  Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 2962 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.81.50.7 |
This is too cool and hilarious. Take your dramamine and click the links. This came in via the mailbag the other day: "What'll they think of next?" | ||
Tetsua Member Username: Tetsua Post Number: 754 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 68.61.194.237 |
This is very cool, I feel like doing this now. | ||
Tetsua Member Username: Tetsua Post Number: 755 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 68.61.194.237 |
The one flying above 75 is probably the coolest one so far. This model plane got way more altitude than I expected | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 758 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.246.10.173 |
I'm always thinking worst case scenarios when it comes to battery operated vehicles on water and air. I always think the battery is gonna conk out. | ||
Yaktown Member Username: Yaktown Post Number: 22 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 70.225.217.252 |
I only watched the Tiger Stadium vid. Do you have any tech specs on this? Type of cam, plane, etc? I assume they had a video monitor on the ground so they could tell where the plane was in case they lost visual. I wonder what would happen if they did it during a game at Comerica Park. Would that fall under the "no-fly" zone? haha...Fun video to watch, thanks. | ||
Detroit313 Member Username: Detroit313 Post Number: 189 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 72.229.136.103 |
Nice.................313 | ||
Gsgeorge Member Username: Gsgeorge Post Number: 11 Registered: 08-2006 Posted From: 68.42.73.125 |
I doubt they had a video feed. They seem to be confused as to whether or not the camera is on, so I doubt they know exactly what the camera is actually recording when it's in the air. I bet it's a small digital camera that records onto a hard drive or solid state memory chip. Probably one big enough and light enough to fit on those planes, which I imagine can't handle too much equipment taped onto them. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 602 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 68.42.162.164 |
This suggests all kinds of other fun things you could do. RC blimps and helicopters with video cameras, maybe onboard GPS so it could fly a pre-programmed route. Web control interfaces. It obviously needs some image stabilization but it's no surprise a tiny plane like that gets buffeted around. They should dub in some wind noise. Great videos! Thanks! | ||
Rrl Member Username: Rrl Post Number: 609 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 71.213.230.209 |
That is some cool schitt. I've always wanted a RC blimp; for video, it would probably be better than the plane for stability, but would likely be MUCH harder to control w/ any sort of wind. | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 617 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 35.8.219.39 |
That's pretty damned cool. I also had no idea that those things could get up that far. The video could use a bit of editing, 'cause a couple a times it almost made me seasick (airsick)? | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 1316 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.73.205.235 |
Cool! Although it seems like the camera must be just dangling from the airplane that way it waves around? Might have been nicer if they could have fixed the camera on the plane so that it points forward, or forward+down at a fixed angle... | ||
Deputy_mayor_2026 Member Username: Deputy_mayor_2026 Post Number: 119 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 141.211.250.131 |
How much would a remote control plane like that cost? | ||
Realitycheck Member Username: Realitycheck Post Number: 361 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 68.41.173.240 |
Shoo-whee, very cool indeed . . . but . . . . . . even if this weren't the even of we-know-what anniversary, I'd still get the jitters thinking about radio-controlled model drones carrying something other than a video camera over an open stadium on a game day or a downtown festival. Sorry to be a downer, friends, but it gave me the creeps right away. Gotta watch less TV, probably. | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 2963 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.81.50.7 |
That crossed my mind long before 9/11 Realityck. I have long wondered about the malicious potential of these radio guided planes as primitive assassination delivery systems, particularly if several were launched simultaneously. It would seem that the payload would be limited, but then a few ounces of c4 could make quite a bang. Factors of guidance, weather, noise of their take off, radio interference and other things probably make it even less feasable. I would assumed that the President and other highly protected officials carry a protective radio jamming bubbles around them. Right? But then I assumed they had contingency plans against airplanes, propane tankers, and ships being used for attacks too... Clearly military drones are completely capable of such attacks, but then you can't buy those at the Army surplus store. Right? | ||
Chitaku Member Username: Chitaku Post Number: 736 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 69.136.147.97 |
yes less tv indeed | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 603 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 68.42.162.164 |
This brings to mind the attempt by Japan in WWII to set forest fires in the northwest U.S. by balloons carried by the jet stream. Fire Balloons | ||
Realitycheck Member Username: Realitycheck Post Number: 363 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 68.41.173.240 |
Or that amount of Sarin, G_d forbid. Hard to banish such doomsday thoughts as merely TV-fueled paranoia these days. . . . especially these days, this week. | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 35 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 12.34.51.2 |
The Corner doesn't look too shabby. Much better than I had feared. | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 619 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 35.12.21.186 |
I also didn't think the stadium looked too bad. Granted, the heavily "pixellated" look of the video likely hides a multitude of problems. But the grass looked nice and green, and I was surprised there didn't seem to be weeds covering the warning track. I noticed the flagpole still in position. Does anybody know why the flagpole wasn't moved to Comerica Park? Didn't the original plans call for that? I suppose I should have looked it up in the Archives first... | ||
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026 Post Number: 1292 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 35.11.212.197 |
no, but the flagpole was put into play at Comerica, like Tiger stadium, but with the bullpen being rearranged, it is now out of play | ||
Traxus Member Username: Traxus Post Number: 5 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 68.77.160.5 |
That is the coolest effing thing I've seen all day. | ||
