Another addition to the seemingly endless variety of 2 channel indoor RC helicopters. the Havoc Stinger flys and performs similarly to other RC helicopters. The only change that we can see is that the Havoc Stinger has an insect look, with glowing LED eyes.

• Comes in three different colors, green/purple, yellow/orange, and blue/orange
• Uses A 50mAh 3.7V Rechargeable Lithium Polymer Battery
• Battery Charge Time: 15-20 minutes
• Flight time: 5-9 minutes
• The battery charger is built into the transmitter.
• Compatible with standard mini helicopter parts

All the standard mini helicopter modifications can be done with the Havoc Stinger. Add weights to the nose or tail to make it go forwards or backwards more quickly. The Havoc Stinger is not a knock-off, and was made by the same company that makes the successful PicooZ RC helicopter.

The Bladerunner Micro Mosquito is a small electric RC helicopter. It flies very well out of the box, but several users have come up with modifications which improve it’s appearance and flight characteristics. This article lists the different possible modifications, and explains how to do each one.

Increase The Speed Of The RC Helicopter

One of the most popular modifications involves increasing the horizontal speed of Micro Mosquito. This can be done in one of two ways:

1. Shift the center of gravity forward - If the balance point of the Micro Mosquito is moved forward, then it will move forward faster. You can do this by adding small weights under the Micro Mosquito’s main rotors. This will result in increased forward speed, but decreased backwards speed.
2. Get a different tail rotor – Standard mini heli tail rotors will fit the Micro Mosquito’s tail motor shaft. Mini heli tail rotors move air more efficiently in one direction than another, so using them on the Micro Mosquito will let you control the pitch in one direction more effectively. Normally, it is better to have more control in the forward (nose down) direction of travel.

Decrease The Weight Of The RC Helicopter

There are a number of ways that you can decrease the Micro Mosquitos weight. Decreasing the weight will provide longer flight times and more performance.

1. Remove the rubber “feet” – You can do this by pulling them off of the Micro Mosquito’s legs.
2. Remove part of the plastic shell – You can unscrew and remove the bottom part of the Micro Mosquito’s body, which will dramatically reduce the weight of the RC helicopter.

Optimize The Radio Range Of The RC Helicopter

The range of the radio transmitter is fine for flying inside a house, but more range is required for flying in a gym or other open area. This is one of the more technical mods, so proceed at your own risk. I have not actually tried this, but this thread on RCGroups.com says it should work. Follow this procedure carefully:

1. Open the transmitter case - Do this by removing the 5 screws found on the back of the transmitter case.
2. Remove the circuit board – Remove the three screws holding the circuit board down, and gently remove it.
3. Remove capacitor C15 – Flip the circuit board over, and look for a capacitor marked C15. It should be on the left side of the circuit board. De solder this capacitor and remove it carefully. There should be no contact between the solder pads where the capacitor used to be.
4. Re install the circuit board – Put the circuit board back on and replace the three screws that you took off earlier.
5. Close up the case – Put the back of the transmitter case back on and screw it in place with the five screws you removed earlier.

Unfortunately, we know very little about this mod or if / why it works. Any comments on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Remove the Throttle Spring From The Transmitter

Normal radio transmitters do not have a spring restrained throttle. Pilots of larger RC helicopters appreciate the control that not having a throttle spring provides, so here is how you remove it:

1. Open the transmitter case - Do this by removing the 5 screws found on the back of the transmitter case.
2. Find the spring – It should be behind the throttle stick.
3. Remove one of the two screws the spring is attached to – And then put the screw back. You can leave the spring in the case or remove it entirely, it doesn’t really matter.
4. Reassemble the case - Put the transmitter back together using the 5 screws that you removed earlier.

Now the throttle lever will stay where you last left it, so that the Micro Mosquito can hover without constant control input.

Improve Flight Stability and Control

Here are some tips to improve how the Micro Mosquito flies.

1. Tilt the tail rotor – The micro mosquito tends to spin when the throttle is accelerated, sometimes leading to a hard landing. You can fix this problem by twisting the tail boom about 5 degrees to the left (when viewed from behind). Twisting the tail boom is easier if you heat it up slightly beforehand.
2. Add weight to the main rotors - The inertia of the main rotors causes them to self stabilize when spinning. You can increase this tendency by coiling a small amount of very thin wire over the outer rotor wire. Do this twice on opposite sides of one main rotor, and then repeat for the other main rotor. As long as you don’t add too much weight this should improve the RC helicopter’s stability.

Color!

Here are some tips and tricks you can use to personalize your Micro Mosquito:

• Remove the case and spray paint it – take all of the radio components, batteries, and motors out of the Micro Mosquito’s body and spray paint it any color you like.
• Fuel tubing effects – Get a piece of clear fuel tubing from your local hobby store. Then push one end over one of the Micro Mosquito’s green LED eyes. Bend the piece of fuel tubing over, and push it on to the other LED. When the helicopter is turned on, the light should produce a really cool neon tube effect. This is also a great way to move the center of gravity forward, so the helicopter goes faster.
• Insect antenna – Use stiff wire and make a pair of insect antenna. You can glue these to the Micro Mosquito’s body to create an insect appearance. Be sure to keep them away from the main rotors. Just like the fuel tube mod, this will move the center of gravity forward and cause the helicopter to move faster.

