Drone suggestion

[Alien]

Haters gotta hate right? Ive actually used mine to help mark property lines, get the height of a tree,

When I first started flying my drones around my property I used a transmitter with an Altitude reading to check tree heights. Mine average 40 meters but the odd one is taller. Now when I set my missions I have about 45 meters as a minimum so I don't have to get the chainsaw out.

When I did an overland mission to my buddys property a couple of weeks ago I set my altitude to 100 meters thinking that would be plenty but I didn't realize there was a high ridge in between us and I got a shock when I watched the video later. Unfortunately it was early morning and I was flying into the sun so it is not as good as normal. Luckily there was a small gap in the trees.

Ridge on Vimeo

 

[ovrszd]

Alien, you learned a very important Drone lesson and lived to tell about it!!!!

The programmed flight elevation is from you launch point.

Same when free flying, the elevation shown on the display is in relation to the launch point.

Wish the Drone was smart enough to tell me the elevation it is at it's current location.

 

[Alien]

Yes ovrszd. As I said, my heart was in my mouth watching it approach that ridge. I do have the option of terrain following but that would mean it would go down into gullies and have to climb to altitude again which would drain battery.
I always make sure altitude is set at zero before I begin the mission.
I am not sure I could have found the drone if it had come down but, heck, it was fun.
I can buy sensors that measure true height but they are very expensive. My flight controller has the option to fit them.

 

[Jstpssng]

When I first started flying my drones around my property I used a transmitter with an Altitude reading to check tree heights. Mine average 40 meters but the odd one is taller. Now when I set my missions I have about 45 meters as a minimum so I don't have to get the chainsaw out.

When I did an overland mission to my buddys property a couple of weeks ago I set my altitude to 100 meters thinking that would be plenty but I didn't realize there was a high ridge in between us and I got a shock when I watched the video later. Unfortunately it was early morning and I was flying into the sun so it is not as good as normal. Luckily there was a small gap in the trees.

Ridge on Vimeo

40 Meters is almost as tall as two of the average trees here... if one is on top of the other.

 

[dragoneggs]

Haters gotta hate right? Ive actually used mine to help mark property lines, get the height of a tree, check chimney conditions and even used it to help an eco lodge advertising in the Amazon of Brazil. I certainly didnt intend to use it for that...but it also gets alot of conversation.

Certainly a toy but also certainly not laughable or scoffable. It also helps to connect me with my Mom and Dad who are in their upper 70s...they have 3 drones....they were the inspiration for me to get one.

I have taken beautiful shots of waterfalls in Maine and Brazil, beaches in Maine and Brazil.

I also use mine for photography-as a hobby. Next year I will be traveling to Argentina with it for some nice glacier shots....once I work out the permissions.

I travel internationally a lot (well used to) but never brought my Mavic 2 Pro with me not knowing the rules. How easy is it to get permissions, or find the rules?

 

[dragoneggs]

When I first started flying my drones around my property I used a transmitter with an Altitude reading to check tree heights. Mine average 40 meters but the odd one is taller. Now when I set my missions I have about 45 meters as a minimum so I don't have to get the chainsaw out.

When I did an overland mission to my buddys property a couple of weeks ago I set my altitude to 100 meters thinking that would be plenty but I didn't realize there was a high ridge in between us and I got a shock when I watched the video later. Unfortunately it was early morning and I was flying into the sun so it is not as good as normal. Luckily there was a small gap in the trees.

Alien, your drone sounds like it could cut the trees itself! :laughing:

 

[Alien]

dragoneggs, I have been known to trim a few leaves occasionally.

 

[cqaigy2]

Alien, your drone sounds like it could cut the trees itself! :laughing:

That was bagpipe music. :laughing:

 

[5030]

Been reading along but not commenting. I'm about to buy a drone for farming ( checking fields) and was gonna get a Mavic Mini but I sure like Oversizeds' Autel. Think I'll get one of them instead. Besides, it's body is Kubota orange, big plus for me. I have an Autel OBD scan tool and it's been fantastic and trouble free.

 

[/pine]

FWIW...Elevations cited by digital electronic devices are derived from GPS coordinates and are interpolated from cross referenced databases...they are not necessarily accurate...

 

[Alien]

You can get accurate altitude 'lidar' sensors. They are not GPS based.
Lidar Sensors For Ground And Above Ground Imagery
The latest lidar sensors have integrated optical altimeter technology which deliver accurate distance measurements above ground level while meeting size, weight and cost requirements of UAV manufacturers.

Agriculture and forestry use lidar to inspect vegetation such as leaves and crops. Also, the above ground imagery (for example forest canopy) can be removed to view the ground surface area.

Lidar Drones For Structural Inspection
The best lidar sensors have powerful built-in signal processing, large field of view and multi-segment measurements which generate critical distance data and efficient obstacle detection, which enable safe navigation when performing structural inspections.

The below lidar sensors were designed and engineered for small UAVs. Use the web links to each lidar sensor for more information. Each of the manufacturer have excellent websites which will give you full data sheets along with the best uses for their lidar sensors.

EXAMPLE
LeddarTech Lidar Sensors
Vu8 Lidar Sensor
The LeddarTech Vu8 is a compact solid-state lidar which provides highly accurate multi-target detection over eight independent segments. Detecting targets at up to a 215 meter range and weighting only 75 grams, the Vu8 delivers nearly twice the range for half the volume compared with the Leddar M16 from which it inspires.

The Vu8 uses a fixed laser light source, which significantly increases the sensor’s robustness and cost-efficiency. The Vu8 has a high tolerance to noise and interference. This means it is unaffected by other sensors’ signal, by lighting conditions including direct sunlight, and it provides reliable detection in various weather conditions including rain and snow.
If you want to read more go HERE

My flight controller (Pixhawk) I2C port, is designed to accept these. Cost is more than the drone is worth. (For hobby uses)

 

[cqaigy2]

The only lidar ones, i've seen that might be affordable and fit on a smallish drone, aren't very accurate and slow.

 

[Alien]

Yes, I have some of those. Not worth the $ even though they are cheap as.

 

[ovrszd]

FWIW...Elevations cited by digital electronic devices are derived from GPS coordinates and are interpolated from cross referenced databases...they are not necessarily accurate...

And as I mentioned earlier, it's relative to the launch point. The ridge is what put the Drone at risk. It was maintaining the 100 meter altitude based on the launch point.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Yes, both the Autel and DJI reference only the take off point as elevation zero. Anything above the takeoff location is positive, anything below is negative. They do not referee to any known tables or standards to determine height.

I dislike this due to the 400' height restriction, but if I take off in a valley and want to go up a ridge line, I have no idea of height above ground level.

 

[ovrszd]

Yes, both the Autel and DJI reference only the take off point as elevation zero. Anything above the takeoff location is positive, anything below is negative. They do not referee to any known tables or standards to determine height.

I dislike this due to the 400' height restriction, but if I take off in a valley and want to go up a ridge line, I have no idea of height above ground level.

Yep. Becomes extremely important to be familiar with everything around you. I've crashed twice. Both times were because I lost track of trees near me but out of my vision.

 

[Alien]

For those interested here is my homebuilt drone (with camera) that 'did' the overland tour.

 

[bunyip]

I'm sure it flies well and is extremely functional but it certainly won't win any beauty contests

 

[Alien]

AAhhh, but it works better than a lot of commercial drones and can fly where DJI ones refuse to. That is why I have 3 the same.