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I read somewhere that someone had an issue with the metal within the car messing with the compass, and it went a bit haywire.
Most cars these days are constructed of various compounds of plastics, so I am having trouble believing this.
Thoughts? Safe to do it?
My sympathies about your lack of manoeuvrability that causes you to ask this question, but in this case I think you are being a trifle optimistic about car construction.
Yes, you are right, they do contain a large amount of plastics, but, they also contain a lot more metal.
There are cars that have fibreglass bodies, but they still contain engines, axles, and suspension made of metal. All have enough mass to affect a sensitive compass, which is what the Mavic has (based purely on the manufacturers advice, and experiences related by users).
However, not all is doom and gloom.
One person has designed a U shaped channel, only a couple of inches high, and about 2 or 2.5 inches long.
The upper edges of the U are narrow enough to fit in the grooves in the heat sink base of the aircraft. The base of the U shape, half way along, has a female thread form, 1/4" BSW, the standard thread used on tripod stands worldwide, which invariably finish in a male stud of this thread.
The bracket can be screwed on to the top of a tripod, at a height to suit you, and that is where the aircraft takes off from.
There are options for landing.
One is hand catching, plenty of people have learnt how to do this, regularly, without losing fingers.
Another is a plastic picnic table, say about 3 feet square, which would do for landing (and also take off).
Another is a litter picker, which might benefit from some adaption of the jaws, to securely grasp the body of the aircraft after it has landed on the ground, and the motors switched off.
Regards.
