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Here's next week's video, early for Patrons. This one goes out publicly on Tuesday 7th September.

Yep - there's going to be a part 2 which I'm working on now ;-)

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Previews only

Ornithopter - PREVIEW VERSION

I really want to do more flying projects, so since the electric rockets failed so badly I thought I'd try to build another complicated flying machine. An ornithopter is something that flies by flapping its wings. There are various off the shelf kits available but I wanted to start from scratch and work my way through all of the development. You can support me on Patreon or buy my Merchandise: *************************** Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xrobots Merchandise: https://teespring.com/stores/james-bruton *************************** Affiliate links - I will get some money of you use them to sign up or buy something: *************************** Matterhackers 3D printing supplies: http://www.matterhackers.com?aff=7500 Music for your YouTube videos: http://share.epidemicsound.com/xrobots *************************** Other socials: *************************** Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xrobotsuk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xrobotsuk/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/xrobotsuk *************************** CAD and Code for my projects: https://github.com/XRobots Huge thanks to my Patrons, without whom my standard of living would drastically decline. Like, inside out-Farm Foods bag decline. Plus a very special shoutout to Lulzbot, Inc who keep me in LulzBot 3D printers and support me via Patreon. HARDWARE/SOFTWARE Below you can also find a lot of the typical tools, equipment and supplies used in my projects: Filament from: https://www.3dfuel.com/ Lulzbot 3D Printers: http://bit.ly/2Sj6nil Lincoln Electric Welder: https://bit.ly/2Rqhqos CNC Router: https://bit.ly/2QdsNjt Ryobi Tools: http://bit.ly/2RhArcD Axminster Micro Lathe: http://bit.ly/2Sj6eeN 3D Printer Filament: http://bit.ly/2PdcdUu Soldering Iron: http://bit.ly/2DrNWDR Vectric CNC Software: http://bit.ly/2zxpZqv Why not join my community, who are mostly made up of actual geniuses. There’s a Facebook group and everything: https://www.facebook.com/groups/287089964833488/ XROBOTS Former toy designer, current YouTube maker and general robotics, electrical and mechanical engineer, I’m a fan of doing it yourself and innovation by trial and error. My channel is where I share some of my useful and not-so-useful inventions, designs and maker advice. Iron Man is my go-to cosplay, and 3D printing can solve most issues - broken bolts, missing parts, world hunger, you name it. XRobots is the community around my content where you can get in touch, share tips and advice, and more build FAQs, schematics and designs are also available.

Comments

Anonymous

Love the ornithopter! It’s cool to see this complex technology presented in an accessible way… maybe a robot lawn mower in the future though eh? 😂

Scott Cress

Nice! I love this concept. The fact that insects can generate lift with such small wings fascinates me. Did you have any thoughts on integrating your shape shifting "morphing" ball into your ornithopter design? Because, apparently, that's how bees (and most insects) fly. https://youtu.be/6cMB_YeUh1o

Dean Edis

Very cool! It’ll be great to see how it develops in v2.

John N Nelson

Nicely done. It seems like rather than just up-down movement of the wings the wings need to have a more complex movement the involves up-down and forward-backward movement to scoop air and push it down and back.

XRobots

I think the idea is that the wings trail slightly so they form an angle as they move up and down which cases air to be pushed back - at least that's how most of the others look to me.

Pete Mertz

What about a little weed whacker (I think that's what at least some of the robot mowers use anyway :-p)

Anonymous

Great project :) You need to build a robot lawnmower though 😂

George

What about a robot weeder? It could have a camera and AI to detect weeds and then pull them....or chop them.....or use a flamethrower on them!

Faraz Sayed

Ooh, maybe you can come up with a flappy bird course in real life. Better yet figure out how to make a robotic one.

XRobots

Presumably there's some efficiency savings in a lower KV motor though - high voltage and a lower current to achieve the RPM means it's more efficient - like power transmission lines?

Anonymous

In the wiring to the motor and in the motor controller: Yes. In the motor itself: No. For the explanation as to why it works like that, check the linked article.

Thomas Messerschmidt

I wonder if it would be possible to scale one of these up and make it big enough to lift a human—a motor-powered Icarus machine!

Anonymous

I’ve built an ornithopter. Most of the thrust comes from the wing tips, and this is where you have the least material. A birds wing has primary feathers and secondary feathers (if you look at a diagram it will speak to this) also the tail needs too rotate left and right while deflecting up and down. Awesome first try though, cheers

XRobots

Thanks, I will modify the wing shape on v2 so the ends are rounder and reinforced with some carbon fibre rods.