Drone Experience

[Professor Marvel]

Hey all. A slight departure from tractors.
I have just picked up a drone and started learning about various aspects of the drone world.
Any thoughts or information on them like--
Agricultural applications
Photographic uses
Rules and regulations
Good/bad experiences

 

[bunyip]

I use a dji mavic for checking fences in a leisurely manner, Alien is something of a drone guru and will probably throw in an expert offering as opposed to an opinion.

 

[Professor Marvel]

I use a dji mavic for checking fences in a leisurely manner, Alien is something of a drone guru and will probably throw in an expert offering as opposed to an opinion.

Thanks
I am looking for general opinions as well as more seasoned input

 

[pmsmechanic]

Np drone but would sure like one...

 

[ovrszd]

I have an Autel drone. Have had it four years now. Somewhere around 1000 flights. With extra batteries, charger, tablet monitor, etc., I've got somewhere around $1500 invested.

I'm not pimping Autel at all. With that said, buy a quality Drone. My Brother bought a cheap Drone and it flew off into the sunset first flight.

It's quite a learning curve. A lot going on when airborne. Lot of data displayed on the monitor to coordinate your flight. Great attention needs to be paid to that data to stay out of flight trouble. Elevation, direction, distance from home, battery time left, direction of flight. Then add the camera data to monitor. It's challenging but I enjoy it. I've taken hundreds of pictures and shot hours of video.

I've visited several farms/homes and taken pics and videos for people. I don't charge anything, do it for fun. I've also shot many, many Agricultural videos of crop planting/harvesting. First time I crashed was while videoing a high speed corn planter, 12mph, at an altitude of 20ft. Backed the drone into trees at the end of the field.....

I have a 100V convertor on my truck. Also have two chargers. Five batteries. Each battery will safely last about 15 minutes depending on type of flight, wind, etc. Many times I've exhausted all five batteries.

I've never lost my Drone. I've had it "critical land" half a dozen times. Always because I get busy running the camera and forget to monitor battery time left... Pretty embarrassing to have to go retrieve the Drone half a mile away....

I think if you "You Tube" search my name, Richard Rucker, you'll find the videos I've posted.

We built a house this past year. Took several pics of that operation. Gives things a whole new perspective.

 

[Professor Marvel]

Thanks
I have an Evo myself and have only flown it about 10 times. I live on 10+ acres of woods and all my neighbors do also so I don't have a lot of clear space at home to try to fly and practice like you do. Love your place. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[ovrszd]

Here's an example of the complexity of all this. I took both of these pics on the same flight. 3/4 mile distance from me. 1/2 mile apart.

I'm busy watching the flight data. I have a long run back to "home" where I'm standing. I'm taking all the pics I can in haste. During the flight the sun went behind clouds. That changed all of the camera settings. I was hurried. I made no camera adjustments. Look at the difference in these two pics.

So, when flying, I take a LOT of pics. A LOT. Then I sort thru them and save the good ones.

If you are after clarity and detail, cloudy conditions are best. Sunshine casts many shadows and glares.

These pics were not long after sunrise.

 

[ovrszd]

Forgot to mention. In the pic with three combines. If you look to the horizon in the distance, you can see a small grouping of trees on the horizon. That's where I was standing when I shot that pic.

 

[jbrumberg]

You may find this site helpful:

RCGroups: Remote Control, Radio Control Planes, Drones, Cars and Boats

Richard- Thanks for sharing.

 

[ovrszd]

Here's a pic of my farm taken at the legal altitude of 400'. The Autel Drone will climb to 2,600.

I'm not a licensed pilot. I do however have an FAA permit. Cost me $5. FAA has my Drone info on file, S/N, etc. I have no issues with that at all.

I never fly over someone without first getting permission. I don't hover over people. I hesitate to fly over a crowd. People misunderstand Drones. Some people think if you are flying over them you are "spying". It's not legal to have a zoom lense on the camera. You have to be extremely close to an object to get a detailed pic. If I'm trying to peek in your window I've gotta be just as close as I would with the naked eye. But again, people misunderstand. I don't want to contribute to that misunderstanding.

Here's a pic I took at a local small Car Show. I was at an altitude of 120ft. As you can see, can't even recognize anyone, let alone window peek.

 

[/pine]

The issue is not "misunderstanding" it's mistrust...!

There are laws that make lots of things illegal....that's why there is no such thing as crime...:laughing:

 

[TractorGuy]

Richard, Couldn't you just record video and screen shot pics from that instead of taking photos during the flight? Looks like you have some great footage. Glad to hear you are conscious of how people may perceive the drone as an invasion of privacy.

I had a neighbor lose control of his (or so he said) and it came over my property buzzing around. It sure appeared to be spying the way the flight path went. It came over the tops of the trees and dipped down just above ground level and made a lap around my field then went straight up and hovered a while before leaving. I had time to take a video of it with my phone, go in the house, get my shotgun, and return before it left my property. I had a bead on it when it did it's automated return to home.

 

[jbrumberg]

"... FAA has my Drone info on file, S/N, etc. I have no issues with that at all.

