Discussions

Lost in Space...finding a lost aircraft

Posted by Owen Booth on October 5, 2011 at 12:09pm

Good morning all,

I can't wait for OSD integration for APM anymore, I'm going to buy a Remzibi! I lost my AC2 the other day in very strong wind, and I figure a good way to save hours of stress and worry would be to record the FPV video at my ground station end and simply play it back and read the last Lat/Long coordinates to narrow the search.

Having a big crash like this unplugs batteries, so I can't just use my FPV goggles and guess where it went.

Can anyone advise what piece of hardware would be best to plug into the Video out of my Video receiver?

Don't really want to use USB capture for a laptop, as it just gives me more stuff to carry around.

There must be a small, portable, dedicated video recorder that I can get?

By the way, any advice to give me more pitch control to fight the wind would be appreciated!

thanks to all

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Replies

Dave April 1, 2012 at 3:31am

I had similar the other day, I decided to ditch it after about 10 seconds of it just drifting off. The thing to do in that situation is get it low asap then you can at least fly it home. I ended up flying mine into someone's front garden near the park. The real problem is that I could have hit someone (as you could have). These things are very very dangerous - like flying lawnmowers! Bigger open spaces and weather reports, guys :)
Christopher Cooper March 30, 2012 at 11:26pm

Just curious to know, did you get your copter back?
Owen Booth March 30, 2012 at 9:33pm

I've since purchased the MinimOSD, and a Mini SD Card DVR from jetviewcctv.com, so I can record the FPV video.

Then if I lose her again, I can simply play back the video, and get the last known lat/long position data!

Jetview Electronics (H.K.) Co. Ltd.
Bart October 6, 2011 at 1:07pm

Never used it, but saw this one. Might be of interest?

http://www.nghobbies.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&...
roger October 6, 2011 at 4:32am

U can use an irecord (http://www.atpm.com/12.12/irecord.shtml) ... have an old version so not sure how the new ones work but I think it is what you're looking for (i.e., portable and dedicated video [even an audio] recorder) :)

ATPM 12.12 - Review: iRecord
James Roney October 6, 2011 at 12:39am

What about a camcorder set to VCR mode?
Moderator

Grips October 5, 2011 at 5:10pm

This is a good example of the need to realize when to cut a flight short and get the airframe back to terrafirma whatever way you can. I don't need to say anything else obviously.
Developer

Adam Rivera October 5, 2011 at 12:26pm

Were you fully pitched while fighting the wind? you could use Acro mode to give yourself more control.