QUADSTAR - 80 inch, 4 motor, AV platform

QUADSTAR - 80 inch, 4 motor, AV platform
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

Hobbico Electristar Select - RTF
Seller: Cody85
Details: $1,200.00 | 10/25/2008 | Classified Ad
We will rotate YOUR AD in this spot if you select "Forum Featured" when placing or editing your ad!

All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> Aerial Photography and Video >> QUADSTAR - 80 inch, 4 motor, AV platform

Page: [1]

Login

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

QUADSTAR - 80 inch, 4 motor, AV platform - 8/7/2006 5:03:54 AM

whogdriver

Posts: 131
Joined: 10/1/2003
From: Sunny, FL, USA
Status: offline

The Quadstar is two Twinstar IIs merged together. It is 80 inches in wingspan, has four motors, two RC receivers (one in each fuselage), two flight batteries, and two speed controls. The concept was dreamed up last weekend so we can carry photo/video gear, and carry other aircraft to altitude for release (see other posts with link to video where we drop an RC shuttle orbiter from a motorized sailplane). Assembly was started Friday evening and was completed Saturday afternoon. We had two flights this morning, first was without video gear onboard. Second flight was with the 360 degree pan and tilt camera (that was jettisonable but now it stays on this plane - see other posts). The flight characteristics are great, it has lots of power and gets to altitude fast. It glides so well we had to go around twice when landing as we were overshooting our runway (we may rig the ailerons to act as flaps and the rudders to act as speed brakes due to the long flat glides. It is very stable under power and in a glide. The only downside we see right now is because there is double the vertical surface area, it weathervanes into the wind more than a single fuselage/rudder Twinstar. For safety, the two inner motors are powered by one battery/speed control/receiver and the outer motors are powered by the other battery/speed control/receiver. This ensures symmetrical thrust in case one of the power trains develops a problem in flight. Here are some pictures and video. I will post the flight video from today later this week.

http://media.putfile.com/Quadstar-First-Flight

http://media.putfile.com/Quadstar-Ground-Video-Demo

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-269250534341891571

Attachments

Click for fullsize	Click for fullsize	Click for fullsize	Click for fullsize
Click for fullsize	Click for fullsize

< Message edited by whogdriver -- 8/9/2006 3:44:06 AM >

Post #: 1

RE: QUADSTAR - 80 inch, 4 motor, AV platform - 8/7/2006 7:40:02 AM

Sky High

Posts: 1514
Joined: 12/3/2005
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Status: offline

Whog, you just don't stop do you?

That thing is looking like the Spruce Goose.

Keep up the good work, I love it! Why didn't you join the elevators too? Please post some AP video from it soon and hopefully in windows media so we can watch it full screen. Thanks!

< Message edited by Sky High -- 8/7/2006 8:06:46 AM >

_____________________________

Up there, you don't have time to think, if you think, you're dead!
Never mess with a pilot having more rotors than you!

(in reply to whogdriver)

Post #: 2

RE: QUADSTAR - 80 inch, 4 motor, AV platform - 8/7/2006 4:16:23 PM

dzbum

Posts: 92
Joined: 8/2/2004
From: Barnstead, NH, USA
Status: offline

Whog,
Looks great, I bet its orientation takes some getting used to in the air. The ground video from the Pod (Glad to see it stays with the ship now) looks likes going to be great. I assume the purpose for two receivers was to simplify the wiring?
Great job, cannot wait to see the in-flight video.

< Message edited by dzbum -- 8/7/2006 4:35:18 PM >

(in reply to Sky High)

Post #: 3

RE: QUADSTAR - 80 inch, 4 motor, AV platform - 8/7/2006 6:30:14 PM

aviatordave

Posts: 54
Joined: 6/16/2005
From: fairfax, IA, USA
Status: offline

that was pretty neat!

do you have a thread on the video pod set up?

thanks - Dave

(in reply to dzbum)

Post #: 4

RE: QUADSTAR - 80 inch, 4 motor, AV platform - 8/9/2006 3:58:01 AM

whogdriver

Posts: 131
Joined: 10/1/2003
From: Sunny, FL, USA
Status: offline

Ok guys, here's the inflight video. You will see some minor glitching of the camera pod servos, this is due to a less than satisfactory camera pod RC receiver - a Hitec 4MG, we plan to replace it. Also there is some minor video noise in places as we did not have the video receiver in an optimum position when we flew behind our cars. But you can get a good idea what this setup will be able to do once it is refined. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

To answer the question about joining the horizontal stabs, you can see in the video there is very little relative movement between the stabs while flying. It also allows each fuselage to be flown as a normal Twinstar as we have two sets of normal wings for it, the center section allows it to become the Quadstar.

I think it looks similar to a Burt Rutan design. The two receivers do make wiring simpler but also add a degree of redundancy or safety.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-269250534341891571

The Google description says 306 degree pan, that's a typo, should be 360, it can spin around all day long if that's what you want.

