nick Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 The old aviation adage goes - 'if it looks right, it is right'. God help me then. This is my new skyhook for taking photos. It's made of brute electrical power, brute computing power and tie wraps. Although it looks like a junkyard, it can do some amazing tricks. If you have ever seen a steadicam, this is the same principle, the cameras are counterbalanced mechanically by the batteries on a two-axis trapeze damped by springs. This mechanical setup gives about 80% stabilisation. The remaining 20% is achieved by a dedicated gyro/servo pair on each axis that also provides camera tilt control from the ground. The white disk-on-a-stick is the GPS receiver, coupled with 3-axis accelerometers, radio compass and barometric altimeter, this suite provides input to very sophisticated auto-pilot, navigation and stabilisation system. Basically, the radio transmitter doesn't fly it, it just tells it where to go, all this kit then makes it stay there. precisely. It has a live video downlink to a groundstation, (the small video camera) which overlays HUD type data onto the monitor on the ground so you can fly the aircraft with this. Also it has a second 2.4GHz two way communication setup that provides real time telemetry and connects to a laptop or ipad groundside that will fly the aircraft effectively without using a conventional radio transmitter. You drop pins on google maps on the ipad, set a speed and altitude and the aircraft flies them. You can even drag a waypoint around with your finger on the ipad and the aircraft follows it in real time. This is a very simple flight plan than flies up to three set altitudes, rotates and lands all automatically. The sharp eyed amongst you may notice that it matches one of the photos below . The surprising thing about all this is that it actually works. Thanks for looking! Nick 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony C Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 I can already think of many things that one shouldn't do, with such a device Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Now that is quite incredible, well done on putting that lot together, a most impressive bit of kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthewbacon Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Yeah... nice job, but is it actually legal? If the "officials" have to get permission to run surveillance, surely Joe Public can't just start in on a sophisticated drone-based aerial reconnaissance operation willy-nilly? At the very least, I'd assume you'd have to get a "model release" from anyone who appears in the images... Can it launch missiles, as well...? bestest, M. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Elephant Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 To use this in public for revenue generating purposes you need certification from the CAA, akin to a pilots licence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radleigh Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Wow, how much to make one? Seriously........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhouse Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 That is very impressive. What camera do you have on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radleigh Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Looks like a Sony NEX? Good little cameras Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 To use this in public for revenue generating purposes you need certification from the CAA, akin to a pilots licence. Quite right it's called a BNUC-S and allows me to fly up to 20KGs. Everything I do is done with full consent of any people or property owners in the images. It's also not allowable to fly beyond visual range in the UK although the kit is easily capable of it any many others do. Nick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 Looks like a Sony NEX? Good little cameras Good spot that man, yes Sony Nex-5N. Wins out in 'power to weight ratio' interchangeable lenses and good enough for semi-pro still photography use and no slouch at 1080P video as well. If you really want one, drop me a PM. There are options Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Brown Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Oh yes, I need one NOW! Could you down size the tech to produce one that finds bits of models the carpet monster grabbed? Rick. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Laidlaw Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Nick, that is amazing . I know for a fact that my wife will be overjoyed* when I tell her I know what I want to get for Christmas. What did the certification entail? * Not 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raystorm Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 The CEO of one the companies we do business with brought a Parrot quadcopter that's controlled by an iPhone to show us. If you're on FB, here's a link to it in action: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=610513785628136&set=vb.174956842517168&type=2&theater We didn't larf at all when he misjudged it and bounced it off one of the lightning spikes on one of our dishes and crashed it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Vale Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 That's fantastic, it opens up a whole new photographic dimension. Nice to see the NEX getting some love as well, it's a great piece of kit. Dare we ask what this cost to build? Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 That's fantastic, it opens up a whole new photographic dimension. Nice to see the NEX getting some love as well, it's a great piece of kit.Dare we ask what this cost to build?WillDepends how squeamish you are, the guidance system alone is about a grand - do you want me to go?): Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Vale Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 I think I might make do with a broomstick and some duct tape for now 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Yes those guys at Hogwarts make it look so much easier. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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