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[Reply #15 on:]

What parts are you looking for specifically? Sparkfun sells a UAV autopilot board for $25. I have a few Dorkboards around if you want the keep the Arduino small/light. What type of motors are you going to run? Saving weight/cost/complexity on the motors and their control would be a cool place to start.

[Reply #16 on:]

O Yea, You can easily mix and match components.

Really we should get together to figure out what we want from the meetings, I think that Saturday works for me(As long as it is before 4:00 PM). I would love to see what you have in regards to the copter!

[Reply #17 on:]

That Cutters Point by the waterfront is pretty empty late mornings on the weekends.

[Reply #18 on:]

The shop on Pacific by the school of the arts?

[Reply #19 on:]

Yep.

[Reply #20 on:]

That time/place works with me. How about you other guys?
Leo-pan, What parts do you have so far in regard to the helicopter?

[Reply #21 on:]

Jeff, a coffeehouse would be great for me.
It looks like only you, Rob and me are in the Tacoma area.
Consider the zip code locations for three of us, I would suggest to meet at a coffee house near Tacoma mall.  However I am open to any suggestion such as from the Freighthouse near Tacoma dome to Parkland.
Anyway, let us get the ball rolling.

[Reply #22 on:]

Yea, Cutters Point is right smack dab in the middle of all our locations so I think that it is a great place for at-least this first meeting.

So, what do you think of this Saturday, Cutters Point at like 10:30-11:00ish?

[Reply #23 on:]

I'm in.

[Reply #24 on:]

Random stuff to consider this week:

What are you working on?
What parts tools do you need to find or borrow?
What kind of extra parts and tools do you have laying around that might help someone else's project along?
Do you need help with anything (hardware layout, fab or sketches)?
Project ideas.
How strong are you in Processing?
Any local resources that you've stumbled across that you want to share.
............

[Reply #25 on:]

I am in too for the Cutters Point meeting.

[Reply #26 on:]

Hi, Rob and Jeff, sorry I didn't see your postings asking about what parts my Auduino helicopter needs.
Actually I have no clue yet for the substitutes because I have limited hardware knowledge although I programmed embedded for a couple of years (other guys handled the hardware part and setup coding environment for me).

[Reply #27 on:]

I can help with the control, power supply and input devices but you're going to have to stop by Fantasy Wold for inspration on the motors, props and motor control.

I'm thinking about building a cheap version to see if I can get it to work. My mental parts list for a non GPS driven proof of concept that just hovers would be:

$4 worth of regualr DC motors on PWM channels with cheap Hitachi controllers,
already have Dorkboard w/ 3 to 5 volt boost(this will let me run the acellerometer and board on two AAA batts),
already have accelerometer (Craigslist find a while back),
$15 battery pack/charger for motors/motor controllers,
$10 aluminum sheet from Home Depot to build chassis & arms,
$20ish (4) cheap propellers from fantasy world,
already have screws wire, etc.
This one will probably spend more time in my hand running than in the air but it will start me off with some lessons learned and best practices for under $50. I'd rather crash and burn $50 than $250!

[Reply #28 on:]

Hi, Rob, thanks for the great details!
Yes, I should start cheap and small.
My final goal is to build one like the V6 in http://www.draganfly.com/

[Reply #29 on:]

We should probably pin down the time we meet tomorrow. What were you guys thinking?