RC Parachute :)

[87SupraT 0]

I got an idea to make a cheap inexpensive RC parachute. Main reason, I would mount a camera on it, and drop it from crazy spots (Really I am obsessed). I am quite obsessed with the whole parachute skydive thing, and it just seems to get stronger everyday . Anyways, I haven't really thought of a way to protect the camera incase of a malfunction . I am actually not sure on the servos I plan on using either. I am going to have to use something that can pull in 1-2 feet of line in a couple seconds. Anyways to the good stuff, the parachute is done. It is approximately 100 sq/ft, and was sewn at a local fabric shop. I used a Para foil kite, identical design to an elliptical parachute, and blew up the design 300% at a printing shop. The fabric shop did an awesome job sewing it and designing their own templates for the cell dividers. I am thinking of maybe putting a little doll on the end with the camera mounted on his/her helmet, but that require some thought on the brake lines from his/her hands, but a good spot to mount the servos.

Here are some pics of the canopy, disregard the strings/length, I am missing a few and those were there as guides for the new string. I plan on using some 40lb. nylon string from Wal-Mart.

http://mkiiiperformance.net/rcparachute.jpg

http://mkiiiperformance.net/rcparachute2.jpg

Let me know what you guys think. Ohh yea the parachute was made out of a really really light polyester(Nylon was way to expensive), and is close to 0 porosity.

~Dale

[jimbarry 0]

Quote

I haven't really thought of a way to protect the camera incase of a malfunction .

Gel pad perhaps.

You can always go nuts and have one servo operate a cutaway, and rig an RSL-type thing to save from needing a second servo for the (simple round) reserve.

And throw a Cypres on there while you're at it.

[GogglesnTeeth 6]

hmmmm........ depending on the wingloading and design, maybe you could build a small harness for a dog or cat with that rig.
Could be fun
combined with remote controls, think of the possibilities!!!

Goggles and Teeth

"You fall like a greased safe!!!"

[87SupraT 0]

Hmmm, you might be on to something with the round reserve

~Dale

[adamsr 0]

If seen an RC skydiver before, I used to go fly model aircraft and a guy there had one. Used to attach the skydiver to the bomb bay of an rc plane, fly up to about 1k then drop him.

the skydiver could freefall before activating a switch that pulled a pin and deployed the square chute, then 2 servos pulled the skydivers arms down pulling the brake linesfor steering and flare. The skydiver was a bit bigger than action man sized and just have a 7 cell square canopy.

Think the guy said it was about £150 - £200 all in, including all the radio gear, good fun to play with and his accuracy was pretty good as well, always steered the skydiver towards him and caught it on landing!

[wingnut 0]

Quote

I am going to have to use something that can pull in 1-2 feet of line in a couple seconds

some kind of "crank" will work, er not really a crank but a "arm" that is on a short pivot will lett a small servo move a little and multiply the movment out through the lever, only problem you get into now though onthat design is your amount of tourqe you need to pull the line down....

______________________________________
"i have no reader's digest version"

[Guest]

Quote

If seen an RC skydiver before, I used to go fly model aircraft and a guy there had one. Used to attach the skydiver to the bomb bay of an rc plane, fly up to about 1k then drop him.

the skydiver could freefall before activating a switch that pulled a pin and deployed the square chute, then 2 servos pulled the skydivers arms down pulling the brake linesfor steering and flare. The skydiver was a bit bigger than action man sized and just have a 7 cell square canopy.

Think the guy said it was about £150 - £200 all in, including all the radio gear, good fun to play with and his accuracy was pretty good as well, always steered the skydiver towards him and caught it on landing!

There is one of them hanging up inside of of the hangars at Lodi. It was made by one of the RC plane manufacturers, but I cannot recall which.

It looks cheesy but I've seen videos of the things in action - it's very simple and clever.

mh

.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[leroydb 0]

air bag?

Leroy


..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio...

[87SupraT 0]

I took some more pics, of the new lines and inside cell shot. It is a 7 cell canopy, and the last pic is it in the process of being packed.

I found a radio from a friend who does alot of RC Airplane flying, now I need some kind of high torque servo with some leverage on it.

Hey AdamSR, do you know who the guy was? If so, I wonder what kind of servos he was using?

Thanks Guys!

http://mkiiiperformance.net/rcparachute3.jpg

http://mkiiiperformance.net/rcparachute4.jpg

http://mkiiiperformance.net/rcparachute5.jpg

~Dale

[87SupraT 0]

Also, anyone have a junk container, that is no longer in use? I need something to contain the canopy and it would just be way easier to hook it up to a real container that already has the cutaway feature and enclosure.

Just check my lines and they were way off, fixed the line lengths and now it is ready for flight

~Dale

[rhino 0]

Man.. My main is only a 97.. I'll test jump it for you

[sundevil777 102]

I dropped a couple RC guys under canopy that Kelly Farrington made before he was old enough to jump. He made a small 7 cell with spider slider connected to the PC. It was fun to drop on lousy weather hop & pop days. It did however, look just like a real malfunction, but from farther away, if it doesn't deploy. So neighbors once called in the emergency crews.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[87SupraT 0]

Hahaha, it is very close to 97, but there are no brakes yet so I think the ride would be a little hectic.

~Dale