Feeler: Quad copters (Semi-assembled kits)

[Grix]

I'm considering expanding my bitcoin business to something other than just lasers, and I was thinking Quad copters would be an ideal gadget to sell! Quad copters are RC helicopters with four different horizontal propellers. Quad copters are very fun to play with, and they are surprisingly strong. These copters should be able to carry at least a load of .5-1 kilogram, more than enough to for example mount a camera to it! They are also relatively easy to fly. Although one will probably break a few propellers during the first few flights, after a while it will be very smooth and simple. The parts I will choose are made of high quality material and are sturdy and light. Some features it'll include are automatic gyro-stabilization, low battery indicator, etc. etc.

Although I obviously cannot beat the cost of buying individual components from asia, what I am selling is my knowledge and labour, not the parts. Researching and building a quad copter from scratch can be a daunting task for most people, therefore I was thinking of offering kits where all the hard work is already done by me so that you just have to screw a few pieces together and start flying! I will be soldering the wires, setting the control board properly, balancing the propellers, and all the other things that require special tools, time and know-how.

If my calculations are correct, I think I'll be able to offer a very competitive pricing as well, something like $280 for the quad copter alone and maybe $330 for everything you will need such as the radio, battery charger, spare propellers and so on. (Note that this does not include shipping which would be around $25 to europe and $40 worldwide).

So I'm just wondering, are there interest for this in the bitcoin community? The kits are kind of expensive so I don't want to order some if I'm not positive I'll be able to sell them at all. Perhaps I can do on-demand ordering, but I doubt anyone would want that because of the extra long shipping times.

Here are some videos of quad copters in action (Not my specific build though):

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsrzBwylodU
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPcYI7gk6r4

[Electricbees]

Always one step ahead of me, Grix...

I have been prototyping one of these for a show at the university for a while now.

Interested to see your build(s)!

[Stephen Gornick]

So I'm just wondering, are there interest for this in the bitcoin community?

You've already missed out on a sale!

Hey @thequadshot guys! Any update on when my Mocha is shipping Ordered a while ago!

 - https://twitter.com/CharlieShrem/status/235841692098502656

[Grix]

So I'm just wondering, are there interest for this in the bitcoin community?

You've already missed out on a sale!

Hey @thequadshot guys! Any update on when my Mocha is shipping Ordered a while ago!

 - https://twitter.com/CharlieShrem/status/235841692098502656

Dang! 

[swissmate]

I will buy them as I'm looking for quad copters.

I would be also interested in fpv equipment.

If you hurry up and sell them soon, I'll be your first customer.

[Grix]

Ok, I'll likely buy parts for one copter very soon, probably tomorrow, and we'll see what happens next. If it indeed sells quickly I'll probably buy more

[paraipan]

+1 count me in, proud owner of a ESky Honey Bee 2 here looking for a quad with a wireless cam  

[Grix]

Things might get a little bit more expensive than I anticipated.. What is the highest price you guys would be willing to pay for these kits? I can do $350 + shipping for a complete set with everything you need, or $320 for the copter alone, and I won't even be making that much profit. Is there still interest at those prices?

Also, are you guys more interested in the only-copter solution or the all-you-need solution?

[Tril]

Things might get a little bit more expensive than I anticipated.. What is the highest price you guys would be willing to pay for these kits? I can do $350 + shipping for a complete set with everything you need, or $320 for the copter alone, and I won't even be making that much profit. Is there still interest at those prices?

Also, are you guys more interested in the only-copter solution or the all-you-need solution?

ok so I am interested in learning about quad-copters but know nothing about the regular prices. You tell me if this is a good deal or not

One disadvantage I see is if you do all the work, how would I know how to repair it (re-balancing the propellers?) and which tools I need for that. Will you provide customer support?
 
Is this electric or gas?   What is the range / flight time?  I'm leaning toward looking for a gas one because I'm worried about it taking longer to charge up the battery than it runs for.

[Grix]

I think the price is still quite good considering the assembling and adjusting I'll do. As I said you could get a copter for cheaper, but mostly in fully DIY packages without any service. And yes, I will provide assistance if any of the customers ever need it. It will not be hard to repair at all, and I have spare parts at home that I can send asap if needed.

It's electric, afaik the majority of quadcopters are electric. It's more convenient imo. I haven't quite decided on a battery yet, but I think it'll be a 11V ~2500mAh battery which will provide about 10-20 minutes flight time depending on how hard you drive it.

Anyways I think I'll order a set later today. I figure the worst that can happen is that no one buys it unless I sell at a loss, but whatever. At least I'll learn something

Things might get a little bit more expensive than I anticipated.. What is the highest price you guys would be willing to pay for these kits? I can do $350 + shipping for a complete set with everything you need, or $320 for the copter alone, and I won't even be making that much profit. Is there still interest at those prices?

Also, are you guys more interested in the only-copter solution or the all-you-need solution?

ok so I am interested in learning about quad-copters but know nothing about the regular prices. You tell me if this is a good deal or not

One disadvantage I see is if you do all the work, how would I know how to repair it (re-balancing the propellers?) and which tools I need for that. Will you provide customer support?
 
Is this electric or gas?   What is the range / flight time?  I'm leaning toward looking for a gas one because I'm worried about it taking longer to charge up the battery than it runs for.

