Finally, here comes the first video of my prototype. It shows the deformation capabilities in 2 directions.
One servo motor is used for the extension of the ring, the other for the movement of the vertical rod. The controlling is done from Java with a Bluesmirf bluetooth module and a Pololu Micro Serial Servo Controller.
I found that the gears and wheels need to be mounted in a very exact way to create a smooth movement. Now I’m going to build the other rings to create the threedimensional shape.

» Lowres video [374×210 px, 500 Kbit/s stream]
» Highres video [1024×576 px, 4 Mbit/s stream]

As a straighforward approach, i got myself a simple model helicopter from Conrad called Gyrotor at the cost of 50 Euro, just to get an idea of what is possible with affordable helicopter technology. This toy is good fun indeed, but much too far away from what i expected. Granted, my navigation skill are surely not the best, but i can’t imagine this thing showing stable flight behaviour with automated remote control.

I’m still waiting for a 150 Euro model to arrive, but i already ditched the idea of having several helicopters with swarm behaviour flying in space for the sake of saving me a lot of trouble.

» Lowres video [374×210 px, 500 Kbit/s stream]
» Highres video [1024×576 px, 4 Mbit/s stream]