Santa Cruz now looks possible

I think I now have the capability to get to Santa Cruz from Campbell.  The secret is in some new batteries and better motors:

For thew batteries, I'll use LG 1850 cells.  These cells are are rated at 3AH at 3.7V., and they weigh around 47 grams each.  I need to measure their exact performance, but if they do what others say they can, they hold the secret of more power and less weight. Of course, they are expensive.

I'll have to build my own spot welder to weld the cells together with copper straps, and I'll put 12 of these cells together to form one battery of 3 paralleled strings of 4 cells in series. That will give me a 9000mAH battery at 16.8V that weighs less than 600g.

For the motor, I'll  use a HACKER (brand) A40-10L-14PV2 motor (500KV).  These motors are expensive ($118 each) but have more efficiency and power output than others with the same weight.  Each of these motors weighs 272 g.

These motors will spin APC Electric-E props 18 X 6.  

Now, I need to build an airframe that weighs less than 700g, use ESCs that weigh less than 90g each, and wire it with wires that weigh less than 150g total, and I'm in business.

My controller will be either an APC or PixHawk, and I'll have an extra PCB and associated weight to deal with the batteries.

I'll be able to carry a camera (GoPro or SJCAM), but unless I can design an extremely light gimbal, I doubt I'll be able to use one.


I'm going to be careful with this build.  The parts will not be cheap, it would be a shame to lose them.