My tricopter is based on the tricopter V2.5 from rcexplorer.se, and uses the kit from fpvmanuals.
System Cost (Tricopter)
Part
|
Quantity
|
Unit Cost
|
Total Cost
|
Source
|
900MHz 100mW PAL Video TX/RX Kit
|
1
|
$54.30
|
$54.30
|
HobbyKing
|
1280MHz 600mW TX/RX Kit
|
1
|
$49.35
|
$49.35
|
BestOfferBuy
|
Philips 7" LCD (PD7012)
|
1
|
$22.95
|
$22.95
|
eBay
|
Mini 1/3" PAL CMOS Camera
|
1
|
$7.35
|
$7.35
|
BuyInCoins
|
2.8mm 1/3" Lens
|
2
|
$6.12
|
$6.12
|
eBay
|
XT-60 Connectors (M/F Pair)
|
5
|
$6.65
|
$6.65
|
eBay
|
Turnigy 9X TX/RX
|
1
|
$78.93
|
$78.93
|
HobbyKing
|
HobbyKing 1500mAH 9.9V LiFePo4 Battery
|
1
|
$6.77
|
$6.77
|
HobbyKing
|
22AWG Twisted 30cm Servo Lead Extension (5 pcs.)
|
1
|
$2.79
|
$2.79
|
HobbyKing
|
Walkera DEVO 8S/12S Upgrade Module
|
1
|
$13.83
|
$13.83
|
EHIROBO
|
PPM to USB Cable
|
1
|
$4.85
|
$4.85
|
eBay
|
Prop Balancer
|
1
|
$3.13
|
$3.13
|
eBay
|
Theraband Prop Saver Band Material
|
1'
|
$1.31
|
$1.31
|
eBay
|
AbuseMarK Naze32 Flight Controller
|
1
|
$73.45
|
$73.45
|
AbuseMarK
|
fpvmanuals Delrin Tricopter Kit
|
1
|
$102.98
|
$102.98
|
getfpv
|
RMILEC UHF LRS
|
1
|
$217.50
|
$217.50
|
Foxtech FPV
|
36" Basswood 10x10mm Arms
|
4
|
$9.95
|
$9.95
|
Magnum Wood
|
hexTronik DT750 750kV Brushless Outrunner
|
4
|
$10.97
|
$43.88
|
HobbyKing
|
HobbyKing F-30A 30A Brushless ESC
|
4
|
$8.86
|
$35.44
|
HobbyKing
|
Blue Bird BMS-385DMAX Metal Gear Digital Servo
|
1
|
$20.02
|
$20.02
|
HobbyKing
|
Turnigy 5000mAH 20C 3S LiPo Battery
|
2
|
$21.98
|
$43.96
|
HobbyKing
|
GWS 10x4.7" Slow Fly Prop (6 pcs.)
|
2
|
$4.47
|
$8.94
|
HobbyKing
|
GWS 10x4.7" Counter Rotating Slow Fly Prop (6 pcs.)
|
1
|
$4.47
|
$4.47
|
HobbyKing
|
4mm Prop Saver (10 pcs.)
|
1
|
$3.99
|
$3.99
|
HobbyKing
|
4mm Hex Nut (10 pcs.)
|
1
|
$0.79
|
$0.79
|
HobbyKing
|
PolyMax 3.5mm ESC/Motor Connectors (10 pairs)
|
1
|
$1.50
|
$1.50
|
HobbyKing
|
XT60 Connectors (5 pairs)
|
1
|
$3.19
|
$3.19
|
HobbyKing
|
Turnigy Red Silicone 14ga. Wire (1m)
|
1
|
$1.39
|
$1.39
|
HobbyKing
|
Turnigy Black Silicone 14ga. Wire (1m)
|
1
|
$1.39
|
$1.39
|
HobbyKing
|
Turnigy 9X White LED Backlight
|
1
|
$4.99
|
$4.99
|
HobbyKing
|
Shipping (HobbyKing)
|
1
|
$29.33
|
$29.33
|
|
Total Cost
|
|
|
$858.49
|
(as of 5/22/12)
|
Minimal System Cost
Below is the cost of a bare-minimum system using similar components.
