Drones and Boats

[Tailgate]

This looks like fun.. pontoon boat and a quadcopter

Drone & Boat

[Midpack]

The small consumer variety drones are rapidly making their way into filming sailing/boating events. Few could afford to rent out a helicopter, but a lot of enterprising layman are going into aerial/drone video production (equipment starts at under $1000 including a camera), and not just for the high dollar/big boat crowd. Aerial coverage of sailing is a great addition IMO. For example:

2014 St Barths Bucket Filmed by a Drone on Vimeo

[freebird5825]

Neat films...TY

A few thoughts come to mind...and this is based on my weekday very private sojourns on the little lake near me. One of the lake residents owns a kit helicopter, only big enough for 1 adult and a small passenger. He loved flying it over the lake. I always waved and enjoyed watching his maneuvers.
If I was doing no-line tanning, I simply threw a towel over me until he passed out of close visual range. He never invaded my space. We would laugh like hell about the "close calls".
He was out there almost daily, until someone else who lived on the lake complained about the noise.

With the RC helicopters and drones coming into the average consumer's hands, I can just imagine the roar that will ensue if any of these consumers start using their airborne craft to spy on the "bow babes" who may or may not have clothing on.

[Walt34]

The FAA has been dragging it's feet over getting the rules out that congress ordered them to do years ago so a lot of people are (justifiably, I think) saying "the heck with them!" and ignoring the non-commercial use rule.

The rest of the world is moving on while the bureaucrats in DC fine-tune their punctuation.

The really cheap ones (low-resolution camera, 5-minute flight time) are getting to the $50 range so there will be a lot more of them.

[Ronstar]

Thanks for posting. I'll be doing the same thing soon. I have the boat and ordered the drone yesterday. But I'm going to do a lot of drone practice on dry land first


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[Sunset]

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebird5825 Neat films...TY A few thoughts come to mind...and this is based on my weekday very private sojourns on the little lake near me. One of the lake residents owns a kit helicopter, only big enough for 1 adult and a small passenger. He loved flying it over the lake. I always waved and enjoyed watching his maneuvers. If I was doing no-line tanning, I simply threw a towel over me until he passed out of close visual range. He never invaded my space. We would laugh like hell about the "close calls". He was out there almost daily, until someone else who lived on the lake complained about the noise. With the RC helicopters and drones coming into the average consumer's hands, I can just imagine the roar that will ensue if any of these consumers start using their airborne craft to spy on the "bow babes" who may or may not have clothing on.

Well its pretty easy to stop that, just have some of the older guys become "bow boys" and hurt the eyes of the sky spies

[marko]

Back in the day, we'd hook up small cameras to kites tied behind the boats and take movies of ourselves sailing along (of course there was always the risk of loosing the camera!)

[Walt34]

In a bit of serendipity I stumbled across this video last night. It's a fairly balanced look at the usefulness vs. privacy issues. While targeted at Washington state residents I think it would apply about anywhere.

Somewhat disappointing was that so many people refuse to even contemplate listening, let alone actually considering, any point of view other than their own.

Flight Plan: Charting a Course for Drones (2014) - Top Documentary Films

[sengsational]

Five years ago, that footage would have cost a half a million. How do you figure THAT into the CPI?

[timo2]

If that OP boat could also fly, I would consider buying one.

[6miths]

I'm thinking of getting one of the big DGI quads as I type. They are just too cool. I got a couple little ones last year to practice with and they are fun. I have to admit that I would be a little leery of taking the 1500 dollar version out over the water.

[Ronstar]

I was at a small lake last week and a guy was scuba searching for his drone that had gone down the previous night. I don't think he found it


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[travelover]

These drones provide the ultimate selfie.

[explanade]

GoPro is working on one supposedly for later this year.

Then some startups are working on designs, including those that will automatically follow the controller.

That looks to be the next innovation, to have automated flying to allow the operator to control the camera.

[6miths]

Yes, I would have thought that a mode automatically following the controller at a set distance and altitude with camera steady on controller would be a no brainer. Same as fixed orbit and camera fix at set altitude on a pre-specified co-ordinate. One can do programmed way points but I'm not sure one can program camera positions.

[explanade]

THere's also been a lot of research done on collision avoidance. I've seen Ted talks where fleets of drones are controlled by AI and work together in concert.

In another demonstration, a drone goes into an unfamiliar building and sends back date to map the floor plan, all while avoiding collision.

Not sure if they're trying to productize this type of work.

[6miths]

I know an ex-Army medic who has 5 drones and says he first got exposed to them during his tour in Afghanistan. One can imagine how useful these could be in circumstances such as those. The ultimate in looking around corners.

[HFWR]

HFWR is now a drone pilot. Don't worry too much about me either interfering with other aircraft, or taking spy photos, since I mostly just crash land the thing...

ImageUploadedByEarly Retirement Forum1423929796.206804.jpg


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[Midpack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6miths I'm thinking of getting one of the big DGI quads as I type. They are just too cool. I got a couple little ones last year to practice with and they are fun. I have to admit that I would be a little leery of taking the 1500 dollar version out over the water.

I've seriously considered buying a Phantom (DJI's entry level quadcopter) several times just for fun. Would be great for shooting our local regattas/racing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by explanade GoPro is working on one supposedly for later this year. Then some startups are working on designs, including those that will automatically follow the controller. That looks to be the next innovation, to have automated flying to allow the operator to control the camera.

i already have a GoPro camera, so thanks for the heads up on a potential GoPro "drone." Could be interesting.

[Ronstar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HFWR HFWR is now a drone pilot. Don't worry too much about me either interfering with other aircraft, or taking spy photos, since I mostly just crash land the thing... Attachment 21116 Sent from my iCouch using Early Retirement Forum

Nice! I just hope our flight paths do not intersect!