Page 33 - Build Your Own Quadcopter_ Power Up Your Designs with the Parallax Elev-8

12 Bu il d Y o ur O w n Q u a d c o p t e r

Summary

I began this chapter with a brief history of multirotor development that started in the 1920s
with a large manned aircraft, the De Bothezat helicopter. It turned out that safely controlling
the flight path for this type of aircraft was much too demanding for human pilots. This fact
delayed development until computer technologies were created that enabled the requisite
supplemental control for safe flight. Two significant paths of development then led to more
advances: (1) amply funded military projects in the 1970s yielded the design and production
of manned multirotor aircraft, and (2) small unmanned R/C multirotors were built in Japan
in the 1990s.
Next, I discussed a variety of definitions to help clarify the confusion that seems to
surround these aircraft. The term unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) appears to be the most
appropriate descriptor for the quadcopter.
The section on military and civilian uses of quadcopters revealed that there are far more
civilian applications than military ones. I also discussed some legalities that you should be
aware of and obey as required.
The Elev-8 quadcopter kit origins began when the Hoverfly Company used the Parallax
Propeller chip in the design of their flight controllers. The president of Parallax decided to
create a parts kit, including a Hoverfly control board that would enable users to build their
own highly capable quadcopter at a reasonable cost. Remarkably, there are only 11 main
electrical/electronic components that make up the basic Elev-8.
I finished the chapter by showing some of the add-ons and enhancements that can be
incorporated into the basic Elev-8. A real-time video add-on will also be discussed in detail
in a later chapter.
Chapter 2 provides a thorough discussion of the quadcopter flight dynamics. I strongly
urge you to carefully study the next chapter in order to achieve a good understanding of the
physics that allows a quadcopter to fly. This knowledge will improve your control skills.
Additionally, a good understanding of the basics of quadcopter control will also help you to
create your own software, if you are so inclined.