I teach high school engineering and currently use weather balloons to drop a ~300-gram payload. However, due to the cost of helium and the weather-dependence of balloons, I’m looking to switch to a drone. The challenge is that drones in my budget range don’t usually advertise their payload capacity unless they’re in the $2000-$5000 range. I’ve asked around but have only received vague responses.
I am working with a budget of around $800 (cheaper would be ideal since it’s for a public school), and I don’t need a camera on it, just something that can reliably carry the payload.
Yes, the S155 is fantastic for its price point. It offers a 35-40 minute flight time, flies twice as high as other models in its price range, and has a range of around 5000-6000 meters.
For $800 and this requirement you are well within building your own territory.
Now if I understand you correctly, it is pretty much, going straight up, dropping payload and coming straight down. So no big battery for duration, right?
I believe a stripped down, lightweight 7 or 8 inch (prop. diameter) quad could do it.
I’m checking for it on Amazon, but the price seems to be much higher than $800. Do you know of a better place to purchase it? I really appreciate your help! I’ve also forwarded that article to my work email to review later.
You could try a simple Google search like “best price for X.” The challenge with not recommending a specific model is that payload capabilities are usually mentioned only with commercial drones, and you’ve seen the prices for those. For smaller recreational drones, we’re mostly limited to “can carry X GoPro.”
Another option is to look locally for a drone pilot or builder and see if they can create exactly what you need. Keep in mind, you’ll also need a release mechanism, which isn’t common on most recreational drones.
And I totally understand the overworked part, my wife used to be a teacher before transitioning to a teaching assistant (ISS specialist).
I have managed to fly a 24oz beer to my neighbor’s house using 4-inch props. It was definitely pushing the limits of the ESCs, and they would occasionally desync. A power-hungry 5-inch or an X8 in a 5-inch configuration would likely perform better.
Hey man, this person is asking about a drone and clearly doesn’t have much experience. Don’t throw out all that technical jargon without explaining it, newbies won’t understand it.
Holybro offers kits that should meet your needs. You’ll need to provide your own transmitter/receiver (make sure to invest in a high-quality one) and integrate a payload release servo. After adding 4S batteries and upgrading to better props, you’ll be looking at around $1K and roughly a month of building and tuning, depending on your skill level.
Make sure you comply with regulations like § 107.23 (no hazardous operations or dropping objects that could cause harm) and § 107.39 (no flying over people unless certain conditions are met). Also, check with your school about insurance and other requirements.
For more details, you can check out the Holybro S500 V2 Kit here: Holybro S500 V2 Kit.
I appreciate your help. However, as an overworked teacher, I don’t have a month to spend building a drone. Do you recommend a prefabricated model instead? I’m working on a grant and might be able to go over $1,000 if necessary. The worst they can do is say no, right?
At that price point, you might not find a ready-made option. You will likely need to make some modifications since most drone airframes are designed to prevent items from falling off. Check if there is an Academy of Model Aeronautics airfield or an RC hobby shop nearby; someone there might be willing to build the drone for you. They could also help with the flying, allowing you to focus on your students and teaching.
You can find used DJI Mavic Pros (first generation) on eBay and similar sites for around $300-350. You might need to buy additional batteries or accessories, which can cost about $75 on Amazon for knock-off brands.
There are single and double payload adapters available for these drones, with a capacity of up to 500 grams. These adapters use a keyring or similar mechanism to carry and deploy the payload.