Structural integrity while landing

Ed Windham · Oct 15, 2016

A word of caution on hand catching. If you are doing it, it should be from the side and you should be catching the front leg. If you try to catch from the back you are grabbing the VPS. If you are trying to grab from the front you in engaging the VSS. Can you take off from tall grass, no it will interfere with the gimbal. I agree that the best solution is some kind of take off pad.

kmaluo · Oct 15, 2016

Ed Windham said:
A word of caution on hand catching. If you are doing it, it should be from the side and you should be catching the front leg. If you try to catch from the back you are grabbing the VPS. If you are trying to grab from the front you in engaging the VSS. Can you take off from tall grass, no it will interfere with the gimbal. I agree that the best solution is some kind of take off pad.

There's several videos of hand catching the body. Shouldnt be a problem if you're quick about it.

Ed Windham · Oct 15, 2016

I am just giving a precautionary warning. If the VPS is active there could be issues. Your drone, your body.

4wd · Oct 15, 2016

P3 has VPS but I always hand catch with no problems.

Ed Windham · Oct 15, 2016

But you are catching a leg not the belly of the craft. Look at the angle of the VPS and you will understand what I am discussing. I don't care if you hand catch or not. I just don't want people that get prop bite to say it was DJI's fault.

kmaluo · Oct 15, 2016

Ed Windham said:
But you are catching a leg not the belly of the craft. Look at the angle of the VPS and you will understand what I am discussing. I don't care if you hand catch or not. I just don't want people that get prop bite to say it was DJI's fault.

Do you think there will be a situation where the Mavic will descend when sensing your hand?

Ed Windham · Oct 15, 2016

I am not sure what it will do. It could rise. I have demoed this in a flying cage. Or it could move away from you or toward you. I would advise caution if you decide to do this. Once you are comfortable then go for it.

ArcticFlightman · Oct 15, 2016

I ordered this disc:
5 in 1 Light Mulit Collapsible Disk Style Reflector 60cm

Dirty Bird · Oct 15, 2016

If anything it would be more likely to climb away if it senses your hand & thinks it dropped altitude.

kmaluo said:
Do you think there will be a situation where the Mavic will descend when sensing your hand?

skypros · Oct 15, 2016

What makes the Glow Reflector stay in place.... IE: won't the props when take off / landing make the light weight reflector move??

If not.... why not just use a auto sunscreen that you use for your car windshield?

m0j0 · Oct 15, 2016

I actually have one already

kmaluo · Oct 15, 2016

skypros said:
What makes the Glow Reflector stay in place.... IE: won't the props when take off / landing make the light weight reflector move??

If not.... why not just use a auto sunscreen that you use for your car windshield?

Yup I'm thinking these are too light. I envision something like this happening.

milsonian · Oct 16, 2016

Just got this one, certainly not the cheapest option but it's the same size as the reflector above, already patterned and comes with stakes...pretty nice.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M0R3ZY2

They have a smaller 16" one that folds to 6" but it's probably too small (and no stakes).

majortom · Oct 16, 2016

milsonian said:
Just got this one, certainly not the cheapest option but it's the same size as the reflector above, already patterned and comes with stakes...pretty nice.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M0R3ZY2

They have a smaller 16" one that folds to 6" but it's probably too small (and no stakes).

Yeah that seems a bit pricey. I think this with a couple of tent pegs to hold it down should be a good enough and cheap option
Photography Photo Reflector 80cm(32") 5in1 Light Collapsible Portable Reflector

Chris M · Oct 16, 2016

What about something a bit simpler like a Beach Towel?

Never mind, I guess unless you stake it down, it may blow up like the canvas or carpet with the helicopter above.

dsd317 · Oct 17, 2016

skypros said:
What makes the Glow Reflector stay in place.... IE: won't the props when take off / landing make the light weight reflector move??

If not.... why not just use a auto sunscreen that you use for your car windshield?

I've actually tried to cause the reflector to flip by hovering off to the side of it, but it did not flip. But I'm sure if I were to "full-throttle" up it would probably flip.

I don't see a problem because when you're launching, you're directly in the middle of the reflector...and when you're landing, you SHOULD be directly over it, hence, pushing downward onto it. I've done this many times with my P3P.

If you're really concerned, you could always use those small hook stakes that come with canopies and drive them into the ground and hook the reflector in two or three places.

Deckyon · Oct 17, 2016

skypros said:
What makes the Glow Reflector stay in place.... IE: won't the props when take off / landing make the light weight reflector move??

If not.... why not just use a auto sunscreen that you use for your car windshield?

Doesnt really matter once the bird is off the ground. Besides, the rotor-wash is coming straight down, as it takes off vertically to about 4' (height guess). To flip it, the wash would have to get under one side at enough of an angle, so even then, I dont think there would be too much of a chance for that to happen.

kmaluo · Oct 17, 2016

dsd317 said:
I've actually tried to cause the reflector to flip by hovering off to the side of it, but it did not flip. But I'm sure if I were to "full-throttle" up it would probably flip.

I don't see a problem because when you're launching, you're directly in the middle of the reflector...and when you're landing, you SHOULD be directly over it, hence, pushing downward onto it. I've done this many times with my P3P.

If you're really concerned, you could always use those small hook stakes that come with canopies and drive them into the ground and hook the reflector in two or three places.

Better with stakes so wind doesn't move it while flying, throwing off the precision landing.

Bob Mador · Oct 18, 2016

After reading these posts I did my own search on Amazon and I found this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G53ZQLI/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I ordered one for my new Mavic... that I hope to receive some day!

___ · Oct 18, 2016

I have been wondering about this also. Perhaps something doesn't need to be added to the bottom but would consider hacking up something if it needs it. I like the idea of a landing pad (for take-off) but not something that collapses so large. I think if it was smaller, I would be more likely to have it with me/carry it and therefore use it. The footprint of the Mavic is about 13 inches I think so I might take my chances with a smaller (22 inch?) one.

22 inch reflector $4.99 [Shipped with Prime] - https://amzn.com/B001GBXBJE
32 inch reflector $9.50 [Shipped with Prime] - https://amzn.com/B005QR58CC