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1st Quad-Copter Video

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/01/2014 : 20:23:24

Here's a link to my first attempt at quad-copter video. It was shot last Saturday at my marina.

It's not anywhere near as good as the videos in the post showing the removal of the mast on a super-yacht elsewhere in this forum but it's a start.

Although it looks very calm there was in fact a gusty breeze that made the copter "twitch". I'm currently looking for a stabilized camera gimbel that will fit my copter which should stabilize the videos.

[url="http://youtu.be/NWY8n0sINWk"]My Marina 2014[/url]

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GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2014 : 20:55:07

Not bad! Didn't run into any backstays or anything. I couldn't spot you on that one 360 turn... What group did your background music--Angry Bees?

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GaryB
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Response Posted - 05/01/2014 : 21:13:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 Not bad! Didn't run into any backstays or anything. I couldn't spot you on that one 360 turn... What group did your background music--Angry Bees?

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Just the sound of the motors on the copter.

I was behind the copter when taking off and landing. If you look closely you can see me standing on the sidewalk near the bottom of the video just before the flagpole reaches the middle of the screen. I kind of blend in with the picnic table and folded umbrella.

I used You Tubes video stabilization feature which made some of the scenes do some strange things. The actual video is way more twitchy but doesn't have the weird visual effects.

Edited by - GaryB on 05/01/2014 21:19:19

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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4304 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2014 : 21:33:27

If you run the video until the flagpole is just on the left edge of your screen you can see most of the marina on the outside of the inner basin.

All of that area used to be fixed docks. When Hurricane Ike came through ALL of those old fixed docks were pretty much destroyed along with the boats tied to them!

There were large power and sail boats stacked all over the area from the brown building and along the shoreline past the flagpole and inland 50 or 60 yards. There was a 35' cruiser leaning up against the lake side of that brown building.

In some cases the pilings that were 15' deep into the bottom of the lake were still tied to the boats. Pulled them completely out of the bottom!

At one point in the storm, the assistant dock-masters boat started sinking with him on-board. When the eye passed over he swam to the brown building and according to him came in just below the stair landing on the 2nd floor of that building. He said he spent the rest of the storm on that landing.

Not sure how much of that was fact but the water came up a little over 12' during the height of the storm.

Edited by - GaryB on 05/01/2014 21:35:34

britinusa
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Response Posted - 05/02/2014 : 03:33:28

Do you get any feedback from the copter? eg. Battery status, elevation, etc?

Paul

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redeye
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Response Posted - 05/02/2014 : 04:30:14

So Cool.. and angry bees pretty funny.

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GaryB
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Response Posted - 05/02/2014 : 07:13:26

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 Do you get any feedback from the copter? eg. Battery status, elevation, etc?

Paul
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Battery status is displayed by some blinking LED's on the front. Green is good, when it starts flashing green, red, blue you have 2 or 3 minutes to get it back on the ground.

Elevation, not yet, they make an altimeter than can be velcroed to the coptor that will give you maximum height but you cannot read it until it's back on the ground.

My goal is to setup this copter or maybe a slightly larger one that I want to buy with FPV (1st person view) where I can fly it wearing googles that display what the camera is seeing in real time so I can fly out of visual range (up to maybe 1/4 mile) at low altitude. With additional hardware it will display distance from the take-off point, altitude, airspeed, battery life remaining, etc.. real time in the goggles. In effect a Heads Up Display.

With the FPV I could fly up to something (say a masthead) and get in the right spot to inspect the rigging or take a look at a stuck halyard, loose fitting, etc... to see what needs to be done to repair it.

What I don't want to do is "spy" on someone or invade their privacy so I have to be careful where I use it.

In one way it's terrifying what someone (or the government) could do with one of these but on the other hand it's really awesome what you can do with one if it's used for good.

Aerial photography is what I would like to do with mine. I'm trying now to find out how to get involved in this new industry that is about to explode. Hoping it can be my after-retirement job.

