21–30 of 52 posts
Has anyone managed to add automated/wireless charging to an inexpensive drone? It looks like there are a few commercial solutions out there, but nothing for less than $500.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think it's DSM2/DSMX so you'd need a OrangeRX module for your Taranis http://ardupilot.org/dev/docs/skyviper.html
Oh wow, nice resource, thanks!
This is why I don't understand why companies lock down their hardware! You're getting free software enhancements and support; unlock that thing! Why waste people's time in reverse engineering your crap, when they could be spending that time building new functionality. For example, Canon and the whole CHDK thing. Canon makes money from selling the hardware; so why lock down the software?
Software based features
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Oh wow, nice resource, thanks!
Also, just as an FYI, check out hovership.com - Steve doll runs that and he does some interesting things providing 3D printable components and kits, plus he’s just an awesome dude
After my last drone flew off never to be seen again I started looking into open source flight controllers. The open source platform has come a long way. I consider DJI to be the most advanced at FC firmware. But they intentionally limit you so much. My next drones will most likely be a Spark for the interior and an easily upgradable OSS DIY rig for aerial photography. Running Betaflight or iNav.
I'd be interested to hear how the OSS community handle flyaway events. Every commercial drone has them, but they're tricky to code round being edge cases where the evidence has, well, flown away.
Why are there no robotic airships available? They'd solve most payload and airtime issues that drons currently have. Also great for video since they're not as noisy as a quad and you could also turn off the engine.
After my last drone flew off never to be seen again I started looking into open source flight controllers. The open source platform has come a long way. I consider DJI to be the most advanced at FC firmware. But they intentionally limit you so much. My next drones will most likely be a Spark for the interior and an easily upgradable OSS DIY rig for aerial photography. Running Betaflight or iNav.
I'd be interested to hear how the OSS community handle flyaway events. Every commercial drone has them, but they're tricky to code round being edge cases where the evidence has, well, flown away.
I wonder, given how ultra small batteries and RF chipsets have become, if this would be a viable option: take a small battery, flash memory, a GPRS modem, a GPS receiver and something like the ESP32. Make a black box out of it by encasing it in epoxy to harden it against impact. Connect it via a data bus to the drone's main controller. When the power gets cut or the data stream from the main controller is interrupted or an accelerometer detects a hard landing, power up the GPS module and have it send the current location via SMS to the owner, and also use the ESP32's wifi capability to create an access point - which can then be triangulated using a simple mapper software on your cellphone that measures wifi strength.
Why are there no robotic airships available? They'd solve most payload and airtime issues that drons currently have. Also great for video since they're not as noisy as a quad and you could also turn off the engine.