Drone Experience

[bunyip]

They played on my computer fine. He lets it sit stationery for long periods so you have to watch a while before seeing any movement. Surprising how dead steady they are!

Yes, it is a surprisingly steady platform, the pigeons flying around are a givaway that it is not a still.

Richard, have been using Chrome for a few years now, it seems to be a reliable system and have not had any problems and the price is good (free), a lot of places are no longer using IE and offer the link to chrome so you can update.
Tried Firefox and didn't like it.

 

[Jstpssng]

I'll try switching to Chrome. I really want to see those videos.

You will be glad that you did.

 

[caver]

I had a DJI several years ago and paid maybe $450 new for it. I was always worried it would fly off with my Garmin Virb camera attached. I quickly became bored with it and with them gaining popularity the rules were starting to change. I sold it about a year or more after I bought it. It dawned on me I had not used it it in a long time. The FAA had just required registration or whatever it was. National Parks had mostly banned them and rightly so. I sold it to some young guy and recouped most of my money. Two years ago I was camping at Bruneau Dunes State Park and climbed up a dune to watch the sunset. Some clown was flying a drone over me and just being annoying. A few weeks later I called the park and asked why they didn't have a drone policy. She said they do. They do allow drones in a specific area away from the dunes but this person was unaware or just didn't care.

 

[Alien]

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.

LOL hardly a Guru mate, but I have built a few. Mine are hobbyist and I put a cam on them for doing the rounds of my property and if there is smoke about, I pop up and have a look to make sure it is not a threat.
My drones are fully autonomous and I program them with a Samsung Tablet and send them on their way. I use Pixhawks in mine.
I steer clear of DJI stuff as you are very limited with what you can and can't do and they are getting worse all the time. They do take beautiful videos though I must say.
Bunyip.
I missed this thread and it is moving so fast...
I only take video and take screen shots off them. Saves a lot of hassle.
I haven't been using my gimbal lately. It only adds weight and shortens my range.
Here is a little vid I did where I programmed the waypoints through some trees completely autonomous. No gimbal.

Quad Tree Run on Vimeo

Screenshot of my oasis. I have since changed lenses on my cam and get a more realistic view now.

 

[Alien]

Ovrszd
Think about using Brave browser. No adds and no trackers. I use it on all my puters now and you can import your bookmarks when you are installing it.

 

[ovrszd]

Thanks for the browser tips guys.

I got an email from FAA authorizing low level flight near specific airports. None of which are near me.

 

[jbrumberg]

Richard- Thanks. You may soon think otherwise

One of my finer moments with the "Flying Cuisinart" :embarrassed: The only damage was to the owner/operator's ego:

July 31 HAL Landing Flip - YouTube

 

[Alien]

Ha Ha, been there done that. That looks like the Hobby King HAL and motors. I guess you've come a long way since 2015. What flight controller did you use?

 

[jbrumberg]

Alien- Thanks. I went through a couple of $20 SYMA X1's before the HAL and yes it was a Hobby King HAL frame. That flight was with my relatively at the time new DJI flight controller, an upgrade from my KK2 controller. I had +100 test flights and used a spreadsheet to record my various tweaks and performance outcomes. Towards the end I started getting the video "jello" under decent control; almost getting the video quality of a Phantom. By then I had expended enough $ to buy a Phantom 3. Every flight was like a NASA space launch in preparation to get all the different LiPo batteries charged, video cam adjustments, etc. I probably spent 6 hours prep including movie editing for each 11 minute flight. The "FC" started out at ~1500 grams and ended up ~2100 grams with a definite drop-off in flight time. I still have most of the parts for a brand new HAL in the box.

I wish that I had recorded some of my crashes. The better I became at manual piloting; the more spectacular my crashes and resultant debris trails. I am no longer finding drone parts in my lower field.

44 solar panels now in my flight area really - impacted on flight operations.

