Advice on Drones?

[Wavytone]

Mike in addition to the CASA rules Hugh pointed out, do not try to mix it with manned aircraft - paragliders or hang gliders - flying at popular spots like beaches, cliff tops or mountains.

The PG/HG pilots try to give the models a wide berth but pay attention if they are landing or taking off. There have already been collisions in the air with models on the northern beaches and while they haven't initiated charged it won't be long before the PG/HG clubs consider pursuing this route as there are some flying drones and rc models pretty irresponsibly.

The CASA rules are rules for avoiding collisions, they do not imply a right to fly.

[Hagar (Doug)]

Originally Posted by AstroJunk

I've been having great fun with a Blade 350 QX2 (now QX3). Wonderful toys on holiday for making interesting memories and always a great talking point. I had a very pleasant afternoon with Hagar flying together a few months ago

Like all hobbies, they hemorrhage money and you really need to factor in several spare batteries at a minimum.

DJI Phantoms still rule the roost for AP (Aerial Photography) but i chose blade because they were available at my LHS (Local Hobby Shop) - Yes there is even more lingo than the astro community!

Jenchris - if you unscrew your drone from the protective foam shell, you will find that it flies even better and longer - jutst watch those blades!

Here's a holiday vid taken with a fairly ordinary go-pro clone:
First up, Moonee Beach with Doug and an out of focus Camera!

http://youtu.be/MM0DRs4nSpo

Secondly down at Trial Bay Gaol. We arrived after closing time which is the best time for filming (this time with the camera focused)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcHM6NX8vdg

Nice videos Johnathan, I was pretty impressed with what you could do with the Blade Quad. It out flew the DJI at every turn and the video quality, focus aside is still very good. I didn't realise you had put these up on youtube.
Another one to add to Mikes list.

[Ric]

A very interesting thread, I've also been thinking about one of these, plenty of room around the farm.

You may NOT fly FPV !!

What is a "FPV"

[iceman (Mike)]

Looks like FPV is First Person View.
Why not fly FPV? That would be pretty cool

[Hagar (Doug)]

Originally Posted by Ric

A very interesting thread, I've also been thinking about one of these, plenty of room around the farm.

You may NOT fly FPV !!

What is a "FPV"

Mike is correct First person view. You fly it with either a set of goggles on or a flat video screen to look at as if you were sitting in the pilots seat.
It is a truly different sensation and the first time with goggles on is best done seated in a chair. You have trouble falling over in a chair. I does take a bit for your mind to understand what is happening.
Flying FPV still does not legally allow you to fly out of line of sight and with changes to the regulations being touted I think it will get to a point where to fly FPV you will have to have a spotter with you while flying.
It is funny how easy it is to loose the quad when you take the goggles off even though you are sure you know where it is in the sky.

[alistairsam]

Originally Posted by Hagar

Mike is correct First person view. You fly it with either a set of goggles on or a flat video screen to look at as if you were sitting in the pilots seat.
It is a truly different sensation and the first time with goggles on is best done seated in a chair. You have trouble falling over in a chair. I does take a bit for your mind to understand what is happening.

Hi
How expensive are these goggles ?

[Hagar (Doug)]

Originally Posted by alistairsam

Hi
How expensive are these goggles ?

It's like everything Alistair. You get what you pay for but this is a complete setup and it is relatively inexpensive and they do actually work quite well.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...d_5_8G_TX.html

and a cheaper version

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...mera_PNF_.html

and a dearer one

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...z_TX_RTF_.html

[el_draco (Rom)]

Both barrels... on sight. Like Skeet shooting, only much more expensive

[Raybot (Ray) (Ray)]

There are more hazards than you may think....

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFWUlObSgn0

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

I use FPV or sorts - The video camera streams live video to my mobile phone using Wi-Fi for a reasonable 150m range. It make for a lot of fun and so much easier to film subjects. It's pretty useful for knowing which way it is flying too which is far from obvious at a distance!!!

With regard to safety, like green laser pointers, knives etc etc, in the wrong hands they are potentially dangerous. Intermediate level machines with full range transmitters (ie can fly several kms away from the pilot) like mine and the DJIs and are over, say, 250g come with an unspoken 'duty of care' which suggests some form of formal training prior to use would be appropriate. It is largely common sense, but as we know, it isn't that common after all.

The entry level quads are much lighter and have limited flight ranges and can cause little damage to anyone or anything - Ironically they are harder to control and much more likely to actually hit someone!

It is worth contemplating something in the entry level category, I fly a blade 180 QX too. Apart from being great fun, they are more robust and cheaper to fix when you drive them into the ground too hard. I learn a lot more about flying with the 180 than I do with the 350.

[pluto (Hugh)]

Originally Posted by Hagar

Flying FPV still does not legally allow you to fly out of line of sight and with changes to the regulations being touted I think it will get to a point where to fly FPV you will have to have a spotter with you while flying.

Pretty sure this is already the case. The rules don't say you can't fly FPV, they say you must be looking at your aircraft at all times and this obviously means you can't be looking at a screen/goggles. FPV does look pretty awesome though

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Getting airplay in America right now...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF5Q9JvBhxM

[Solitarian]

A well timed article

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-2...k-body/5986844

Relates back to an SA article from last month.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-2...potted/5909408


Too many halfwits out there with no regard to rules or safety of others.
Without harsh penalties, they'll fly how they want , where they want and when they want.

[Wavytone]

Originally Posted by Hagar

to fly FPV you will have to have a spotter with you while flying

Highly advisable. In all aircraft the pilots situational awareness is limited by your field of vision - and in FPV the camera view is relatively limited. In addition in virtually all aircraft there are blind spots where you cannot see what's coming at you - whether it be a bird, another aircraft, or obstacle - and you need to be aware of this limitation and manage it.

[dmurton (David)]

I've been flying quads now for a few years now, and fly both LOS and FPV with goggles. When flying FPV, we fly at a mates place who has a farm, and we always have a spotter.

As to the multi-rotor to get to begin with, I found the smaller the better, then you can practice at home indoors - I used to chase and be chased by the cat with my little hubsan x4. Great fun, and it got the fingers used to controlling it. Also, the smaller the quad, the better it bounces when you crash - keeps the repair bill down.

Moving up from there I's suggest the TBS Discovery, supports FPV & gimbals for GOPRO, and with a NAZA v2 is a solid reliable predictable photography platform. Part are cheap and easy to source. They can also be sourced pre-assembled.

My current favourite is the blackout mini-H-quad (www.minihquad.com), full carbon fibre frame, hopelessly overpowered, and setup properly, it can flip at more than 1080 degrees per second. An awesome FPV platform, it turns a forest in to a personal slalom course, and can do easily 100kph. Not cheap, but hellishly fun.

David

[RAJAH235]

Hi Mike,

Just be prepared to crash.....coz you will.......Many times.
Buy plenty of spare blades & "other things."
&, if not already up on Li-Pos & their safety/balanced charging etc., then you'll have a little more info to gather from the site below.

Flying any type of helicopter/multicopter is more difficult than it seems.

You will get a heap more info at....
> http://www.rcgroups.com/aircraft-electric-helis-217/

& please....These are not "Drones"....They are toys, even if they are called
as such by most.


The people at that forum are very helpful & will steer you well with your quest.

Regards, Laurie..

[iceman (Mike)]

Thanks for all the advice everyone.
I didn't realise it was still going to be a cash sink hole I was hoping they'd stay together easily and be easy enough to fly

RB - maybe I can come up to your house and check out yours?

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by iceman

RB - maybe I can come up to your house and check out yours?

You're most welcome to come up mate.
We'll organise it soon.