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Drone Floats

Catweazle

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Has anyone ever tried fitting floats to a drone similar to sea planes, where a drone could land on water without sinking and take off again ?
 
There are all kinds of setup ups for the older X-Star UAV's. Not to much out there for the foldable UAV's as they have shorter legs and I would think harder to keep from getting wet. There are some designs that use these but I don't think I would trust them. Although they are for DJI I guess someone could make them fit the EVO.

 
Jeez! thanks again Agustine. Seeing them floats on a Mavic conjure up ideas for an EVO. I have seen extended legs on an EVO (albeit fragile) but it is food for thought for lake photography with a difference.

Only recently, our local beach life savers have started using drones to spot swimmers who are in trouble. Next step is to have the drone land beside them carrying a lifejacket !
 
If this were the Phantom forums, PhantomWetSuits would have appeared and post a link about his floats.

I have 4 oranges here. I can drill them and send them to you. ??
 
Cheers Ansia
Tried em weeks ago. So hungry I ate the oranges!. Now using polystyrene sea plane shaped fittings. Also have a model boat remote control system attached with a small rudder to steer the drone to wherever I want. :oops:?
 
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I'm sure the EVO has more then enough power to handle some form of floats but remember the floats will add drag and the wind will play a big roll on how it handles. Being lower to the ground is a advantage on dry ground but I wonder how well they would keep it safe from water damage. Fresh water is not bad but salt water will damage the electronics pretty fast.
 
Watched a guy (idiot maybe) on You Tube last night, pour three bottles of water over his hovering EVO. Evo didn't flinch. Don't know what he was trying to prove. Forward sensors still worked .
 
The other thing to consider is some people are having a hard time taking off from a boat because of the motion. I wonder how small waves will effect it and let it take off again or would it just float away ?
 
My mind is set on the fact that drones just fly.
My thoughts are more attached to how to achieve having a secondary power supply provided by the spinning of the rotors that can charge another small battery within the drone, that when it fall out of the sky and is lost, it can emit a signal that can be picked up with a phone app to find its location. E.G. a minature aircraft black box. Whoever invents this for drones will never starve.
 
I may check this out Agustine.. Will be flying in some very rugged and pristine areas within the Tasmanian Highlands.

cheers
 
I use a Trackimo when i have cell service, some places i fly doesn't have cell service so i use the MarcoPolo radio tracker.
 
Jeez! thanks again Agustine. Seeing them floats on a Mavic conjure up ideas for an EVO. I have seen extended legs on an EVO (albeit fragile) but it is food for thought for lake photography with a difference.

Only recently, our local beach life savers have started using drones to spot swimmers who are in trouble. Next step is to have the drone land beside them carrying a lifejacket !

Or deliver a life ring to them so they have more time until the swimmer gets to them.
 
The other thing to consider is some people are having a hard time taking off from a boat because of the motion. I wonder how small waves will effect it and let it take off again or would it just float away ?
I just saw a video that Aludels have a "Boat Mode" setting in the controller. This makes it easier to take off from uneven wavy surfaces.
 
Cheers Ansia
Tried em weeks ago. So hungry I ate the oranges!. Now using polystyrene sea plane shaped fittings. Also have a model boat remote control system attached with a small rudder to steer the drone to wherever I want. :oops:?
Hi Ansia,

Can you share photos and instructions for both the floats AND the model boat remote control system with rudder you set up on your Autel?
I’m going back to this location in Ecuador and want to make some photographs of the park ranger by flying low over the water and the steering ON the water might be great to have! Thanks, Bruce

 

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