Spare Parts / Experiment Pack

Need parts for your Micro Mosquito? RCtoys.com has a great selection and a special package of parts, chosen for easy modification. You can build all sorts of RC vehicles using the micro mosquito and it’s components. Get out your tools and let your imagination soar!

Using the Draganflyer electric remote control helicopter (manufactured by Draganfly Innovations Inc) Vanderbilt University has developed the Vanderbilt Embedded Computing Platform for Autonomous Vehicles (VECPAV). This system is able to control an aerial or ground vehicle autonomously (without a pilot).

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (PRWEB) November 20, 2007 — Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN has successfully used the Draganflyer electric rc helicopter for autonomous vehicle research, involving flight by computer control without human input. The project is called VECPAV (Vanderbilt Embedded Computing Platform for Autonomous Vehicles). VECPAV is intended to create and develop autonomous control systems for unmanned aerial and ground vehicles. These control systems eliminate the need for an operator by substituting intelligent control software and electronics. This research is part of a larger project aimed at improving the design of hybrid systems which use embedded electronics and software to control mechanical devices used in performance-critical and safety-critical applications.

Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN has successfully used the Draganflyer electric rc helicopter for autonomous vehicle research, involving flight by computer control without human input. The project is called VECPAV (Vanderbilt Embedded Computing Platform for Autonomous Vehicles). VECPAV is intended to create and develop autonomous control systems for unmanned aerial and ground vehicles. These control systems eliminate the need for an operator by substituting intelligent control software and electronics. This research is part of a larger project aimed at improving the design of hybrid systems which use embedded electronics and software to control mechanical devices used in performance-critical and safety-critical applications.

Having autonomous control over a vehicle creates many benefits and removes the need for continuous human input. This could be applied to full size vehicles, allowing cars to drive themselves, or allowing automated vehicles to perform tasks in hazardous conditions. This would eliminate the risks normally faced by an on-board operator. By removing the operator and related systems from the vehicle, it also allows for increased payloads, smaller sizes, and increased mobility.

The VECPAV system uses a sensor tracker to monitor the motion and position of a Draganflyer rc helicopter by using identifier points on the helicopter. The system then analyzes this data and sends commands back to the Draganflyer rc helicopter through a radio control transmitter, telling the Draganflyer rc helicopter to maintain position or move through its flight plan. Videos of Draganflyer helicopters flying autonomously can be found on the VECPAV homepage, and This YouTube Video. In addition to being successfully used to control Draganflyer electric rc helicopters, the VECPAV system has also been implemented on ground based scale model vehicles.

As a result of his efforts on the VECPAV project, team leader Prof. T. John Koo has been recognized with an NSF (National Science Foundation) CAREER Award: Computation Platform for the Design of Hybrid Systems. This award is considered a highly prestigious honor. Prof. T. John Koo is now at Shantou University, China, where he plans to build on and extend what he has achieved at Vanderbilt.

The Draganflyer radio control rc helicopter has also been used in similar projects such as the MIT Aerospace Controls Laboratory’s UAV SWARM Health Management Project and the Stanford Testbed of Autonomous Rotorcraft for Multi-Agent Control. The Draganflyer rc helicopter is well suited for these applications because it is a stable aerial platform with fewer moving parts than a standard rc helicopter. The Quad-Rotor Draganflyer rc helicopter manoeuvres by varying the thrust generated from each of its four rotors. With one rotor at each corner, differential thrust causes the airframe to rotate and change direction. This eliminates the need for the linkages and components used on conventional rc helicopters that vary the pitch of the main rotor blades in order to manoeuvre. With fewer moving parts, there are fewer things to wear out, and less maintenance required. Because it is an electric rc helicopter, the Draganflyer is safe to use indoors. Its small size allows it to be used in smaller areas than conventional rc helicopters. The Draganflyer rc helicopter is manufactured and sold by Draganfly Innovations.

The Bladerunner Black Ghost is the latest invention from Interactive Toy Concepts Ltd. The Black Ghost is a mini co-axial infra-red indoor rc helicopter that is extremely lightweight, simple to fly and great for flying indoors in your home. No previous RC helicopter experience is required to fly the Bladerunner Black Ghost. The Bladerunner Black Ghost RC Helicopters will be available early next month, and should be a popular item this Christmas.

The Bladerunner Black Ghost can fly up, down, turn left, right all while moving forward at a constant rate. The coaxial, contra-rotating rotor blades make the Black Ghost extremely stable and easy to fly. The tail rotor controls left and right rotation.

Like the popular Havoc Heli the Bladerunner Black Ghost IR Helicopter features a micro infrared receiver that allows the Bladerunner Black Ghost to be extremely lightweight; only 16g (0.6 oz). The Black Ghost’s infrared remote control gives the it a range of up to 10m (30ft). The controller also doubles as the charger. The Black Ghost is available on 2 infrared bands so 2 can be flown at once.