WumpusUAV: A UAV for Everybody
I'm Timm Murray, creator of the UAV::Pilot library for controlling UAVs under Perl. Creating the library has been quite a challenge, and it already fully supports basic flight, telemetry, and video. Then I started looking around for different types of UAVs to implement, and I was never quite happy with the options out there.
There are cheap off the shelf solutions, such as the Parrot AR.Drone. UAV::Pilot was started with that. It's an easy way to get started, but they're also limiting. There's only so much you can change before hitting limitations.
Then there are Open Source kits, like ArduPilot. There's been very good work done on these, and their only limits are the laws of physics, your imagination, and time and money. The downside is that to get started, you'll need to spend twice as much as the AR.Drone for a quadcopter kit. It also tends to require specialized hardware (e.g. an RC control radio, and on-board sensors like barometers and GPS) which you might not strictly need for your project.
I think there's an opening that mixes the best of both. An Open Source UAV that's as cheap as an AR.Drone, but as limitless as ArduPilot.
It's not just about the hardware, though. The WumpusUAV will be a platform with thousands of extensions created by a community. As a backer, you will be the center of that community for years to come.
What we Want
- Initial cost of $350-450 for ready-to-run kit
- 3D-printed quadcopter frame
- Open Source hardware based on boards like RaspberryPi, Arduino, or similar
- Low barrier to entry
- Ability to add or change whatever you want: different motors, batteries, ESCs, stabilization IMU, cameras, or sensors.
What's Done So Far
- A working control library, UAV::Pilot, for an existing UAV
- Circuit board schematics for motor control and stabilization
- RaspberryPi/Arduino communication software
- Design for a prototype 3D-printed quadcopter frame
- Website setup for blogging, forums, and a wiki
What Needs to be Done
- Purchase of a 3D printer to complete prototype frame
- Testing of stabilization and control
