Here’s a really tiny r/c blimp that doesn’t need several cubic feet of Helium to get off the ground.
Instructables user [masynmachien] has been building r/c blimps for over a decade now, and this latest build is meant to have the same specs as this nanoblimp. The build is based on an 11-inch party balloon that can provide about 11 grams of lift. This doesn’t allow for much leeway in terms of weight, so [masymachien] used hacked-up servos for the motors.
The blimp is an exercise in saving weight – just about every component that can be removed from the build is thrown away. The results are pretty impressive. The entire blimp weighs about 10 grams on the ground. [masynmachien] also tried a 14-inch balloon with an 808 key fob camera with very good results.
The blimp looks pretty good when flying around a room. [masymachien] seems to have a lot of control from a minimal component count. You can check out the party blimp in action after the break.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5lKNE5S1dQ&w=470]
One word: awesome.
OMG need to annoy cat with this NOW!
OMG need to annoy cat with this MEOW!
/ftfy
Even better, tape a needle on the front and have an office war with them, last man standing wins!
That is possibly the best idea I’ve ever seen for office warfare.
Last man standing wins. So is the idea to coat the needles with a fast acting poison? :)
This is an epic idea! +1
That is shown occurring in the second link on this post. It’s the video labeled “DOGFIGHTS”.
Thanks for the tip. To save others some time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8RnOIedZl8
Self lighting gag candles and hydrogen. Might want to run them in the garage though. Candle wax in the carpet will piss off SWMBO.
Yeah, my cat too wants one now!
I know what I want for Christmas!
Nice!
Use ultra-thin dry condoms to shave even more weight.
It will also give the blimp a nice powerful silhouette.
I can’t wait until they figure out that the clown balloons work just as well and have the benefit of being easily formed into shapes both structural and artistic. Then we will see pink pigs flying round our heads with powered flight by wings of white.
I’d be surprised if they work because they have a much higher surface area to volume ratio.
Clown balloons, at least small ones used to make balloondoggies, are made of much thicker latex than round party balloons. They won’t even float if filled with helium.
There is one, however that is referred to as an airship. The dimensions of the airship in the brand I use to make large animals are 6 inches diameter and 46 inches long. It would make a formidable looking missile shaped blimp.
Makes me want to take apart one of those little airhogs helicopters and hack something like this together.
I’ll bet it takes some mad skills to solder everything to the bottom of the balloon, and one of those super low heat soldering irons!
anyone have plans for electrolysis with good separation of hydrogen on output(not just brown gas)? this would give unlimited lifting gas for experiments
That must be amazingly light. I recall from childhood experiments that it takes 2-3 average-sized helium balloons to lift a Lego minifig.
I used to make flying balloons all the time, but this one is much better because it flies longer than 5 seconds and doesn’t need to be re-inflated after every flight.