Cheap FPV Drone Gates

For anyone who has experience in FPV Drone (Quadcopter) Racing, you will understand the frustration over the price of Drone Gates. These gates can range from $40 Each and up.

I decided to refine a design that Joshua Bardwell (https://www.youtube.com/user/loraan) and Stew from UAVFutures (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ioIOr3tH6Yz8qzr... Discuss on their respective Youtube Channels.

I apologize for the disorganized presentation of this Instructable. It is my first, and I am still learning the finer points of creating a smooth and effective Instructable!

I wanted this design to be as portable as possible, and able to be adapted to suit the desired track. The frame is designed in a way that allows it to be assembled as a 2 Pool Noodle Gate, or a Single Pool Noodle "Feather Flag".

For this build, you will need:

1x 4m Length of 20mm HD Electrical Conduit (Approximately $5 from Bunnings or Similar Store)

4x 20mm Inspection T-Pieces

4x 20mm Single Connectors

2x Pool Noodles

4x Tent Pegs

2x Pieces of Rope or Ladder Straps

1x 1.7m Tarpaulin

1x Bag (I used a Calico Geological Sample Bag)

Plumbing Glue and Primer (With a rag to apply Primer)

Saw to cut Conduit with

Tape Measure

Drill with Drill Bit

Texta for Marking Cuts in Conduit

These supplies will be enough to make 1x Gate/ 1x Feather Flag.

Step 1: Assemble Your Tools and Consumables

The photos for this step are annotated with the required lengths of conduit to be cut.

If you are having trouble understanding the labels, make the following cuts.

4x Pieces cut at 320mm

2x Pieces cut at 120mm

1x Piece cut at 1610mm

2x Piece cut at 280mm

1x Piece cut at 160mm

THESE ARE FOR THE FEATHER FLAG ADAPTATION (this will take you on to a new length of conduit!)

2x Pieces cut at 200mm

1x Piece cut at 300mm

Step 2: Glue Joints Together

I glued only the pieces that you see connected in the photo above. This allows the gate to be broken down in to all straight pieces, which makes for easy storage and transport.

The disadvantage to these gates is that they are much bulkier than the collapsible commercial gates, but the trade-off is the price!

In the far ends of the legs, drill holes for the tent pegs to be driven into the ground. This will allow the gates to be much more stable in the field.

Step 3: Adaptation for Feather Flag

The above photo shows the parts required to assemble the gate as a Feather Flag. Using the Legs from the Gate, You only need to make a "T" out of the 200mm and 300mm Posts that were cut for the Flag.

By putting Single connectors on to the 20mm pipe, it makes a tighter fit within the pool noodle. The hole in the middle of these particular noodles is a little bigger than 20mm, more like 22mm so the connector makes the join a little more solid and snug-fitting.

Step 4: Storage and Transport

Storage and transport was a concern of mine, having 6 pool noodles and about 8m of conduit was never going to be easy to take to the field!

I decided that a 1.7x2.2m Tarpaulin was the best method of transport, as when the gates are setup in the field, I can use the Tarpaulin to store my gear on top of to keep everything clean and dry.

I used 2x 2m Ladder straps to tie everything together and kept the smaller items inside an old Calico bag from my previous occupation as a Driller. I think an option worth considering is buying a length of 75mm PVC Pipe and capping the ends to store the Conduit in.

Other transport options I have considered are:

Christmas Tree storage bags (right length, just not sure about volume capabilities.

Fishing Rod Bags, but this would not fit the Pool Noodles inside.

Step 5: GO FLY!

You should now have a completed FPV Drone Racing Flag.

Interestingly, the coloured Pool Noodles are quite difficult to see from the CMOS/CCD Cameras. To counter this, it is worthwhile covering the pool noodle in WHITE DUCT/GAFFER TAPE. This will also allow the noodle to hold together better in case you hit them.

Cheers again guys, please provide feedback for me to improve this if possible!