The Quadcopter saga continues

Comments

Steve Mann wrote on 11/26/2014, 11:42 PM
The FAA rule enforcement is a civil court, and the ALJ on the first hearing where the Pirker charges were dropped works for the NTSB. Since it's civil and not criminal court, the losing party can keep appealing all the way to SCOTUS. Because it's not criminal proceedings, double-jeopardy does not apply.
Barry W. Hull wrote on 12/4/2014, 11:07 AM
Oh boy...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/12/03/a-top-senator-wants-to-extend-the-faas-ban-on-drones/
JJKizak wrote on 12/4/2014, 11:34 AM
I will have to get a concealed weapons permit for protection against drones.
JJK
Gary James wrote on 12/4/2014, 2:47 PM
If you can't beat em', join em'. I'll now be re-tasking my own drone with defensive weaponry. 8^)
VMP wrote on 2/16/2015, 6:51 PM
Btw I will be purchasing the DJI Phantom 2 V3 H3-3D FPV bundle soon.

What are your thoughts about the DJI propeller guards? I am hearing stories that it causes DJI to crash? Anyone experienced this?

Here are videos of people complaining about it:




According to the DJI dealer here the guards can be used safely and they don't cause the DJI to crash.

VMP
Gary James wrote on 2/16/2015, 9:08 PM
DJI themselves sell propeller guards. It would be very strange if they sold an accessory that would induce their own products to crash. I've flown my Phantom 2 both with and without the guards. And I've seen no difference in how the Phantom behaves whether they're installed or not. I put them on when I was flying in my backyard close to over-hanging trees. And took them off when flying In an open field, simply to save weight.
VMP wrote on 2/17/2015, 10:07 AM
Thank you Gary James,

My thought exactly, that is what the dealer said to me too.
They have sold many of those guards and never had a problem.

Those guys on youtube must have done something else wrong, like diving too fast.

I will be ordering the prop guards.

Also a GPS tracker, in case the drone gets lost.

VMP
MTuggy wrote on 2/17/2015, 11:32 AM
My only "drop from the sky" VRS crash occurred with prop guards on with a little wind - just as described in the first linked video. The VRS state is real and it can happen suddenly on descent. It was not a rapid descent but a wind gust induced just the right turbulence with the presence of the guards to create loss of thrust. I have flown quite a bit before and after that event without prop guards, no other problems - so for my n=1 experience, the guards seem to be the issue in the right conditions that may not exist if you don't use the guards.

I don't use them anymore since I'd rather break a few props on tree branches and keep some stability, then have my gimbal smashed in a hard VRS induced crash.

MTuggy wrote on 2/17/2015, 11:38 AM
Oh, yes, here is some more recent work with a GoPro 4 on a P2 with a H3-3D gimbal. I had to balance the gimbal with a dime as the GP4 is heavier than the GP3.



Mike
Rv6tc wrote on 2/17/2015, 11:39 AM
I really think if you keep a little forward, or aft velocity in the descent, you can avoid the VRS. Especially if you are in a confined area where you will prone to "dirty air".

I've now flown twice in very high winds, and the turbulence will get your attention, but this thing can handle more than I would have expected.
MTuggy wrote on 2/17/2015, 12:24 PM
Agreed, I only do more rapid descents while moving laterally at the same time to avoid dead air, basically zig-zagging my way down.

MT
Steve Mann wrote on 2/20/2015, 10:54 AM
The prop guards can enhance VRS. I have a set that were never used. You can have them for the cost of shipping.
VMP wrote on 5/17/2015, 8:58 AM
Hey guys,

It has been a while. Here is an update from my aerial flying machine.
I have been playing around with some simple Quadcopters for a while to get a hang of them.

After some research, I have decided to build a custom aerial hexacopter myself (based on the DJI F550 Flame wheel kit). It was a great challenge but well worth it, it has turned out to be quite unique and it is fully customizable.

It took about 2 months to build (including the research time to find all the parts I needed).
It has parts from all around the world. It has the NAZA V2 GPS system.

I call him ‘SkyWatcher’.

Here is the first scene that I’ve shot with it, it was a test flight actually.
By the time I took the shot (25 April) I only had a 2-axis gimbal, now it is upgraded with a 3-axis one.
Shot with GoPro.

Starring my dad and our doggies, like this one gets a better size reference of the landscape.


Video:


To avoid aliasing it is best if you watch it on Youtube at a larger screen size



Build photos: http://www.v-mp.com/Files/sonyforum/VMP-SkyWatcher-photos.jpg

I’ll be making a dedicated page with more build info and photos soon, and of course more flight videos! Enjoy!


PS: I have thought about making a seperate thread for this, but since this is OT (even though I use Vegas to edit it) I thought I carry on here, but if you guys want a seperate thread then I will make one :- ).

VMP
GeeBax wrote on 5/17/2015, 6:18 PM
I highly approve of the Golden Retriever, but I am puzzled as to what those excavations are in the landscape?
PeterWright wrote on 5/17/2015, 7:14 PM
Congratulations on making your own.

It appears to travel very smoothly and controllably - are you intending to make and sell these?
VMP wrote on 5/17/2015, 7:53 PM
@ Geebax
Thanks, I'll give him your regards, his name is Balan :- ).
That is a garden design we have designed, in the near future it will have water, fishes etc.

PeterWright,

Thanks! It is indeed quite controllable, with the 3 axis gimbal it is now even smoother.
I will be putting up a page with free build information for anyone who is interested in making their own.
I have also thought about a build service, if there is enough interest then sure :- ).

VMP
Byron K wrote on 5/17/2015, 9:35 PM
Nice kit, great build and great footage. I liked the black dog trying to take the golden for a walk pulling on his leash. The golden's thinkin' yo ain't my master! Made me laugh! (;
VMP wrote on 5/17/2015, 10:27 PM
Thanks Byron K that's nice to read :- ),

:- ) Stella is quite a naughty one they are like brother and sister.
One of her daily rituals are cooling off in that little bucket of water after her fast sprints :-).

VMP