Aeronautical engineer Edwin Van Ruymbeke has introduced X-Fly, a drone that emulates the flight pattern of a bird. The drone communicates via Bluetooth using the STM32WB15CC microcontroller, has a range of 100 meters, and can fly for 8-12 minutes with a swappable battery system.
The company mentions that they have collaborated with the French military to develop the flapping wings mechanism, which incorporates gyroscopes and g-sensors, ensuring a stable flight. The drone can be controlled with a smartphone app or an attachable optical joystick and It’s also durable against crashes, has a quick-swap battery system, and improved wing mechanics for longer flights.
We’ve previously covered drones such as the Qualcomm Flight RB5-based drone Kudrone Nano Drone and some drone kits like Qualcomm Flight Pro. Feel free to explore these if you’re interested.
Key Features and Specification of X-Fly Drone:
- Control Board – The PCB features an STM32WB15CC Bluetooth microcontroller, motor controllers, and various sensors.
- Performance:
- Adjustable flying speed: 5-20 km/h (3-12 mph) with tail angle settings.
- Wind resistance: Up to 20 km/h (12 mph).
- Flight range: Up to 100 meters (330 ft).
- Motor :
- Main motor for the wing flapping (Coreless 6mm, 50,000 RPM)
- Direction motor (Coreless 4mm, 70,000 RPM)
- Rudder for steering control during glides.
- Battery:
- Swappable LiPo battery: 55mAh, 3.7V with a convenient battery door.
- Autonomy: 8-12 minutes.
- Charging time: 12 minutes.
- Sensors – 6-axis Gyro and G-sensor included.
- Flight Assistance – Ensures straight flight in no-steering conditions and provides stall protection.
- Smartphone App
- Uses Bluetooth 5.2 for connection.
- Features autodetection of X-Fly.
- Offers a visual guide and fully configurable controls.
- Compatible with Android and iOS.
- Manages multiple drones and allows remote firmware updates.
- Additional Features:
- The head doubles as a bumper for crash protection.
- Patented symmetric flapping mechanism with speed-dividing reduction.
- The X-shaped structure protects motor cables.
- Tail with adjustable positions to control flying speed.
The drone is powered by the STM32WB15CC a low-power, multiprotocol wireless microcontroller compatible with Bluetooth Low Energy 5.4. It features dual Arm Cortex cores (M0+ and M4), with the M4 core running up to 64 MHz and including a Floating Point Unit (FPU) and DSP instructions. Additionally, it features 320 KB flash memory, 48 KB SRAM, advanced security, multiple communication interfaces, and a range of power-saving modes.
X-Fly provides extra hardware plugins, such as LED lighting, and plans for future updates including ultrasonic sensors for obstacle avoidance and GPS tracking. With LED lights you can create your custom aerial display.
The Kickstarter program for the X-Fly features rewards like the standard X-Fly, battery, charger, and add-ons like a joystick and LED lights, ranging from €79 to €139. With limited availability, these rewards are set for delivery in April 2024 and ship to select countries.
Debashis Das is a technical content writer and embedded engineer with over five years of experience in the industry. With expertise in Embedded C, PCB Design, and SEO optimization, he effectively blends difficult technical topics with clear communication
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