Multirotor, multicopter and quadcopter discussion - The Drone thread

d_brennen · 7 Jul 2014 at 14:06

Lisapete said:
Looking for a really simple drone

Needs to follow me as I walk about
Do it's own thing, land and take off
Transmit live video to glasses, ios device (iphone or ipad mini)

Cheap

This is to help in recover rockets, high power ones. The idea is that this will be up overhead giving a view downward which helps as when walking across a field we can only see across and if it's crops then an aerial view be good.

Is there a kit or pre built product as such?

All of what you want can be done to an extent. Cheap? No. One package? No

Phantom Vision II is probably the best starting point

Lisapete · 7 Jul 2014 at 14:32

Och that's pretty expensive.

Ballon or kyte with video downlink might be cheaper then

Narj · 7 Jul 2014 at 15:03

Lisapete said:
Och that's pretty expensive.

Ballon or kyte with video downlink might be cheaper then

That might work, with a LiPo running the vTx and camera... You'd need a way of keeping it stable though which is easier said than done if it's gusty.

Lisapete · 7 Jul 2014 at 15:18

Narj said:
That might work, with a LiPo running the vTx and camera... You'd need a way of keeping it stable though which is easier said than done if it's gusty.

That's true. Whats about 2nd hand then?

Russinating · 7 Jul 2014 at 16:20

Also to add, having a drone "follow you" is completely illegal unless someone else is operating it. The reason is you need visual line of sight of the drone for commercial use which you won't have if it's following you.

Russinating · 7 Jul 2014 at 17:05

Another one from this afternoon. Went out to practice a couple of emergency procedures and failsafe routines before our flight exam on Wednesday.

100% crop:

da_ging · 7 Jul 2014 at 17:39

@Lisapete the Walkera Y100 might do what you want, it can send video to and be controlled on ipad etc, has a follow mode and altitude hold, video range might be an issue though being standard wifi.

and if anyone's interested I've got 4 packs of 10x4.5" props I don't need as I decided to go with different colours. 2 packs each of red and green, 1 CW and 1 CCW prop in each pack. £7 delivered for the lot.

Rilot · 7 Jul 2014 at 17:45

How long did it take you to write your ops manual Russ?

Russinating · 7 Jul 2014 at 17:52

Rilot said:
How long did it take you to write your ops manual Russ?

Total editing time according to Word is 1510 minutes (25 hours). Not sure how Word calculates that, whether it's just open time or actual typing time, but it's 6,400 words nonetheless. That doesn't include all the checklists, forms and other ancillary bits and bobs which I'd guess took about 10 hours, but does include the minimal amendments from EuroUSC.

Also had our branded hi-viz polos delivered the other day

Sorry to hear about your MS. Is that a recent development or long-standing?

Rilot · 7 Jul 2014 at 18:31

Ace hi-viz jackets. Love them.
I'd figured on 30 hours to do mine but have only put a rough framework together so far as I was waiting to do the ground course just in case I end up having to re-do a ton of it.

I was diagnosed with MS in 1999 so 15 years now. It's no biggie really. Just kicks me around a bit and makes me super tired. Walking is difficult sometimes, as is seeing.

Russinating · 7 Jul 2014 at 18:48

Ha, ta. We bought some hi-viz vests but they were terrible; like most hi-viz clothing just ill-fitting and horrible to wear. These are actual polo shirts so much more comfortable to wear (and a bit smarter/more casual too).

EuroUSC give you a template for the ops manual which I worked around and helped shave quite a few hours off I'm sure.

Do you know how MS may affect any future application? Part of the ops manual is a section on crew health and EuroUSC even advise getting a PPL medical declaration from your doctor to accompany the OM. Just quickly Googled it and found this: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/2499/Multiple Sclerosis FC.pdf

Not sure if you've looked into it and know more than I do but thought it worth mentioning. Hope it doesn't affect anything of course!

Snaggle · 7 Jul 2014 at 19:19

Snaggle said:
I have a neighbor who is a filmmaker and got into quads early on.. He bought this when there was no basic kits out there and was from a german company . Its all carbob.. will take a dslr . Has gps/fat shark/camera gimble and all the extras/toys .

Run time is 25-30 mins and its quite a beasty !! Now i have flown a few.. have a couple of husbans . But he has decided commercially its not viable and its just taking up space and wants shot !!

What sort of cash would this be worth at a quess and worth buying ?

anyone ?

Russinating · 7 Jul 2014 at 19:34

Your details are a bit sparse. You say it's a quad but that it carries a DSLR?

To buy the DJI S1000 new plus everything else needed (two transmitters, monitor, gimbal etc) is about £8,000 so that would be max. Personally though I wouldn't touch a second hand/custom built high-spec UAV because you don't know how it's been built, what its hours/use is, etc.

Also half an hour flight time carrying a DSLR... you sure about that?

Amp34 · 7 Jul 2014 at 20:15

Russinating said:
Also to add, having a drone "follow you" is completely illegal unless someone else is operating it. The reason is you need visual line of sight of the drone for commercial use which you won't have if it's following you.

Such a shame some of the best uses for UAV's are banned in this country before they even become useable.

Then again the US isn't much better... Unless of course you fit missiles to it and aim to do state sanctioned murder...

On a less serious note I really want to get a copter to shoot aerial photos. I'm guessing something that could carry and equip a small RAW shooting camera (like an Olympus EP*) will be expensive and heavy but the Phantom 2 with gimbal and Gopro is intriguing me. Are there any better options? Small and light is a plus as I would be carrying it around and possibly taking it abroad with me a fair amount.

Having not actually flown one before what small/cheap multi rotor is a good starting point for a few hours of practice?

Snaggle · 7 Jul 2014 at 20:20

thats with a go pro .. but seems it can carry a dslr ... its had about 2-3 hrs use .. basically he bought it .. realized how big and scary it was and its sat in his spare room since

Matutu · 7 Jul 2014 at 20:47

Guys after something very small indoor for my dads Birthday coming up.... needs to be super easy to fly though. Any suggestions?

[TW]Taggart · 7 Jul 2014 at 21:08

Matutu said:
Guys after something very small indoor for my dads Birthday coming up.... needs to be super easy to fly though. Any suggestions?

cant go wrong with a hubsan x4.

[TW]Taggart · 7 Jul 2014 at 21:10

Russinating said:
Another one from this afternoon. Went out to practice a couple of emergency procedures and failsafe routines before our flight exam on Wednesday.

aah crashton court, my favorite place to fly!

Rilot · 7 Jul 2014 at 21:18

Yeah, I've seen that document. If we go by the document, then I stand no chance of getting a cert for at least 6 months after my current relapse has passed. THis is why I'm in no hurry to do it now.

Russinating · 7 Jul 2014 at 21:32

[TW]Taggart;26572114 said:
aah crashton court, my favorite place to fly!

Ha, usually fly on the Downs but had a quick round of golf whilst we were up there too

.

Rilot said:
Yeah, I've seen that document. If we go by the document, then I stand no chance of getting a cert for at least 6 months after my current relapse has passed. THis is why I'm in no hurry to do it now.

Ah that sucks. Fingers crossed for you anyway.

Amp34 said:
Such a shame some of the best uses for UAV's are banned in this country before they even become useable. Then again the US isn't much better... Unless of course you fit missiles to it and aim to do state sanctioned murder...

They all exist for a reason but this is one that actually makes sense. Having no control over a UAV and not being able to see where it is or what it's doing is just a recipe for disaster.