The idea of a prototype is a first step towards the completion of the project. Usefull for building knowledge about the final version, it is usually smaller than the final model. The validity of building a smaller version is only true if the model can scale up.
The first prototype was made after buying the RC model (Sky Parachute) from E-bay and the solar cells from Jameco. It was more about testing the concept than making anything practical. The photo below shows what the glider "should" do. The real world is sadly more complex...
Phoeby had several problem before it even took of the first time. It didn't have a left wheel, meaning the wheel in the package wasn't the one corresponding to the model. Another good surprise was the lack of one of the suspender.
Lesson learned : NO CHEAP PARAGLIDER.
After taking everything out of the box, mounting, etc... the first test was a bit of a catastrophy. The communication between the glider and its remote is very fragile to interference and in a crowded invironement it tends to do crazy things.
It basically get out of control and we the test was made, it went straight to the wall and damaged the motor (this last element was only realized later, creating an interesting situation) . The antenna, a simple wire hanging from behind the glider got caught in the path of the rotor.
Flying phoeby: first try
first try of the prototype in the field. The glider was assembled there with the panels attached together in parrallel to get the necessary amperage.
First prototype: phoeby
Flying phoeby: try again
The first try of the complete model was not very successful. The wind conditions (small RC model of paragliders are very sensitive to wind) didn't allow for the glider to fly by itself without crashing.
The obvious result was that unless the solar panels are a continuous slide, there will be a balance problem. The prototype 2 will attempt to address these issues.
First success: phoeby flies
Flying phoeby: a short first flyght
A day before the ITP show, the prototype finally took off. The flight was only a minute and a half for the simple reason that the unbalance of
the panels on the structure makes the sytem shift towards the right in a dangerous way. Video taping wasn't done because the flight in itself was a and no camera was brought on the testing field.
Wind conditions seem to be the crucial key to the flight. Regardless this is a proof of concept about the viability of the project. With such a simplified, approximative reproduction (the RC model) of the paraglider flying, all hopes are allowed regarding a more accurate, high end version with both continuous panel and well-designed canopy.
