Quadcopter safety cage

[Marm]

I'm going to be printing out a quad eventually. I plan on using dual Arduino Nano's for the Flight and camera control. Yes, I plan on reinventing the wheel and programming everything from the ground up, because I want to, not because it is easy, but because it is hard.

And since there will be a learning curve for both me as a pilot, the flight control computer, and the autopilot, I need to have "training wheels" for it.

So Has anybody ever seen a giant plastic cage for quad copters to make it just bounce off stuff rather than crash? Initial stabilization tests will be done in a barn

[ssayer]

You mean, like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Walker-Copter-.../dp/9269807088

[LambdaFF]

I have seen 2 things used in aero modelism :
- Huge "fishing" nets deployed to close off the intended flight area.
- A training support which for lack of better description would be like putting your drone on a delta platform to ensure you learn the first basic moves appropriately.

[3dkarma]

RC helicopter training kits have been around for years and basically consist of four struts below the copter with foam balls on the ends - given that most collisions are with the ground. Lots of images here: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=rc...0CD8QsAQ&dpr=1

Performing initial stabilisation tests in a barn might not be a good idea, as there's much more to crash into compared to an open field. Outside on a calm day might be safer.

[Marm]

Since a lot of the initial testing will be of the Flight controller code I'm writing, forgetting to dot an I or cross a T in the code may result in the copter attempting a moon landing.

Before I can even take the controls, the copter has to learn how to hover on its own, and that's the time I do it inside, with a helmet on. I'll probably tether it to something too.

Yes Ssayer, like that. And 5 minutes after posting this thread, I found one on thingiverse......