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Lab 05 - Believer Familiarization

Summary

This lab was a group project that introduced me to the Believer airframe - a training platform for the Windracers Ultra. I worked in a group of five people, where we labeled the parts from the kit, learned about their functions, and how they work in the aircraft. Additionally, we examined two example Bills of Materials with potential electronic choices for the aircraft. We classified what each component’s purpose was in the aircraft, and discussed why one may have been chosen over the others. After reviewing and documenting those resources and parts, our final task was to streamline an existing build guide in a way that was shorter while remaining useful and comprehensive.
Airframe Components
Air Frame Part
Specs
Quantity
Image
Fuselage
Height: 180mm Length: 1070mm. Body of aircraft
1
IMG_8602.JPG
Wings
Combined wingspan of 1960mm Wing area: 51.4 square decimeters.
2
IMG_8596.JPG
V-Tail Empennage
Tail Assembly- Reinforced with carbon fiber spars. Help stabilize aircraft in flight.
2
IMG_8598.JPG
Landing Cushions
Cushion/protect battery and flight control areas - Also used to cushion impact at landing.
2
IMG_8600.JPG
Wing inserting carbon tubes
12x10x700mm 10x8x600mm Used to to connect wings to fuselage.
2
IMG_8601.JPG
Servo Fixings
Contains Servo Installing base, Servo presser, and servo covering plate
2 Sets
Servo fixing parts.jpg
Battery Fixing Board
Helps secure the battery into the fuselage
1
image.png
Cabin Cover Fixing Board
Helps secure the cabin cover where crucial flight components are contained
1
image.png
Antenna Fixing Board
Helps secure the antenna
2
image.png
ESC Cover
Used to protect the ESC (Electronic Speed Controller) from damage; slitted openings to enable cooling
2
electric regulating cover.jpg
Stud
Used to lock fixer in place
12
9 stud 12.jpg
Cabin Cover Locking Pins
Lock the cabin cover into place
4
hatch lock pins.jpg
Servo Horn Attatchment
An adjustable attachment onto a servo
2
servo chuck.jpg
Latching Hook
Securely fastens a removable part
12
12x latching hook.jpg
Fuselage Reinforcing Plate
Reinforcements for the fuselage
2
image.png
Tail Reinforcing Plate
Reinforcements for the V-Tail
2
tail reinforcing plate.jpg
Autopilot Locating Board
Provides flat location within the fuselage to mount the “Autopilot)
1
autopilot locating board.jpg
Parachute Servo Mount
Mount for parachute servo
1
parachute servo mount.jpg
Wooden Plate of Parachut Hatch Cover
1
wooden plate of parachute hatch cover.jpg
Parachute Cover Hatch Stiffener
1
parachute hatch cover stiffer.jpg
Motor Installing Base
2
motor installing base.jpg
Rudder Pins
Attaches rudder
rudder pins.jpg
Helmangle
4
20250930_143607.jpg
Servo Ball Heads and Link Rods
servo ends & extending wire.jpg
Servo Cable
30cm*2 Extension
30cm*2 Male
35cm*2 Female
Y Splitter 10cm*2
8
servo wires.jpg
Wire Wrap + Battery Stap
wire wrap.jpg
16 AWG Silicone Wire
2
image.png
Heat Shrink Tubing
2.5mm*15mm*20
6mm*15mm*12
There are no rows in this table

