Gipsy is one of those projects that starts with a simple “what if we build a drone?” and quickly turns into “ok, apparently we also need to learn aerodynamics, 3D printing, center of gravity, and how not to crash expensive things.”
The idea was born with a clear goal: to build a fixed-wing UAV that could work as a platform for aerial data capture. In simpler words: an unmanned aircraft capable of carrying cameras, covering large areas, and helping us generate useful information from images, especially for photogrammetry.
What makes Gipsy interesting is that we did not want to simply buy a drone and use it as it came. We wanted to understand it from the inside: design its structure, test configurations, manufacture parts, make mistakes, adjust, and try again. Because, apparently, the best way to learn about drones is to build one… and accept that the first prototype probably will not end very well.
The project has gone through several iterations. We have worked on the wing design, weight distribution, fuselage structure, internal 3D-printed components, and the possibility of making it modular so it is easier to assemble, transport, and repair. We have also explored how this platform could later evolve to integrate more advanced sensors, such as LiDAR.
One of the most interesting features of Gipsy is that it brings together multiple disciplines that are usually approached separately: software, hardware, 3D design, data analysis, and electronics. Every decision matters: the weight of a part, the position of a battery, the shape of the wing, or even how a printed section is joined can completely change the aircraft’s behavior.
At Bitsol, we also shared a bit more about the project and the process behind this idea. You can read that post here: Bitsol gets wings.
Gipsy is not a finished product yet. It is more of an idea under construction, with printed parts, simulations, tests, mistakes, lessons learned, and a lot of motivation to take off. But that is exactly what makes it exciting.
For now, we are still adjusting, testing, and learning. And if everything goes well, Gipsy will soon stop being just an idea with wings.
And with more work and a little luck, it will soon start to fly …