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Archive: Flying
July 28, 2008
GeekDad at Rocket Mavericks
In response to our high power rocket post, Ken Denmead of GeekDad points us to coverage on their blog of the Rocket Mavericks event, with some awesome pics. The first one above is a time-lapsed night photo. The author of the piece, Steve Jurvetson, writes:
...the motor failed, and broke the rocket in two, but the avionics computer survived in the upper section, popping the parachute as programmed, and the blinky-LED nose cone drifted back to the playa like a spiral candy cane in the sky.
The second image is a rocket powered by a Q motor. That, claims the author, is equivalent to 64,000 Estes-type motors (what size Estes motors?) or four times the total thrust of a Cruise Missile booster! Unfortunately, the home-brewed motor had an air pocket in it and ruptured under pressure. Last year, this same builder launched a similar rocket at BALLS to over 31,000 meters (101, 000 ft)! Here's a vid capture of the apogee.
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Jul 28, 2008 04:00 PM
Events, Flying, Kids, Science |
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High power rocket pics
Erik Charlton has some nice pics on Flickr of his NAR Level 3 Certification flight at the recent Rocket Mavericks event. The rocket he flew is a 10" Polecat Bullpup which is 80 lbs and 110" tall. It flew to 4,500 feet on an Aerotech M1419 motor with twin G Wiz LCX flight computers.
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Jul 28, 2008 02:00 PM
Events, Flying, Science |
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July 24, 2008
LEGO spinner car from Bladerunner
I've been enjoying Joel Johnson's fawning fanboy coverage of Syd Mead on Boing Boing Gadgets. Hey, I'd fawn, too. I'm a huge fan of Mead's and even thought about becoming a conceptual or industrial designer on his inspiration. In this episode of BBtv, Joel talks with Mead about the awesome one-of-a-kind Spinner police vehicle from Bladerunner that the folks at LEGO did as a present to Syd.
Blade Runner LEGO Spinner Car: Syd Mead with Joel Johnson
The other Mead segments on BBtv:
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Jul 24, 2008 02:00 PM
Flying, LEGO, Makers |
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July 4, 2008
Sew your own aviation goggles
Patrick Wilson made a template from his father's WWI aviation goggles and made from it generated his own pair. He shares the template and plans below.
Scale drawings of my father's aviation goggles (WW1)
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Jul 4, 2008 04:00 PM
Crafts, DIY Projects, Flying, Retro |
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July 3, 2008
Quadcopters video
Via DIY Drones comes this video of the Stanford STARMAC (Stanford Testbed of Autonomous Rotorcraft for Multi-Agent) quadcopters:
STARMAC, the Stanford Testbed of Autonomous Rotorcraft for Multi-Agent is a testbed of 6 quadrotor helicopter unmanned aerial vehicles that fly indoors and outdoors to experiment with autonomous agent algorithms. This video presents an overview of the control system, the vehicle capabilities, and the experimental applications for the testbed. Results of many experimental flights are shown, along with some fun flight results that push the limits of what the vehicles should be able to handle.
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Jul 3, 2008 02:30 PM
Flying, Robotics, Science |
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June 25, 2008
R/C helicopter dragonfly mod
Here's Crabfu's latest quick and easy project to add a "dragonfly canopy" to a sub-micro helicopter. I-Wei does complain that the added weight was significant and really changed the flight dynamics.
Sub Micro Helicopter Dragonfly
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Jun 25, 2008 12:00 PM
Flying, Kids, Toys and Games |
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June 10, 2008
Build a modified SPAD3D plane
Here's a detailed how-to on building a modified SPAD3D mini plane that the author has named the "SPA3DT" (the "T" stands for "tubular"). The maker is using a "TT Pro .46" engine for power and a "GP 10 ounce" fuel tank. Check out the specifics of how he did it at the link below.
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Jun 10, 2008 06:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Flying |
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June 3, 2008
Flying manta blimp
From Hack a Day:
German engineering firm Festo has created this flying manta ray. Dubbed the Air_ray, it's a balloon made of an aluminum-vaporised "PET foil". Inflated with helium, the Air_ray's propulsion system is a flapping wing drive. Each wing has alternating pressure and tension flanks that are attached to an internal set of ribs. The flanks are connected to a remotely controlled servo motor. When pressure is applied to either of the flanks, the wing bends in the opposite direction. By alternating pressure on the flanks, the wings beat. The servos are powered by two 8V LiPo accumulator cells.
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Jun 3, 2008 04:00 PM
Flying, Robotics |
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May 30, 2008
Building a Hang Glider Camera Mount
This was originally used for a hang glider, but I am sure it would work in other situations. Why not use it on a down-tube of a bicycle, or attached a DIY dolly?
The design requirements are pretty basic. The mounts needs to be light weight and robust to withstand my less than perfect landings (I'm still a Hang-1 at this time). It must be easily and quickly attachable/detachable without special tools - has to be done in the field after all. It needs to be adjustable so the camera can be setup to point in any direction.
Read more about Building a Hang Glider Camera Mount
Related:
The StreetGrip
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
May 30, 2008 03:00 PM
Flying |
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HOW TO - Add vectoring thrusters to a blimp
As part of DIY Drones BlimpDuino Project, Chris Anderson has a new piece up about adding vectoring thrusters to a blimp.
How to add vectoring thrusters to a blimp
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
May 30, 2008 03:00 PM
Arduino, Flying |
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May 19, 2008
Rocket motor design software
BurnSim ($39) is a solid rocket motor ballistic simulation program (Windows only) now in its third version.