Whog

(in reply to Sky High)

Post #: 5

RE: QUADSTAR - 80 inch, 4 motor, AV platform - 8/9/2006 7:59:42 AM

Sky High

Posts: 1514
Joined: 12/3/2005
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Status: offline

Now that's what I've been waiting for! That is just too cool! How do you keep those two tail sections from moving independently since the two planes are only joined at the wing. They didn't seem to move much at all. It still makes me nervous. Would placing a CF rod joining and reinforcing the two tail sections just forward of the elevators cause a problem with functionality? Have you thought of using one of those small security camera domes to make the camera system more aerodynamic? Please post some more AP please.

_____________________________

Up there, you don't have time to think, if you think, you're dead!
Never mess with a pilot having more rotors than you!

(in reply to whogdriver)

Post #: 6

RE: QUADSTAR - 80 inch, 4 motor, AV platform - 8/9/2006 3:50:00 PM

dzbum

Posts: 92
Joined: 8/2/2004
From: Barnstead, NH, USA
Status: offline

Very cool, I love the profile shots of the fuselage. I agree with skyhigh that the stab not being joined makes me nervous.
Seems to have lots of power, did you use the standard speed 400's
That big wing sees to make a very stable AV platform.

Is this going to turn into "What can you make out of a twinstar"?
How about a Biplane version, "Bistar"

(in reply to whogdriver)

Post #: 7

RE: QUADSTAR - 80 inch, 4 motor, AV platform - 8/10/2006 12:27:33 AM

W4UAV

Posts: 423
Joined: 1/23/2003
From: Gainesville, FL, USA
Status: offline

VERY, VERY Cool!!!!

_____________________________

Mike Robinett
W4UAV

(in reply to dzbum)

Post #: 8

RE: QUADSTAR - 80 inch, 4 motor, AV platform - 8/10/2006 4:37:28 AM

whogdriver

Posts: 131
Joined: 10/1/2003
From: Sunny, FL, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sky High

Now that's what I've been waiting for! That is just too cool! How do you keep those two tail sections from moving independently since the two planes are only joined at the wing. They didn't seem to move much at all. It still makes me nervous. Would placing a CF rod joining and reinforcing the two tail sections just forward of the elevators cause a problem with functionality? Have you thought of using one of those small security camera domes to make the camera system more aerodynamic? Please post some more AP please.

Sky High,
The way I think about, the wing is doing the lifting and the fuselage is going along for the ride and as long as the elevators (and rudders) have equal amounts of throw and they are flying in the "same air", the relative position of the fuselages will remain equal. A new pan and tilt pod is being worked on right now and should be able to have a plastic dome at some point. It may also be using a Berg receiver this weekend.
Whog

(in reply to Sky High)

Post #: 9

RE: QUADSTAR - 80 inch, 4 motor, AV platform - 8/10/2006 4:45:14 AM

whogdriver

Posts: 131
Joined: 10/1/2003
From: Sunny, FL, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: dzbum

Very cool, I love the profile shots of the fuselage. I agree with skyhigh that the stab not being joined makes me nervous.
Seems to have lots of power, did you use the standard speed 400's
That big wing sees to make a very stable AV platform.

Is this going to turn into "What can you make out of a twinstar"?
How about a Biplane version, "Bistar"

Thanks dzbum,
The motors are not the stock Speed 400 6V motors that come with the kit. We use the Speed 400 Long Can motors from Hobby Lobby in it. They provide more thrust. Brushless would be cool but that's a lot more money and the plane seems to have plenty of power from the two flights we've had on it. The Twinstar is very stable and this thing follows in that tradition. A three fuselage Twinstar maybe?
Whog

(in reply to dzbum)

Post #: 10

RE: QUADSTAR - 80 inch, 4 motor, AV platform - 8/10/2006 4:51:08 AM

whogdriver

Posts: 131
Joined: 10/1/2003
From: Sunny, FL, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: W4UAV

VERY, VERY Cool!!!!

Thanks W4UAV, I've read a lot of your posts but don't recall seeing you in here lately. What's your current project and how's it going? Weren't you building a .46 powered pusher AP/AV plane ?
Whog.

(in reply to W4UAV)

Post #: 11

RE: QUADSTAR - 80 inch, 4 motor, AV platform - 8/10/2006 12:55:13 PM

W4UAV

Posts: 423
Joined: 1/23/2003
From: Gainesville, FL, USA
Status: offline

Ive actually been busy doing AP with my Raptor 50 Electric, several jobs have fallen my way and Ive been real happy to do them, its starting to pay off.
I still fly the Grey Ghost, shes about to get a brushless conversion.

Also my wife is about to have our first baby, its a boy!
So AP for fun will take a back seat for a while.

_____________________________

Mike Robinett
W4UAV

(in reply to whogdriver)

Post #: 12

RE: QUADSTAR - 80 inch, 4 motor, AV platform - 8/12/2006 11:07:12 PM

JettPilot

Posts: 1151
Joined: 4/18/2005
From: Paradise, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: W4UAV

Also my wife is about to have our first baby, its a boy!
So AP for fun will take a back seat for a while.

Its been nice knowing you W4UAV, will look for you back here in about 18 years

JettPilot

_____________________________

THE TRUTH ABOVE ALL ELSE...

(in reply to W4UAV)