By way of recap, decision was made to power up the transporter-style booth using an identical quadcopter at half-scale around both base and dome, the former doubling as a landing gear. Constructed in plastic throughout, each airframe can be assembled in less time than an IKEA coffee-table using only push-fit tube connectors and Allen key. Four-way connectors at each corner provide lugs for fast-fitment of motor-units.
The airframe retains the outline of previous prototypes whilst reducing foot-print and weight to a minimum: the configuration has the same capacity as the airframe in the background but reduces its foot-print by a third and its weight by over forty percent. Perimeter sections measure 750mm and the cantilevers 500mm, so that overall length is a nominal 1000mm and the width (without motors) is 800mm; the basic airframe weighing 2.0kg or 4.40 pounds. The centre-section remains 300mm square in support of stock transporters, however.
Next up the 'fitting out' of this lower drone with battery-packs, ESCs and motor-units. I've gone for black extrusions to avoid paint, and because people seem to take drones more seriously that way.
Henry Ford would be delighted.
