There’s been a UFO sighting in the neighborhood!!!

• April 4, 2011 • 3 Comments

After hacking apart a cheap Disney light-up toy, I used the remaining battery, wires, and LED lights to create a light-weight and attention getting lighting system for my Gaui 330XS QuadCopter. I inserted the LED bulbs into white ping pong balls and cut slits in them to attach under the arms of the quad. By pinching each ping pong ball, the slit opens and releasing the ball clamps it tightly to the frame – pretty simple. This way I can easily remove it for daytime flights. I estimate the entire lighting system with the ping pong balls weighs in around 18-20 grams. The original Disney light-up toy had 6 different settings, for various colors and flash patterns, controlled by sequentially pushing a single button.

More detailed pictures to follow, but in the meantime enjoy this YouTube clip I posted of my “UFO” quadcopter during a recent night flight:

Filed in: Build Tips

About the Author ()

I'm a professional tinkerer. Supreme wonderer. I NEED to know how things work and often I find out how by destroying stuff. I built, flew and crashed my first r/c plane within 3 minutes when I was 12 years old. I then discovered that r/c nitro hydroplane racing was pretty fun. When boats flipped or quit in the middle of the pond all I had to do was swim! I often have recurring flying dreams and I found that FPV flying is the closest thing to dreaming while I'm awake.

Comments (3)

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  1. Spackletoe says:
    April 5, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    AWESOME! I havent’ had the heart to wrench that very same Disney light-up toy from my daughter. I’m waiting for her to forget she has it, but that time hasn’t come yet. Great idea with the ping pong balls. Might have to do something like that myself.

    Reply
  2. Tim says:
    April 5, 2011 at 2:14 pm

    That’s awesome!

    Reply
  3. CrispyCargo says:
    April 6, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    Well done. It looks great. Can’t wait to see it at CEC!

    Reply

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