I knew that this drone hobby was right up your alley when you expressed interest.
A few months ago I felt I was already stumped at audio electronics. I've done tubes, solid state, analog, digital, you name it - I have probably done it. I felt there's nothing more new to explore. Repetitive stress was growing on me. Don't get me wrong though, for example, building tube amps and preamps is very exciting and fulfilling, but when you have built so much as I already did - you'd immediately understand what I'm saying. Paulit-ulit na lang, di ko na nga pinopost dito kasi yun at yun din naman eh!
Building drones (the community likes to call it UAV) is very similar to audio electronics, it's very meticulous, involves hours and hours of research, building and experiments and lots (and lots and lots and lots) of fine tuning. Plus the Physics of flight - oh boy I love it!
Since I got into programming microcontrollers a few years back, I got excited with them drones. It's not as complex as it may seem but it can be once you deal with the intricacies of it's algorithm. It can be fun and simple but at the same time it can also be grim and complex. I like the latter two.
Others measure excitement by the tingling sensation in their spines, butterflies in their stomach, or hairs at the back of their necks - I measure excitement using the "testicle skin method", once that skin around a male person's testicles shrink that is sheer excitement!
I regain that feeling in building drones.
Like tubes and solid state where the voltages can shock you to death, these drones are not for kids too. I think the element of danger adds to the excitement of it. I'm sure you, coming from RC Helis, knows what I'm talking about!
However you exceeded my expectations with implementation of Arduino and CNC parts.
Why stop? Learning is a continuous process, the learning curve is steep but it's part of the challenge. Pag paulit-ulit na lang wala na bago matutunan diba?
Talking about Arduino, the brains of that 500-size monster drone I built is controlled by an Atmel Atmega2560 microcontroller. The very same chip used in the Arduino Mega boards. It is so powerful that it can be programmed to do autonomous flights, or automatically return to home (RTH) in case of emergencies, transmitter signal loss or low battery situations. With a good GPS lock, it can do a circle nose in for aerial photography or it can loiter in one fix position in the air!
I have to get you into coffee roasting
Why not. But I've always believed that I can do great things only when I'm good and ready.
