A new hobby? Not exactly - Hexacopter

[reginak]

Hi everyone!

A small background.

I'm an architet here in Brazil and with the recent growth of the country (now the sixth biggest economy) we are having a big boom in civil construction.

Last year I was asked several times about aerial photography of many buildings, but here the only way to do that is hiring a real helicopter.

So, after months of research I bought a hexacopter and all the things needed to do AP. My husband has some small RC helis so I kindly declared him an official hexacopter pilot.

I looked for something for the professional side, its not a toy, its something to make some money and to fill a niche that just doesn't exist here.

My setup is:
- Droidworkx Cinema Series 6 (CS6) the same version with small differences of Droidworkx Skyjib6, its 110 cm from motor to motor.
- 2820/14 Axi Gold Motors, BIG and powerfull things...
- Hoverfly Pro Board + Hoverfly GPS
- AV200-360, tilt-roll-360 pan camera gimbal
- 2x 4S 5800mah batteries

Here is a picture from the guy in US that sold it to me.

I'm expecting it this week, it is an almost-ready-to-fly hexa since someone (but not me) will have to reassemble it.

Just to share with you....

Cheers

 

[Roger O]

Beautiful looking machine - we need some movies! Are these available commercially, and at what cost?

Good luck and Congrats with the new baby!

 

[divindavid]

Is it fully carbon fiber? It looks beautiful!

 

[vk2fro]

Hmm looks fun - but I change out the hd camera for a rocket pod.

You can get these things commercially - the're just like their traditional helicopter AP platforms; in that they're either sold as kits, or mostly pre assembled. With the built units, you basically add your TX/RX, add the rotors / tail assembly (for a trad. heli) or the skids/rotors (for a multi heli), and your camera gear.

Many people are fitting these copters with adruino auto pilots, making them launch and forget - it can carry out a preprogrammed mission in the same manner a UAV does. It takes off, cruises up to its set altitude, does the mission, returns to the launch site, and lands. It does so using GPS. The mission has to be planned carefully though, to avoid obstacles like power lines and trees.

Some are also fitted with sonar's to allow them to ground hug - i.e. fly really low, close to the ground and avoid hilly terrain or obstacles. Some RC guys use them as the chase camera for their rc vehicles.

 

[00Giorge]

I like your new toy and it's nice to see you back.

 

[Flaminpyro]

Nice Hexacopter when you get it up please put up some video for us to see

Speaking of video I missed this years New Years Party from you after last years wonderful show
I was hoping to see more from you (Shining laser over - YouTube)

 

[borgqueenx]

Wow that is a sexy bird. Now i feel bad with my AR drone...wanna trade?

 

[ped]

Your not gonna be getting much change out of $1000 for something like that, built, are you?

 

[lasersbee]

Nice Hexacopter reginak...

A FPV system added to the copter could aid in directing the camera
for the shots you would be looking for. Some of the Hexacopters are
capable of lifting quite a load...


Jerry

 

[Brenner]

Awesome - futuristic design.

Question for guys who are into these "flying" gadgets :

What the US law says about: where we can actually fly these beautiful "monsters" ?

I am seriously interested, but question above applies.

 

[ped]

^^ good advice.

I'd be going for a FPV system, and you can get mini HD cameras now which weigh next to nothing. Ive used an FPV copter before, not as posh as yours but...the FPV system made it simple to fly.

 

[lasersbee]

The newer high end Quad/Hex/Octo copters have 3 axis
gyros and self leveling built in and are supposed to be
very easy to fly..

@Brenner...
For where you can fly... I would suggest you get in touch
with a local RC flying club. They will let you know where
you are allowed to legally fly as well as where to get RC
liability Insurance.


Jerry

 

[Brenner]

The newer high end Quad/Hex/Octo copters have 3 axis
gyros and self leveling built in and are supposed to be
very easy to fly..

@Brenner...
For where you can fly... I would suggest you get in touch
with a local RC flying club. They will let you know where
you are allowed to legally fly as well as where to get RC
liability Insurance.


Jerry

Thanks Jerry,

I am hoping somebody is already into RC here on this forum.

It would suck if you have to fly it only at designated areas. Which is probably the case.

Otherwise It would unlock endless possibilities.

Imagine ultra light hd camera , and laser show for major events

 

[lasersbee]

I have MAAC insurance up here in Canada and I fly my planes
behind my house...
I take videos of some of my flights with a small inexpensive
keychain camera. The image quality is surprising for the cost.

Jerry