Edited by - GaryB on 05/02/2014 07:14:06

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2014 : 07:26:55

Realtors are already a big market--residential and commercial. Drones are putting chopper and light-plane pilots out of that market, even though they're not legal yet.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 05/02/2014 07:27:35

indecentseas
1st Mate

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Canada
67 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2014 : 15:17:46

Nice video.

I have been experimenting with kite aerial photography, a lower tech solution.

For my first attempt I just attached a gopro straight to a kite string.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0vZIg4_fdk&list=UUMAxcvAtwIvlYFnLeZaOxSw

That was promising but the the kite line bounces quite a bit which made the camera swing too much.

After some research I made a Picavet which hangs off the kite string and isolates the camera from much of the swing. I still haven't got the Picavet setup out on the boat but I will post the results. This video shows the Picavet and some footage taken on land. The later footage is still shaky but not as bad. Much of the shake was introduced by me letting the kite string in and out. If I leave it static the camera stabilizes quite nicely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0vZIg4_fdk&list=UUMAxcvAtwIvlYFnLeZaOxSw

I used a Parafoil 5 kite to do the lifting.

Edited by - on

ftworthsailor
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USA
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Response Posted - 05/02/2014 : 15:20:52

Did you say what brand and model your quadcopter is?

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cshaw
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460 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2014 : 06:51:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 Here's a link to my first attempt at quad-copter video. It was shot last Saturday at my marina.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Nice video Gary!! Was great to see the view of Watergate!! We kept Confetti there from March 1980 till August 2009 on pier 2 (which was removed for the remodeling, and they moved us to pier 6). We were on pier 2 for several hurricanes, and went thru Ike on Pier 6.

I created and organized the "Un-Ruly Regattas" for Watergate. Do they still hold them as part of the "Spring Fling"?

Chuck

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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4304 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2014 : 17:21:29

David - Nice videos! I haven't had the guts to try flying my copter while out sailing although I'd like to do it someday.

Roy - It's a Blade 350QX with a Go Pro Hero 2 camera. I may get a Hero 3 Black addition shortly as it is smaller and a lot lighter weight than the Hero 2. The copter came with a light weight mount for the Hero 3's. The Hero 2 uses the clear plastic case that comes with the camera and it adds significant weight.

I'm thinking of getting a DJI Phantom copter because there seems to be more aftermarket accessories for them than the 350QX. They have some very nice 3 axis stabilized camera gimbals for the Phantoms and there are more and better choices for the FPV setups.

Chuck - I was on Pier 7 or 8 but moved Andiamo to South Shore Harbor just before Ike hit. If I hadn't made the move my boat would be in a landfill now.

I shot some more video around the masthead of my boat yesterday. I'll try to edit it tonight and get it posted by tomorrow morning. I haven't looked at the video yet so I'm not sure how it's going to turn out.

I believe they still hold the Un-Ruly Regatta each Spring. I don't ever read the newsletter but I've heard the name before so I'm sure it stills goes on.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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5376 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2014 : 09:54:28

What kind of countermeasures are available should someone use a drone for less-than-virtuous purposes?
Do they sell an RF jammer for the RC control?
Any news reports of folks taking a shotgun to them?
According to the news reports, while private property keeps folks out of your backyard, it doesn't keep folks out of the air overhead.
As always, I imagine, lawyers will have a field day with this. As will private investigators.
And kites are stealthier - they don't make noise.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 05/04/2014 : 11:18:38

I've read of at least one story about someone shooting one of these down.

To me someone using a a gun to shoot one of these down is more scary than anything. This isn't the wild, wild west anymore. Where are the shotgun pellets (or bullets) going to land? I'd prefer not to die by a bullet someone shot at a UAV 5 miles away.

Using a kite to invade someone's privacy is more no legal than a UAV.

Edited by - GaryB on 05/04/2014 11:21:26

Voyager
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Response Posted - 05/04/2014 : 13:01:48

I agree - was just doing a thought experiment really... The whole thing raises a lot of ethical and safety questions. Even jamming the RC control is dangerous if the copter falls on somebody.

