DIY: Triple-rotor Helicopter

At a glance, this DIY tricopter looks quite similar to the Parrot AR Drone, but it’s not a commercial product. It’s currently in its 4th generation, and this DIY helicopter is quite cool, flying well, hovering and also performing some aerial acrobatics like loops and rolls. The frame is modeled with carbon fiber coated balsa wood, making it light and strong. It sports three gyroscopes and a dual-axis accelerometer for control. The developer has even been kind enough to put up the instructions and source files for this project. Check out a video of it in action after the jump.