I designed this quadcopter for aerial video. It's inspired from the RCExplorer tricopter (arms and motor mounts are the same, it can be folded up similarly). It uses an APM 2.5 (running ArduCopter open source software) and a GPS, which enable automatic flight modes (such as return to launch in case of signal lost, or following pre-programmed waypoints). The video stabilization is also quite good thanks to the 3 axis gimbal used.

SETUP OVERVIEW:

• Frame: Self-designed, made out of plywood and PMMA cast
• Arms: Square carbon booms (10x10x325 mm)
• Flight Controller: APM 2.5 (RCTimer)
• GPS: u-Blox CN06 Plus (RCTimer)
• Motors: T-Motor MT2216-12 V2 800KV
• ESC: Favourite Littlebee 30A (BLHeli)
• Props: Graupner E-Prop 10x5
• Battery: Zippy 4S 5000mAh 20C
• RC/TX: Graupner MX-16 HoTT / GR-16 receiver
• Video TX: ImmersionRC 5.8Ghz 600mW and ImmersionRC SpiroNET antennas
• FPV Goggles: Fatshark Attitude V2
• Camera: GoPro 3 Black
• Gimbal: DYS Smart3
• All up weight: 1790 grams (including battery and GoPro camera)
• Flight time : ~ 15 minutes

IN FLIGHT VIDEOS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyQklAaTOLs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBNap7dqjOQ

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS AND CONFIGURATION:

Available on my website: http://gaetanlaure.com/the-quadcopter-v1