The ice breaker

[Lowdown86]

So, I work for a waterpark in Wisconsin and we have outdoor spas, but we are having issues with icicles over the spas on a slide that runs over them. We have tried solution after solution and nothing is keeping them from forming or making them easier to clear.

Now, I'm fairly new to quads, I have a kobbyking pocket quad with multiwii and have a qbot in the mail. I suggested jokingly that I could use one of them to knock the ice down and now they are actually considering it!

Of course, I told them that I would want to build a sturdier quad to do this job, I'm just wondering if anyone had some build suggestions.

So far, I would like to have FPV capabilities, since the icicles are pretty high up. I know I'll need to rig something up to prevent the rotors from hitting the slide or the ice... Any other suggestions?

 

[Charles Bruckner]

Would have to see a picture of the area in question.
I have a few ideas but I need more info to confirm.

 

[Lowdown86]

Okay, I'm here at work now, I'll get pictures up within the hour.

 

[Lowdown86]

This is the whole slide, icicles form on the edges of the slide through the whole length.

 

[Charles Bruckner]

Well you could use a weighted pendulum on the bottom of the quad as a inverted hammer with a long handle.
to knock off the ice.
That way your props will be no where near the slide.

 

[Lowdown86]

So, hang a rope down under the quad with some weight attached to the end and kind of run the rope along the edges?

 

[Charles Bruckner]

No you wouldn't have much control over it.

A 1/4 in PVC pipe with a 8oz weight on the end. that is at least 20 inches long.
mount it on the center of gravity point of the craft with a pivot.

That way when the weight is swung to hit the ice it won't make the craft tilt.

Does the Ice always accumulate at the same points.
If so you could use pipe heat tape along those areas.
But you have to make sure it is on a GFCI circuit.
That may be your best solution although not as fun.

 

[Lowdown86]

That heat tape was actually the first thing we tried. It's worked well on the slide support bars, but not the edges of the slide. Though, I am convinced the contractor that put it up was a dolt. Just didn't seem like the tape was in an effective spot. Anyway, I'm going to give your suggestion a shot on a smaller scale with my qbot for the time being. Thanks for your suggestion!

 

[Charles Bruckner]

No prob, I am just a engineer.

 

[GJH105775]

I know I am reviving a long dead topic, but curiosity got the best of me, so here it is in big bold letters. Did it work?