Bandwagon's Drones Thread
- Thread starter hodj
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Guest, it's time once again for the massively important and exciting FoH Asshat Tournament!
Go here and give us your nominations!Who's been the biggest Asshat in the last year? Give us your worst ones!
Weather has been rough and I haven't been at work a ton is the reason I haven't gotten you a shot with EXIF data.
I haven't forgotten you.
I haven't forgotten you.
Bandwagon
Kolohe
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Dear Diary,
Day 9 - still no image set from a_skeleton_03. I've been processing and reprocessing the same vineyard data set for months. The walls are starting to close in.
I know he thinks about his new drone 24/7. Why doesn't he fly it?
-Bandwagon.
Borzak
Bronze Baron of the Realm
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Bandwagon
Kolohe
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almost 2 years old, but applicable at the time. The faa stopped trying to prosecute people shortly after this, and focused on acquiring "teeth" so they could actually fine people doing the same thing.
Drakurii
Golden Baron of the Realm
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The drone wars have begun...
Chinese drone maker unveils human-carrying drone
Chinese drone maker Ehang Inc. on Wednesday unveiled what it calls the world's first drone capable of carrying a human passenger.
The Guangzhou, China-based company pulled the cloth off the Ehang 184 at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the CES gadget show. In a company video showing it flying, it looks like a small helicopter but with four doubled propellers spinning parallel to the ground like other drones.
The electric-powered drone can be fully charged in two hours, carry up to 220 pounds and fly for 23 minutes at sea level, according to Ehang. The cabin fits one person and a small backpack and even has air conditioning and a reading light. With propellers folded up, it's designed to fit in a single parking spot.
After setting a flight plan, passengers only need to give two commands, "take off" and "land," each controlled by a single click on a Microsoft Surface tablet, the company said.
Chinese drone maker unveils human-carrying drone
Chinese drone maker Ehang Inc. on Wednesday unveiled what it calls the world's first drone capable of carrying a human passenger.
The Guangzhou, China-based company pulled the cloth off the Ehang 184 at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the CES gadget show. In a company video showing it flying, it looks like a small helicopter but with four doubled propellers spinning parallel to the ground like other drones.
The electric-powered drone can be fully charged in two hours, carry up to 220 pounds and fly for 23 minutes at sea level, according to Ehang. The cabin fits one person and a small backpack and even has air conditioning and a reading light. With propellers folded up, it's designed to fit in a single parking spot.
After setting a flight plan, passengers only need to give two commands, "take off" and "land," each controlled by a single click on a Microsoft Surface tablet, the company said.
Palum
what Suineg set it to
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That's awesome. Another decade in battery advancements and that will easily begin to be practical.
It's too bad in the US that will be 150K+ due to obscene aviation industry insurance issues and the rape and pillage of general aviation over the last 25 years.
It's too bad in the US that will be 150K+ due to obscene aviation industry insurance issues and the rape and pillage of general aviation over the last 25 years.
Bandwagon
Kolohe
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That's an insane price considering what's actually in it, but I'm excited. Obviously a ton of applications, but one I can think- I was a zip line guide for 3 years, and one of the courses had a 40 degree dirt road that we had to haul people up in ATVs. We burned up the atvs all the time, and heavy rain would wash out the road for a week. Shuttling people up in "drones" actually makes sense, and would be a 5 minute flight with the same takeoff and landing spot every flight, plus a selling point for the tour. Tons of ziplines in countries with less airspace regulation, too.
Anyways, it sounds like we're picking up a 3DR Solo and GoPro4 tomorrow. Planning on our first job being for the City of Pendleton and the UAS test range, which they want to use to advertise their UAS services. They just got a $300k Grant from SOAR Oregon, so it should be a pretty good start for us.
Anyways, it sounds like we're picking up a 3DR Solo and GoPro4 tomorrow. Planning on our first job being for the City of Pendleton and the UAS test range, which they want to use to advertise their UAS services. They just got a $300k Grant from SOAR Oregon, so it should be a pretty good start for us.
Eomer
Trakanon Raider
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If that drone was 100k and I could commute to work in it, I would buy it in a second. 200-300k is getting a wee bit ridiculous, though. As the crow flies it's about 7km from home to work for me. Well within that thing's range. Depending on how fast it accelerates etc, it should be able to do that distance in 5-7 minutes, instead of the 15-25 it typically takes me. And no traffic! That would be fucking awesome.
Bandwagon
Kolohe
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Potentially alleviating congestion on the roads by having 5-15% of commuters using these things in the next 15 years seems like boner bait for the DOT. I hope there's some software company somewhere that is getting flooded with millions to develop a hands-off traffic management system for drones, and is NOT government affiliated.
Palum
what Suineg set it to
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I would be more worried about reliability and what happens when it loses a motor, takes turbulence, etc.
Fixed wing aircraft:
Rotary wing aircraft:
Bandwagon
Kolohe
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Looks like the floor model is an X config with 8 motors/props. Vertically stacked thrust isn't as efficient, but they're supposed to be able to handle a motor failure be compensating.
This works well enough with models (ex: 3DR Y6), but it depends on the cargo weight. If the motors are all running at 60% throttle to maintain altitude and one fails, you might just have enough thrust for a controlled descent.
Overall, I think multi rotors would have a better safety rating than traditional helis if they had equal amounts of service and development time. Either way, as was said before, anything without a way to create unpowered lift is not going to have fun crashes.
This works well enough with models (ex: 3DR Y6), but it depends on the cargo weight. If the motors are all running at 60% throttle to maintain altitude and one fails, you might just have enough thrust for a controlled descent.
Overall, I think multi rotors would have a better safety rating than traditional helis if they had equal amounts of service and development time. Either way, as was said before, anything without a way to create unpowered lift is not going to have fun crashes.
fris
Vyemm Raider
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are people registering? AMA sent an email saying to hold off, not sure if there was another message after that. I don't see a prob w/ registering. i also need to renew my AMA and local park membership so I have a place to fly. my phantom3 and blade 350 have been collecting dust for too long.
Palum
what Suineg set it to
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Even though I am already well and fully 'FAA registered' because of other certs, I don't really like the idea of this solution to the drone issue. I'm not sure what the solution is but the only imagery I can come up with is Henry Ford just made the prototype Model A so immediately they create a modern DMV in every state to cope with it. I feel like the technology, laws and social issues are not fleshed out yet at all and I'd rather not get wrapped up in it with a drone at this point unless I could hide it behind an LLC.
Bandwagon
Kolohe
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We have 5 drones now, but we're only registering the Solo. We have to do it with a form 8050-1 for an N number, though. So fucking dumb, but all the realtors and most of the huge Ag companies here are too afraid of repercussions. I wont register more than I have to.
I also have to include the letters of organization and operating agreement for the LLC.
Politicians should be forced out of tech related fields at the age of 35.
The Solo is fucking amazing though. I opted for the Solo over the P3 because of the advanced mission planning, but I didn't expect the user experience to be more straightforward and dummyproof than DJI. It definitely is so far, but I haven't attached the gimbal. Two flights so far.
I also have to include the letters of organization and operating agreement for the LLC.
Politicians should be forced out of tech related fields at the age of 35.
The Solo is fucking amazing though. I opted for the Solo over the P3 because of the advanced mission planning, but I didn't expect the user experience to be more straightforward and dummyproof than DJI. It definitely is so far, but I haven't attached the gimbal. Two flights so far.