[swissmate]

I think the price is still quite good considering the assembling and adjusting I'll do. As I said you could get a copter for cheaper, but mostly in fully DIY packages without any service. And yes, I will provide assistance if any of the customers ever need it. It will not be hard to repair at all, and I have spare parts at home that I can send asap if needed.

It's electric, afaik the majority of quadcopters are electric. It's more convenient imo. I haven't quite decided on a battery yet, but I think it'll be a 11V ~2500mAh battery which will provide about 10-20 minutes flight time depending on how hard you drive it.

Anyways I think I'll order a set later today. I figure the worst that can happen is that no one buys it unless I sell at a loss, but whatever. At least I'll learn something

Things might get a little bit more expensive than I anticipated.. What is the highest price you guys would be willing to pay for these kits? I can do $350 + shipping for a complete set with everything you need, or $320 for the copter alone, and I won't even be making that much profit. Is there still interest at those prices?

Also, are you guys more interested in the only-copter solution or the all-you-need solution?

ok so I am interested in learning about quad-copters but know nothing about the regular prices. You tell me if this is a good deal or not

One disadvantage I see is if you do all the work, how would I know how to repair it (re-balancing the propellers?) and which tools I need for that. Will you provide customer support?
 
Is this electric or gas?   What is the range / flight time?  I'm leaning toward looking for a gas one because I'm worried about it taking longer to charge up the battery than it runs for.

It should be powerful enough to carry a cmos camera and also a gopro HD for some nice fpv and recording.

If you are ready to sell them please contact me, I am looking to buy a quadcopter for the end of september.

[Garr255]

It should be powerful enough to carry a cmos camera and also a gopro HD for some nice fpv and recording.

If you are ready to sell them please contact me, I am looking to buy a quadcopter for the end of september.

+1 I've been meaning to build one for a while but haven't had the time. This would be great!

[Grix]

Well, I've ordered parts for one all-you-need kit. If it sells fast I'll order several more. If more than one is positive that they want a kit, you can preorder with a partial payment and I'll order more right away.

[Garr255]

You'll definitely get more sales if you tell us exactly what you're selling I'm not going to buy until I see a video of one working and such. I'd also like to be able to program flight patterns and other software stuff with an arduino, so keep that in mind when getting parts together

Just having an FPV setup will be cool enough though

[bitjet]

I will buy them as I'm looking for quad copters.

I would be also interested in fpv equipment.

If you hurry up and sell them soon, I'll be your first customer.

I have a long range UHF rc control system if you are interested.

I do a lot of FPV flying.


Here are some videos I've shot with my tricopter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgGTToh1RVc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNE7b9JUmco

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeowodgDON8

[bitjet]

I haven't quite decided on a battery yet, but I think it'll be a 11V ~2500mAh battery which will provide about 10-20 minutes flight time depending on how hard you drive it.

Try 8 minutes. MAYBE. No way you will be getting 20 minutes on a quad with a 2500mah lipo. 

Here are the questions that need answering

What do you plan on using for an Flight Control Board?
Which esc, motors and prop sizes?
Will rc control tx/rx be included?
What frame will you be using?

I think you are new to building multi rotors.. There is a lot more to it. You need to get the correct ESC (electronic speed controllers) for multirotors and repflash them if necessary , the correct motors for the application and the correct prop size for the motor/frame. Under propping or over propping will cook the motors. the you need to know how to program the ESC's so when they hit the low voltage setting they wont kill the motors and drop your quad out of the sky..

[Grix]

I haven't quite decided on a battery yet, but I think it'll be a 11V ~2500mAh battery which will provide about 10-20 minutes flight time depending on how hard you drive it.

Try 8 minutes. MAYBE. No way you will be getting 20 minutes on a quad with a 2500mah lipo.  

Here are the questions that need answering

What do you plan on using for an Flight Control Board?
Which esc, motors and prop sizes?
Will rc control tx/rx be included?
What frame will you be using?

I think you are new to building multi rotors.. There is a lot more to it. You need to get the correct ESC (electronic speed controllers) for multirotors and repflash them if necessary , the correct motors for the application and the correct prop size for the motor/frame. Under propping or over propping will cook the motors. the you need to know how to program the ESC's so when they hit the low voltage setting they wont kill the motors and drop your quad out of the sky..

I have a self-built quad myself with mostly the same parts as this, it works great. I know how to build them. I was going to post full specs and documentation when I got the parts, I didn't know exactly what I was going to buy until yesterday.


>What do you plan on using for an Flight Control Board?

Hobbyking v2.1 with the newest KK 4X firmware flashed.

>Which esc, motors and prop sizes?

Turnigy Plush 30A, NTM Prop Drive 28-26A 1200kv / 250w, manually balanced 10/45 molded props.

>Will rc control tx/rx be included?

Yes, as said. The hobbyking HK6S, 6ch, 2.4GHz.

>What frame will you be using?

Hobbyking SK450, glass fiber, 450mm.

[bitjet]

Cool man sounds good! You should consider using the hobby king kk2 board though. It has auto level which will be required by the newbies.

[Grix]

Hm, yes, that looks very cool. I'll definitely consider it for the eventual next order.

[starsoccer9]

seems really cool, I always wanted to make a flying helicopter or gyro copter. that would be cool.