Bryon Blog-O-Rama

I’m building, slowly, a largish RC flying wing aircraft with an Ardupilot autopilot. It has a slew of sensors, airspeed/altimeter pressure unit, IR horizon sensors, Magnetic compass, a really nice GPS and finally an IMU unit that I might not be able to integrate yet (may need to wait for the mega-ardupilot), and should be able to carry a decent sized camera for aerial photography and video.

So the spec I’m trying to design for boils down to:

• Lift capability of a several pounds
• Payload Modules that are swappable, including a DLSR mount, Video, science sensors TBD etc.
• Significant range (uses same style battery as my other wing, but two of them)
• Telemetry link
• Power and system status data logging and telemetry
• Lighting system (anti-collision and art lighting)
• Future upgrades and expansion

I’m also thinking forward to being able to enable robotic behaviors over the base autopilot logic to enable it to do interesting things. Examples include a GPS and air speed correlation to enable it to learn how to cliff soar to conserve power. Using the uplift of air over a hill it may be possible for the Dronewing to either loiter more slowly than usual or possibly cut off power use to the electric motor entirely and soar for hours. This may be beyond my programming ability, but I can dream.

One interesting problem I haven’t resolved yet in design is how to land it safely. Most EPP-Foam wings just belly slide in without landing gear because they’re so tough. The camera is less so, so unless I mount it high, I may need to do landing gear. Sadly that increases weight, so I’m hoping to avoid it.

Also launching what could end up being a 6-8 pound bird could get exciting, I’m used to tossing a 2lb Mini XE into the air and going. I may have to either do some sort of rail launcher, or more excitingly do a rocket boost launch. This would be challenging due to the fact it’s a pusher prop, but could be done with an eject-able assembly.
Besides, JATO is cool!

Well, after seeing some really nicely formatted blogs out there, I’ve decided to go ahead and start using the catagory function. Initially when I started this silly little blog I just felt it was a solution without a problem, and a needless complication. But now I think I’ve got so many projects going on right now that it will be possibly useful.

So far I’ve got categories for:

Dronewing Project (Large RC plane with autopilot and camera essentially)
Haus Remodel (our House remodel, obviously, all our time-lapse stuff etc)
Airplane Build (future, mostly, although I will be doing a class this weekend).

And I’ll add ones for other projects, but I think I’ll use the “actually doing it” metric before creating a category so I don’t end up with empty page syndrome. In fact, I won’t create the above categories until I do the first real post for each.

Here goes…

Almost there…. Almost there… just a few more minutes….

And then the TIE Fighters blow me up.  Except it’s more frustrating waiting for the glass place to finish installing the freaking glass into the transom window frames so they can be installed.

The studio just needs those last windows put in and some wood trim.  Then some paint (whenever).  Then it’s going to be weather tight and usable for phase 1- Storage.

After the renovation is complete then I’ll be finishing out the inside with insulation, drywall, electrical etc.  And an uber-workshop will be born!  Taking over the world shortly to follow I’m sure.

Well, I’ve got about 7 shingles to go to complete the shingling. These are somewhat difficult, as each is a custom cut job, but that’s why I have a circular saw and rulers.

Anyway, here’s the movie we made, from groundbreaking to so-close-to-finished-that-you-can’t-tell-at-this-resolution.

Studio Construction Movies

Enjoy!

-J

Been a while since I posted, mostly due to shed/workshop/studio/secret laboratory construction. It’s getting there, more exciting as we go along and we can almost see it done! World conquering robots can’t be too far behind!

I did do one thing that I think will be interesting to see the results of: I finally built an intervalometer for my Nikon.

This is basically a box that tells the camera to take a picture at intervals (hence the name). I used an Arduino and a IR LED in a cardboard box and a power adapter, so I don’t have to worry about batteries. I plan to put it within sight of the camera (or possibly in the tree I’m mounting the camera to) to take progress pictures of the shingling that we’re in progress on. I then set the camera to watch for the remote trigger which is sent by the Arduino (mimicking the Nikon IR remote).

I was using a 10 minute timer on my iPhone and then using the handheld IR remote I have, but this was less than satisfactory for a few reasons. One, it interrupted me while I was working. Also, I had to move over to “right field” so the camera would trigger. Annoying. Anyway, I’m hoping that also with putting the camera on a manual exposure/aperture setting it’s battery will last long enough to do the job tomorrow (today it lasted about half the day). Eventually I’ll put all the pictures together into a fast-motion movie along with the progress pictures to date. I’ll be sure to post it all when I’m done.

But later, now I have to sleep, then shingle, then sleep, then shingle…

Tis the season to be a consumerist pig. Well, no, actually, I would rather not in general get a bunch of stuff for the sake of getting stuff.

My bride is a good influence on me, and so I am very chary with my purchasing power. Also, I’m trying to head off misguided gifting at the pass (scented candle = epic fail). Now that I’m an old-ish fart, I don’t have to worry so much about it, but honesty compels me to also admit that there is stuff I actually do want. So for all these reasons, hopefully without being gauche, here’s my “WANT!” Uber-list(including wishlists at various sites where possible) for my dear parents and bride, although if somebody else gives me stuff it’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

Geeky stuff first, in the probably vain hope that anybody will actually get me something that I want for inexplicable esoteric reasons. Well, I try to explain, but it quickly turns into massive glazing for the listener. Well, here goes anyway.