Part
|
Quantity
|
Unit Cost
|
Total Cost
|
Source
|
AbuseMarK Naze32 Flight Controller
|
1
|
$73.45
|
$73.45
|
AbuseMarK
|
fpvmanuals Delrin Tricopter Kit
|
1
|
$98.72
|
$98.72
|
ReadyMadeRC
|
36" Basswood 10x10mm Arms
|
2
|
$7.35
|
$7.35
|
Magnum Wood
|
900MHz 100mW PAL Video TX/RX Kit
|
1
|
$54.30
|
$54.30
|
HobbyKing
|
Turnigy 9X TX/RX
|
1
|
$78.93
|
$78.93
|
HobbyKing
|
hexTronik DT750 750kV Brushless Outrunner
|
3
|
$10.97
|
$32.91
|
HobbyKing
|
HobbyKing HK-30A SS Series 25A Brushless ESC
|
3
|
$5.99
|
$17.97
|
HobbyKing
|
Blue Bird BMS-385DMAX Metal Gear Digital Servo
|
1
|
$20.02
|
$20.02
|
HobbyKing
|
Turnigy 5000mAH 20C 3S LiPo Battery
|
1
|
$21.98
|
$21.98
|
HobbyKing
|
GWS 10x4.7" Slow Fly Prop (6 pcs.)
|
2
|
$4.47
|
$8.94
|
HobbyKing
|
GWS 10x4.7" Counter Rotating Slow Fly Prop (6 pcs.)
|
1
|
$4.47
|
$4.47
|
HobbyKing
|
4mm Prop Saver (10 pcs.)
|
1
|
$3.99
|
$3.99
|
HobbyKing
|
4mm Hex Nut (10 pcs.)
|
1
|
$0.79
|
$0.79
|
HobbyKing
|
PolyMax 3.5mm ESC/Motor Connectors (10 pairs)
|
1
|
$1.50
|
$1.50
|
HobbyKing
|
XT60 Connectors (5 pairs)
|
1
|
$3.19
|
$3.19
|
HobbyKing
|
Turnigy Red Silicone 14ga. Wire (1m)
|
1
|
$1.39
|
$1.39
|
HobbyKing
|
Turnigy Black Silicone 14ga. Wire (1m)
|
1
|
$1.39
|
$1.39
|
HobbyKing
|
Shipping (HobbyKing)
|
1
|
$41.74
|
$41.74
|
|
Total Cost
|
|
|
$442.70
|
|
Mass Budget
Part
|
Quantity
|
Unit Mass (g)
|
Total Mass (g)
|
Thrust (DT-750 + 10x4.7")
|
3
|
-900
|
-2700
|
900MHz 100mW Video TX
|
1
|
(28.1)
|
(28.1)
|
900MHz Cloverleaf Antenna
|
1
|
(16.3)
|
(16.3)
|
Camera + Wiring Harness/Voltage Regulator
|
1
|
(19.7)
|
(19.7)
|
Turnigy 9X RX (With RSSI)
|
1
|
8.7
|
8.7
|
AbuseMarK Naze32 Flight Controller
|
1
|
7.4
|
7.4
|
rev0SD
|
1
|
(45.2)
|
(45.2)
|
fpvmanuals Delrin Tricopter Kit
|
1
|
196.6
|
196.6
|
Basswood Arms (Back)
|
1
|
16.5
|
16.5
|
Basswood Arms (Front)
|
2
|
19.7
|
39.3
|
DT750 750kV Brushless Motor
|
3
|
84.1
|
252.3
|
F-30A Brushless ESC
|
3
|
35.9
|
107.7
|
BMS-385DMAX Metal Gear Digital Servo
|
1
|
19.1
|
19.1
|
Turnigy 5000mAH 20C 3S LiPo Battery
|
1
|
397.7
|
397.7
|
GWS 10x4.7" Prop
|
3
|
7.8
|
23.4
|
14ga. Battery-ESC Wiring Harness
|
1
|
55.5
|
55.5
|
Tape, Zip-ties, Misc. Hardware
|
1
|
(184)
|
(184)
|
AUW (No Battery)
|
|
|
(956)
|
AUW
|
|
|
1353.7
|
Net Thrust
|
|
|
-1346.3
|
Photos
Tricopter frame with video transmitter and cloverleaf antenna mounted
Main HobbyKing order containing batteries, motors, ESCs, servo, props, and accessories
A DT-750 motor after soldering bullet connectors, cutting down the shaft, and attaching a prop saver
An F-30A after soldering battery and bullet connectors and reflashing with the SimonK firmware
Rear-left view of the tricopter
Front view of the tricopter
Rear-right view of the tricopter and Turnigy 9X transmitter
Front-right view of the tricopter, as outfitted for FPV
Front view of the tricopter, as outfitted for FPV
Homemade replacement motor plate
Homemade replacement servo plate
Ground station in operation during a flight
Tricopter during an evening flight
Tricopter against the moon
Videos
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