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2014 : 13:25:18

We once owned a house with woods behind it, and a large marshy area beyond that. In bird season, I would hear shotgun reports from the marsh while mowing the lawn, sometimes followed by a gentle "rain" of bird shot that had arched over the trees. Annoying, but probably not much more dangerous than sleet. That said, shooting down somebody's drone seems a little harsh.

And of course bullets are a whole nuther matter!

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 05/04/2014 13:27:51

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
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Response Posted - 05/04/2014 : 15:15:52

Here's my latest video. Didn't turn out the way I wanted.

It's a lot harder to hold these things steady than I thought. Especially when you're trying to focus on a certain spot.

Still I finally got a look at the top of my furler which I've been trying to do since it was installed. It confirmed something I thought I saw and I'm not sure if it's OK are not. The plastic "cap" at the top of the furler extrusion is riding on the wire instead of the shank of the top fore-stay fitting. Is that an issue?

[url="http://youtu.be/pm0Ua7_Hhns"]Masthead[/url]

And BTW... How can I get that green mildew off the sail cover. Since I always sail with the genoa only I didn't realize it was there until I watched this video!

Edited by - GaryB on 05/04/2014 15:19:19

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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4382 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2014 : 17:28:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by indecentseas
 Nice video.

I have been experimenting with kite aerial photography, a lower tech solution.

For my first attempt I just attached a gopro straight to a kite string.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0vZIg4_fdk&list=UUMAxcvAtwIvlYFnLeZaOxSw

That was promising but the the kite line bounces quite a bit which made the camera swing too much.

After some research I made a Picavet which hangs off the kite string and isolates the camera from much of the swing. I still haven't got the Picavet setup out on the boat but I will post the results. This video shows the Picavet and some footage taken on land. The later footage is still shaky but not as bad. Much of the shake was introduced by me letting the kite string in and out. If I leave it static the camera stabilizes quite nicely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0vZIg4_fdk&list=UUMAxcvAtwIvlYFnLeZaOxSw

I used a Parafoil 5 kite to do the lifting.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Nice job David. Perhaps you've seen this video of a Dana 24.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKGupz_9mGc

Edited by - OJ on 05/04/2014 17:29:19

OJ
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Response Posted - 05/04/2014 : 17:32:39

Gary, how many hours of practice do you think you have invested so far?

Edited by - on

GaryB
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4304 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2014 : 18:32:46

Most flights are 12 -15 minutes before the battery is getting low. Based on that I'd say maybe 3 hours total.

The biggest problem is with the GoPro Hero 2 mounted in it's plastic case this thing is not nearly as stable as it is without the camera. In the 5 - 8 mph winds I had Friday evening this thing moves around quite a bit. I think if I had the Hero 3 with it's lighter weight and the lighter camera mount it would fly a lot smoother.

Edited by - GaryB on 05/04/2014 18:36:28

ftworthsailor
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Response Posted - 05/05/2014 : 19:02:57

Nice quadcopter, Gary! I got interested in quadcopters when I wanted to find some way to do aerial shots around sailboats. I am still learning on a hubsan x4 fpv cheapie, but someday Id like to upgrade to something that isn't so susceptible to winds and can go a little farther away from me than 200 feet - and has more than a 5 minute flight time......... But all that takes a sizeable investment.

Great videos! ! !

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 05/05/2014 : 19:51:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ftworthsailor
 Nice quadcopter, Gary! I got interested in quadcopters when I wanted to find some way to do aerial shots around sailboats. I am still learning on a hubsan x4 fpv cheapie, but someday Id like to upgrade to something that isn't so susceptible to winds and can go a little farther away from me than 200 feet - and has more than a 5 minute flight time......... But all that takes a sizeable investment.

Great videos! ! !

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
That's pretty cool copter with the FPV!

omeday I'd like something like this with FPV -->> [url="http://www.dji.com/product/spreading-wings-s1000"]DJI Pro Series[/url]

Edited by - on

ftworthsailor
Captain

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Response Posted - 05/06/2014 : 06:51:28

Wow! Those are big bucks! Well, you could sell me yours and have some cash to go towards that one..... lol

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2014 : 17:32:06

I"ll sell you mine so I can get a DJI Phanton 2!

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