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Ian Sinclair wrote:
>
> Wouldn't it be very cool to design and build LEGO Mindstorms
> Skydivers!
Ummmm... I am acutally finishing an RCX controlled hang-glider at the moment. (Well,
maybe "controlled" is pushing it a bit far, but it does bank it right and left.) The RCX
is heavy because you have the six alkaline AAs in it, so I took the batteries out -- then
it's a much easier project. What you do is take out the AAs and run the RCX from a 9V
battery plugged into the AC/DC connector on the RCX (use a 9V battery connector to one of
the dark-blue-tipped RadioShack adaptaplugs). The 9V battery gives you enough juice to
run the RCX and power a micromotor to do the weight shifting. BTW, zinc carbons are about
6 grams lighter than alkalines. If anyone has a lot of battery expertise and has any tips
on how to get the weight of the battery pack down even further, please let me know.
I have flown it 6 times now from my third floor balcony -- the best flight time was 4.5
seconds (and that was a looooong 4.5 seconds). I know it's not exactly the Wright
brothers, but each trip has been a flight rather than plummet. I have the glider torn
down now to try and optimize the center of balance. The next decent wind day here in
Chicago, I plan to send it up to about 100 ft on a static line and see how it copes.
BTW, the RCX is fine -- getting the weight down by taking out the AAs really reduces the
g-shock on landing. The garden, however, has a well-dispersed crop of Lego elements
hiding under the leaves (thank you, TLG, for coloring the Micromotors red!).
Cheers
JP
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: LEGO RCX Skydivers
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| (...) (Well, (...) left.) The RCX (...) out -- then (...) from a 9V (...) connector to one of (...) juice to (...) carbons are about (...) has any tips (...) know. (...) time was 4.5 (...) Wright (...) glider torn (...) here in (...) copes. (...) (...) (25 years ago, 6-Nov-99, to lugnet.general, lugnet.robotics)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | LEGO RCX Skydivers
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| The following post prompted me to resurrect an idea I dreamed up a some time ago... (...) I have had an idea for quite some time, but one significant problem... Wouldn't it be very cool to design and build LEGO Mindstorms Skydivers! These skydivers (...) (25 years ago, 5-Nov-99, to lugnet.general, lugnet.robotics)
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