Drones

B-Unstoppable combines a mini tank and a drone

B-Unstoppable combines a mini tank and a drone
B-Unstoppable takes to the air when it can't climb over what's on the ground
B-Unstoppable takes to the air when it can't climb over what's on the ground
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Power is delivered to B-Unstoppable by a 900-mAh lithium-polymer battery, providing approximately 9 minutes of flight or 18 minutes of driving time
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Power is delivered to B-Unstoppable by a 900-mAh lithium-polymer battery, providing approximately 9 minutes of flight or 18 minutes of driving time
The B-Unstoppable drone
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The B-Unstoppable drone
B-Unstoppable comes with a transmitter included
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B-Unstoppable comes with a transmitter included
While front and rear LED running lights are standard on B-Unstoppable, a camera is extra
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While front and rear LED running lights are standard on B-Unstoppable, a camera is extra
B-Unstoppable takes to the air when it can't climb over what's on the ground
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B-Unstoppable takes to the air when it can't climb over what's on the ground
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A couple of years ago, UK-based product designer Witek Mielniczek turned to Kickstarter to fund B – a combination radio-controlled car and quadcopter. Its ability to both fly through the air and drive along the ground was certainly intriguing, although its ability to traverse rough terrain wasn't necessarily phenomenal. That's why he's now created B-Unstoppable, which swaps wheels for neoprene tank-like treads.

As with the original B, the idea with this model is that users can drive it along the ground until the going gets too tough, and then just fly it over the impassable stuff. Unlike the wheeled version, however, it can turn 360 degrees on the spot – plus it has a lot more traction.

Tread tension is maintained by arms at either end, which flex in and out by up to 4 mm as the vehicle goes over obstacles. The propellers sit in line with the treads when in "ground mode," and are located so that they're not thrusting air down into the main body of the vehicle when in flight.

The B-Unstoppable drone
The B-Unstoppable drone

Power is delivered by a 900-mAh lithium-polymer battery, providing approximately 9 minutes of flight or 18 minutes of driving time.

While front and rear LED running lights are standard, a camera is extra. Buyers can install a camera of their own on the basic model, they can opt for a version with a built-in 720p DVR camera module that records footage for subsequent viewing, or they can go with a 720p FPV (first person view) package.

Mielniczek has returned to Kickstarter to fund production of B-Unstoppable, where a pledge of £55 (about US$85) will currently get you the basic version – when and if it's ready to go. A pledge of £79 ($123) is required for the DVR version, while the FPV package is going for £89 ($138). The wheeled B, incidentally, is now in production.

B-Unstoppable can be seen in flight/on the ground, in the video below.

Sources: B Go Beyond, Kickstarter


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View gallery - 5 images
7 comments
7 comments
Tom Lee Mullins
I think that is really neat.
Donald Vitez
This, at first glance, appears to be a cool idea. That is until you understand its short comings. When in ground mode, those tracks will kick up pebbles and rocks, throwing them into those vulnerable propellers, Any nick sustained to the propeller, from a pebble or rock will throw the propellers off balance, rendering the flight mode useless.
luki
As you can see on the video, it works well. How you can damage the propeller by small sand or stoneyou??? if they were so fragile they would get damaged by an insect flying in the air... Do some physic before you speak out ...
Donald Vitez
In the video, the vehicle is traversing the ground at such a slow speed as to not kick up any rocks. I do know a lot about this having owned several helicopters and created many RC vehicles, some of which are the first and only of their kind. Obviously, an insect is not going to damage the propeller in mid flight. A rock thrown into the propeller by a fast moving belt certainly will. Assuming the motor driving the belt is turning at such a rate as not to kick up any rocks then the props are safe, otherwise not. Lets see it do some donuts at high speed, as the propensity for those tracks to sling rocks is increased as is the likelihood of damage to the props.
Donald Vitez
Notice how the gearbox that couples the motor to the propellers is completely exposed. That is not a good idea on a vehicle designed for off road use. Have you ever seen an exposed gear box on an RC car or truck? Sand is abrasive and will quickly wear the teeth on those gears, and destroy the bearings or bushings which ever is used. Also, from the picture of the vehicle placed atop a tree stump, the track appears to be touching the prop drive motor.
Grunchy
They used to think that about the v-22 osprey tilt-rotor, that sand and gravel would wreck the propellers or the jet turbine powering them. Lots of successful missions in the deserts of the Middle East proved it wasn't so.
Witold Mielniczek
Hi Guys
I just started another campaign for the project, already updated to HD FPV/DVR
Please have a look and support!
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/b-unstoppable-world-s-first-tankcopter-drone/x/11697128#/