Drones

[Mutts]

A bridge over the Wash. I must keep an eye out for that next time I am in the area.

Sorry...Jet lag.

[chunkyj]

Zano

[Scholar Gypsy]

Thank you, some interesting ideas here. I don't think paragliding will work: if the wind is that strong we will be stuck in the pub in Boston.

 

We have tried waterskiing before, with limited success.

 

[ditchcrawler]

If you do use a drone I think I would attach one of these http://www.marinescene.co.uk/product/3808/key-buoy/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwrJ2tBRD13N7T5u7k9I8BEiQA5APAAPm3aXHMP7NZpBq3xWI4_hYcANt4IXL9sf55T0mDn4gaAq3C8P8HAQ

[Guest User]

Trampoline on the roof?

 

 

LCx

[Top cat]

I think the best way is a small video camera such as an 808 #16 with a wide angle lens mounted on a C/F pole is your best bet its small light and cheap. If you want to tilt it use a pulley system.

I've flown Quadcopters from my narrow boat for some time and while happy to take off from one the risk of sliding off or tipping over is too great on landing. I fitted one of my models with floats made from pipe insulation. Four floats 1 on each corner with the axis vertical so it doesnt affect the down wash from the props. I did crash it into the water once when I got it into the dreaded vortex ring effect which occurs when you fly into your own down draft. Its an effect that has killed a few helicopter pilots.

Flying any radio controlled model (even on the Wash) has safety implications and you should be very confident you can fly the thing safely in a variety of conditions and more importantly know when NOT to fly. These things have whirling knives at each corner and should be treated with respect and kept well away from people. The thought of catching one fills me with foreboding, I wouldn't even consider it. DON'T rely on GPS gadgetry to fly it for you, one day it will fail and you will HAVE to fly it home manually.

 

Top Cat (1000 + hrs r/c experience)

[cotswoldsman]

Thank you, some interesting ideas here. I don't think paragliding will work: if the wind is that strong we will be stuck in the pub in Boston.

 

We have tried waterskiing before, with limited success.

 

Challenger Boats ever used to have any problem

[pquinn]

here is the solution.

although you might want to keep a few spares in the engine hole in case of fatigue.

[Peter-Bullfinch]

Bizzard....Bizzard....hurry up...please!

[Scholar Gypsy]

Problem solved - article in the Times this morning....

 

Lifeguard drones fly to the rescue over Spanish beaches _ The Times.pdf

 

[MtB]

From the article:

 

"About 400 swimmers drown in Spanish waters every year."

 

Astounding!

 

And we spend £300m a year on gas installer egistration schemes to reduce the number of deaths form CO poisoning from about 30 a year prior to the schemes starting to... go on, have a guess...

[ditchcrawler]

Here you go for a cheepie

 

http://www.tmart.com/Wltoys-V686G-5.8G-4CH-6-Axis-Gyro-Headless-FPV-RC-Quadcopter-with-4G-Memory-Card-2.0MP-Camera-Mode-2-White_p321815.html?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=tmart-V686Quaduk

[Top cat]

I've seen one , don't bother it's an unflyable heap of junk even in the hands of an expert. In this game you get what you pay for.

 

T C

[Cruising Mike]

The Lily drone is your best bet. You get a tracker in the form of a watch and Lily will come right to your hand at request like a bird of prey. It follows you everywhere AND is submersible in water for a set amount of time.

[Scholar Gypsy]

The Lily drone is your best bet. You get a tracker in the form of a watch and Lily will come right to your hand at request like a bird of prey. It follows you everywhere AND is submersible in water for a set amount of time.

 

It does look rather neat, but I can't find anywhere that will deliver before February 2016?

[Scholar Gypsy]

Thanks to all for their contributions. I hope to post some results in about a month ...

[Scholar Gypsy]

I am quite keen to get some aerial photos of my boat during my summer trips, especially while crossing the Wash.

 

So: has anyone managed to land a helicopter drone camera on a moving narrowboat, without it getting wet? Which model (sensible prices only please!)? How?

 

Plan B: use my shaft as a rather large selfie stick, and a radio controlled trigger for my camera

 

Plan C: helium filled balloon, and a radio controlled trigger for my camera

 

Plan D: ask the RAF nicely to take some reconnaissance photos - we are going quite close (but not too close) to the bombing range at RAF Holbeach

 

So in the end

• we used a little Husban, rapidly concluding that attempting to land it on a moving boat (even in a dead calm wind) would be too challenging,
• and one of the crew took a timelapse video with a Gpro fixed to the mast.

The results can be seen here. Scroll down a page or so, I am still getting the hang of the software you need to process the output from the drone.

 

I do want a Lily, when they come out next year ....

 

Thanks for all the advice,

[Top cat]

Nice photography , I particularly like the time lapse from the mast. What an adventure!

 

Top Cat

[PaulG]

I've just started building one:-