Aerial installation...

Had an idea for an art installation (ideally in the UMFA's big empty mezzanine, that seems to sit empty much of the time), being filled with a variety of flying and floating drones.  Talked to +Jon D about his WiSEL quad-copter project to see if he'd be interested in working on such a project.  He liked the idea, so I've started dreaming up fairings for his tiny quad-copter design.  This could be a fun project.

(This is a sleek, form fitting fairing)

(This design takes into account the copters angle of attack)

(It seeks to minimize drag by applying streamlining orthogonal to the props' axis of rotation) 

Block lifter V0.3

At long last I've finally started getting parts glued up.  This version includes a slot interruptor to prevent the damn thing from damaging itself.  Still ended up doing lots of grinding and cutting on this revision.

(glued parts, bread boarded circuits and a hacked servo)

(block V0.3 getting glued up)

Drones and the Pacific North-West

During a brief hiatus in parental duties (due to +Jason Hoff 's non-functioning ankle and the christening of an unsuspecting infant) I took the opportunity to visit +David Tolmie and +Timothy Carstens in Seattle.  As yet, a  decision I have no regrets making.  While here, I've gotten a chance to talk DIY UAVs with +Timothy Carstens and partake in many fermented and or distilled beverages.  Also, went to the Seattle Art Museum (downtown) a really nice museum that has just enough on display that I didn't burn myself out but large enough to keep me occupied for a couple of hours.  Here are a few shots of my favorite pieces:

(a clever concept piece)

(a perverse piece titled "water babies")

(an awesome use of 4x4s)

I've redesigned the drone's wing shape upon the advice of some of my pilot friends  Due to it's putative use cases I've opted for a much lower stall speed with good lifting capacity.  Here's a new planview: