strut mounted camera gimbal

[N74DV]

Been working on a jury strut mounted camera gimbal. Currently only with a tilt axis, but eventually tilt, roll, and pan with IMU stabilization.

Dual high torque digital servos drive the camera plate in tilt axis. The lower camera plate is adjustable up/down & fore/aft to align the tilt axis with the CG of the camera. The U-shaped gimbal is isolated from the main frame with neoprene vibration isolators. The whole system mounts up to the jury strut where the jury struts meet the main lift strut. NO HOLES to be drilled. Slips over the jury struts. Can be mounted to the front or rear for forward or rearward facing shots. CNC cut from G10-FR4 fiberglass composite and aluminum.

Weight with a HD video or still camera is approx. 2.75lb

Now... let me say this. (ah-hem... clearing throat) This is for "Experimental" certificated airplanes only if you know what I mean. Never to be flown on a Standard category airplane.

Now that I got that out of the way... more pics of it mounted to the plane and some aerial HD video soon to come.

[VictorBravo]

Re: strut mounted camera gimbal

That's GREAT ! Fantastic.

If you have not already thought of this, I suggest that you have an in-cockpit controller that uses an R/C transmitter joystick to move the camera.

If you mount the joystick in the cockpit keyed directionally to the mounting on the jury strut, then you can simply point the stick from inside the airplane and know that the camera is pointing the same direction relative to the airplane...

[N74DV]

Re: strut mounted camera gimbal

yes... hard to see in the photos but there is a Futaba receiver in there. For now it will control only tilt axis of the gimbal and shutter trigger/start stop record. I also will have a 2.4ghz microwave video transmitter to a LCD display in the cockpit.

In the future full 3 axis pan/tilt/roll/zoom/shutter will be supported.

To make it even less expensive it could be configured with a cheap wired joystick into the cabin. Just tape the wire to the strut and bring it inside the door.

I took some shots with it mounted this afternoon

[Dan Michaels]

Re: strut mounted camera gimbal

How long before we can expect radar controlling so we can just lock on to and object and have the camera follow it.

Can you PM me with an estimated cost.

Dan

[N74DV]

Re: strut mounted camera gimbal

Dan, PM sent.

Also forgot to mention that while I was at the airport I tried the gimbal on a C-140 and a Super Cub and it fit the jury struts on those as well. Seems to be somewhat universal. I'd like to make a lift strut clamping version for airplanes without jury struts.

Hmm.... time to pull out some Delrin and get the CNC moving.

[AndyDuke]

Re: strut mounted camera gimbal

That's a work of art - I look forward to seeing some of the video shot with it.

Andy

[VictorBravo]

Re: strut mounted camera gimbal

To make it even less expensive it could be configured with a cheap wired joystick into the cabin. Just tape the wire to the strut and bring it inside the door.

\

That's exactly what I was thinking. Being able to use your orientation/position seated in the airplane as your aiming reference and having the camera position tied in with that, as opposed to having to look through a viewfinder or monitor while flying. I'd use the gimbal/stick assembly removed from an R/C transmitter for helicopters, because it has the movable knob on top of the stick. You could hook up 3 axis control with one joystick.

Now if you really want to get fancy, you can hook this up to a head-mounted sensor like the military, where the camera pans ans swivels to follow your head movements. A button on the control yoke to start/stop recording too. You might even put the U-2 people out of business

[N74DV]

Re: strut mounted camera gimbal

as it happens for a $150 you can buy a small head mounted unit that will send the signals to the servos. it works exactly like an Apache gun mount. Wherever you look the servos will follow.

With a monocle or video glasses and that headband it is entirely possible. it amazing what can be easily built these days with off the shelf components.

http://hobbywireless.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=31&products_id=67

[N74DV]

Re: strut mounted camera gimbal

First video test flight this morning. great results despite an odd drop of rain that managed to land on the lens.
here's a clip from today. Seem like slow motion but it's real time. Downwind to base to final at CHD.

http://vimeo.com/2937134

I positive now that it does not need dual servo drive. A single high torque servo will work fine.

Also I'm going to move the location of a few of the vibration isolators to help remove a resonance I am experiencing at certain power settings

[VictorBravo]

Re: strut mounted camera gimbal

That's AWESOME DJ, congratulations! You da man. Is that camera gyro stabilized or something? The picture seems very smooth for being mounted on a bouncy light airplane like a T-craft. If/When the time comes for you to develop any sales or marketing materials for the system, I'd be interested in working with you. It's a very well done system.

[N74DV]

Re: strut mounted camera gimbal

just finished editing the full version

http://vimeo.com/2947891

[BMayes]

Re: strut mounted camera gimbal

Wow, I wish I had one on last years cross country trip. Great job editing too.

[N74DV]

Re: strut mounted camera gimbal

Can any A&P's confirm that a rig like this would be considered a Minor Alteration? and thus not requiring a 337 or STC?

I ask because I'm hearing conflicting viewpoints.

I looked up the definition of Minor Alteration and saw that so long as it doesn't substantially change the structure, weight and balance, and exhibit abnormal aerodynamic affects it would be considered Minor.

It meets all those criteria... but is this something that some FSDO somewhere would get ticked about?

Curious.....

[VictorBravo]

Re: strut mounted camera gimbal

I have the solution to your problem.

1) DO NOT ask the FAA about the camera yet.

2) Get the FAA guidelines and regulations from Alaska or the NorthWest US, which govern how and where you can temporarily attach moose or deer antlers onto the struts after a huntring trip. Get as many different variations that are FAA approved, or separate examples, etc. The hunters probably have been through all this many times.

3) DO NOT tell the FAA about the camera yet.

4) Once you have all the FAA stuff on strapping antlers on the struts, THEN get all the FAA stuff about strapping snowshoes or skiis on.

5) DO NOT tell the FAA about the camera yet.

6) Then tell the FAA you have accumulated everything you can about antlers and skiis, and ask them if there is an upper limit on the size of antlers, skiis, or anything else temporarily strapped on the struts. Ask them just how big of a set of antlers or snowshoes you can put on. Ask them if you can put the whole bear you bowhunted on there, and then ask them again what are the upper limits.

7) When the FAA says that you can put X size snowshoes or Y size antlers on, ask them for where that regulation is so you can carry a copy of it in the plane just in case.

8) THEN finally ask them "So, if I have anything SMALLER than (whatever the max size antlers is), the FAA is OK with it??? As long as I have a copy of (the rule or their written opinion) in the airplane am I OK???"

9) THEN finally tell them that you have developed a special wildlife POV cam that you are gonna try and strap onto the herds of wild moose or deer to do a major research project for National Geographic, funded by a grant from the William Berle Charitable Foundation for the Global Distribution of Excessive BS. Since the AntlerCam is far smaller, lighter and less drag than the actual moose antlers and snowshoes, you are certain that it will fall within the regulations that you were just given.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: strut mounted camera gimbal

Bill, you are a BAAAAAAAD person!
I can just hear the groans from the FSDO now.
Hank