Sean Meighan

Software => General Software => Topic started by: flyinverted on January 14, 2015, 11:31:00 PM

Title: Flying quadcopters ?
Post by: flyinverted on January 14, 2015, 11:31:00 PM

Who is flying a quad to capture video of their show this year?

I'm currently putting together 2 DIY quads. First one uses the Q680 frame and the other is the F450.

I'm considering strapping a Pi (Falconpi-slave-mode) to the larger quad and running lights to be part of the show.

Title: Re: Flying quadcopters ?
Post by: Greg.Ca on January 16, 2015, 11:31:31 AM

This new hobby of quadcoptor, hexcoptor, and octocoptor has had my interest peaked over the past year. I love doing magic tricks and I could use one of these coptors to remotely turn on a set of lights in the sky or over the display or even spell out a phrase.  To bad these things make a lot of noise. It would be too cool if they were silent.

I always think of worse case scenario and would worry if the coptor would ever crash down and possibly injure someone watching the display. I do expect to have something in the air viewing my display by next Christmas. It's on the to-do list. --Greg--

Title: Re: Flying quadcopters ?
Post by: msiebri on January 16, 2015, 04:18:31 PM

I got a DJI Phantom 2 with a GoPro4 for Christmas this year.  I only captured a little video of my display, and I had to get too far away because I had the GoPro on the narrow setting.  I'm also not a very good pilot yet, hopefully I will be better by next year.  The battery life on the Phantom isn't great, I can only get about 10 minutes of flight time out of a battery when it's cold out.  The cool thing about the Phantom is when the battery gets low, it will land itself, that has worked perfectly every time so far.

Martin

Title: Re: Flying quadcopters ?
Post by: Radiomarsh on January 18, 2015, 10:04:47 AM

I've had the DJI for a couple of years and it can capture amazing shots. The key to  good video is smooth flight and limit vibrations.  I have replaced the original props with custom ones which are much better balanced.  This has dramatically improved the video, especially when hovering or fighting the wind.

Title: Re: Flying quadcopters ?
Post by: msiebri on January 18, 2015, 03:44:14 PM

Here is the one video I managed to capture and get the music synced pretty well.  I'm just starting to learn PowerDirector too.  I had the GoPro set on the narrow camera angle, so I had to get the Phantom a long ways away to capture everything.  It's up so high you can't see the megatree or the arches very well, but the roofline and the snowflakes show up nicely...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZveWxUDh8v0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZveWxUDh8v0)

- Martin

Title: Re: Flying quadcopters ?
Post by: flyinverted on January 18, 2015, 09:23:45 PM

Nice job Martin

Did you use a FPV system or get lucky on the framing?

-Steve

Title: Re: Flying quadcopters ?
Post by: msiebri on January 19, 2015, 07:43:27 AM

Steve,

I installed an FPV system, I'm not that lucky.  Here are the parts I used:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BW7HS00/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BW7HS00/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KR69WHY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KR69WHY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)


There is a good Youtube video that walks you through how to install the transmitter.  It was easy, I just had to solder 4 wires.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vba9GkSDaxc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vba9GkSDaxc)


The video feed starts to break up if it gets too far away.  I bought a different set of antennas to try to help with that.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KAOT4LM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KAOT4LM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

I haven't had a chance to try them yet, I'll post back here once I do with the results.

- Martin

Title: Re: Flying quadcopters ?
Post by: bpducman on September 02, 2015, 04:51:11 PM

Are you all thinking  about recording this year.
I need to start getting ready. Only had the P2 up a few times. I am more planes.
Never had a chance to try last year.

Just seeing.

Brad

Title: Re: Flying quadcopters ?
Post by: flyinverted on September 02, 2015, 07:01:13 PM

I'm hoping I can find a quad pilot to record my show for me. I'm in So Cal.. anyone.... Bueller ????

Title: Re: Flying quadcopters ?
Post by: logandc99 on September 02, 2015, 07:13:51 PM

I have a Lily on order but sadly it's not shipping until Feb so will  use it for filming Xmas 2016.
At least with the Lily I won't have to worry about planes and privacy issues as it doesn't go high enough to bug aircraft and always points towards where the receiver is sitting.

http://www.lily.camera/?ct-referral-code=fFtDeFY9 (http://www.lily.camera/?ct-referral-code=fFtDeFY9)

Title: Re: Flying quadcopters ?
Post by: bpducman on September 03, 2015, 03:35:00 AM

The Lily look so cool in the video.