Quadcopter - DJC1000-X4

If you have read my older blog posts then you know that I am working on a bigger, awesomer, carbon fiber quadcopter. I have been busy working on it, planning, designing the frame, ordering parts and researching. I thought that it would be a good time to brain dump some of the information for others to read. Enjoy!

Parts list: to date:

Hobbyking 2-8S Cell Checker with Low Voltage Alarm- Same as my old alarm, but in a case now
Turnigy D2836/9 950KV Brushless Outrunner Motor - My motors of choice this time
1/3-inch SONY CCD Video Camera (NTSC) - For future FPV plans
2.8mm F:2.0 Turnigy Micro FPV Camera Lense - Wide angle lens for the FPV camera
Hobby King Quadcopter Power Distribution Board - Easier than making my own, and good price
Turnigy 4000mAh 3S 30C Lipo Pack - Still have from the last build. Good size
PolyMax 3.5mm Gold Connectors 10 PAIRS (20PC) - To connect ESCs to Motors
Aluminium CNC Metal Motor Mount 4-Pack - Cheap, simple. May be replaced later
XAircraft CM130-TS Tilt Camera Mount with Shutter - Cheap from GLB (GoodLuckBuy) for Carbon Fiber
12MM X 10MM X 500MM 100% Carbon fiber Wing tube / Tail tube *4 - Arms - (From ebay seller "happychoice2009")
Carbon fiber landing gear / Undercarriage *2 - Start of landing gear - (From ebay seller "happychoice2009")
Carbon fiber sheet - To cut the main frame out of - (From ebay seller "happychoice2009")
4 pairs 12mm Fiber Glass Carbon Tube Fixture Part - To attach arms to main frame - (From ebay seller "vocanlo")
XAircraft X650 V4 L3002C Carbon Fiber Load Pipe Mount w/ Stopper - To mount xAircraft camera mount
XAircraft X650 Value 4 L3003 Loading Pipe Mount 2pcs - To mount xAircraft camera mount
XAircraft X650 Value 4 L3004 Loading Pipe Fixer 2pcs - To mount xAircraft camera mount
Turnigy Battery Strap 330mm - Duh, battery strap
Hobbyking SS Series 25-30A ESC (card programmable) - Speed Controllers
ArduPilot Mega 2.0 - With External GPS - Flight Controller!
Propeller set 10X45 EPP Style (Black) - First pros to try. May need to go larger or different pitch
Green LED strip (short, 3 LED strip) - To mark the arms of the quad. Green for right side, like FAA standard
Blue LED strip (short, 3 LED strip) - To mark the arms of the quad. Blue for left side, modified from FAA
White LED strip (short, 3 LED strip) - To mark the arms of the quad. White for front.
Turnigy Accucel-6 50W 6A Balancer/Charger w/ accessories - Battery charger, no power supply
TURNIGY BESC Programming Card - To setup the ESC if I have issues
Turnigy 9X 9Ch Transmitter w/ Module & 8ch Receiver (Mode 2) (v2 Firmware) - Transmitter (Tx) and Receiver (Rx)
Turnigy 2650mAh 3S 1C LLF Tx Pack (Futaba/JR) - Battery for Tx
Turnigy 9X LCD Backlight Kit - White (DIY) - Backlight for Tx screen


Here is a forum thread on my frame design. I have made many many improvements and changes over the last month+. I have come up with a name for the quad (with the help of a friend) and the name is DJC1000-X4. "DJC" for my online name 'djchew'. "1000" for the 1000mm wheelbase of the quad. Lastly, "X4" becuase it is an x4 quad.
http://www.rccanada.ca/rccforum/showthread.php?p=949774
Here is a picture of the latest revision of the main frame design:

I also just got a great deal on an X450 Carbon Fiber frame on ebay last night, so that will will be the test bed where I build this quad while I work on my custom designed frame. After that, I will sell the X450 frame. I think that it is a great frame for the cost, it is just not big enough and does not have all of the features that I want for the long term.

Several things are in the mail and I am waiting on them in order to do more testing or fly (like the Tx).



Research:
YouTube - Good video to explain the differences between gyroscopes and accelerometers
DIY Drones - Good article to  explain the differences between gyroscopes and accelerometers
YouTube - Interesting DIY Vibartion Dampners
YouTube - Interesting homemade vibration dampers using rubber
YouTube - Video on prop balancing, including balancing the hub
flitetest - Opinions from a talented cinematographer/film maker (Shadow74/Shadow Studios) on multirotors, cameras, ect: flitetest - Shadow74 - Multi rotors - Aerial Filming
flitetest - Shadow74 - Pilot flying a camera or Professional aerial film maker


New people to check out videos of on YouTube:
Youtube - vegetoast1 - videos
Youtube - shadowstudiosllc - videos
Youtube - Hoverbot1TV - videos
Youtube - gundamnitpete - videos
Youtube - stockfoodpics - videos
Youtube - eyeinsky1 - videos
Youtube - RonALampman - videos
Youtube - Extremeaerials - videos
Youtube - foxtechonline - videos


That's all that I have for now. I hope to have more soon. Perhaps the next thing I will do is balance a bunch of props, my new motors and do some more thrust testing!