Two electric power units for hang gliders that climb at 400+ fpm, built from carbon, off-the-shelf parts and ESP32 control. One straps to your harness. One bolts to your keel.
For beginner to intermediate gliders. A carbon backplate carries twin Tattu 25 Ah packs and the ESC; a folding carbon boom puts the prop behind you and a kickstand wheel keeps it off the ground.
For high-performance gliders. Two motors on carbon swing arms bolt to the keel, with a servo prop brake, onboard IMU and the XTM 5500 handheld controller. Cart launch in development.
Thrust, altitude and flight time are for the 2020 Carbon eHelp, as reported in the project videos.
Wear the motor instead of bolting it to the wing. The eHelp rides on your harness, so it works with the glider you already fly.
| Item | Carbon Mini (2026) | Carbon eHelp (2020, measured) |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot level | Beginner to intermediate | Beginner to intermediate |
| Mounting | Pilot harness, folding boom | Pilot harness |
| Battery | 2 × Tattu 25 Ah | 12S (2 × 6S) Tattu 25 Ah HV |
| ESC | Hobbywing Platinum 260A V5 HV | — |
| Controller | ESP32, custom carrier board | — |
| Thrust | [kg] | ~30 kg (estimate) |
| Weight | [lb] | 22 lb |
| Flight time | [min] | 20 min |
| Climb rate | [fpm] | 300–400 fpm, 100–200 fpm as voltage sags |
| Altitude per charge | [ft] | 1,250 ft on a 145 Falcon 3 |
| Current draw | [A] | 162 A |
| Parts cost | [$] | Under $2,500 incl. batteries and chargers |
Two motors on carbon swing arms, clamped to the keel. Climb out, then brake the props and glide clean.
Carbon plates clamp either side of the keel tube. No airframe modification.
One motor per side on a carbon swing arm, faired by a printed nose cone.
A servo-driven pad stops the prop so it folds for gliding.
An ESP32 handheld shows throttle, time remaining, battery voltage and motor data, with an arm switch and a mouth-throttle option.
| Item | XTM |
|---|---|
| Pilot level | High-performance gliders (flown on Laminar Z8 and Z9) |
| Mounting | Bolt-on keel clamp: two holes, about 30 minutes to fit on launch |
| Motors | 2 × M10 (upgraded Feb 2022) |
| ESCs | 2 × FlyColor 160A, DShot telemetry (2026) |
| Logging | Barometric altimeter, GPS, IMU for pitch and roll |
| Control | ESP32, XTM 5500 handheld, wireless mouth throttle |
| Brake | Servo prop brake |
| Added weight | 15.5 lb (first 2020 version) |
| Launch | Foot launch · powered cart (in testing) |
| Battery | [PACK] |
An electric cart that gets the glider up to launch speed from flat ground. It's already passed 25 mph in testing, with room to reach 35–45 mph.
From a thrust test stand in 2019 to a launch cart in 2026. Every milestone links to its video.
Both units are open hardware and open software, released under the GNU AGPL v3. The eHelp's ready-to-install files are below. Full source code, Fusion 360 models and CNC files are moving to GitHub.
Dashboard, setup, calibration, flight logs and GPS for the eHelp over Bluetooth. Android only.
APK · 52.4 MB
Download APKFor the LilyGO T-QT Pro (ESP32-S3) controller. Merged image: write it to address 0x0. Your saved settings are kept.
BIN · 0.68 MB
Download flight firmware Demo / bench firmware (simulated ESC and battery, motor output off) →Owner's & Builder's Manual: pilot chapters, then hardware, wiring, firmware and the Bluetooth protocol for builders.
PDF · 5.3 MB
Open manual (PDF)Remove the propeller first. Unplug the ESC battery; the T-QT is powered over USB while flashing.
esptool.py --chip esp32s3 write_flash 0x0 eHelp-firmware-1.1.4-flight.binRelease notes and full instructions: README · Verify downloads: SHA-256 checksums
The XTM release is being prepared. It will include:
The eHelp and XTM software, firmware, apps and design files are free and open source under the GNU AGPL v3. You can use, study, change and share them. If you distribute a modified version, or run one that people use over a network, you must make your source available under the same license.
Copyright © 2018–2026 Charles Allen, Electric Glider Lab. Provided without any warranty. Powered flight carries real risk: builders are responsible for their own testing, airworthiness and local regulations.
Questions about the designs, or want an update when new videos and files land?
Email: [CONTACT EMAIL]