5 ms·

$12k for the airframe. Each engine (4x) is another $8k. I wouldn't be surprised if the out-the-door cost of the airframe, engines, avionics and controls surpa

$12k for the airframe. Each engine (4x) is another $8k. I wouldn't be surprised if the out-the-door cost of the airframe, engines, avionics and controls surpasses $50k.

munk-a 5y ago
Actually, from their website it looks like there is a bundle package[1] of the necessary guts that brings the full price to about 20k. 1. https://www.muginuav.com/product/power-package-for-mugin-4450-vtol/ https://www.muginuav.com/product/power-package-for-mugin-445...
- atourgates 5y ago
  I wonder what they're using as a flight controller? Is it linked to the ground (via cellular or similar) during the whole flight? Or autonomous for part of it? EDIT: Looks like their ARTF electric version uses the Ardupilot CUAV V2+ - https://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/common-cuav-v5plus-overview.html https://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/common-cuav-v5plus-overvie... I can't find any information on the data link, that they call: "Sprintlink Pro Data link & Video Link". So not sure if this uses cellular networks, or something else during flight. Hybrid products definitely exist: https://www.skyhopper.biz/products/communication-data-links-combo/ https://www.skyhopper.biz/products/communication-data-links-... EDIT 2: The ARTF version is wild. For under $20K - you can just buy a drone that can deliver a 3kg package (6.6lbs) anywhere within about a 100 mile range. https://www.muginuav.com/product/mugin-ev350-full-electric-vtol-uav-arf/ https://www.muginuav.com/product/mugin-ev350-full-electric-v... Besides "last mile shipping" and smuggling implications, I'm trying to think of how this could be useful today. Maybe some kind of search and rescue where someone activates a personal locator beacon, and you could send them supplies before you could reach them? A little under a gallon of water? IDK, seems like a stretch. But I feel like there has to be more practical implications.
  - imtringued 5y ago
    I looked up the cost of Warmates and they are also around $20k. Considering APKWS has existed for much longer and has a higher explosive yield and range and the fact that an Apache can carry a whole rocket killer swarm of 38 APKWS I honestly don't see how "slaughter bots" are supposed to be a threat when drones are that expensive. The myth that drones are cheap should die. Crappy plastic toys with flight times measured in minutes are cheap. The real deal is just as expensive as everything else.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
    - nine_k 5y ago
      Things become cheap if they are mass-produced. Most current drones are highly custom, like cars in 1900. They can be much cheaper once a "Ford T" of drone tech emerges.
    - pixl97 5y ago
      Just wait till you learn how expensive actual aircraft are.
    - noduerme 5y ago
      Interesting and timely article about those crappy plastic toys... https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/07/21/israels-combat-proven-drone-swarm-is-more-than-just-a-drone-swarm/amp/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/07/21/israel...

$12k for the airframe. Each engine (4x) is another $8k. I wouldn't be surprised if the out-the-door cost of the airframe, engines, avionics and controls surpasses $50k.

munk-a 5y ago

Actually, from their website it looks like there is a bundle package[1] of the necessary guts that brings the full price to about 20k. 1. https://www.muginuav.com/product/power-package-for-mugin-4450-vtol/ https://www.muginuav.com/product/power-package-for-mugin-445...

atourgates 5y ago
I wonder what they're using as a flight controller? Is it linked to the ground (via cellular or similar) during the whole flight? Or autonomous for part of it? EDIT: Looks like their ARTF electric version uses the Ardupilot CUAV V2+ - https://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/common-cuav-v5plus-overview.html https://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/common-cuav-v5plus-overvie... I can't find any information on the data link, that they call: "Sprintlink Pro Data link & Video Link". So not sure if this uses cellular networks, or something else during flight. Hybrid products definitely exist: https://www.skyhopper.biz/products/communication-data-links-combo/ https://www.skyhopper.biz/products/communication-data-links-... EDIT 2: The ARTF version is wild. For under $20K - you can just buy a drone that can deliver a 3kg package (6.6lbs) anywhere within about a 100 mile range. https://www.muginuav.com/product/mugin-ev350-full-electric-vtol-uav-arf/ https://www.muginuav.com/product/mugin-ev350-full-electric-v... Besides "last mile shipping" and smuggling implications, I'm trying to think of how this could be useful today. Maybe some kind of search and rescue where someone activates a personal locator beacon, and you could send them supplies before you could reach them? A little under a gallon of water? IDK, seems like a stretch. But I feel like there has to be more practical implications.
- imtringued 5y ago
  I looked up the cost of Warmates and they are also around $20k. Considering APKWS has existed for much longer and has a higher explosive yield and range and the fact that an Apache can carry a whole rocket killer swarm of 38 APKWS I honestly don't see how "slaughter bots" are supposed to be a threat when drones are that expensive. The myth that drones are cheap should die. Crappy plastic toys with flight times measured in minutes are cheap. The real deal is just as expensive as everything else.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - nine_k 5y ago
    Things become cheap if they are mass-produced. Most current drones are highly custom, like cars in 1900. They can be much cheaper once a "Ford T" of drone tech emerges.
  - pixl97 5y ago
    Just wait till you learn how expensive actual aircraft are.
  - noduerme 5y ago
    Interesting and timely article about those crappy plastic toys... https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/07/21/israels-combat-proven-drone-swarm-is-more-than-just-a-drone-swarm/amp/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/07/21/israel...