 

[natedog75]

I use a DJI Mavic Pro 2 with the Hasselblad 20mp camera. I use it to do roof inspections and measurements with purpose made software. Having been in RC for over a decade it is a dream to fly. All the restrictions are fine by me as I don’t need the FAA breathing down my neck. Honestly I have flown it twice where I wasn’t doing a measurement or inspection. Having everything in one package and being able to go with out tinkering is a major plus for me. I leave that to my hobby time and my FPV drone.

 

[Alien]

I used to fly my drones with a transmitter but since I went to the tablet I have rarely had a oops and those were due to throwing props or dead batteries. Hundreds of flights without mishaps now. I leave my transmitters (4) solely for my planes/gliders now. I love auto flight.
Every pre-flight check now includes props and battery capacity test. If a prop looks doubtful I replace it. They are only $1.50 each. I admit I am getting out of practice flying my quads manually but occasionally I make myself. Guess it's an age thing....
Incidentally, the little vidcam I use has built in stability which is good enough for what I do unless it is windy.

 

[Alien]

Bunyip, your vids are nice and smooth compared to mine but as I said, I don't bother with my gimbal now. I retired the frame that carried it. Your country is nice and open compared to mine. I would love some more open fields but my wife won't leave her bush animals and birds now so it looks like I'm gonna die here. LOL

 

[jbrumberg]

It took me a while to get used to handing over the controls with even the limited controls on that old DJI flight controller. RTL made me nervous. I am now probably dangerous with manual control with my Tx at this point.

My Mobius upgrade from the keychain video cam did not have image stabilization. Alien- I am curious about your vidcam.

Natedog- Nice aircraft. I agree about the rules & regs and believe in respecting people’s and animal’s personal space.

My upgraded motors were scary loud and my flashing low battery alarm could probably be heard in the next county

I have a nice hangar queen now. If I get another it will be technologically advanced.

This thread has been hijacked for my part I apologize.

 

[Alien]

Here are the details of my vidcam. As I said, I replaced the lens from 120 deg to 90 degrees. Much better and no fisheye.
My drones are very quiet. You can't hear them from about 75 - 100 feet. No warning beeps for the battery as voltage is displayed on my screen. I use QGround Control.

hawkeye firefly q6 4k 18p 6fps hd mini camera for fpv racer Sale - Banggood.com

 

[jbrumberg]

Alien- Thanks.

 

[ovrszd]

I use Masterscrew props to try to be quieter. But it's not.

My battery life is displayed also. But I definitely need the warnings.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
Interesting picture. What a way to check out your roof, gutters, or anything else that's taller than you are.
My one experience with drones was at an outdoor training session, the company sponsoring it put one up to take an aerial view. My only thought was that the humming could get annoying very quickly, but what an easy way to visit your property for beaver problems and blowdowns while driving down the woods road.

 

[natedog75]

^^^^
Interesting picture. What a way to check out your roof, gutters, or anything else that's taller than you are.
My one experience with drones was at an outdoor training session, the company sponsoring it put one up to take an aerial view. My only thought was that the humming could get annoying very quickly, but what an easy way to visit your property for beaver problems and blowdowns while driving down the woods road.

It works very well for inspections. I have some plans to use it to map out some land for a client. There are a couple of applications for this but the cost can be high. You can build a very large very high res photo/map of a large section of land. Great for planning.

 

[cdaigle430]

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

I am a registered DJI Mavic Air pilot and have been so for a year. I use Filmora9 for editing them but I am h
hesitant to share my videos publicy. I always get permission and check the "b4ufly" app but have been reported for flying at a lighthouse in the past even though I got permission from the caretaker. Too many a holes out there who report everything cause they are unhappy people-and I also do not like publicly posting property and people.

I am soon taking my drone to Brazil so wish me luck-already registered with Brazilian version of FAA. Now its just to get it through customs and back home without getting it stolen. Also worried my Samsung Note 8 will get stolen as I use that as the drone controller.

Hoping the video I get is well worth the risk.