Drone To Help Launch Business
Darren Stinson is learning all he can about drones, otherwise known as unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAV’s. He thinks other farmers should do the same. Widespread commercial use of UAV’s is likely to grow rapidly once new FAA rules are approved, probably later in 2015.
“Anyone can fly one for personal use if you follow established rules for remote control model aircraft,” says Stinson, a former pilot. “It’s not reserved for those who already know how to fly. There will be commercial opportunities ahead, but at today’s prices, you can justify them just for fun or use in your own fields. Get one with a hard case, and you can throw it in the back of the truck until you need it.”
Stinson flies a quadcopter (4 rotors) for fun now, getting practice making videos for himself. While no one has offered to pay him to do so, he will be ready when the FAA approves commercial uses.
Stinson was introduced to quadcopter drones when visiting a cousin in Canada where they’re already commercially accepted.
“He’s a building inspector and uses his to inspect roofs,” says Stinson. “When I got back home, I ordered the model he had, a DJI Phantom 2 Vision +.”
While there are bigger and more advanced quadcopters and other UAV’s, Stinson says this one had what he needed. It’s equipped with GPS, a lithium ion battery offering up to 25 min. flight time and a camera with 14 megapixel stills, as well as 1080P and 720P high definition video capability.
“The camera is built into a 3-axis gimbal that provides amazing camera stability, flying in any direction or quickly stopping with no shake in the video,” he says. “It flies really well, even in a fair amount of wind. It’s so stable that when locked onto GPS, it sits in one position while you focus on taking pictures or turning video on or off.”
Stinson appreciates the ability to use his smartphone for viewing video as it’s being taken. He can also review recorded video and images. It clips to the controller that has a repeater box for the Wi-Fi, which connects to the quadcopter, giving it more range.
Stinson’s system cost around $1,300, including an extra battery. With its GPS and the smartphone controller ground station, he can pull up a Google map of the area he is flying and lay out a pattern for the quadcopter to fly. He simply points out waypoints for it to fly to on the screen and indicates the elevation for the UAV to reach at each point. The quadcopter will then fly to each point automatically and return to base. At any point he can pause it and take control. When it returns to the starting point, he can transfer video or stills to his smartphone for emailing or uploading.
“It’s a very good place to start if learning to use a quadcopter,” says Stinson. “If looking at others, just remember to not skimp on the camera and make sure you get a 3-axis gimbal. Also, get the most battery life you can, and buy an extra battery. Even 25 min. isn’t that much.”
Check out Stinson’s drone videos at farmshow.com.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Darren Stinson, Grand Forks, N. Dak. (ph 218 732-0327; aerials@amerinucks.com).
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Drone To Help Launch Business MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous Darren Stinson is learning all he can about drones otherwise known as unmanned aerial vehicles or UAV’s He thinks other farmers should do the same Widespread commercial use of UAV’s is likely to grow rapidly once new FAA rules are approved probably later in 2015
“Anyone can fly one for personal use if you follow established rules for remote control model aircraft ” says Stinson a former pilot “It’s not reserved for those who already know how to fly There will be commercial opportunities ahead but at today’s prices you can justify them just for fun or use in your own fields Get one with a hard case and you can throw it in the back of the truck until you need it ”
Stinson flies a quadcopter 4 rotors for fun now getting practice making videos for himself While no one has offered to pay him to do so he will be ready when the FAA approves commercial uses
Stinson was introduced to quadcopter drones when visiting a cousin in Canada where they’re already commercially accepted
“He’s a building inspector and uses his to inspect roofs ” says Stinson “When I got back home I ordered the model he had a DJI Phantom 2 Vision + ”
While there are bigger and more advanced quadcopters and other UAV’s Stinson says this one had what he needed It’s equipped with GPS a lithium ion battery offering up to 25 min flight time and a camera with 14 megapixel stills as well as 1080P and 720P high definition video capability
“The camera is built into a 3-axis gimbal that provides amazing camera stability flying in any direction or quickly stopping with no shake in the video ” he says “It flies really well even in a fair amount of wind It’s so stable that when locked onto GPS it sits in one position while you focus on taking pictures or turning video on or off ”
Stinson appreciates the ability to use his smartphone for viewing video as it’s being taken He can also review recorded video and images It clips to the controller that has a repeater box for the Wi-Fi which connects to the quadcopter giving it more range
Stinson’s system cost around $1 300 including an extra battery With its GPS and the smartphone controller ground station he can pull up a Google map of the area he is flying and lay out a pattern for the quadcopter to fly He simply points out waypoints for it to fly to on the screen and indicates the elevation for the UAV to reach at each point The quadcopter will then fly to each point automatically and return to base At any point he can pause it and take control When it returns to the starting point he can transfer video or stills to his smartphone for emailing or uploading
“It’s a very good place to start if learning to use a quadcopter ” says Stinson “If looking at others just remember to not skimp on the camera and make sure you get a 3-axis gimbal Also get the most battery life you can and buy an extra battery Even 25 min isn’t that much ”
Check out Stinson’s drone videos at farmshow com
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Darren Stinson Grand Forks N Dak ph 218 732-0327; aerials@amerinucks com
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