Finally bought a drone !! It didn't specifically say don't fly over expensive cars

Well done
The move to flying over water gets scary.
I've been using mine a lot over the last week.

JFM's past comments probably apply to you as well.
To begin with, the temptation is to watch it from the ground.
I am now starting to rely much more on the FPV.
Usually, I get someone to watch it whilst I fly using the Tablet's view.
I then get someone to catch it when it comes back to the boat.
But I did a flight completely on my own this avternoon.
We are anchored in Santa Ponsa (Mallorca) and SWMBO went swimming, leaving me on my own on the boat.
Take off - I can get it into the air from our cockpit table - after making sure that it clears the flybridge overhang.
Landing this afternoon was on the foredeck - where the cushions usually are - much easier than I thought it would be.

We are planning on crossing back to SC tomorrow and the weather looks good for some videos whilst under way.
So, thanks to JFM, I'm now going to read up all about that geofence thing - whatever it is.

I've already got loads of footage safely backed up.
Lets hope I will still have a drone as well after tomorrow!
 
Hurricane said:
Or, if you have a Phantom, you can switch to Home Lock and just pull the stick backwards.

In my case, this is just theory - not used that function yet
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Even the cheaper quads such as the Syma X5 now have a version featuring "headless mode", which allows it to fly back to point of origin without regard to orientation. Those kind of features take a lot of the skill out of flying, though some argue that it allows the operator to concentrate on shooting video.
 
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Very nice, Henry! Nice smooth arc around yourself in the first vid.

How is your macbook coping with the 4k footage?

Very much looking forward for more!
 
IGNORE!

chrome update not finished (small thing blinking at the side which I missed) after a chrome restart, all works fine

Impressive stability, want one!

V.

looks like I'm the only one that cannot see the video
I just stare at an empty area on the chrome window, cursor changes, I click, I start hearing the sound but not even the youtube interface, and controls are there (they never are!) Click again sound stops, obviously playback pauses.

any idea what's going on?

PC running windows8.1, latest chrome browser, and can see every other video posted in ybw...

cheers

V.
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scubaman said:
Very nice, Henry! Nice smooth arc around yourself in the first vid.

How is your macbook coping with the 4k footage?

Very much looking forward for more!
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You noticed ! I was pleased to see the relative ease of balancing different controls. I'm going to de-sensitise the gimble adjustmen. It's currently tricky to balance as you go higher or lower. It literally takes the tiniest tickle on the adjustment wheel, any more and you over do it. Apparently it comes set at 100, I'm going to try 50.

I used a desktop Mac for the editing. I'll see how the MacBook copes as and when I get brace enough to try it on the boat. I've also got a cruise planned at the end of the year on Seabourn Encore's first ever sailing so a bit of video is definitely called for.

Henry :)
 
Just remember the rules regarding Overflying ships, buildings and people that aren't part of your group.

Stay more than 50m away and I would advise against overflying at any height as the cruise ship will likely have one of more groups of people present.

Also, re: the FPV thing, you are supposed to maintain line of sight and be visual with the aircraft. A spotter can be delegated to do this for you. Also the maximum distance from the operator is 500m
 
henryf said:
You noticed ! I was pleased to see the relative ease of balancing different controls. I'm going to de-sensitise the gimble adjustmen. It's currently tricky to balance as you go higher or lower. It literally takes the tiniest tickle on the adjustment wheel, any more and you over do it. Apparently it comes set at 100, I'm going to try 50.
Click to expand...

I've often thought about adjusting the sensitivity of the controls but haven't gotten around to trying that yet. I haven't even looked into how that adjustment affects things, but am I right in thinking that by dropping the sensitivity to 50, the initial response is more subtle but then at the fast end it's more hit and miss? Which is just what's needed 90% of the time anyway.

The only time I've really needed precise control of speed at the fast end of the scale was when I was doing running shots of the boat at planing speed.
 
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Whitelighter said:
Just remember the rules regarding Overflying ships, buildings and people that aren't part of your group.

Stay more than 50m away and I would advise against overflying at any height as the cruise ship will likely have one of more groups of people present.

Also, re: the FPV thing, you are supposed to maintain line of sight and be visual with the aircraft. A spotter can be delegated to do this for you. Also the maximum distance from the operator is 500m
Click to expand...

My understanding is that those are rules relate only to UK airspace.

In the Middle East, India and South East Asia I suspect regulations will vary between don't fly otherwise we will assume you are a spy to we have far bigger problems on our plate than model aircraft.

Re: the ship I would only film with co-operation from the captain. I have already made a couple of films on a sister ship which were well received, not least because it gave staff an opportunity to show their families what it's all about.

Henry ;)
 
Whitelighter said:
Just remember the rules regarding Overflying ships, buildings and people that aren't part of your group.

Stay more than 50m away and I would advise against overflying at any height as the cruise ship will likely have one of more groups of people present.

Also, re: the FPV thing, you are supposed to maintain line of sight and be visual with the aircraft. A spotter can be delegated to do this for you. Also the maximum distance from the operator is 500m
Click to expand...

Interesting, the 50m is "away", not "over and away" like other restrictions. It suggests 50m above is OK. Keep in mind the restriction applies ito surveillance UAV only, so privacy rather than safety may be the key factor.

