Hey everyone!
I learned loads of stuff while building the 'HoverBot'.
http://www.rcindia.org/self-designed-diy-and-college-projects/hoverbot-xtreme/

So, after realizing that there's lots of room for improvements, I started working on the HoverBot v2.

Here's the new features:

1)   Semi-autonomous (using Arduino Due). Sets ESC throttle end points at each startup. Detects obstacles and stops the HoverBot.
2)   Differential steering for better control, agility and torque-balance.
3)   Full brushless setup, improved skirt and compact design.

We might add gyro stabilization (as I have a quad board now!) and onboard cam. Then there's a 2-DOF arm built waiting to be attached.
Now those who have seen the vids of HoverBot can just imagine the speed this one can achieve! Will post vids soon!

Pics:
1) Front view
2) Battery bay

More pics:
3) Lift motor
4) Thrust motors and Arduino

beautiful    Swapnil looking awsome, i know will run beautiful too.we will Wait for the Video eagerly. 

Awesome build!!!!!  The whole concept of design is futuristic. Not only design but you have also added feature of automated system. This one is completely new thing i have ever seen.

Thanks Swizera and Dharmik!

Quote from: Dharmik on March 17, 2012, 09:27:42 PM
also added feature of automated system...

I've also written a program for auto-lift and auto-navigation(using sonar) . And it works great!
But the group of college friends (juniors) I built this for wanted it to have radio control as well. So now it's semi-autonomous.

One of my friend is working on machine-vision. When it's done I might be able to make the HoverBot autonomously chase humans. (or cats!)   

Well done Swapnil. Please post a video!!

Thanks Rohit. I have some 'testing' videos. Will post in a bit...

Here's a water test vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBl2Q9nDp2Q&feature=player_detailpage

Swapnil..a million salute for your great work and dedication.. ..

Thanks Roopesh sir, I'm honoured!

its not a simple apreciation Swapnil..!! but you deserve it.. because making a full hovering bed is a tougher job.. but you made it here.. simply.. only a few can achieve this.. even you can look around the world, then can only find a very few machines as sucessful.. so, its moments of happy.. and proud.. thanks for sharing your works to us.. keep it up and go for even bigger machine.. have a nice future.. 

The 2 DOF arm turned out to be too heavy so we just added the gripper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxyCofEYSks&feature=g-upl&context=G2b91ba1AUAAAAAAACAA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMAZJrkCHoI&feature=g-upl&context=G2d3ebe1AUAAAAAAABAA

And the auto stop using IR sensors. The range is not much. Will soon change it to ultrasonic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyqlTnVgxnI&feature=g-upl&context=G256eba9AUAAAAAAADAA

The differential thrust was achieved by using elevon mixing (with zero aileron diffetential) plus one programmable mixing. The torque is balanced by proper trimming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XlQgtg-Z5w&feature=g-upl&context=G2b40110AUAAAAAAAEAA

And here's what differential steering can do!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lqr3CiJFRUQ&feature=g-upl&context=G2224f9aAUAAAAAAAAAA

This thing looks so cute. Would you mind telling us material of skirt?

The material is an old car cover dipped in a secret solution ( ) for making it totally airtight. It also has duct tape at bottom for protection on tar road.

Does anyone have experience with laser range-finders?

I was wondering about the color scheme. Would black+silver look better than black+ yellow or black+red? Or should I let it be as it is (i.e black+white)?

Here's a test bot I made to configure and check the diff mixing before applying it on the HoverBot v2. It turned out to be really fun! 

Setup:
500 RPM side-shaft brushed motors x 2
HK 30A brushed ESC                     X 2
LiPo 2200mAh 20-30C

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSnDbtCshNU&feature=g-upl&context=G2224f9aAUAAAAAAAAAA                   

 

OMG...
u did so well sir...
Damn good work. When you say it took TWO days to make it,what exactly do you mean?
it took only TWO days to develop the design,research,assemble things together,develop the code etc etc?
please enlighten me.:-)

Nah! Two days to make the hull (that is, base + skirt) and fixing the thrust motors.
Total assembly time (including programming the arduino and setting channel mixes) was 4-5 days.

its great......but from where you got...HK 30A brushed ESC..?
   

Brushed? The HoverBot uses brushless ESCs. If you are referring to the 'FunBot' ESCs, I got them from Vivek bhaiyya (rcelectro.com)