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North Nahanni Wilderness Adventure - Episode 1

In the spring of 2011, I had the rare opportunity to venture deep in the heart of the Canadian subarctic wilderness, into the wilds of the North Nahanni. I took my faithful flying robot ARDi along, and this video is the result of the first day of the adventure. For more info about this trip, the video or the robot, visit uavlab.spyd.com. 

We would like to thank the "Tragically Hip", Peermusic Canada and Universal Music for permission to use the songs! 
To The Hip, You guys define Canadian - Thank you!!!

Music:
Giftshop from TROUBLE AT THE HENHOUSE
At the Hundredth Meridian from FULLY COMPLETELY
New Orleans is Sinking from UP TO HERE
Ahead by a Century from TROUBLE AT THE HENHOUSE

Project FireEye 2011 - ARDi Flies Wildfire - Full Version (~30 Minutes)

Pilot notes:
Timecode is mission time.
~5:30 into the mission: a strong downdraft turns my low battery decent into a powerful quadcopter trampoline jump. Thank godness for the landing gear/ pontoon rig. my first indicator of the chaotic nature of the winds near a wildfire, even in its infancy.

~15:20 into the mission: Downdrafting, updrafting, and winds in all directions impede shooting, the quad is thrown around like a plastic bag in the wind.

~16:30 into the mission: A flare up, begins intensifying the fire on the east (Right) side of the area.

~20:48 into the mission: The left side nears full intensity.
~21:20 into the mission: Last battery change before things go full tilt.
~22:00 into the mission: Both sides of the fire, begin to come together and the blaze intensifies into a wall of fire.
~22:25 into the mission: I fly ARDi into the smoke column of the fire, and a wild ride into flying debris begins
~23:00 into the mission: wind shifts, and smoke column and firey debris rains down on the crew and ARDi - hot debris, sticks to the lens
~23:20 into the mission: both fires join, and ARDi is pummeled with debirs, I bring it down to about 10 feet and fly under the smoke and get a peek at the main fire.
~25:30 into the mission: A small rabbit, escapes the blaze to safety, I follow its path with ARDi


For more information about ARDi, its missions or other MUAVS visit uavlab.spyd.com 
For more on Project FireEye or Wildfire information for the Northwest Territories in Canada, visit nwtfire.com

RD9 - Little Eye: Test Flights

RD4 - Bams X - Test Flight - Octocopter X8 Config

The Story of ARDi and Project FireEye

The aim of project FireEye is the application of WWVi's Aerial Research Drone 1 (ARDi) to the tasks of detection, observation and monitoring of wildfire. WWVi and ARDi join the scientists at the Canadian Boreal Research Community FireSmart Project in Fort Providence, NT to explore the potential applications that the Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Micro-UAV) and Unmanned Aerial Robot (Micro-AUR) platforms can play in the areas that are high risk to human life and high cost due to aircraft availability and fuel costs

RD2 - Maiden / Final Test Flight - Soldering fails

originally posted: Fri December 17, 2010
This was my first and last experience with an imitation MK FC.

Fun at Slave River Paddlefest 2010 - Fort Smith, NT Canada

Some paddling action at Paddelfest 2010 on the Slave River in Fort Smith, NT Canada. Set to the original track "Wreckless Abandon" by renowned local group and our good friends, "State of the Art".

RD13 - 4S 5000mAh flght test

Testing with new MAS 3 blade props and a very large 4S Lipo

RD-8 Test FLight 3S 2200mAh full AV with Telem Payload 8:30s

Just testing the flight time with new payload config.

RD13 - Icarus - Test flight w/ new landing gear and props. 1st pinch flight

9 minute test flight indoors crappy camera. This was my first time flying anything using the pinch technique. should have used a strap, hands cramped up pretty bad with the big old futaba 9c.

RD9 test flights Gaui 2 blade (Gaui 8A/8B) vs 3 blade (Master Airscrew 8x6)

This is with the original props again

RD9 test flights 2 vs 3 blade

Testing Little Eye with MAS 3 bladed props

RD16 Cold weather test flight

Just doing a cold -10C test flight.

RD3 test flight with TMF AQ50 Pro FC on defaults, no config

Out of the box, onto the frame, pluggd it in, and spent 30 secs on tx calibrationn, and then flew on a dead 3s turnigy-nano 2200 mAh pack. It even passed my gyro confusing stationary lean test. this is going to be one fun FC.

RD4 - Bams X - Early testing as UAVX Radial Octo

RD35 payload test - observer

All Up Weight (AUW/Flying weight) of 1250 grams, I then used two carbon fiber 12mm tubes zip tied on ether side of the struts of the landing gear (See pics) and mounted my Panasonic camcorder using two nylon zip ties, a mall sheet of rx foam and a velcro strap. Camera weight: 480grams, makeshift mount, 40 grams for a payload of 520 grams: total 1770 grams

RD16 - Outdoor Cold Test Flight 3s 2200 mAh -18C

-18C affects CopterControl

RD5 Testing 4 motor 8 prop config

Octoquad RD-5 Aeroquad V2.0 - 8 Propeller - 4 Motor - Coax Config Flight test

Testing the effect of adding additional 4 props same size and pitch and orientation to flight characteristics. Flight time dropped from 8 minutes to 6 minutes but lifts easier and flies more stable in stable mode on default settings, no tuning or balancing.

RD5 - AeroQuad V2 - Testflights on 2400 mAh 4S lipo

25cm Motor to motor, In Stable mode, Default settings, no prop balancing, no motor position optimizing, no frame balancing and no PID tuning.

RD5 - AeroQuad V2 - Testflights on 2200 mAh 3S lipo

25cm Motor to motor, In Stable mode, Default settings, no prop balancing, no motor position optimizing, no frame balancing and no PID tuning.

RD35 maiden camera flight with DX8

RD22 aka Yin Maiden Test Flight

Air Frame: Quadrixette Nano
Motor to Motor Distance: 19.50 cm
All Up Weight: 233 grams
Platform Format: Quadcopter X
Flight Controller: OpenPilot Copter Control
Gyros: IDG-500 and ISZ-500 OPCC
Accelerometer: Analog Devices ADXL345 - AQ Mini and OPCC
Lipo Power: Flightmax 2S 800mAh
Motor Controller: TURNIGY Plush 6A /.8bec/6g Speed Controller
Brushless Motors: A1510 2200KV Outrunner Brushless Motor
Propellers: GWS 3 Blade 5x3 counter rotating sets
Radio System: Futaba 9C Super - DFT (FrSky)
Receiver Module: FrSky DR8 II (no PPM, No telem)

RD22 - FPV gear test flight

using 5.8g 200mw FPV Wireless AV Tx & Rx Set from HK
This flight is just to test cameras etc.

RD3 - UAVX Ocotocopter doing a first flight test