The project
A 7-day walk, along the GR70 in the Cévennes (France), with a portable desk prototype, during which :
- I will document on this site and relate my adventure on social media.
- I will create a photographic and video report using a follower drone.
- I will measure and publish an instrumental data stream in real-time.
Objectives
- Complete and test a nomadic portable desk prototype.
- Promote auto-measure (quantified self) practices and the benefits associated with health and well-being.
- Communicate the positive uses of civil drones.
- Alert on the dangers and problems linked to amateur multitasking.
- Create an event and an unusual communication device.
Full article here:
A 7-day walk, along the GR70 in the Cévennes (France), with a portable desk prototype
Comments
The videos taken along the trail with the GoPro should be stunning. Other camera and gimbal options, plus tips, are discussed on blog posts listed here, however that new GoPro should be more than adequate. Maybe some shoe companies and rainwear companies will want to be partners.
I think that the "GPS follow me promise" is neither completely realistic nor reliable. And i donnot believe in the nextlevelaerialfilming.com trailer (i'm may be too skeptical!). I ve have been investigating indoor real time location systems and mobile proxemic interaction since 2009. And i think it is possible to build something more simple based on a really robust approach. I'm currently studying the ability to develop an autonomous low altitude preceding mode that would not rely on GPS but on short range RTLS beaconing (using 2 or 3 beacons fixed on the frame). I want also to integrate a tangible fast manual piloting switch and fallback mode.
John, I've chosen to use a Hubsan X4 H107D FPV to evaluate the ability to pilot manually and by camera (in "semi-immersion") while walking and humm... stumbling (i feel that's the good word!). But for the journey I will use a "real drone" capable to fly with a Go pro HERO3+.
Hi Benoit, I really like where your project is going, in at least two meanings of "going". It appears that you found theBefore you buy page recommending practice with a very small, lightweight quadcopter. Maybe that will be good enough for the journey, although wind gusts may be a challenge on the trail. Actually, I was surprised at how well the QR Ladybird performed in wind, once you train yourself to compensate. Love that prototype of the desk! BTW, your interests seem to fit several of the "who is thinking about civilian drones" categories as outlined here.
I’m currently provisioning parts to build a fast prototype of the portable desk. http://en.walkingworking.com/fast-prototyping/ I'll use a FPV Hubsan X4 H107D to experiment non autonomous mode.
Now that I see the beautiful and mountainous terrain of the GR70, I have to laugh at my suggestion to enclose the IRIS in anything resembling a ball... Also, it appears that you won't be flying it over many people. However, you may want to review this blog post with its comments, and some of the stories and tips on this page, particularly this blog post, although signal strength could be an issue on the GR70.
I usually trade time and money to have the safer aircraft, and I am willing to have shorter flight times. I do not own an IRIS, however I think that it would be a very good purchase for your project/context. That said, I do not have much information about the damage that can be caused by an unfortunate event (goes lost-link; pilot gets distracted; ... ). And you are planning to have two participants in what I define as a UAS. The lightest quadcopter with the most flexible propellers should do the least harm to you or your son, and the least harm to nearby people or property. Just thinking about minimizing the risk of an unfortunate event that detracts from the positive attention you hope for your project. Again, the IRIS looks like a good choice. Here is a link to more information about UAV tethering/follow-me. Finally, here is another term: prairie-dogging. Happens when a loud conversation or other sound results in cubicle-dwellers rising from their chairs to look across cubicle-land. Think Meerkats. :-)
I am eager to hear what peoples reactions are like! I live near Perpignan and ave to say, this is one of the most beautiful parts of the world I have ever been in, better yet, to fly in.
I freaking love your treadmill desk!
Thanks John. I didn't know the expression "cubicle-land" ahaha english is sometimes so visual! What is the issue with the IRIS ? It is a low cost credible solution, am i missing something? I need a tropicalized frame and want to focus on software and behavior not mechanical issues. Initially i wanted to use Lumenier QAV 540g or even to create a frame inspired by Hayao Miyazaki's flying machines. But my project is very complex, multidimensional and time consuming. Choosing IRIS is a way keep focused. I will carry a solar generator in my bag to reload a set of 2 o 3 batteries.
While there are many applications/uses for civilian drones, this project is a good fit for the 'UAS for exploration' category, and offers opportunities for observations about feedback as you walk, interact, and otherwise progress. BTW, this link may be useful for finding the better times to walk with an IRIS.
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