != "") { MessageBox.Show("This is my signature: " + Environment.NewLine + signature); } else { MessageBox.Show("404-Signature not found"); }

                                        L 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • R Rob Philpott

                                          Well that's my thinking, in a remote area the chances of actually hitting anything are slim. Video will have to wait to tonight - no youtube here :( Indeed, fly home and height limiting are in the brief, but what if the board crashes? Need to check the specs but I think the PCM signals are hardware generated and hence there's a danger of the instantaneous power becoming a continuous power and dreadful things happening.

                                          Regards, Rob Philpott.

                                          P Offline
                                          P Offline
                                          Paul M Watt
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #25

                                          Rob Philpott wrote:

                                          ndeed, fly home and height limiting are in the brief

                                          And make sure the latitude and longitude are properly set for your craft. An uninitialized latitude and longitude of 0', 0' is off the coast of Africa

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