What is the design goal?

Having never built anything like this, it is probably helpful to consider what my goals are and what steps I plan on using to get to the end result.

Main Goal: Sustained flight with 4 lb payload
Payload: Canon 60D (775g / 1.6 lbs); radio controlled, stabilized camera mount (abt 600g / 1.3 lbs); lens (abt 1 lb)

Hey, this French guy brought a hexacopter to
 Burning Man! I'm so jealous.

First step: Build a working multicopter and practice piloting
At first, a working RC quadcopter at a smaller and more affordable size. Considering the process of upgrading in this project, the flight controller card should be capable of working first the small size, but then upgrading components and software to become a camera-controlling hexa/octocopter.

Second step: Improve working multicopter
After successfully building and flying the first vehicle, add a light mount for my ContourGPS helmet cam (170g / 6oz.). Then look at upgrading motors, installing controlled camera mount, upgrading programming.

Third step: Build full-sized frame and servo-controlled camera mount
After the "prototype" is successful, look at building a full sized frame with 6-8 engines (either a hexacopter or an octocopter). Upgrade programming to handle additional engines. Also consider increasing sensors (GPS?) and auto-flying options (self-landing), before testing at full weight. Then test fly under the safest conditions and verify flight time at over 10 minutes maneuvering.





Needed for this project:

• Flight controller board that "does it all" and grows with the project.
• Initial simple frame. Something cheap most likely.
• Big, strong and light "primary" frame (carbon fiber or aluminum?).
• Motivation. This is going to take at least all winter.

Other factors to consider:

• Existing code that is modified is much easier than writing from scratch. Code samples from the community are even better.
• The flight controller board needs to be a kit or an completed hardware product. Onboard soldering is allegedly very difficult. Making something from scratch is probably not an option for me.
• Keeping costs down would be really nice, you know, so the wife doesn't think I've gone insane.

NEXT POST: start off by figuring out which flight controller to order?