Syndicated

So recently TRU purchased a UAV or as they are more commonly known as a Drone.  I am sharing responsibility of using/flying/piloting it with one other campus employee at this time.  For now I have had exclusive access to it and it is amazing.  

We picked the DJI Inspire 1 for ease of use and camera quality.  

Here is some footage from one of the first test flights: https://barabus.tru.ca/drone/drone_may23.html

I love this machine.  It is so great in design and usability.  As well, the camera has exceeded my expectations in terms of resolution and stability.

My first flight ended in a disaster and I broke a couple props. Luckily DJI was smart enough to include multiples.  Next flight I only lost one prop.  I am now skilled/careful enough that I haven’t broken anything else.

So far I have logged 1hr and 49 minutes of flight time at 15 minutes or less of each session due to battery life. 14,808 meters of flight distance, and a total of 19 flights over 9 days.  Not sure what the app considers a flight since, over the 9 days I have had full sessions of 15 minutes or less. ie I didn’t land and then take off again, but kept it in the air for as long as the battery lasted.

Initially the machine was set to beginner mode and would stay within 30m, either due to the amount of flying time or some other factor I can now fly as far as I want away, and 119meters straight up.  I didn’t disengage the beginner mode as far as I know so it is interesting that I was graduated.

I am excited to use this as a camera platform and cant wait to share what I have captured.  My collegue Bob and I also have thought of using it as a 360 degree panorama device similar to what we used here: https://barabus.tru.ca/watertreatment/  or here:

http://www.tru.ca/distance/vcampus/

Since the UAV is so steady and has such a wide angle of view we are hoping we can position it, snap some photos and turn it into a nice quick 360 pano in some exciting positions.  

More to come!