About this project
This story began in 2012
This is when the world's first flyable and fully autonomous quadcopter frame made completely from LEGO® bricks was created by Software Developer and Designer, Ed Scott. Along with his kids, Ed's design took it's flight in December of 2012. The frame was made entirely from LEGO® bricks and glue, nothing more, to make it fly the electronics were off the shelf hobby components. In 2013 Ed made it a fully autonomous robot using the 3DR APM flight controller, Ed was the first to make a truly autonomous quadcopter made from LEGO® bricks. The project was not only beyond fun, it was extremely educational for the kids and the entire family. So now we want everyone to have the opportunity to build their own drone with LEGO® bricks.
Uploaded to YouTube
Next Ed uploaded it to YouTube where it was watched over 67,000 times http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSWX3uH5MEM
Tampa Hackerspace and the Meeting
Ed Scott has teamed with Nick Margarone who is an expert at 3D printing and a battery engineer. Nick is an avid multicopter flyer himself who has built his own custom models from carbon fiber and other materials. Together they want to bring you, in different packages, everything you need to make a drone made from LEGO® bricks and fly it on your own.
Nick making some cool prototype motor mounts on the 3D Printer
Help continue the story and give a chance for others to fly
This by no means ends the story. We are planning on using any extra funding to help others create and build their own drones, expand their education in robotics, construction and software development from creative minds such as yourself. We would like to have a site where people can build "different" drones that are far from the norm and share them with others. Where educators and parents can come to help their children learn about robotics. Some minor changes in design from prototypes are will be redesigning the legs using LEGO® bricks to be stronger and we are using custom motor mounts made from a 3D printer.
Getting A Clear Vision
Getting a clear vision is the most important thing with any project. We want to make sure each drone kit we send to people and LEGO® clubs are fun and they are as simple and safe as we can make them for people to fly. If all goes well we will be selling these packages on our web site for more people to enjoy.
1. Make it easy to fly, easy as possible to build, no soldering needed and simple to maintain.
2. Lightweight using mostly bricks for construction with the exception of electronics, hardware and motor mounts for safety.
3. Get started fast, offer different packages with almost everything you need out of the box and quick to deploy, all you will have to do is assemble the bricks and add the electronics.
4. Advanced yet easy to use flight controller for stable flights.
5. High quality materials and components and genuine LEGO® bricks.
6. Designed with multiple safety features like return to land option can be added, softest props possible but still able to lift a larger load like a GoPro 3.
Prototypes have been seen on:
Geek.com - http://www.geek.com/news/flying-lego-drone-built-out-of-quadcopter-remains-1533216
SUAS News - http://www.suasnews.com/2012/12/20276/drone-made-of-lego-takes-flight/
We would like to extend our projects to educators so they can reinvent our designs to help them teach the world about quadcopter design and flight. We not only want to promote how to build and fly, but we also want to teach how to be safe and respectful of people around personal drones. Anyone can buy a Ready To Fly quad without really knowing whats inside the frame, this project provides a better understanding of quadcopters over ready to fly versions.
3 Designs you can pick from:
Pictures of prototype builds
Support us and get a T-Shirt
Disclaimer: This is a custom creation that is built with LEGO® bricks, not a reproduction of any LEGO® creation. We do not reproduce any LEGO® bricks, all are official LEGO® brand. We purchase, whenever possible, directly from LEGO®. Whenever a 3D part is needed to connect to the LEGO® bricks we do not use their patented circular connector patterns, we use our own pattern that will be able to be glued firmly to the bricks. We sell the bricks at cost, cost markup if any, is placed solely on other factory parts, 3D parts or packaging of your materials. We want to give everyone a chance to learn about robotics flight, programming and much more.
LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO® Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this site.
Risks and challenges
As we have prototypes the main challenge is getting the bricks. Sometimes we can not get them and have to wait for stock.
Nick is in charge of 3D Printing and working with Ed Scott to create a motor mount for the most stable flight possible. Together they are working on better GoPro and battery holders that will attach firmly to your quad.
Learn about accountability on KickstarterFAQ
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People sell their creations online every day, but LEGO® has strict rules and we try to follow them as much as we can. We do not copy or clone their products. We do not try to confuse the customer making them think it's an authorized LEGO® creation. We do not use LEGO® in our domain name.
For more information http://askthebusinesslawyer.com/blog/2010/08/19/basic-training-does-selling-legor-creations-trademark-infringement.html
We also follow as best as we can LEGO's Fair Play rules http://aboutus.lego.com/en-us/legal-notice/fair-play
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All backers will be able to login and get instructions for assembling the bricks from our site once its complete and fully funded.
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No they do not, you have to assemble them yourself. Don't worry we will give you all the bricks you will need, its only 117 bricks so its a pretty easy build. We also give an online manual on building the frame. My 2 sons built the frame alone ages 7 and 10, all I did was show them the bricks and manual. All I needed to do was glue it them together.
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Funding period
- (60 days)