Flight using Lego

[anton1678]

I've seen a lot of dead topics about LEGO flight recently, but no-one has anything electrical that actually flies.

I did some research, and some math. We need to strip down our 'planes' , take off the plastic motor casing and battery box casing, maybe even just homebrew a battery box. Tethered flight is possible, according to zblj''s principles, but we need to start looking at the untethered side. Maybe this is going to look like a lego-frame quadcopter, but at least we will be using a lego motor, the buggy motor.

Overvolting will also be needed, and maybe a gear-down.

[Sariel]

but no-one has anything electrical that actually flies.

Tens of folks have tried it time and time again. That's how we know pure LEGO won't fly.

This was the closest anyone really ever got: http://www.eurobrick...showtopic=77519

And if Blakbird, who happens to be aerospace engineer says LEGO won't fly, I'd listen to him.

Sorry to sound negative, but there's new topic like this every month, and it always ends up exactly the same way. Zblj did awesome research on Lego flight, check it out.

Edited June 18, 2014 by Sariel

[Rockbrick]

The only thing that is impossible is the thing you never try to do

[piterx]

im pretty sure lego won't fly....they may glide tho...it's not proper flying but we could build something that can glide and it would be pretty awesome :)

[Zerobricks]

I might restart the flying experiments those poor RC motors

[Kelkschiz]

At least there is always human powered LEGO flight. By Vuurzoon:

Edited June 18, 2014 by Kelkschiz

[afoldad]

Maybe this is going to look like a lego-frame quadcopter, but at least we will be using a lego motor, the buggy motor.

I think the very best you could hope for would be to built a lego frame around a non-lego aircraft. Large R/C helicopters have a head speed of around 2000 RPM, and that's for something with a 600 mm rotor. Even if the buggy motor could spin that fast, there's no way it would have the torque necessary to achieve lift with rotors that big. Small RC helicopters and quad-copters spin at 3000-5000 RPM with a rotor of around 150 mm.

Lego parts don't have bearings, an absolute necessity for the kinds of loads involved here. The parts would melt and/or break apart.

I do like the idea of building a lego frame for a quad copter. They are plenty of DIY kits for building these little aircraft.

[gti180]

what about an air ship?

Edited June 18, 2014 by gti180

[aol000xw]

Gliding is easy but you need some plastic film, silk paper or something so non pure Lego. Blimps have been seen before too.

I bet some hovering is possible simply using non Lego propellers while keeping the power source at ground. For proper autonomous flying batteries can't be Lego ones and even with some custom Lipos I don't think it can work with Lego motors.

[Rockbrick]

I thiink with the rechargeable battery box and the buggy motor(s) and the right blades flight would be possible

not controllable though..... and there is the good reason why lego won't make blades that give you lift

so you can't sue them after causing a horrible accident when you made a quad copter and killed the family budgie

[Sariel]

The only thing that is impossible is the thing you never try to do

Try slamming revolving door :P

[Lost_In_Noise]

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=73936&hl=antonov&st=100 Check this out! Amazing work and dedication. Also, if you find the time, notice the improvement in language from the first page to the last.

[zux]

I would say.

[Lipko]

The only thing that is impossible is the thing you never try to do

Grow a second head, please.

EDIT: pwned by Sariel

Edited June 18, 2014 by Lipko

[KirTech LAB]

incredible match! you'll see flying model for MINI contest soon...

[Kelkschiz]

I would say.

Hadn't seen that one before, looks pretty darn awesome. Thanks for posting it here.

[Lost_In_Noise]

The power has to be sustained, and the movement controllable for me to accept it as flying lego: A purpose-built flying machine. I don't see that day coming anytime soon. The weight is too great, the power too little, and the controls to flimsy. An airplane of some sort wold never work, because it would have to go so fast to maintain altitude that the plastic flaps would bend under the air pressure. A helicopter would require an engine which consumes so much power that it burns through the battery in no time at all. With todays battery solutions provided by the Lego Group, this will, sadly, never happen...

[piterx]

Try slamming revolving door :P

chuck norris did it

[Tommy Styrvoky]

What about using a helium fueled balloon that would make the build float but could be controlled by propellors on the side.

[Bzroom]

Try slamming revolving door :P

[Lost_In_Noise]

Tommy: They showed an RC lego zeppeliner at the last Brickfair i think. But the point here is to make something that generates its own uplift, without being held up by an external force (hot air stream, hot air, or a lighter-than-air gas of some kind.

[Kelkschiz]

Tommy: They showed an RC lego zeppeliner at the last Brickfair i think. But the point here is to make something that generates its own uplift, without being held up by an external force (hot air stream, hot air, or a lighter-than-air gas of some kind.

Still a pretty cool idea

[pluto7443]

Any ideas how much the helium for something like that would cost?

[Bighappysmiles]

I don't see why some clever person with a lot of experience, mathematical ability and time could perhaps make a light weight indoor model plane. However, because ABS plastic is a pretty heavy material, it would be hard to make something that is more than just a frame. I have some experience with model planes and you could probably make the fuselage, or 'body' of the plane with some technic elements. However, I personally don't see why someone would put the time into making a lego model plane when you can make one much easier using some dense Styrofoam from the dollar store, some plastic and a light model engine for about 70 dollars...I would love to try, however, with my experience in model planes and cars, I would say that lego is much better suited for making cars and land vehicles rather than air. I'm sure it could be done, but it's just not very practicle

[anton1678]

The only thing that is impossible is the thing you never try to do

Exactly!

Sariel, I saw zblj's research, it's good, but this time we can do it if we try

im pretty sure lego won't fly....they may glide tho...it's not proper flying but we could build something that can glide and it would be pretty awesome :)

I might restart the flying experiments those poor RC motors

What about using a helium fueled balloon that would make the build float but could be controlled by propellors on the side.

Gliding has been done, grohl did it, but not gliding with a battery box or motor on board

Yes, I know how those motors wear down but that last experiment, the kite, actually flew tethered.

we could make like a 2 metre wire, tie it together, use a transformer if the power decreases

We are planning to do some heavier than air flight, we know blimps work

actually, a hot air balloon made of lego could count, if someone can attack a spark plug to a battery box, that is powered lego flight, only the spark plug wouldn''t be lego, and the balloon casing, and the fuel

everyone, keep working, we can make this happen

Gliding is easy but you need some plastic film, silk paper or something so non pure Lego. Blimps have been seen before too.

I bet some hovering is possible simply using non Lego propellers while keeping the power source at ground. For proper autonomous flying batteries can't be Lego ones and even with some custom Lipos I don't think it can work with Lego motors.

there is a lego lithium lipo battery

Edited June 19, 2014 by anton1678