Since January around 75 developers have been actively working on design specifications for an open source radio control helicopter thats functions as an aerial video camera platform.

Aside from typical quadrocopter features as following:

• Easy built up kit, despite of partial SMD assembly, for everybody, who
  knows , where´s the hot end of the soldering-iron
• 2 additional servo-exits to adress camera functionallity ( tilt, direction)
• 7 Hi-Power LED exits - each up to 500mA
• adjustable controller-timing , 50 to 400 Hz
• ADXRS300 Gyros (Sparkfun-modules)
• progammable via RS232 oder your RC-system
• optional : linear sensor (Sparkfun LIS3LV02DQ)
• optional : automatic paracute trigger to prevent crashing
• optional : detectionbeeper and acustic low voltage warning
• optional : GPS - support

This looks like a wicked cool project but I can see this turning into a huge money sink, as with most RC hobbies. I used to be into RC cars and planes and it absorbed a lot of my free time and money constructing and purchasing kits and accessories. I spent so much time building and refining I didn’t spend much time flying.

[OpenSourceQuadroCopter via Make]

[tags]open source, remote control helicopter, rc helicopter, radio control helicopter, open source development, open source project[/tags]