Category Archives: RC

Ikarus electric “rocket”

Ikarus is a thrust vectored flying ducted fan. This page has the design files for the project.

See an overview of Ikarus in this video:

This is an advanced RC project, I don’t recommend this for beginners! These are not plans, just a list of things you’ll need to get and 3D print, then figure out how to assemble into Ikarus. There will be holes that need to be drilled, things that need to be shaved down on 3D prints, etc.

Shopping list:

Download the 3D models below and print 1 of Nozzle, 2 of Rudder Left and Rudder Right, and 4 of Leg. Raft and supports are required for all parts.

Ikarus STL and CAD

Assemble the craft, refer to the video for how things go together.

CC3D output servo/motor channel mapping (Looking from top of craft, receiver at bottom)

  1. Top Right servo
  2. Top Left Servo
  3. Bottom Left Servo
  4. Bottom Right Servo
  5. EDF ESC throttle

CC3D Input Channel Mapping

  1. Throttle
  2. Roll
  3. Pitch
  4. Yaw

Program the flight controller with the following custom firmware

CC3D Firmware with gyroscopic compensation feedforward

Load the settings file

Ikarus uav settings file

Check Channel 5 configuration, must be set to minimum (mode 1) for normal flight. This channel selects control mode (min = attitude control (normal), middle = rate control (Acro), full = open loop (Directly controls vanes/throttle, no stabilization)

Flight tips:

  • The “front” of the craft is the ESC side, the receiver side faces you.
  • For a clean takeoff, slowly ramp up the throttle to about 30-40%, then quickly raise to about 50-75% , then reduce as appropriate to maintain altitude once in the air. Ramping up too slowly will result in the craft tipping over. The thrust vectoring  bleeds off a lot of power as the craft initially stabilizes after leaving the ground, so an extra burst of power is required until the craft is stable in the air.
  • Roll/pitch is much slower than a normal quadcoper, be prepared for this
  • Plan to fall over upon landing unless you come down perfectly straight or make the landing legs wider.