Regular readers know I’ve recently acquired a UAV for use on our farm. Just last week I got my Phantom 2 back from Aerial Media Pros after sending it back to them to perform a small but needed upgrade. I had them install a Futaba SBS-01G GPS sensor that will relay information back to my 14SG radio. Now I’ll be able to look down at my display to see how far away and howfar above the ship is from the launch point. Since I’ve got to keep this rig under 400′ I needed a way for me to have that info in real-time.
Here’s my radio displaying altitude. 120 meters or less will keep my shy of 400′. However there is a caveat with this. The altitude is measured from the launch point. So if I’m flying 400′ above a particular three fields we have to the South, and I want to go take a peak at the river bottom field I’ll be at 500′ over the river bottom because there’s a 100′ drop in elevation between the fields on top and the river bottom field. Something to keep in mind when flying over varying terrain. The same goes for distance away from the launch point. At least now I can keep on eye on things while I’m in the air and can use them for reference when I see problems in a growing crop. If, more like when, the copter goes down in the middle of a field I can also call up GPS coordinates assuming I didn’t crash too hard!
Oh, Deere
Now for the fun part! I got a little bit crafty and tricked out my Phantom with factory-style stickers, but in John Deere colors! After searching all the area sign shops and craft store without finding any green and yellow adhesive backed vinyl I found a roll of each in contact paper on Amazon. When the contact paper came I just took a set of the stickers that come with the Phantom and put them on the backside of the paper to use as a template for cutting. Simple! And now my ship is really ready for farm duty!
Keep checking back with me as spring rolls around because this little quadcopter is going to see a lot more action on the farm.!
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We’ve come a long way from “40 acres and a mule.” Best of fortune to you and your family out on the farm, but then I do drone on.
Oh boy.
I have vinyl graphics design software and cutter-all colors vinyl-want your farm logo or name on it give me a call-we can really trick it out!!!
What!? I might need something for the case.
Good job! Brian, not trying to scare you, however I would recommend positioning the telemetry tx away from the top of the Phantom, as that’s where the GPS is located, which is underneath the top shell section. By placing components on top of the GPS this can cause lack of GPS reception, or a possible fly away situation in the worse case scenario. You can confirm this yourself by checking forums or getting in touch with Aerial media pros, or other channels.
If it makes a difference Aerial Media Pros are the ones who installed it. To my knowledge this is how they are putting them all on the Phantoms.
Any advice is appreciated as this is all new stuff to me.
Oh ok, as a norm it’s better not to put anything on top but if they did it they may be ok with it. 🙂
I’m kinda limited on real estate at the bottom of the ship too. Maybe that’s a factor. I can tell you one thing though. If the transmitter is upside down in the dirt you won’t get a reading back on your radio.
love my phantom
Brian, have you found some of the fixed wing UAV’s in a reasonable price range? What ones are you looking at to upgrade from the quadcopter? I’ve found the quadcopters drain battery life pretty quickly and aren’t the greatest for flying over large field areas.
You’re right. I’m just waiting right now. I think Ag Eagle looks like a very promising platform, but I want to see what develops with cameras over the next few months.