Well This Just Figures...

[DevilsLuck]

Would be interesting to know the power needed to run that and the effect on battery consumption. (if it turns out to be implemented)

Good point. I hadn't considered the additional power drain...

 

[Yorkshire_Pud]

lidar

I don't really see the need for LIDAR for OA, from what I have seen the existing sensors are fairly good...... unless they intend to allow the drone to fly MUCH closer to obstacle and I think that would be dodgy unless there is side sensing LIDAR too.

BUT where I do see a use for LIDAR is in AGL sensing but I have no idea of the power requirements for that to sense 400ft. It might also quell some bureaucratic concerns if it was used to create a hard limit ....... of course that, in itself ( a hard limit ), could then create some problems if, for example, you flew off the top of a 600ft vertical cliff.

 

[DevilsLuck]

I don't really see the need for LIDAR for OA, from what I have seen the existing sensors are fairly good...... unless they intend to aloow the drone to fly MUCH closer to obstacle and I think that would be dodgy unless there is side sensing LIDAR too.

BUT where I do see a use for LIDAR is in AGL sensing but I have no idea of the power requirements for that to sense 400ft. It might also quell some bureaucratic concerns if it was used to create a hard limit ....... of course that, in itself ( a hard limit ), could then create some problems if, for example, you flew off the top of a 600ft vertical cliff.

I'm still in the testing/trusting stage of my Air 3s obstacle avoidance system. Trees still scare me.

 

[moldorf]

one potential feature I've always wondered about is a laser range finder on the bottom of the drone to calibrate the distance to the ground. That would make it pretty easy to not break that 400' limit

the range finders on camera bundles seem pretty small so maybe it's technically possible?

 

[Starz]

Trees still scare me.

Pretty easy solution to rectify that. Fly well above them.

 

[DevilsLuck]

Pretty easy solution to rectify that. Fly well above them.

True. But filming my horses, and such at just above ground level, kinda requires getting near, or under trees. Which makes me wonder... Does it sense obstacles above?

 

[VenomXts]

If you wait to buy the "perfect" drone, you will miss a lot of opportunities to enjoy this hobby.

the hardest part for me is waiting for the "new drone released" to have the software to match it being awesome which is usually in my experience anymore + 6 months after they come out.. Still burned on how the Mavic 3 now classic came out at launch lol.

 

[mavic3usa]

Still burned on how the Mavic 3 now classic came out at launch lol.

Yeah, that was a tough one, for many.

 

[3rdof5]

I think it should be possible to achieve at least a semi controlled descent after a prop loss or motor failure with a quadcopter. Just switch the direction of rotation of the unmatched motor as needed and throttle up the matched pair.
You'd have spin and probably little to no horizontal control but it should be feasible to at least keep the drone upright and somewhat control its descent rate.
If the intact drone can lift its own body weight as cargo then it should be possible for it to even hover.

Just consider how quickly the motors stop when the drone shuts down on landing, my suspicion is that the motors are actively braked.

The above said I think it is much more likely that bureaucrats will force manufacturers to apply unbreakable range and height limits ..... not that that will prevent anything.

It is definitely possible to "land" a quad if you lose a motor or prop but only if you have the ability to completely stop that motor and it's diagonally opposite motor. It will rotate as it descends but it can be controlled only for landing, not coming home.

 

[Droning on and on...]

It is definitely possible to "land" a quad if you lose a motor or prop but only if you have the ability to completely stop that motor and it's diagonally opposite motor. It will rotate as it descends but it can be controlled only for landing, not coming home.

None of this is possible on a DJI drone since we do not have that fine control of the motors.

 

[Yorkshire_Pud]

It is definitely possible to "land" a quad if you lose a motor or prop but only if you have the ability to completely stop that motor and it's diagonally opposite motor. It will rotate as it descends but it can be controlled only for landing, not coming home.

I don't think shutting down a wonky or unloaded motor would be difficult for the folks that write this software. With regards to the diagonal motor I am not sure if that should be permanently shut down during the descent, it may be necessary to drive it or reverse it to control tilting on the diagonal.
I suspect the descent would be fairly unstable i.e. prone to wobble.
I have CSCed a Phantom in mid air and I think they are, in terms of the centres of drag and gravity, much more stable than a 'Mavic'. The Phantom wobbled quite a bit during its free fall, though that could only be seen from the log. The gimbal did one heck of a job of keeping the camera level.

 

[Digitized Life]

We don't know for sure yet but I have seen several references to a fixed ban date meaning retroactive to 6 months, 8 months, 12 months, etc ago which is typical if it's usually done that way; not usually starting on the day the law is signed. But again, we don't know. Just rumor. I heard is was just after Mini 3 Pro, imagine that!

Can you provide the references to the fixed ban date that you have seen? I have not heard anything of the sort. You are the first person that has ever said anything like that.

 

[AlanL]

Can you provide the references to the fixed ban date that you have seen? I have not heard anything of the sort. You are the first person that has ever said anything like that.

There isn't one yet. The House passed a bill and the Senate hasn't done anything with it.

 

[skycam509]

The same thing happened to me with the Air 2 and Air 2S. Fortunately, I was able to sell my Air 2 locally for a good price and also kept the Fly More kit, which was compatible with the Air 2S.

 

[Xitor]

When I bought my Air 3 a year ago, some people were saying, "just wait for the Air3s it will be 1 inch sensor." Here we are a year later and if the 3s comes out next week I'll have no regrets. Had that 70mm lens for a year, better OA, and an extra 20 minutes for every flight. Now if I bought an Air3 today and the 3s came out next week, I would be kicking myself. Personally I think it makes more sense to just wait here and make an informed decision when you see what's really in the 3s, or whatever they call the next model.

 

[DevilsLuck]

When I bought my Air 3 a year ago, some people were saying, "just wait for the Air3s it will be 1 inch sensor." Here we are a year later and if the 3s comes out next week I'll have no regrets. Had that 70mm lens for a year, better OA, and an extra 20 minutes for every flight. Now if I bought an Air3 today and the 3s came out next week, I would be kicking myself. Personally I think it makes more sense to just wait here and make an informed decision when you see what's really in the 3s, or whatever they call the next model.

Too late for that. I've already bought the Air 3. I don't regret it, just thought the timing was ironic...

 

[Xitor]

Too late for that. I've already bought the Air 3. I don't regret it, just thought the timing was ironic...

Ok, didn't know if you'd already received and unboxed it.

>>Had that 70mm lens for a year, better OA, and an extra 20 minutes for every flight

And WAYPOINTS!!! Forgot to mention that. Was chaffed that the Air2S at more than $1000 for combo new didn't have real waypoints (not just hyperlapse) and my previous drone, a $500 Phantom 3 standard did. I said if the Air 3 included waypoints I'd upgrade immediately, and sure it enough it did so I did.