In a nutshell, input your motor, nozzle and propellant characteristics and BurnSim calculates the Kn (kilonewton) through the burn and predicts estimated chamber pressure and motor performance. Once your motor design is in BurnSim, you can tweak the parameters such as nozzle diameter or grain core diameter and instantly see how the Kn, chamber pressure, and motor thrust is affected. BurnSim will also optimize your nozzle design.
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
May 19, 2008 02:00 PM
Flying, Science |
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April 24, 2008
DC has a hacker space!
A couple of my Make: DC and Dorkbot DC compatriots, Nick Farr, Adam Koeppel, and others, have created a hacker space in DC, in the spirit of other bricks and mortars sites like NYC Resistor and Philly's The Hactory. HacDC is holding a pre-grand opening "Parts Party" this Sunday to start collecting techno-junk, equipment, parts, tools, etc. that folks want to donate. Come on by and bring some stuff. It's a 501(c)3 non-profit, so donations are tax-deductible.
ACDC presents: "PRE-GRAND OPENING PARTS PARTY"
HacDC's first public event!
When: April 27 - 2:00PM
Where: 1525 Newton St Washington, DC 20010
Who: HacDC Co-Founders and YOU!
Cost: FREE, but please bring a tool/furniture/electronic scrap to donate!
What: A PARTS PARTY?!
Why: We started HacDC to give DC a place to make, build, disassemble, code, learn and do all the awesome things you can do in a "hacker space". Like nycresistor.com in New York and thehacktory.org in Philly, DC now has its own collaboration and creative space, HacDC! However, we can't do it without your support. We rely on you!
How: Get to our parrty and bring something to help build our space. Anything from:
* Tools! (Power tools, electronic test equipment, soldering irons, etc.)
* Furniture (especially folding chairs and shelving!)
* Electronics (working and non-working things we can disassemble!)
* Food and Beverages (to keep us going while we work on projects!)
We're also looking for charter members, people who are dedicated to building a stronger DIY/Hacker community in DC. We are a non-profit DC organization seeking 501(c)(3) status, and all of our work goes directly back into the community through educational, scientific and cultural channels.
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Apr 24, 2008 01:17 PM
Announcements, Flying |
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April 14, 2008
Turn your flight simulator game into a mini cockpit training set
This custom built throttle project shows you how to add a more realistic gaming experience to your boring flight simulator game. Pretty simple construction notes at the link below.
How to Build Dual Throttles For Your Flight Simulator
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Apr 14, 2008 09:00 AM
Flying, Gaming |
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April 10, 2008
Fly without booking a flight
Yves Rossy, a former Swiss military pilot, spent 5 years developing these foldable carbon fibre wings that each hold two kerosene-powered jet engines allowing him to fly, literally, like a bird, horizontally. Pretty amazing project that looks like it came right out of the next James Bond film.
Yves Rossy - Photo Gallery of the Flying Man
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Apr 10, 2008 08:00 AM
Flying |
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April 8, 2008
Micro sized electronic speed controller
The BitESC is the smallest speed/motor controller I have come across. It is designed to work with the motors from those tiny R/C cars we all bought at least one of, but now never use. Well, here is you chance to make a really tiny R/C plane
The BitESC is a small electronic speed controller for those little RC cars like the MicroSizer / BitChar-G. It can be used in a small RC plane to have some control over the speed of the motor. The speed of the motor ramps up or down, depending on which of the buttons on the transmitter you press.
How to make a Micro sized electronic speed controller
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Apr 8, 2008 06:00 AM
DIY Projects, Flying, Toys and Games |
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April 7, 2008
Homebrew paraplane functions as spy satellite
This homebrew paraplane called the "Black Rainbow", functions as a payload lifter and spybot by carrying a 120 gram, 5 mega-pixel digital camera. Some pretty detailed info on its construction at the link below. Just make sure your neighbors know what you are up to before setting it loose.
Black Rainbow Homebuilt Parafoil
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Apr 7, 2008 09:00 AM
DIY Projects, Flying |
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March 13, 2008
Wii-controlled robo-blimp
Today on BBtv, Xeni talks with Wired's Chris Anderson and "airplane geek" Jordi Munoz about blimp-based aerial drones. Through his DIYDrones site, Chris is on a mission to create an under $100 UAV.
The robo-blimp used in the vehicle shown in the vid is based on Jed Berk's Blubber Bot design, featured on the cover of MAKE Volume 12. You can buy the Blubber Bot kit in the Maker Store.
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Mar 13, 2008 11:00 AM
Flying, Robotics |
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March 4, 2008
DIY Helicopter kit
I doubt the MAKE Store will be carry this any time soon, but we can always dream. This is the ultimate kit to make and show off to all your friends. You can pick one up for under $30,000 which is cheap compared to other helicopters. Imagine showing up for the next meet-up in this thing. - Link
Related:
Homebrewed helicopter - Link
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Mar 4, 2008 02:00 AM
Flying, Kits |
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February 18, 2008
Wired Science on DIY UAVs
Wired Science has a nice segment on Wired Editor in Chief Chris Anderson's efforts to bring together amateurs working with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Feb 18, 2008 05:25 PM
Flying, Science |
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February 12, 2008
Personal helicopter lifts you above the rest
Is this really the world's smallest personal helicopter? Your guess is as good as ours, still it looks like a pretty cool way to avoid the morning rush if you don't mind burning a hole in your scalp. Watch the video!
A Personal Helicopter Can Lift You Up - [via], Link
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Feb 12, 2008 07:00 AM
Flying |
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