Large Scale Central

RC planes for railfanning

General Discussion
#1

A recent video I saw from Norfolk Southern showed them using drones for aerial footage.
I know there are several of you who are also into RC planes. So rather than join a RC plane forum, I thought I’d open the discussion here.

So, does anyone think this is doable, attaching something like a GoPro to a plane and flying over an area with restricted public access ?
What kind of range is possible?

If it is possible, what kind of equipment would be required ? As in plane/RC controls. I expect one can’t buy the cheapest and expect good results.
Ralph

#2

I guess the biggest problem to be solved is what happens when you loose the link? Does the airplane fly off on its own?

Generally, I like the idea. MILSPEC hardware might be needed, though.

#3

I bet it’d be harder to explain what you were doing with a drone buzzing around railroad property than it would be to explain legitmate photography from public property to an overzealous railroad police agent … and we all know how easy that isn’t. Remember, Amtrak arrested a guy for participating in their own photo contest…

#4
Steve Featherkile said:
I guess the biggest problem to be solved is what happens when you loose the link? Does the airplane fly off on its own?

Generally, I like the idea. MILSPEC hardware might be needed, though.


That’s what I’m trying to determine…if it can be done with “hobby” hardware. Certainly a real drone would be way beyond my scope.

As for the RR police, they don’t own the sky. The whole idea is to get some footage without trespassing on RR property. So far, I’ve never had any problems with RR security.
And I’ve certainly been where I shouldn’t have been more times than I can count. I think the chance of running into an overzealous agent is just a risk one takes doing any kind of railfanning.
It could happen, but I don’t worry about it.
Ralph

#5

Actually an RC heli capable of lifting a light camera is on a par with the average LS loco, learning to fly said heli is another story…'Course a large three channel coax bird wouldn’t be too bad on a windless day. the camera gear is already here, and relatively inexpensive already…

#6

http://ardrone2.parrot.com/

#7
Matthew (OV) said:
http://ardrone2.parrot.com/
:D..........Now that is really cool, and not too expensive. 12 to 18 minutes fly time with the high capacity battery. I think that might just work. I'd have to get a "smart phone". But I suppose I've resisted long enough ;) Ralph
#8

Being active in the rc aircraft world , I can say that you can purchase a RTF and attach a really lightweight camera and do fly overs , limited too your sight abilitys .
But if you have the big bucks , a couple of thousand , you can have a quad copter that works fom GPS , will fly itself and return to you , and maintain its height and etc etc . You are only limited by your avaiable money .
FPV is also growing and is wonderful really , like flying in the flying device , plane or quadcopter , and if you youtube search for air videos FPV , there will be many many , and some fantastic videos .
Forget the helicopters , quadcopters will work better with camera gear , or an airplane / drone .
Good luck and share the results please .

My video useing a $129 plane and my xmtr and receiver and a little Kodak Mini camcorder [on sale] , TURN YOUR SOUND DOWN , this is where I always fly . You can see a long way from a rc plane .
ok not my best landing either .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv3qf9VyEIQ&feature=share&list=UUWwww57NG8rOB0mdfOnRnwQ

start here
http://www.rcgroups.com/aerial-photography-128/

and peoples air videos here , you gotta see some of them

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1466127&highlight=train

#9

Ooooooooooh yeah…I forgot quads…

#10

Putting a camera on a plane or heli isn’t difficult. The tricky part would be getting it positioned right so that you’re getting video of what you want, and not just random scenery.

#11
Ray Dunakin said:
Putting a camera on a plane or heli isn't difficult. The tricky part would be getting it positioned right so that you're getting video of what you want, and not just random scenery.
I think the AR Drone 2 that Mathew(OV) linked to solves that problem. It has an HD video camera in the nose, used for piloting and recording. I've watched some of the videos online. Video quality is very good while hovering. Not as good while moving. I think this will be the way to go. Ralph
#12

I think the ARDrone is awesome , and wanted one , BUT , I learned that the height holding works good , and if you fly over something like a car …it raises up to keep the set reference height correct , added to the cars height of course . Plus I am app-less and do not have the smart phones needed to fly it , My little phone only lets you talk , nothing else , it could only be older if it had a rotary dial on it .

I only did three or 4 flights with a camera on my planes , and gave that up .

#13

Dennis - your cell phone can’t be older than mine. It has a big lead-acid battery in the base with a handle and the handset is on a coiled cord :slight_smile:

#14
Jon Radder said:
Dennis - your cell phone can't be older than mine. It has a big lead-acid battery in the base with a handle and the handset is on a coiled cord :)
:D I used a bag phone back in the 80's when cell phones were rather rare. That analog bag phone had much better reception & transmitting here in the mountains than the digital phones today. And you can be sure there are a hell of a lot more cell phone towers around today ;) Ralph
#15

Anyway, back to the drone.
The AR Drone works off of Wi-Fi. Therefore distance will be limited compared to the 2.4GHz quad copters.
So, it will not be good for remote shots much over 100 feet away.

But, it is much easier to fly and also has an auto-pilot feature which lets it hover with no pilot input.
This will be a cool feature. Fly it 18 feet up, let it hover and shoot video while I shoot video or stills from a different vantage point.

I think this will be a great starter unit with which to learn. Later on, get a 2.4GHz quad copter for more remote shoots.
Ralph

#16

Don’t forget about the black helicopters and the disappearing Facebook posts :slight_smile:

#17

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8gMn0yXJKA

This why you should not even think about it… can be done but this guy is now off the face of the earth with the DOD and FBI…

Plus FAA will be involed… and Ralph he has pics from 3.5 miles up… the technology is easy to get but I do not want to get caught in the wrong hands…

#18

One must have a little sense of adventure :wink:
Plus, I’m talking low level flight. 50 feet would probably be max, with 20 feet being the usual.

With the AR Drone, it will probably be hovering not too far from me.
Ralph

#19

A friend of mine purchased an AR Drone and flies it with his cell phone. It does lose it’s link on occasion but he was flying it in minutes with no previous experience. Not ready to throw away my planes just yet but they have become so much easier to fly!

#20

I think if I were going to do it, a Quad Copter would be the best platform. Here’s a home-made FPV Quad Copter / GoPro combo…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6svIcef5lQ[/youtube]