The HackRVA 2015 Tricopter Build will be a group build of made from scratch tricopters that sprung from Andrew and the common interest of HackRVA members on the email-list.

We've also started a seperate robotics for hackrva GoogleGroup/MailingList here. Feel free to join and start chatting all things robotics.

Purpose

We're doing a group build of tricopters. More info to come as we progress.
Anyone interested should be able to get a copter going pretty quick and have plenty of people/knowledge resources around for help

How to Get Started

Read this if you're ready to sign up and need to know what steps to take: 2015 Tricopter Signup Email Get up to speed with info from flitetest (https://www.youtube.com/user/flitetest)

Resources for Build Participants

BOM

Product	Quantity
GForce E400 Brushless Outrunner Motor (2212-1000KV)	3
GForce 40C 2200mAh 4S 14.8V LiPO (T-Connector)	1
GForce 30A Brushless Multi-Rotor ESC with SimonK Firmware (2-4S LiPOs)	3
Naze32 6DOF Acro Multicopter Flight Control Board	1
8 x 4.5 Quadcopter Prop Set (One Regular and One Pusher Prop)	5
T Connector Male (5Pcs)(Compatible With Deans Connector)	1
Tork SD1805 Plastic Gear Digital Mini Servo	1

Alternatives - It's been reported that ValueHobby is now sold out of the motors:

Motor:

Turnigy D3536/8 1000KV

Turnigy D2830-11 1000kv Brushless Motor

The generic name for these motors is "A2212 1000kv". If you search the internet you'll find a bunch of online retailers for these motors. Just make sure to identify one that ships from the US so that the motors get here in time.

Schedule

Check the HackRVA google calendar for the latest updates
- HackRVA google calander
Sat. the 31rst 11am kickoff
- Followed by two more full Saturdays of building
After the build, some members as well as the organizer will make themselves available to members who could not attend this initial build.

Kit Contents

2015 Tricopter Kit Contents

Build Process

Construct arms and extend wires
Assemble main platform and connect flight controller
Balance propellers
Update firmware and tune with Cleanflight (http://cleanflight.com/)

Overall

Work together to learn some new skills
Have fun making something
Contribute by documenting and helping those with less knowledge

Goals

learning goals
- introduce people to some common concepts in electronics/robotics
  - ESC's
  - how radios work
  - the ideas behind IMU - or gyro, accelerator, etc.
- In addition there will be opportunities for 3D printing for mechanical parts and to CNC route or possibly laser cut parts
Use as an opportunity to experiment with the group build process in order to help future builds at hackRVA

Kramer's build, step by step

Kramers tricopter step by step

Applications or After the Build

Help others build
have fun flying our copters
Improve and document
Taking cool pictures from the sky
dropping candy on children
Look towards using as an autonomous vehicle
- following someone
- SWARMS???
- burrito delivery

2015 Tricopter Build