Does the Mavic 3 sink or float?

[Talmon Murphy]

HELP!

Does anyone know if the Mavic 3 sinks instantly or if it sinks slowly? I crashed mine in the lake yesterday and know the gps coordinates but it will help the diver if he knows how long it takes the drone to sink. I appreciate any information!

Still licking my wounds. This was an anniversary gift from my wife right after I crashed my Mavic 2 Zoom. Coincidentally both drones died within a thousand feet of each other! The Mavic 2 ran into a tree due to extreme interference and I’m still evaluating what happened to the 3; although preliminary data seems to indicate pilot error!

 

[Lastrexking]

The rate it will sink depends on the current and depth.

 

[Starz]

Tough question. When you find it, and the diver is still there, throw it back in and let us know the results? Probably useful information for future reference.
And no more water sports for you!

 

[MA2 317]

Does anyone know if the Mavic 3 sinks instantly or if it sinks slowly?

Two pounds of something that's not designed to float will sink quickly.

As mentioned by Lastrexking, depth and current will affect the final resting place.


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The Mavic 2 ran into a tree due to extreme interference and I’m still evaluating what happened to the 3; although preliminary data seems to indicate pilot error!

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.

 

[Starz]

When we used to look for boats that sank, we would do a twenty foot circle around where we were told it sank, then go down stream from there. Your process will be tougher because of it’s size.

 

[Yorkshire_Pud]

It will sink, how deep in the lake?
Why do you wish to recover the drone?
If you do not have care refresh then it is probable that the only salvagable components will be the plastic parts, any solid metal components and if applicable the memory card.
But I suppose you could always try washing it with alcohol and then drying it somewhere warm for several days.

 

[MS Coast]

The rate it will sink depends on the current and depth.

I have to disagree. With current, the drone will drift laterally, but the vertical sink rate won't be affected. And there's no reason to think that it would sink faster in shallow water than deeper water, and vice versa.

 

[old man mavic]

Tough question. When you find it, and the diver is still there, throw it back in and let us know the results? Probably useful information for future reference.
And no more water sports for you!

many a true word spoken in jest

 

[old man mavic]

well one things for sure it definitely won't float ,unless you happen to be lucky enough to have fitted one of @Phantomrain.org 's wonderful floatation devices

 

[Reginald E Johnson]

HELP!

Does anyone know if the Mavic 3 sinks instantly or if it sinks slowly? I crashed mine in the lake yesterday and know the gps coordinates but it will help the diver if he knows how long it takes the drone to sink. I appreciate any information!

Still licking my wounds. This was an anniversary gift from my wife right after I crashed my Mavic 2 Zoom. Coincidentally both drones died within a thousand feet of each other! The Mavic 2 ran into a tree due to extreme interference and I’m still evaluating what happened to the 3; although preliminary data seems to indicate pilot error!

It’ll sink like a Brick but it won’t go straight down like one!

 

[vandemonian]

It took me two weeks and three attempts to recover my A2S in a big, salty, tidal river... pin-pointing the entry point is crucial. I have a long-winded-read in another post ( Two weeks underwater, 3 rescue attempts.. A long story of drowned drone and determination.. )
The only reason I held out hope was the recent satellite images and aerial images showed a rocky area with weed cover that would have prevented tidal and current drift and I eventually found it in a rocky hollow on the sea-bed with weed around.
Underwater, everything is foreign.. you must know the exact crash point (use AirData or other fine-grain data interpreter to extract last Lat/Lon), use a tool that puts you on the surface at that exact point and know the error margin. Start the search there, trust that pre-work to localise your search and search an area taking into account the error margin + a margin for drift while sinking or other variable.. Make sure you mark a start point / origin to go back to - if its cold (a big factor in my S & R) the search time / area will be constrained by swimmer / diver exposure. Good Luck.

 

[Lastrexking]

I have to disagree. With current, the drone will drift laterally, but the vertical sink rate won't be affected. And there's no reason to think that it would sink faster in shallow water than deeper water, and vice versa.

The depth affects pressure, the greater the pressure the slower the descent, as the descent slows the current will have a greater affect on lateral travel. At least, that's what I was taught whilst laying out lobster and crab traps on my uncles trawler in the North Sea on many tortuous summer holidays in my youth.

 

[MS Coast]

The depth affects pressure, the greater the pressure the slower the descent, as the descent slows the current will have a greater affect on lateral travel. At least, that's what I was taught whilst laying out lobster and crab traps on my uncles trawler in the North Sea on many tortuous summer holidays in my youth.

Density, not pressure, affects the sink rate. Since water is essentially incompressible, there's no significant density change with increased pressure. (About 1% density increase at a depth of one mile.)

I worked on a lobster boat just one late summer day on a boat out of Gloucester, Massachusetts. It's a lot of work, even when the weather is good. In bad weather, I suspect that it's hellish.

 

[HoozierDroneDaddy]

Keep in mind the M3 is not a round or square object, but had protruding legs so they will effect the angle when sinking, so even with no current, unless it is a very shallow area, it may still move in in different directions while sinking.

 

[PinpointUAVS]

The rate it will sink depends on the current and depth.

Depth and current is likely why the diver is asking how quickly it will sink, so that he can gauge how far it may travel downstream from the point of entry.

 

[Drone-Retriever]

If you recover it check out drone-retriever.com for insight on cleaning your drone.

 

[Heavydpj]

HELP!

Does anyone know if the Mavic 3 sinks instantly or if it sinks slowly? I crashed mine in the lake yesterday and know the gps coordinates but it will help the diver if he knows how long it takes the drone to sink. I appreciate any information!

Still licking my wounds. This was an anniversary gift from my wife right after I crashed my Mavic 2 Zoom. Coincidentally both drones died within a thousand feet of each other! The Mavic 2 ran into a tree due to extreme interference and I’m still evaluating what happened to the 3; although preliminary data seems to indicate pilot error!

It sinks quickly. Speaking from personal experience. It's final resting place will be determined by currents and depth. You may want to remind the diver that depending on the altitude of the lake, they may have to adjust their tables/computer.

Also, keep in mind that the drone will be unusable (but may be needed for insurance claim purposes). Is the risk to the diver worth the outcome? I'm not saying anything either way, as I don't know the local environment - just something to keep in mind.

Mavic 2 belongs to Davy Jones now.

As they used to say in Penthouse Forum ... "I never thought this would happen to me ..." Before I start, I want to say that I took a knowing and informed risk and did it anyway, so don't feel bad for me. It was my own fault and I have nobody to blame but myself. I've been flying DJI drones...

mavicpilots.com

 

[Yorkshire_Pud]

I am curious, excluding inlet and putlet flows are lakes subject to currents?

 

[Drone-Retriever]

No there are no currents. Drone will be within a 15' radius from where it hit the water. It won't sink like a rock but it will sink quickly. The issue will be the dirt and pressure at the bottom.

 

[Heavydpj]

I am curious, excluding inlet and putlet flows are lakes subject to currents?

Yes, they can be. Wind and temperature can move create lake currents.