Drone: Lost at Sea, The Final Adventure: Some of you may have seen my posting of aerials taken of the Gulf Coast with my drone: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-250962-1.html Well I went...

Photog8 Loc: Morriston, FL

Some of you may have seen my posting of aerials taken of the Gulf Coast with my drone: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-250962-1.html

Well I went out again today to get more shots. The weather was perfect...the first flight was perfect. Changed batteries, all systems go, sent it up again and ZOOOOOOOOM! It took off. No control, no return to home function...just heading out to sea. It's probably half way to Mexico by now.

The Polaroid Action Cam is waterproof, so it is probably still taking photos of fishes. (Wonder how long the camera battery lasts?)

Needless to say I am weeping in my beer now. But just wanted to share my grief with all my friends here.

Photog8 :cry:

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

What about the 'return gps settings ' that are supposed to return it from where it left when trouble comes up?

Sarge69

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

So sorry! :-(

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

I heard a similar story. Seems a man gave his wife a new camera and they went to the beach, beautiful off shore breeze. He had a weather balloon and attached it to his wife's leg.... hoisted aloft she continued to take photos. He was not saddened by his loss... happy to never hear his wife's nagging drone.

In contrast, we all weep for the loss of your drone!

mainshipper Loc: Hernando, Florida

Small world, I live just south of you in Citrus County. What type of quadcopter was it? I've been considering getting one and doing some over water shots but have always had reservations because of something like this happening.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Photog8 wrote:

Some of you may have seen my posting of aerials ta... (show quote)

What a shame. That's one of the reasons I resisted getting one. I guess attaching a kite line was out of the question? :D

Is that Polaroid camera the little cube? If so, how do you like it?

ralphc4176 Loc: Conyers, GA

I have considered getting one of those myself. I understand from others that use them, even the top-of-the line, very expensive models, that loss is inevitable. Just like every other machine, sooner or later it fails in some fashion. Perhaps the product is too new to have reached a condition of optimum reliability--remember when cars were much more prone to failure?

FrumCA

I have a friend who cut and modified some of those 'noodle' floating devices that are used by kids in swimming pools to fit onto the legs of his drone. That way he hopes if it ever goes down in water that it will stay afloat until he can recover it.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

FrumCA wrote:

I have a friend who cut and modified some of those 'noodle' floating devices that are used by kids in swimming pools to fit onto the legs of his drone. That way he hopes if it ever goes down in water that it will stay afloat until he can recover it.

But now he has to buy a boat. :D

Photog8 Loc: Morriston, FL

sarge69 wrote:

What about the 'return gps settings ' that are supposed to return it from where it left when trouble comes up?

Sarge69

Yup...supposed to, also when it looses transmitter signal......neither worked. :cry:

Photog8 Loc: Morriston, FL

Nikonian72 wrote:

So sorry! :-(

Thanks...no condolences, just send money. ;-)

Photog8 Loc: Morriston, FL

dpullum wrote:

I heard a similar story. Seems a man gave his wife a new camera and they went to the beach, beautiful off shore breeze. He had a weather balloon and attached it to his wife's leg.... hoisted aloft she continued to take photos. He was not saddened by his loss... happy to never hear his wife's nagging drone.

In contrast, we all weep for the loss of your drone!

Can't believe he didn't regret the loss of his new camera. ;-) Thanks for the condolences.

Photog8 Loc: Morriston, FL

actigner wrote:

Small world, I live just south of you in Citrus County. What type of quadcopter was it? I've been considering getting one and doing some over water shots but have always had reservations because of something like this happening.

It was a Blade 350QX and I had many successful flights with it plus the one just before it went AWOL. Had heard of glitches like this...too bad it happened over the Gulf.

Photog8 Loc: Morriston, FL

jerryc41 wrote:

What a shame. That's one of the reasons I resisted getting one. I guess attaching a kite line was out of the question? :D

Is that Polaroid camera the little cube? If so, how do you like it?

It was the XS100 which took very nice full HD vids and stills.

Photog8 Loc: Morriston, FL

FrumCA wrote:

I have a friend who cut and modified some of those 'noodle' floating devices that are used by kids in swimming pools to fit onto the legs of his drone. That way he hopes if it ever goes down in water that it will stay afloat until he can recover it.

As I was driving to the coast, I actually thought about doing something like that. Too late! Always knew there was a chance for a mishap.