BASICS / Cradles /

Four Camera Cradle Design Types

INTRODUCTION

This series of pages is an effort to present camera cradle construction, and the resources needed to accomplish the task, in a concise and usable form. Many newcomers to KAP find it hard to assimilate all the diverse information about camera cradle construction. The fact that the information is spread across multiple sources makes the task even more intimidating.

Camera Cradles is divided into Three Parts:

1. The 4 Basic Cradle Designs
2. Design Rules and Guidelines
3. Charts of Camera Cradle Info On the Net

The Charts are the real meat of this section. They contain all the Internet sites that have Camera Cradle information. An evaluation of the type and quality of that information is provided for each link. The charts can be sorted using various parameters to help you find information quickly and efficiently.

Most KAP camera cradles are homemade and therefore no two are just alike. The types of parts and materials available to each KAPer will be different in each situation. You will notice similarities in the basic design of the camera cradle from one KAPer to the next.

The Four Basic Designs

When you look at the chart you will see references to the "Frame Style". "Frame Style" refers to the four basic styles mentioned on this page. Most camera cradles will use the UU design, and most will NOT have HoVer capabilities.

UU DESIGN

1a. The Double 'U' Design (UU)

• The two supporting members are U-shaped
• The top 'U' is the Panning member
• The bottom 'U' is the Tilting member
• THIS IS THE EASIEST AND MOST COMMON DESIGN!!!

 

1b. The Double 'U' - HoVer Variation
You will also occasionally see a variation of the Double 'U' Design that rotates the camera between the typical horizontal image format and a vertical image format, called    HoVer.

• HoVer = Horizontal Verticle
  The Tilt member is rotated back 90°. And an extra bracket is attached to the Tilt member to hold the camera

 

LL DESIGN

2. The Double 'L' Design

• It is half of the Double 'U' Design
• Some weight savings
• Light weight cameras only
• HoVer option possible, but not shown

 

HINGED STACK

3. Hinged Stack

• A centrally located Panning member
• The Tilting member hinges off the bottom
• HoVer is optional
• Simon Harbord's variation, the Panning Member is made by gluing the servos, transmitter, and batteries together

 

OTHER

4. Other

Camera Cradles that don't fit into any of the above three Design categories. Most of these are non-radio control systems that must be manually adjusted before flight