Another interesting point, that part only applies if you are actually recording. CAA is clear that having a camera for purpose of flying the drone only, does not fall under that section. Also, FPV has a specific exemption approved annually by CAA.
 
Why's this on a boat forum? :confused:

Okay, I'm kind-of split between thinking it'll be great to get such terrific all-round airborne footage of sailing sequences...but on the other hand, I'm already asking myself how I'll go about ending unsolicited surveillance by someone else's drone loitering over my whereabouts.

I s'pose a small ball-bearing with a lot of long tails of whipping twine attached to it, fired over the thing, would compromise its defiance of gravity. :rolleyes-new:

Cool toy, just stick to places where you'd be welcome on the ground (or water) in person.
 
The reason I posted it on here is because there are a group of us (I can say that now) who own drones and make boat related videos. We have seen some amazing footage from as far away as Australia - hideous footage, don't even try to find it, you wouldn't feel at all jealous :)

I've made some non airborne videos over the years and so thought I'd post footage from my new arrival to share with like minded friends. There is a wealth of knowledge specifically relating to filming boats.

I have no desire to impede on your privacy, I have a far more interesting life than that and intend to use the drone to capture my experiences. Are you suggesting that cameras in general should be banned? What about longer lens more telephoto cameras? Should we storm the Beken of Cowes archive and burn all their unsolicited images of poor innocent people enjoying a days sailing? You can easily make out individuals on deck.

The drones ironically have very wide angle lenses which don't capture individuals. You would have to fly inches from someone to identify them properly.

If you were out on you boat and someone posted up a video which captured your boat looking serene at anchor I bet you'd be the first person to enjoy watching it. Whenever videos have been posted there have been comments such as "you can see my boat" or "if only you'd flow a bit further along you would have seen my boat".

Henry :)
 
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henryf said:
If you were out on you boat and someone posted up a video which captured your boat looking serene at anchor I bet you'd be the first person to enjoy watching it.
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Quite right Henry. If you can let me know, I'll take pains to anchor wherever you'll be flying. :encouragement:

I was thinking about how extraordinary is the improvement of views, as one gains altitude...

...and in the hands of those who aren't pruriently inquisitive, and for the viewers of the magnificent footage that is possible, the drone is a gift, a huge benefit of the age...

...so it'd be a pity if misuse makes them unpopular. That's all.
 
Agreed, Henry

I see the drone as an extension of my camera.
And the cost is actually much the same as the cameras that I buy.

Just posted this on another thread - needs a full edit sometime to include other great footage.
I've also only uploaded a low res version - because I'm still on the boat in the anchorage shown in the clip.



And a link to the youtube page
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAedkprwz5k

This (kind of) shows the relevance of this kit - just like posting pics taken with a normal camera - but from a different perspective.
So, yes, IMO it is fine to discuss this kind of thing on a motor boat forum.
 
Hurricane said:
Agreed, Henry

I see the drone as an extension of my camera.
And the cost is actually much the same as the cameras that I buy.

Just posted this on another thread - needs a full edit sometime to include other great footage.
I've also only uploaded a low res version - because I'm still on the boat in the anchorage shown in the clip.



And a link to the youtube page
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAedkprwz5k

This (kind of) shows the relevance of this kit - just like posting pics taken with a normal camera - but from a different perspective.
So, yes, IMO it is fine to discuss this kind of thing on a motor boat forum.
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Thanks Mike. Santa Ponsa methinks. Look out for Pearl 55s on the shallow parts. Was the drone pilot in the RIB or an JWren?
 
jfm said:
Thanks Mike. Santa Ponsa methinks. Look out for Pearl 55s on the shallow parts. Was the drone pilot in the RIB or an JWren?
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I swam across to the reef this afternoon - no P brackets!!
Drone pilot was on JW (me) - SWMBO driving the Novurania.
I'm actually starting to get the hang of the drone now - much more confident.
The more you use it the easier it gets.
Just as was said on here previously - practice practice practice.

Loads of footage - just got to find the time to put it all together.
 
Glad to hear all that Mike. Yes once you get hang of it you realise what a great job dji have done in making it easy. The issue of flying over water is a total non issue! I too have loads of footage from yesterday. Will you tube in in half an hour. My son is just editing it here!
 
henryf said:
Which App do you guys use to make the sea appear see through?

I am currently training over water.

Henry :)
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I bought a set of these, Henry.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Polar-Pro...251614?hash=item41a5b9311e:g:mCoAAOSwu4BVuNEq

I've used the ND filters but not very happy with the results.
The polariser filter seems to work though - as you can see in the clip.

But, of course, it is always - location - location - location.

Good luck with the "over water" stuff.
Best to have someone as a "catcher/watcher" - you can then concentrate on flying FPV.
The watcher should make sure you aren't flying too close to an obstacle (masts etc) - the P4 is supposed to avoid obstacles but I only have a P3.
At the moment, I watch the drone when landing - the other day, I managed to land onto my foredeck without a catcher but mostly, I use someone to catch it.
Again, at the moment, I turn the drone around so that the nose is pointing away from me - that way, the joysticks are orientated in a natural direction.
But I'm starting to get the hang of it any way round,
 
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