I never fly over someone without first getting permission. I don't hover over people. I hesitate to fly over a crowd. People misunderstand Drones. Some people think if you are flying over them you are "spying". It's not legal to have a zoom lense on the camera. You have to be extremely close to an object to get a detailed pic. If I'm trying to peek in your window I've gotta be just as close as I would with the naked eye. But again, people misunderstand. I don't want to contribute to that misunderstanding.

Here's a pic I took at a local small Car Show. I was at an altitude of 120ft. As you can see, can't even recognize anyone, let alone window peek."- Richard thanks for the pictures and I also have my homebuilt quadcopter registered with the FAA and I agree with the FAA rules and regulations."

A picture of my homemade drone on the "lift" with all the added stuff = video cam, TVTx, and stabilization mount.

Richard- It is legal to take video in flight. It is important to follow the FAA and FCC rules. A lot of owner/operators are operating their transmitters and video cameras at illegal frequencies based on their not having the appropriate FCC license for the used frequencies. Especially the FPV users.

 

[ovrszd]

I've lost track of the number of people that have looked over my shoulder at the monitor while I'm flying. Almost every one says "I thought you'd be able to see better than that". Very misunderstood. That contributes to my taking a LOT of pics. Then sort thru them on the computer and save the good ones.

I took this pic at a range of approximately 150ft. If a Drone is that close you'll definitely think they are intrusive. But to get a face recognition pic you must be that close.

 

[ovrszd]

Here's the same scene at some distance for perspective.

 

[ovrszd]

Richard, Couldn't you just record video and screen shot pics form that instead of taking photos during the flight? Looks like you have some great footage. Glad to hear you are conscious of how people may perceive the drone as an invasion of privacy.

I had a neighbor lose control of his (or so he said) and it came over my property buzzing around. It sure appeared to be spying the way the flight path went. It came over the tops of the trees and dipped down just above ground level and made a lap around my field then went straight up and hovered a while before leaving. I had time to take a video of it with my phone, go in the house, get my shotgun, and return before it left my property. I had a bead on it when it did it's automated return to home.

If I were more educated in pic/video handling I'm sure I could. I always say "next Winter when I got time I'll educate myself on that process". It's not happened yet..... I think I'd need to purchase a quality video editing program.

Your neighbor's Drone was most certainly checking you out, at his control. If a Drone initiates "Going Home" because of loss of signal, low battery, etc., it immediately elevates to a preset height (I use 100ft) and goes directly toward the controller. If it initiates "Critical Landing" because of loss of power, etc., it immediately slowly descends straight down to the ground paying no attention to obstacles such as trees or water until it touches down.

 

[ovrszd]

"... FAA has my Drone info on file, S/N, etc. I have no issues with that at all.

I never fly over someone without first getting permission. I don't hover over people. I hesitate to fly over a crowd. People misunderstand Drones. Some people think if you are flying over them you are "spying". It's not legal to have a zoom lense on the camera. You have to be extremely close to an object to get a detailed pic. If I'm trying to peek in your window I've gotta be just as close as I would with the naked eye. But again, people misunderstand. I don't want to contribute to that misunderstanding.

Here's a pic I took at a local small Car Show. I was at an altitude of 120ft. As you can see, can't even recognize anyone, let alone window peek."- Richard thanks for the pictures and I also have my homebuilt quadcopter registered with the FAA and I agree with the FAA rules and regulations."

A picture of my homemade drone on the "lift" with all the added stuff = video cam, TVTx, and stabilization mount.

Richard- It is legal to take video in flight. It is important to follow the FAA and FCC rules. A lot of owner/operators are operating their transmitters and video cameras at illegal frequencies based on their not having the appropriate FCC license for the used frequencies. Especially the FPV users.

Now that's a Drone!!!!! Awesome!!!

Do you have the 127 license (I think it's called)?

 

[jbrumberg]

Richard- Thanks. It kept me out of trouble during my time disabled.

I looked into getting that license, but declined.

I only fly over my property and where I have permission. With my last motor upgrades my drone became loud enough to disturb livestock nearby where I was given permission to fly so I became property bound.

I need to sit down when I briefly using my FPV Rx monitor to see what I am filming. I am a direct sight flyer.

Those are great shots. For all the money that I spent on parts and part replacements, part upgrades, more LiPo batteries and more powerful battery charges, and the video stuff I could have bought a Phantom 3.

Once I installed the solar panels in my flight zone my drone has become a "Hangar Queen".

I have a picture of it in flight somewhere. It's pretty large, with my 9.5" props I measure almost 3' prop tip to prop tip.

 

[ovrszd]

I need to sit down when briefly using my FPV Rx monitor to see what I am filming. I am a direct sight flyer.


Those are great shots. For all the money that I spent on parts and part replacements, part upgrades, more LiPo batteries and more powerful battery charges, and the video stuff I could have bought a Phantom 3.

Once I installed the solar panels in my flight zone my drone has become a "Hangar Queen".

Describe "direct sight flyer" please?

What video editor do you use?

 

[jbrumberg]

Richard- I should have posted line of sight flier.

I am forgetting which video editors that I used. They were free.

All my drone stuff is on my HP. I need a monitor for that computer.

Maybe I have that stuff on my RCG Blog. I need to check.

I found a picture of it hovering after I upgraded the flight controller to a DJI product. I had already mounted a cheap keychain video cam seen here, before the Mobius cam, VTX, video stabilization, more powerful ESC's, and motors were added.