Hey guys!
I’m a software developer new to robotics. I work on software that, among other things, processes and cleans bathymetric data (depth data under water). I’m trying to create a robot that’s capable of producing valid real-world data to be used with the software I work on.
What I’m trying to accomplish is to build a robot capable of scanning depth information around the office building I’m in and produce 3D point clouds from the results. The first step, though, is to create a platform capable of supporting my components.
I had originally envisioned a blimp gracefully floating around the office over the weekends, but now that I’m considering the weight of the components and batteries (I assume I’ll need them to be tether-less) it seems I might need a higher powered helicopter of some sorts.
Does anyone have any suggestions, such as someone elses project that’s nearly the same as mine? Or perhaps other people trying to get something airborne and wireless?
Or will this simply not work based on the components available to hobbyists?
Hey,
The weight of the payload will depend on which components I buy, which will depend on how I construct the flying craft.
If I end up putting money into a powerful RC helicopter then I’d imagine weight concerns would be minimal. With a blimp, however, I’d imagine I’d be limited to a pound or two maximum. However, I’d like to know what kind of options there are for components: are there lightweight gyro/compass/accelerometers and range finders? can they be powered by lightweight watch batteries? Can I reduce the number of cables connecting devices to a minimum to reduce weight?
As for the environment it’s going to be a constant room temperature (~23.5 degrees C) with constant humidity. It will not go outdoors, and there will be no wind to contend with.
My budget anywhere from $400 to $1000 depending on what technologies are available.
I guess I do want to map my office, although that’s not the main goal. The goal is create a robot capable of producing gyro/accelerometer/compass/location/range data from a wireless airborne device. I’ll play with the data later on, and for now location data can be faked (gps components seem too expensive for the first attempt at robotics).
Thanks for the help 
Thanks for all the input!
After looking at some of the UAV kits I’ve decided that my best bet is to invest in something like:
robotshop.com/parallax-elev-8-quadcopter-uav-kit.html
That should be a good foundation for my office-scanning project, and it should also be a lot of fun to configure and use. I just need to save up for a bit and I should be able to start the fun 
What is the weight of the payload you want to carry?
What is the maximum height it needs to go to, and in what environmental conditions (inside office onlny or outside as well on perfect day or rain / snow?)
What’s your budget?
Do you want to map your office?
Essentially you would be looking for a less expensive version of the CoaX without a camera.
They are not very heavy at all (<10g range). An IMU (gyro + accelerometer) can be a few grams.
Watch batteries may be able to provide the correct voltage, but their capacity is low, so they won’t last for long.
Of course. You can also change the cable type (you only need thick wires to carry current to power motors - the rest are signal wires and can be quite thin.
