Flying in light snowfall

[KevinD]

Went out for a short flight in light snowfall. Short because I have vague concerns about water getting inside.
But the lens cover/filter did get wet, causing an optical issue.

1) Has anyone improvised some sort of visor to shield either (a) the lens, or (b) the entire gimbal?
As any Mavic series allows interchangeable filters, there is potential to attach something but only if negligible weight.
A shield over the gimbal would avoid weight concerns; maybe make something from a discarded plastic milk bottle.

2) Any personal experience where snow/rain/fog got into your drone and caused a problem?
I'm flying a Mav4; the motors are certainly not "sealed" but I also do not think they are vulnerable to short flights in dampness.

 

[MS Coast]

1) Has anyone improvised some sort of visor to shield either (a) the lens, or (b) the entire gimbal?
As any Mavic series allows interchangeable filters, there is potential to attach something but only if negligible weight.
A shield over the gimbal would avoid weight concerns; maybe make something from a discarded plastic milk bottle.

Anything like that would substantially degrade the camera images and video, like rain and melted snow do.

 

[Cafguy]

There is no difference between a short flight or a long flight..The risk exist..There are products in the form of sprays that you can purchase to help to waterproof a Drones Electronics wise, But a DJI encased in plastic is much more difficult to deal with. Gimbal and Camera wise I have not seen or heard of anything that can negate Mother nature other than Good planning.

 

[hank970]

Maybe stretch a wide rubber band around the seam between lens cover and lenses?

 

[MS Coast]

Maybe stretch a wide rubber band around the seam between lens cover and lenses?

That would still leave the problem of rain and snow on the outer surface of the cover.

 

[hank970]

That would still leave the problem of rain and snow on the outer surface of the cover.

There are two issues: 1) concerns about water leaking into the optical train or camera mechanisms and causing damage, and 2) water drops forming on the cover and degrading image quality.

It might be possible to seal some, but not all, mechanisms to reduce the potential for water damage or functional impairment, but there's no sure way to prevent water from striking the lens cover when flying in the rain or snow. A product like Rain-X might discourage the formation and retention of image-degrading droplets on the cover when flying on a rainy or snowy day.

 

[GadgetGuy]

There are two issues: 1) concerns about water leaking into the optical train or camera mechanisms and causing damage, and 2) water drops forming on the cover and degrading image quality.

It might be possible to seal some, but not all, mechanisms to reduce the potential for water damage or functional impairment, but there's no sure way to prevent water from striking the lens cover when flying in the rain or snow. A product like Rain-X might discourage the formation and retention of image-degrading droplets on the cover when flying on a rainy or snowy day.

The biggest problem is water leaking into the battery compartment, shorting out the battery, leading to an immediate crash. This is less of an issue with the rear insertion batteries like the Mavic 4 Pro than the exposed top seams of a Mavic 2 battery which is attached on top.

That issue aside, you can probably apply something like RainX to the filter over the camera lenses to break the surface tension of water droplets and let them just blow off. The spinning props also help to minimize water intrusion into the motors. Some of the best videos and photos can be found in inclement weather. Just wipe everything down and let everything dry out after, and cross your fingers.

 

[KB9Radio]

You could get the wetsuit from Phantomrain for it. Then you can fly in rain/snow without issue. They've been around a long time and have many good reviews. I haven't seen any post from them lately, but they used to be quite active on here.

 

[Shoe]

Is ice formation on the rotor blades a concern?

 

[offtheback]

After my exhaustive review.....not a good idea.

 

[MS Coast]

Is ice formation on the rotor blades a concern?

It can be, and not just at times when there's rain or snow.

 

[Shoe]

It can be, and not just at times when there's rain or snow.

Yes. I would add 'any visible moisture.' What should be the temperature threshold? 4c?

 

[Dale D]

Went out for a short flight in light snowfall. Short because I have vague concerns about water getting inside.
But the lens cover/filter did get wet, causing an optical issue.

1) Has anyone improvised some sort of visor to shield either (a) the lens, or (b) the entire gimbal?
As any Mavic series allows interchangeable filters, there is potential to attach something but only if negligible weight.
A shield over the gimbal would avoid weight concerns; maybe make something from a discarded plastic milk bottle.

2) Any personal experience where snow/rain/fog got into your drone and caused a problem?
I'm flying a Mav4; the motors are certainly not "sealed" but I also do not think they are vulnerable to short flights in dampness.

Yes. I would add 'any visible moisture.' What should be the temperature threshold? 4c?

???Saran wrap? (carefully applied to be taut over the front lens)

 

[MS Coast]

Yes. I would add 'any visible moisture.' What should be the temperature threshold? 4c?

Here's what the FAA says.

"As a result, ice accumulation is often greatest at temperatures not too far below 0 °C (32 °F), where LWCcan be abundant. LWC is usually negligible at temperatures below about -20 °C (-4 °F)."

Details on page 9.

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_91-74B.pdf

 

[MA2 317]

You could get the wetsuit from Phantomrain for it. Then you can fly in rain/snow without issue. They've been around a long time and have many good reviews. I haven't seen any post from them lately, but they used to be quite active on here.

I checked and he doesn't have Mavic 4 products...yet.

https://www.phantomrain.org/category/wet-suit

.

 

[KevinD]

That would still leave the problem of rain and snow on the outer surface of the cover.

Right. I was thinking more along the lines of a visor like a baseball cap over the gimbal.

(Note that my flight altitude was roughly 8 feet AGL.)

 

[akdrone]

I second the comment about flights at temperatures near freezing. I have flown quite a bit while it's snowing but I have some "rules" and the first is only doing so when it's somewhere in the +10F or colder range AND when the snow is sufficiently "dry". Even at -10F snow can be either very dry or seemingly wet. I don't know why. What I call wet may be more a matter of 'sticky'. Additionally I am careful to keep my battery at a normal indoor temp or close to it before flying and, more importantly, allow the drone to get down to the ambient temp before flying. With those things done snow will blow right over the lens and body and will have little icing on the props but the icing's not guaranteed so I only fly for short periods and check for icing regularly.It can be -30F (I've flown at that temp quite a few times) and you can still get very serious icing in just seconds when flying over water or other place that is humid - which is rare but not unheard of at very cold temps.

 

[MS Coast]

Right. I was thinking more along the lines of a visor like a baseball cap over the gimbal.

(Note that my flight altitude was roughly 8 feet AGL.)

That wouldn't be effective with the drone moving forward though the rain, snow, or fog. Given the turbulence beneath the rotors not be effective even when hovering. Another concern is intruding into the field of view of the camera, unless it was well above the gimbal and/or short.

 

[hank970]

???Saran wrap? (carefully applied to be taut over the front lens)

That would protect the front cover, but then water droplets would form on the plastic wrap instead of the cover and would still impair image quality.