Oh please oh please oh please?

ArduiNIX shield Kit:
http://arduinix.com/Main/Store.htm
Drive Nixie tubes from an Arduino! What’s not to love! I’d have to make something totally cool with it, like a ICBM launch panel or 1950′s era “super computer” or maybe just a clock. Nah, no clocks, been done to death. I’d rather make a DRO readout for a CNC machine or something way cool like that. Or just a really neat sculpture. Nixie tubes are from the vacuum tube era, where you have individual wires shaped like numbers in a tube filled with neon and lit up via high voltage. This once was the only way to have a numerical display, the technology was eventually replaced with solid state options, first LED’s then LCD’s shortly thereafter. But there is something about them that is just funky cool.
And I’m a total Arduino fiend these days, so this particular solution is a no-brainer for me. And it’s pretty cheap!

ThinkGeek Wish List:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/glennz/bc93/ A fun T-shirt
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/watches/6a17/ A Watch that tells time in binary. This warms my heart and reminds me of my childhood.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/754d/ A firesteel for the go-packs that I do need to assemble still….

Sparkfun Wishlist:
Okay, I know this stuff is just “electronic parts” to you, but to me it’s a medium for art and learning. And eventually conquering the world with my robot minions. Or creating something so cool it makes me millions of real American dollars. Or not.

Arduino- the endless applications for Art and fun!
Arduino Pro, need one of these.
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9219
Arduino Pro Mini, also need one or two of these, if they’re in stock.
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9218
And here’s the low power Pro Mini, I can use one of these too.
https://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9220
Screwshield, makes it easier to wire in stuff for some applications:
https://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9282
Other stuff:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9117
Rotary encoder, also needs the knob below, best of all- Cheep! I could use maybe 4 of these, with 4 knobs.
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8828

Okay, moving on from Sparkfun, um, I also need a rain coat. That actually fits, so of course Mr. Gorilla Arms is a bit of a challenge. It’d have to be a shopping trip to find one. Costco doesn’t have anything sadly, all the sleeves are way too short.

From last year: X-Band Saw, currently I think it’s available at OSH hardware, Maker shed is no longer carrying it. The cutting station is awesome too, but the saw itself is the bomb. And some spare blades would be good too…
I can’t tell you how handy this thing will be for the next few years. Even after the remodel, I will find much use for it in sculpting.

Afterthoughts-

Ah yes- dr bronners peppermint soap!

Duct Tape! specifically: Scotch high performance transparent duct tape! Rather than getting a new wallet, give me the stuff to make one! (duct tape wallets are apparently still cool.)

Socks! Gold toe black socks at Costco specifically. Size 12 minimum, prefer larger if possible.

Okay, by now everybody knows that posting what you just ate on social media sites is an indicator that somebody needs a self-importance-control-bitch-slap. This said, I have to report that I did in fact just have a incredible sandwich.

That it was I that ate it is of no importance at all. None. I acknowledge this. Thou shalt not give a damn about that part.

But I must share this practical helpful tip with all my friends:
Blue cheese mustard.

It’s one of those things, that when first encountered, makes you say “what the hell took so long for us to think of this?” Pure gustatory brilliance. It gives me hope for western civilization, karmically balancing unrecycled plastic and blue screen ads for “shamwow”s. If we can produce something this wonderful, then maybe America isn’t totally screwed!

Seriously, get some, you will thank me rather than damming me for yet another stupid “look what I just ate” post.
(And folks, unless you ate an entire giant squid or other newsworthy object by yourself, really, nobody cares, sorry.)

One of the many ways that my father and I were linked was our own peculiar numerology. Our birthdays are only 3 days apart, and Nov 9th (his) and 12th(mine) have a mathematical relationship with some amusing dimensions.

My father and I were alike in many ways, appearance, allgeries, intellectual interests (or rather having intellectual interest, generally speaking).

I’m able to remember him now without being crushed with the pain of his loss, even on days like today. I think he’d be pretty proud of what I’ve managed to do in life, although we both always felt we could do better.

Happy Birthday Dad.
11/09/09

So, in response to a “scary dessert” contest at Lois’s work, we made this:

“Independent Chainsaw Massacre”

Independent Chainsaw Massacre Cake

It wasn’t a big competition, and we clearly won the day. Apparently the “blood spatter” really took it over the top. I was just glad we had enough dark jelly bellies to make teeth.

In other news, I’m tempted to create a “you must be shorter than this sign to trick or treat at this house”.
Punk ass teenagers without costumes need to be hosed down. Get off my lawn and so forth.

Fortunately there are enough real cute little ones to make up for it this year. We’re out of candy now, so time to turn off the lights and go hide.

Well, after much digging (hello china!), and waiting for concrete to dry, progress has picked up dramatically.

Even though our builders can only work weekends, they’ve just about done the job already on the first one. Now the hold up is our window and door order, so maybe by mid November we’ll be good on stage one- storage.

Post remodel I will be finishing the interior and so forth to create my work space. Until then it’s just a storage box. A nice storage box, but still not my secret laboratory just yet.

Ah, progress!