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026 Post Number: 1293 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 35.11.212.197 |
wow, u really get a sense of how much vacant land is around Woodward,and all those damn SURFACE LOTS downtown | ||
Kris79 Member Username: Kris79 Post Number: 1 Registered: 09-2006 Posted From: 68.74.143.242 |
SmartHome has R/C planes with a built-in camera, but no video. SmartHome carries a home automation equipment and other "geek stuff". http://www.smarthome.com/95621 .HTML -Kris | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 763 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 65.42.23.2 |
thats a great plane, but 5 minutes of battery life? WOW... gotta know what your doing and move on I see. | ||
Supersport Member Username: Supersport Post Number: 10576 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.118.137.226 |
I have one of those RC planes hanging down in my parent's basement. They can basically fly until they are out of sight. I used to fly mine in and outta clouds no problem. You lose the ability to tell which way you are turning long before they get outta range. | ||
Kris79 Member Username: Kris79 Post Number: 2 Registered: 09-2006 Posted From: 68.74.143.242 |
Yeah, 5 minutes isn't much time. This looks to be the same plane they used in these videos: http://www.hobbytron.com/FlyDr agonElectricRCAirplane.html Price is reasonable ($69.97), assuming you crash the thing the first time (without a camera on-board.)  I wonder what kind of camera they used? They used to fly R/C planes in a field by my parents house when I was a kid. We'd see them and ride back through the woods to the field and watch. But I never saw anyone with a camcorder. Those old-school VHS camcorders had to have outweighed the planes!! LOL. | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 766 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 65.42.23.2 |
$70..man I might get one for the kids and I to play with . | ||
Legodude Member Username: Legodude Post Number: 1 Registered: 09-2006 Posted From: 71.192.3.63 |
Okay, so I was involved in the production of a few of those videos... That is indeed the plane we used, albeit upgraded with a brushless motor and lithium polymer battery yielding flight times of around 40 minutes. One can get them even cheaper than $70 on Ebay. With the Pentax Optio s5z that we use, we can take up to 40minutes of 640x480x30fps video. The camera is mounted under the wing, pointing down and to the right, as this is the most protected spot on the plane. Given that the entire plane + camera assembly is so lightweight, any wind causes the plane to be blown around. As one poster guessed, this is not a transmitted-video system - getting video quality close to what we have over the range we fly at would be quite expensive. Next steps include onboard gps transmitted + radio system and possibly gyroscopes to increase inflight/video stability. The Estes plane is neat but has lousy quality video. From everything that we have seen online, separate components are the way to go. -Mike | ||
Supersport Member Username: Supersport Post Number: 10582 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.246.37.236 |
I imagine it does get blown around easy. Mine has a 5 foot wingspan, runs on nitro, but takes a helluva lot more runway to take off and land. Landing with that plane looks like a simple crash landing eh? | ||
Legodude Member Username: Legodude Post Number: 2 Registered: 09-2006 Posted From: 71.192.3.63 |
Takeoff requires almost no space at all. The power to weight ratio is very high, and even with the camera attached the plane climbs very rapidly after a simple hand launch. Furthermore, despite its low cost, the plane is very crash-proof, so basically anything other than a full-speed dive into concrete counts as a "good" landing. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2784 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.81.8 |
Legodude, welcome to the forum! Although folks may mistake you for me, since I am the "Legomaniac" on this forum. You aren't the same "Mike" dude that's building a small scale Lego version of the buildings in downtown Detroit, are you? (If so, I'll keep your anonymity!). | ||
Tigersfan9 Member Username: Tigersfan9 Post Number: 67 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 64.118.151.178 |
I don't know anything about these RC planes, but seems possible to fly one not just over, but into the ballpark and get a really good look around. Anyone willing to try that? | ||
Zephyrprocess Member Username: Zephyrprocess Post Number: 19 Registered: 08-2006 Posted From: 146.9.16.38 |
I'd considered mentioning seeing an RC plane @ Michigan Stadium on Saturday afternoon, but thought better of it. I'd dissuade anyone from attempting a stadium flyover during an event. http://www.mlive.com/news/aane ws/index.ssf?/base/news-19/115 8158514247500.xml&coll=2 | ||
Ro_resident Member Username: Ro_resident Post Number: 175 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.14.26.88 |
A bit of a tangent-- MDOT will be testing the use of a model aircraft with a live video feed to monitor traffic conditions in real time this fall. They chose a WMU football game in Kalamazoo for the test.
From: http://www.michigan.gov/docume nts/tnr_agenda_138424_7.pdf The president also recently passed an order allowing the FAA to expand the use of UAVs in US airspace. | ||
Dfd Member Username: Dfd Post Number: 137 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 66.161.214.251 |
sweet You could also put one of those cameras on a kite. Like the stills they got of the Great San Fransico earthquake/fire damage. | ||
Andylinn Member Username: Andylinn Post Number: 224 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 69.246.30.104 |
paging pmardo: paul, that's mike d's dad! sweet clips. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 3744 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.47.100.44 |
I noticed the flagpole in centerfield at Tiger Stadium still there as well, Burnsie. I thought they had taken that down and moved it to Comerica Park. Am we both wrong in that assumption?? I'm wondering if we both heard the same rumors or they lied blatantly to us. | ||
Traxus Member Username: Traxus Post Number: 6 Registered: 02-2006 |
Do it with a helecopter? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =SuMn3O5_41g | ||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1587 Registered: 10-2003 |
Nice article about Mitchell Dombrowksi and his remote control airplane with camera in today's Freep: Internet takes metro Detroit doctor's hobby to new heights "Someone with the screen name of hammydude has been flying a model plane -- equipped with a camera -- above Grosse Pointe, Tiger Stadium, the Detroit Yacht Club, the University of Michigan's stadium (when it was empty) and the Michigan Central Depot. Then he posts video from his friendly drone's flyovers on the Internet. The resulting images are intriguing, informative and fun, even if occasional turbulence shakes the camera and makes your stomach do somersaults. Turns out, though, the person behind the project is hardly a teenager with lots of free time. ..." http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20060921/NEW S05/609210352/1001/NEWS |
