Toby Lankford, known online as tlankford1, is a farmer from Amarillo, Texas, who also dabbles in invention and development. He's currently working on an ambitious project: the Icarus 3.0, a full 3D-printed aircraft designed to be powered by either solar or hydrogen energy. This drone isn't just for show—it's meant to assist in anti-poaching efforts and was even entered into the 2015 Hackaday competition. Lankford has been a regular participant in this annual event, where inventors are challenged to create innovative and practical solutions.
Living in an area with no reliable internet connection for years, Lankford has had to rely on his creativity and resourcefulness. He uses drones and ground robots to monitor his land and catch poachers, all while operating in a network-isolated environment. “We've been completely offline for over three years,†he explains. “Our hacking space and everything we develop is disconnected from the network.†Despite these challenges, he continues to push forward, embracing open-source development to overcome technical hurdles.
Icarus 3.0 is an open-source 3D-printed drone with several impressive features. It can take off and land automatically, and it boasts one of the longest flight times under 5 grams. The drone can travel up to 200 kilometers in 180 minutes, switch between solar and hydrogen power quickly, and operate autonomously from launch to landing. It supports multiple users and cloud platforms, offering both portable and fixed base stations. It also includes antenna tracking, communication, and group control capabilities, making it a versatile tool for remote operations.
For ground control, Lankford has integrated custom image recognition software and TCP/IP cloud control, allowing users to monitor and manage the drone from anywhere in the world. The system is equipped with high-end camera modules that capture infrared, multispectral, and visible images and video. All cameras are digitally connected, and the drone communicates via long-range networks or GSM modules, providing a real-time encrypted link.
The Icarus 3.0 drone is built using a range of advanced components, including an Odroid U3 embedded processor, a Range Video RVJET Flying Wing fuselage, a Cyclops C UAV body, a Piksi RTK GPS for precise navigation, a Pixhawk AP autopilot, and a DroneDeploy cloud communication system. It also features a satellite modem (Iridium 9252), a machine vision USB camera, a thermal imaging camera, RFID technology, and flexible solar panels from Alta Devices.
Lankford’s ultimate goal is to use this drone to help protect endangered species like rhinos and elephants from poaching. “I want to use drones as a tool to improve society and the environment,†he says. “Poaching is a critical issue, and we're at a crucial point in preventing rhinos and elephants from going extinct. We hope this anti-poaching cloud drone system will provide some answers.â€
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