Electronics Familiarization

BOM
Component
Function
Blog Equivalent
MFE Believer – KIT
Airframe
Believer FPV Plane
T-Motor AT3520 Long Shaft 550 KV
Turns the props
T-motor MN3110 700Kv
T-Motor AT 55A – Fixed wing ESC with 5V/5A UBEC
Provides the motors with power
HobbyWing Platinum Pro 30A ESC
EMAX ES3054 17g Digital Servo with Bearing
Moves the control surfaces
Bluebird BMS-393DMH
Aero-naut CAMcarbon Light 126L CW /CCW
Provides thrust from the motor
APC Style 10x7E
UltraPower - UP1200+ 8CH Charger 2-6s 25A
Charges the batteries
TBS Tracer Micro TX Starter Set
Transmits the RC signal to the plane
FrSky R9M 868/900Mhz Long range Tx module
Taranis X9D Plus SE 2019
The controller allows the operator to input controls to the RC TX module
CUAV Pixhawk Nano Flight Controller
XT90H - 5 Pairs
Battery Connector
083 - 2-6s backup BEC for Pixhawk 2
Backup power supply for the Cube
Turnigy Multistar Twin Output 5v/12v SBEC
Digital Airspeed Sensor MS4525DO
measures airspeed to help with maintaining speed for autonomous flight controller
Not Specified in blog
Here 3+ with iStand
GPS, so the flight controller knows where it is
Not Specified in blog
RFDesign - PIXHAWK 2 to RFD900/868 Telemetry Cable
Not Specified blog
RFD 900x-US V2 Modem (FCC approved) - Bundle
Telemetry modules to get mission data from the plane and upload missions to the plane
Not Specified in blog
Cube ID-CAN
Remote ID for regulatory compliance
Not Specified in blog
45cm Male to Female Twisted Servo Extension – 22AWG Locking
Servo wires need to be longer to reach the servos
Not Specified in blog
The Cube Blue H7
The flight controller provides stabilization and autonomous functionality
Not Specified in blog
ADS-B Carrier Board -Only for The Cube
ADS-B allows the drone to detect where manned aircraft are
Not Specified in blog
Gens Ace G Tech Tattu HV 17000mAh 15C
Batteries to power the plane
Not Specified in blog
AM1021B-M
Shell/housing for JR-style servo (Male)
Not Specified in blog
AM1021B-F
Shell/housing for JR-style servo (Female)
Not Specified in blog
24 AWG Silicone Wire / Cable
For making the wire harness
22AWG, 28AWG, 26AWG Servo cables
16AWG, 14AWG Power cables
Ruko R111 FAA Compliant Remote ID Module for Drone, RC Airplane GPS Tracker, 5 Hours Battery Time, Light Weight RID Module for FAA Regulation, Spare Accessories for FPV Drones & RC plane & Helicopter
Remote ID for regulatory compliance
VELCRO Brand Heavy Duty Tape with Adhesive | 15 Ft x 2 In | Holds 10 lbs, Black | Industrial Strength Roll, Cut Strips to Length | Strong Hold for Indoor or Outdoor Use, 15ft x 2in
Helps hold the battery in place
Polyester Velcro Peel-n-stick
Tripp Lite Heavy Duty Computer Power Cord, 15A, 14AWG (NEMA 5-15P to IEC-320-C13), 10-ft. (P007-010) , Black
For the Charger
There are no rows in this table

Build Instructions

Gather all necessary materials
Glue and install all the plastic and wood pieces
Glue the foam pieces and the fuselage together
Install the servos
Center the servos and install the servo horns
Install the servo linkages
Install the motors and the ESCs
Solder and install the servo and power connectors
Create the complete wire harness for the Cube
Install the Cube and all electronics
Clean up the wiring using the channels on the inside of the fuselage

Critical Points

Install the servos
Install the motors and ESC
Create the wire harness for the Cube
Install the electronics

Reflection

In this lab we often have to work as groups for activities like flight labs or assembling aircraft like the M300, however, we also rely on each other to fill the gaps in knowledge we have in labs like soldering, where a quick response from a classmate could offer a different perspective than how it’s taught. This lab is a prime example of this. Andrew L and I were the most experienced in terms of electronics background or familiarity with these sorts of parts, but Andrew H, Hunter, and Lucas were much more willing to ask questions or point out things that seemed out of place compared to us. These different strengths are why we were able to be so efficient and productive, and we were ultimately able to communicate well and clearly, filling in any knowledge gaps the others may have had.
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