Model UAV: ARDi (Codenamed: ARDi )
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Current Objectives for this Model
Model Components
Flight Controller: Mikrokopter Flight-Ctrl V2.1 ME (SMD preassembled)
ARDi (Aerial Research Drone One) is the Micro-UAV that Started it all for us at WWVi. ARDi Was born in Australia and shipped to us here in Canada. Since his arrival, ARDi has been modified and changed more times than we have recorded. With configurations for water flying, snow flying, fire flying and many more, ARDi, its missions, and the experience we gained with it, led to the development of other MUAVs. All other MUAVS in out fleet are named in honor of ARDi so model numbers are now RD2, RD3 etc . and so forth.
Ardi has flown at paddlefest, flown in wildland fires, flown in the remote wilds of the Nahanni, all over the map in the Northwest Territories.
ARDi Flies Paddlefest 2010
In the Summer of 2010, ARDi spent the day flying the edge of Mountain Portage Rapids on the Mighty Slave River, near Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. The event, is held annually and has its roots in annual gatherings on the river by die-hard whitewater kayak enthusiasts. It was quite a learning experience for us, as a pilot and camera person, and our fear of loosing ARDi to the turbulent hydraulics of the river kept our air stunts to a minimum and almost no flying over water. The Paddlefest Video (featuring the original track "Wreckless Abandon" performed by "State of the Art") at the bottom of the page shows some of the action. We hope to fly paddefest 2011.
The Fall of ARDi
On August 7, 2011 during test flight where ARDi was stripped down to the bare essentials, It had a fatal crash. We are deeply saddened by the loss of the aircraft that started it all for us. ARDi as we know it will be missed but will probably be reincarnated in some way in one of the other other builds.
ARDi is reincarnated as AQUA - RD10
We have successfully performed a total nervous systems transplant of the core surviving components of ARDi into our new DeX Quad aka Aqua. With this we will continue the adventures we began with ARDi and carry on with all the other models in the fleet. Find out more about Aqua
Model Flight Logs
Newest at the top, oldest at the bottom.
There are no flight logs for this model.
Music: Zep!
Pilot notes:
Timecode is mission time.
~5:30 into the mission: a strong downdraft turns my low battery decent into a powerful quadcopter trampoline jump. Thank godness for the landing gear/ pontoon rig. my first indicator of the chaotic nature of the winds near a wildfire, even in its infancy.
~15:20 into the mission: Downdrafting, updrafting, and winds in all directions impede shooting, the quad is thrown around like a plastic bag in the wind.
~16:30 into the mission: A flare up, begins intensifying the fire on the east (Right) side of the area.
~20:48 into the mission: The left side nears full intensity.
~21:20 into the mission: Last battery change before things go full tilt.
~22:00 into the mission: Both sides of the fire, begin to come together and the blaze intensifies into a wall of fire.
~22:25 into the mission: I fly ARDi into the smoke column of the fire, and a wild ride into flying debris begins
~23:00 into the mission: wind shifts, and smoke column and firey debris rains down on the crew and ARDi - hot debris, sticks to the lens
~23:20 into the mission: both fires join, and ARDi is pummeled with debirs, I bring it down to about 10 feet and fly under the smoke and get a peek at the main fire.
~25:30 into the mission: A small rabbit, escapes the blaze to safety, I follow its path with ARDi
For more on Project FireEye or Wildfire information for the Northwest Territories in Canada, visit http://www.nwtfire.com
Western Willow Ventures Inc.(WWVi) Testing ARDi (Aerial Research Drone One) with FPV (Frist Person Video) Goggles for passenger. Please note that the name has since changed , recon became research to more accurately reflect the nature of the craft.
The Model known as ARDi has now been retired after serving for many dangerous missions including a flights into wildfire, and into the freezing wilds of the Nahanni.
Some paddling action at Paddelfest 2010 on the Slave River in Fort Smith, NT Canada. Set to the original track "Wreckless Abandon" by renowned local group "State of the Art".
The aim of project FireEye is the application of WWVi's Aerial Research Drone 1 (ARDi) to the tasks of detection, observation and monitoring of wildfire. WWVi and ARDi join the scientists at the Canadian Boreal Research Community FireSmart Project in Fort Providence, NT to explore the potential applications that the Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Micro-UAV) and Unmanned Aerial Robot (Micro-AUR) platforms can play in the areas that are high risk to human life and high cost due to aircraft availability and fuel costs
A bumble bee tour through Fort Fitzgerald Gardens. The garden is a short drive (approx 20 kms) from Fort Smith, NT.
Take a buzz around Jack and Deb's garden through the eyes of ARDi (Aerial Research Drone 1)
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