Got a Quadro-Copter Anyone Fly One Here?

[Paratus]

It's a DJI Phantom:

It will take a GoPro 3 which I have.

Anyone here fly them and have some advice before I go out to the nearest airport and fly it straight up 1000ft?

(That was sarcasm btw).

 

[Paratus]

Wow.

I figured there would be a bunch of folks flying these around here. :hmm:

 

[T9D]

https://chaturbate.com/female-cams/

 

[Paratus]

Since we have this same thread title about every week I'm going to say, yes.

Ok
I just searched and found one thread smart guy.

 

[El Guaraguao]

I would LOVE to get into that hobby, but I already have wings.

 

[Raduque]

Well, at least you didn't call it a drone.

 

[T9D]

https://chaturbate.com/female-cams/

 

[Imp]

Wow.

I figured there would be a bunch of folks flying these around here. :hmm:

Flying drones means going out in public... during the day time.

 

[Thebobo]

I have one but I fly mostly RC sailplanes - much more interesting imo.

 

[Ichinisan]

Well, at least you didn't call it a drone.

This. "UAV" is the all-encompassing term.

 

[Ichinisan]

Flying drones means going out in public... during the day time.

Flying "drones" is almost exclusively done from indoors in fancy command centers. You generally tell it where to go and set a holding pattern; then let it fly itself. It even keeps the camera pointed at whichever location you told it to watch.

Flying the kind of UAV that is catching on with the public is typically done outside because it's not self-guided.

 

[Unheard]

Flying the kind of UAV that is catching on with the public is typically done outside because it's not self-guided.

Actually, self-guided, GPS enabled quads are out there, and they aren't that expensive...

Example

Boasting full GPS functionality such as position holding, return to home and even full GPS waypoint flying, this is a professional level multi-rotor aircraft in an easy to use, ready to fly package that anyone can fly.

 

[disappoint]

FPV is where it's at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H19z1X3V4UQ

 

[dank69]

I got a teeny tiny UAV for xmas stocking stuffer. 2yo likes to watch me fly it around the room. They are pretty fun but I doubt I'd have time to invest in a bigger one. Maybe when my girls are a little older.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

What is the range on quads? If you have gps I'd think beyond line of sight but what can one expect? If I had a FPV drone that flew out of range would gps kick in and being it back?

 

[Kaido]

Wow.

I figured there would be a bunch of folks flying these around here. :hmm:

Well yeah, but you posted late at night, most of us are asleep

I have a couple. Love 'em. HAK909 & a mini UDI U816. First tip is just practice a lot in an open field. You don't want to risk running into people (or things) by flying in more closed quarters until you get better at it. Second tip is to buy a bunch of spare batteries. Like for my Champ airplane, I have like 10 spare batteries (granted they only cost about $2 each...). That lets you go out & fly for like an hour, which is a lot more fun than only flying for 10 minutes or however long your battery lasts. Third tip, buy spare parts now, particularly the rotor blades for the quads. What stinks is breaking one off and having to wait for a new part to be shipped out.

Last tip is to make it accessible. You'll play with it more if it's easy to get to. Setup a battery charging station so that you always have a fully-charged battery to grab. My HAK909 is so light that I'm able to hang it on my wall with a couple of screws, so I can just grab it, the transmitter, and the batteries, and go play with it. It's pretty fun. Depending on your model, you can learn different maneuvers & tricks. Somebody has a neat little website up with various ideas:

http://www.quadrocoptertricks.com/basic-quadrocopter-tricks/

Welcome to the Drone Club homie

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I fly a variety of planes and copters. As the public becomes more aware/paranoid I have found that parks and open spaces are becoming more hostile. The smaller and quieter the better. Folks find a tiny foamy biplane in pretty colors doing loops much less threatening.

 

[Kaido]

I have one but I fly mostly RC sailplanes - much more interesting imo.

Yeah, thermal flying is awesome. Feels a lot more involved since there's more to pay attention to than just motor control.

 

[Kaido]

I fly a variety of planes and copters. As the public becomes more aware/paranoid I have found that parks and open spaces are becoming more hostile. The smaller and quieter the better. Folks find a tiny foamy biplane in pretty colors doing loops much less threatening.

Yeah. No one hassles me when I bring my Air Hogs & stuff, but pop culture has taught people to fear drones a little bit. It's just an R/C helicopter with 4 blades, nothing special, but CNN has told them it's going to spy on you with high-definition cameras & then blow you up. There's a huge difference between military-grade equipment and remote-controlled toys, but the public doesn't understand that

 

[disappoint]

What is the range on quads? If you have gps I'd think beyond line of sight but what can one expect? If I had a FPV drone that flew out of range would gps kick in and being it back?

Depends on the flight controller. Some have GPS and some don't.

How to video on FPV for racing (no GPS on this particular flight controller)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8JyCGXrFbk

 

[Kaido]

How to video on FPV for racing (no GPS on this particular flight controller)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8JyCGXrFbk

Drone racing?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsxyV-kgfio

I'm going to need a second job :biggrin:

 

[Thebobo]

What is the range on quads? If you have gps I'd think beyond line of sight but what can one expect? If I had a FPV drone that flew out of range would gps kick in and being it back?

Yea if you loose signal from your transmitter it can be set up to come home and land or whatever it was programed to do. Scary stuff can/could be done. Legally the vehicle used with FPV for recreation flyers has to be done in line of site. There have been stories with idiots flying way far away and almost colliding with passenger aircraft.

 

[Paratus]

What is the range on quads? If you have gps I'd think beyond line of sight but what can one expect? If I had a FPV drone that flew out of range would gps kick in and being it back?

I believe the Phantom controller has a range of 1000ft. It has an automated fly home mode. If you leave it in GPS mode and set the home point, if it loses connectivity with the controller it will go to 60ft and fly itself home. Assumes no trees are in the way.

I think there is also a way to provide GPS way points that it will fly itself through.

 

[Paratus]

Well yeah, but you posted late at night, most of us are asleep

I have a couple. Love 'em. HAK909 & a mini UDI U816. First tip is just practice a lot in an open field. You don't want to risk running into people (or things) by flying in more closed quarters until you get better at it. Second tip is to buy a bunch of spare batteries. Like for my Champ airplane, I have like 10 spare batteries (granted they only cost about $2 each...). That lets you go out & fly for like an hour, which is a lot more fun than only flying for 10 minutes or however long your battery lasts. Third tip, buy spare parts now, particularly the rotor blades for the quads. What stinks is breaking one off and having to wait for a new part to be shipped out.

Last tip is to make it accessible. You'll play with it more if it's easy to get to. Setup a battery charging station so that you always have a fully-charged battery to grab. My HAK909 is so light that I'm able to hang it on my wall with a couple of screws, so I can just grab it, the transmitter, and the batteries, and go play with it. It's pretty fun. Depending on your model, you can learn different maneuvers & tricks. Somebody has a neat little website up with various ideas:

http://www.quadrocoptertricks.com/basic-quadrocopter-tricks/

Welcome to the Drone Club homie

Thanks!

The kit actually comes with a second set of rotors. So I should be set for my first flight or two.
The single battery is only good for 10 minutes, so I'll check out spares. I'm also thinking that I'll buy the optional prop guards before flying it. Seems that would be safer for the copter and bystanders like my kids.

 

[disappoint]

Dude flys a hexacopter above the clouds, then crash lands:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfxdeRx2fLA