Out, Sleep, Back???

[Johnmcl7]

parts list radio reciever esc servo and a 500 ma battery problem soloved the real problem is disecting the drone battery and figuring out what the trigger wires are might just be 2 wires might be alot more ..but this is definatly do able i like spectrum transmitters and recievers but i dont see this guy springing 500 dollars for another remote transmitter like spectrum .......theres plentys of old used ones around

Of course it's doable, that's just what I said in the very post you quoted but I also it's just not that viable to do which you seem to also agree with.

 

[Mossiback]

...But I'll be doing this in the rainforest...

Rain and forest, two things you should avoid while flying a DJI drone.

... I'm not interested in spending 400 bucks to find out...

You will need to spend over $400 to get the range you will need to operate in a forest. Trees tend to absorb/scatter RC signals.

...My primary thought was the canopy, thought about landing on a large branch (away from leaves)...

I was thinking that landing spots are going to be few and far between in a rain forest. Forget about landing on a branch.

 

[mrreddog]

Maybe an Arduino and small battery, plus a servo programed to tap and hold battery button all coded with a timer?
Hope your good at writing code, lol... The drop and retrieve later option is probably your best bet. Its actually not too difficult to grab a Hooped item with 6 foot piece of para chord hanging one of these Grappling Hook Grapnel Hook, 3-Claw Stainless Steel Tree Climbing Hook, Brunch L | eBay from it, Ive done many practice operations (and retrieved a boomerang without any hoop modification from a flat roof, believe it or not) as a backup plan if a drone goes down..But the mini aint gunna cut it. You'll need a Mavic or an older Phantom or 3DR Solo would all work well..

 

[Bob4131]

Rain and forest, two things you should avoid while flying a DJI drone.

You will need to spend over $400 to get the range you will need to operate in a forest. Trees tend to absorb/scatter RC signals.

I was thinking that landing spots are going to be few and far between in a rain forest. Forget about landing on a branch.

I agree with Mossiback, I would not be advocating flying around branches. And this is more than a $400 drone needed. Plus I suspect this would be out of VLOS so many countries would require you to get a special permit.