Name

L.I.F.E.kopter is the MK Project of ["SelectaT"]

L.I.F.E. stands for:

... and of course for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life life] and all around it!!!

Forethoughts

Based on the standard MK setup (FlightCtrl, BL-Ctrl 1.1 with hi-power MOSFETs)

I decided to try an inverse frame (propellers under the frame) for two main reasons:

  • pushing props are supposed to be more effective than pulling props because nothing (no frame, in this case) is in the way of the streaming air - result: fewer swirls, higher efficiency, less noise (hopefully!)
  • the frame ends (extended around rotors) can be used as rotor protection and feet at the same time (picture follows)

Apart from this, you can now use larger more UFO-like caps because there is more room on top of the frame ;-)

Notes

  • 06/02/08
  • got me all the parts and a MC-16/20, started soldering (first time SMD)

BR

  • 14/02/08
  • soldering for a week now, in what little spare time i have; not too bad, getting routine

BR

  • 18/02/08
  • almost done with BL-Ctrl!!!

BR

  • 22/02/08
  • tested and flashed BLctrl, all 4 thumbs up!!! attachment:sebas_regler.jpg

BR

  • 28/02/08

  • tested and flashed FlightCtrl, everything OK here too. And now for the frame...

BR

  • 29/02/08
  • on this rarest day of them all, my frame is getting in shape! I decided to start out with the ordinary (non-inverted) frame to test everything and learn to fly...

BR

  • 03/03/08

  • last night at 1 a.m. sharp my kopter did its maiden flight. after ~8 hours of wicked wiring it took off in LiGi's living room and hung there for about 3 minutes (Ligi on the sticks, there was quite limited space). everything seems to be as it has to. did a few hops as well. now for the cap and some landing gear, think for a start it'll be the noodle style for me.

  • #&% weather!!! supposed to stay like this for 2 weeks now.

BR

  • 05/03/08
  • had a finishing session last night and now it's official: it was worth it all! exactly 4 weeks of work (and fun), and in the morning today i had a first outdoor flight in the rosental park. there was a quite gusty wind so the drift was a pain in the ass, but i managed to do a few tipsy laps. tonite as the (for now) final act the lower styro ring will be fixed.

cap is a 20cm styro half sphere (16 grams), feet from insulation foam (together 26 grams)

  • attachment:seba_kopter.jpg attachment:pic03.jpg attachment:pic1.JPG attachment:pic02.JPG attachment:pic05.JPG