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Help Stephen Help Planet With Drone!

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Hello, my name is Stephen Wilcox. Also known as DroneOfPrey in the FPV community. I have been flying and building FPV racing and freestyle quadcopters for about 3 years now. I have dedicated my free time to helping others in the hobby learn, build, troubleshoot and fly these little machines. To share the enjoyment I receive from feeling like a bird in the sky. I am also a VIP member of the forum IntoFPV.com where I share and discuss many topics related to UAVs. Recently I was inspired by a company called SeedballsKenya.com and their efforts in fighting deforestation in Kenya. The use of "seedballs" to plant native trees in Kenya is as easy as throwing them on the ground and has a much better success rate than using nursery raised trees with a resricted root system. Staying protected and safe from animals and insects inside of the charcoal dust and nutrient filled ball and by developing a deep taproot once the seedball is exposed to rain or moisture. Immediately I saw a need for a less expensive way for aerial seeding. Current efforts include helicopters and airplanes which require expensive aviation fuel and require much flight planning. With a large UAV/RPAS (unmanned aerial vehicle/Remote Piloted Aerial System) we have the potention for very low costs of operation, using solar panels to recharge batteries. Also being ready at a moments notice for emergency uses after a wild fire when tree seeding times can be crucial. I would like to raise enough money to build and test a large UAV capable of carrying and dispersing these seedballs as well as ship it to Kenya for donation to SeedballsKenya and help in covering the very expensive registration fees placed on Kenyan pilots. I have no interest in proprietary gain, only helping our planet combat climate change and deforestation. Kenya is my final goal, but this technology can be used world wide and also made modular to be assigned many other helpful tasks. Even non-lethal animal human conflict resolution. Efforts are already saving elephants, people, and their crops in this manner. Build parts/prices: (trying to included shipping costs) Frame- Tarot T18 $600 Motors x8- $500 ESCs- $160-200 Batteries x2 (high quality) $400 Batteries x2 (lower quality) $200 Long Range Rx- $100 Tx- X9D $200 Props- 18inch CF $80-100 FPV System- $60 FPV monitor- $100-200 HD Camera- $400 Seed Dispersal Unit (estimated w/ material, servos and motors) $200-300 Any excess will go to the very heavy import and registration fees. As well as Seedball donations! Thanks for your time! Stephen Wilcox

Organizer

Stephen Wilcox
Organizer
Sidney, OH

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