MelbourneUAV Outback Challenge entry goes down hard

[Chris Anderson]

Sorry to see this. It was a beautiful bird (see below). It used the AttoPilot autopilot. 

From the team's Twitter feed: 

We had an RC Lockout in Maunal Mode at 25M AGL while coming into land on Saturday. More photos on the website soon :(

Moments before:

[Grips]

Was this Tridge's team?

[Chris Anderson]

No. He's on the CanberraUAV team.

[Grips]

ah I was just coming back to edit my post..

Goodluck Tridge!

[Scott James]

Wow that was quick!

 

Yeah it was really weird!

 

We were just finishing an awesome morning of flying when it happened...

The UAV was in Manual Mode while coming into land and all of a sudden there was a RC glitch/lockout which caused the Devilray to nose dive!

It was only about 25 meters up when it happened.

Just before it hit the ground I heard the motor rev up, the RC failsafe was set to Autonomous Mode so the Attopilot tried it's hardest to save itself but when your going straight down with only 10M to the ground there was nothing that could be done!

After talking to others that use the site we have found out that we are not the only ones to have a lock out there?

I'm surprised how well the Devilray help up to the crash! We have plans to put  it back together later on, just need a few bits. (Mostly glue and a but of CF)

 

Since the crash all of our electronics have tested to be fine but unfortunately we do not have enough time to order a new Devilray airframe and be able to stay in the Competition, the D2 is due in only 44 days. (I really wish we did!!)

So the hunt is on for a new airframe to get us by that we can install our Atto into!  It's going to be compromise but at least we can still compete. 

 

We were using  Futaba 36Mhz for our RC link at the time. (Using 2.4 for other things)

 

I think it's very important to add that in the last 2 years that we have been using the Attopilot and the Devilray airframe they have performed flawlessly!!

I wish every thing in life was this good.

And I would highly recommend the Devilray and Attopilot to anyone! (Just use reliable RC gear with it!)

 

Cheers,

 

Scott - Melbourne UAV

[Scott James]

More photo's here

 

[John Arne Birkeland]

Sorry to head about the crash. Lockout's on the old 35-72mhz PCM/PPM systems was sadly just a part of the game, and I think the reason why 2.4ghz took over in a flash. Is it possible to use 433mhz in the competition? With the popularity of FPV, of the shelf R/C 433mhz diversity systems are available.

[Scott James]

Unfortunately 433 is a no go in Australia.   :(

 

[Mark Colwell]

Sorry about the bad luck, Glue it back together and try again, Manta it has some more life still! 

[Gary Mortimer]

B&*(£^ck$

[Martint BuildYourOwnDrone.co.uk]

Ouch...........