Bergen Foldable Hexacopter

[Cletus]

Season's Greetings folks!
My Bergen Foldable Hexacopter has arrived (thanks Chris)
..............and if traffic conditions permit today, I will drive out to the airport and pick-up the package.
It will be a pretty standard build as per Bergen's recommendations and she will be carrying a GoPro Hero2 camera along with a dedicated FPV camera with a Fat Shark 5.8Ghz video downlink, EagleTree sensors and telemetry. I plan to be able to remotely switch the video downlink between the FPV cam and the GoPro so as to be able to accomplish framing shots when needed. The FPV video will have the "heads-up" telemetry video overlay from the on-board EagleTree system. My original ground station will also be modified to make use of the tiny 5.8Ghz circularly polarized antennas, thereby greatly reducing the overall bulk and simplifying deployment.
Will attempt to document the build and subsequent test flights as best I can right here over the next few weeks.
Stay tuned and Merry Christmas all!

[Cletus]

Well I got out there, paid the shipping, duties and taxes .....and they can't find my package
Oh well, it's the Christmas season and I can see they're loaded to the gills in packages, I'm sure they will locate it by Monday.

[Intrepid175]

Yup, that sounds about right. Sorry to hear you're having issues but am looking forward to your impressions and pics!

Merry Christmas,
Steve R.

[Cletus]

Just got the box open and made the obligatory mess in the kitchen with the 2,263,953 pieces of "Michigan Pop-Corn"
This is going to be one AWESOME flying machine!
Immediately apparent is the amazing quality of the parts that Bergen is famous for.
I really like the design concept and the heavy-duty construction of this rig. Lots of versatile space for equipment layout.
This project is now very much on the front burner!

[Intrepid175]

Very cool Cletus. Sure doesn't look like much when you see it the original packaging, does it!

Looking forward to reading about your building/flying adventures!

Have fun!
Steve R.




Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[Cletus]

Real simple, clean, rugged and functional design.
The electronics gets crazy: DJI Wookong, Eagle Tree Telemetry, video-switcher, 5.8 Downlink, etc. ......wire and more wire!
This is going to be an awesome camera platform!

[cbdane]

Wow; very cool! Can you share what the investment was for everything in the photo? Are you going with the OS motors that Chris used in his videos? I'd been eyeing the DJI 550 but this setup looks very exciting! It's 800mm, correct?

[Cletus]

I think it is an extremely exciting project and one with great commercial potential.
I believe it's 914mm (36") center-shaft to center-shaft.
Will be going with OS30 electric motors will be ordered tomorrow from Tower Hobbies.
I would prefer you contact Bergen RC regarding the pricetag

[Cletus]

If Chris starts making these I will be first in line:

Tandem-Duct Aerial Demonstrator (1 min 31 sec)

[lperagallo]

Originally Posted by Cletus

If Chris starts making these I will be first in line:

http://youtu.be/akA-B64RACU

I just put a down-payment down on one of the first production models Maybe we can power them with Wren 44s.

Lou

[flyingrhino]

Originally Posted by Cletus

If Chris starts making these I will be first in line:

http://youtu.be/akA-B64RACU

Will a STAR WARS Storm Trooper suit be included?

[Cletus]

APC 13x6.5 Propellers and O.S. .30 Outrunner Brushless Motors ordered from Tower Hobbies. Got some batteries here for initial setup and testing but will order a decent set next month ......trying to decide GensAce or Turnigy NanoTech.
The entire video string (cameras, switcher, 5.8Ghz TX, telemetry, etc) and the nav lighting will be powered from a dedicated 2200mAh 3S pack.

This machine is INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH

[lperagallo]

Originally Posted by Cletus

APC 13x6.5 Propellers and O.S. .30 Outrunner Brushless Motors ordered from Tower Hobbies. Got some batteries here for initial setup and testing but will order a decent set next month ......trying to decide GensAce or Turnigy NanoTech.
The entire video string (cameras, switcher, 5.8Ghz TX, telemetry, etc) and the nav lighting will be powered from a dedicated 2200mAh 3S pack.

This machine is INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH

cletus,


I'd go with Gensace as they are well built and a good price.

Lou

[Cletus]

Build going really good!
Will work on assembling the arms tonight. Then load-on and test all the video equipment next week while I await the arrival of the motors.

I added two threaded spacers (standoffs) at the top of the Landing-gear (front and back) these will provide versatile attachment positions for peripheral equipment like the forward facing FPV camera, altimeter and artificial horizon sensor, Video Transmitter/Antenna, etc.

I intend to maintain the same R/C TX configuration as my previous Hexacopter.

Each arm will have LED Nav lighting White front, Blue rear, Red port, Green stbd, these will make night flight very comfortable (a mini toggle sw somewhere on the landing gear frame will control power to the LEDs).

[Cletus]

All options still open, but I'm leaning towards these.
At $65.00 a pop, I like the price point and capacity .....and I've had good performance from them in the past. Four of them will sit just fine on the airframe having a total capacity of 24Ah on-board.
Capacity: 6000mAh
Voltage: 4S1P / 4 Cell / 14.8V
Discharge: 25C Constant / 50C Burst
Weight: 623g (including wire, plug & case)
Dimensions: 175x49x38mm

I'm a big fan of EC5 connectors so the original Turnigy battery connectors will have to go

[Cletus]

Here's a mockup with the camera positions, some batteries and with the arms on.
One thing I would like to do at this point, would be to replace the twelve 3x40 SHCS with twelve 3x50 SHCS and add twelve 3M Nylock Nuts after the thumb-nuts. This is to ensure that the thumb-nuts, while free to do their job, remain captive on the bolts as, I just know I'm going to lose them sooner than later.
Sweet build so far, now we move on to installing and testing all the electronics.

[lperagallo]

Originally Posted by Cletus

Here's a mockup with the camera positions, some batteries and with the arms on.
One thing I would like to do at this point, would be to replace the twelve 3x40 SHCS with twelve 3x50 SHCS and add twelve 3M Nylock Nuts after the thumb-nuts. This is to ensure that the thumb-nuts, while free to do their job, remain captive on the bolts as, I just know I'm going to lose them sooner than later.
Sweet build so far, now we move on to installing and testing all the electronics.

What is that gun? If things don't go well are you planning on blowing it away?

Lou

[cbergen]

Can you carry in Trinidad!?!? Awesome!!

I have also been testing the use of 6S 5000 Mah on the prototype Folding Hexa. Flight time is up to 18 minutes, putting 4300 mah back in each pack.

Will be testing max payload with 6s packs next...

Cletus, show 'em the harness and "Y" connectors...

[Cletus]

Yup, the law here states it should be on my person at all times ....of course it's difficult as hell to get a permit!
Yes, I really like that neat wiring harness, will take some pics and post later today.
......6S so you're running 4X 6S 5000mAh Packs?
Should I hold off buying batteries until you're really happy with 6S or are you there already?

[Cletus]

Chris do you have a pic of the "Ring-harness"? ....too much stuff to take apart now for me to get a decent pic of it.

Here's a pic of two of the four Y-harnesses. There are two red and two black, these are the battery connection points: