Another amazing video from SpaceX. Can anyone ID the copter, seen at 0:45? It looks a bit like the Dragonflyer X4 because of the green LED on the underside, but has molded arms, whereas the Dragonflyer has carbon arms.
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Adam Williams apparently commented that I am retarded. He must know my ex.
I reject your reality and substitute it with one of my own.
AlanGP
OK - I googled it. Damn that is clever.
I am surprised - not a hoax.
AlanGP -
:No, it is the real deal. I work in the aerospace industry and know for a fact that yes, this rocket does indeed land vertically; it's the 1st in what they hope will be a reusable launch vehicle. It will save a lot of money having a launch vehicle that doesn't have to:) either be disposable, or:) fished out of the Atlantic and refabbed for the next launch. It is really amazing. This was their highest test yet, and as you can see, it looks almost surreal; no one expects a rocket to be able to do that. When I first saw it my reaction was much like yours, but, yes, it is the real thing. Just google spacex grasshopper;; if it was a fraud, do you think that so many (including JPL) would have had news releases about it?
Hello - did I miss something?
Where is the windage on the rocket? Where are the clouds? Landing the rocket vertically? And the constant volume of the rocket engine - please.
What about the smoking candle effect from the rocket on decent? What about the lack of course corrections on decent.
Nice shot of the multi-rotor propeller by the way - it almost convinced me.
Its either a nice job in post production or a complete hoax.
Please ... I fail to see how exactly this is a safety violation. The points before support this - this is the first vertical descending Rocket ever, designed to be reusable - instead of disposable ones that crash into the ocean after a launch (I guess that's a safety violation too - wonder if a section from a Delta heavylift rocket weighs more than a hexacopter? (lol) this one will descend and land ass end first. They needed video from above to see how it is performing. And I guarantee there were no spectators w/in a 500-1000 yd radius - probably more, since it is a Rocket launch - sort of like in Florida with the Space Shuttles, and the only humans in the immediate area where in a bunker. Saying this is a safety violation is ridiculous, and sounds like a boilerplate knee jerk response. And do you not think the FAA was already aware of what they were doing, to the last keystroke on a flight missions PC? I can't verify it, but would bet anything they knew, and gave permission, whether or not that permission was tacit or spelled out. Think about it!
@Larry: That's only really a problem in Charlottesville.... we're technically a "Drone free" zone, which is the first thing that tipped the FAA off. Also, it's technically a private venture, because the drone seems to be owned by SpaceX, So no-one is externally being payed for the services provided.
looks like DJI S800 hexacopter, speeds built under motors.
Big point you guys are missing! This is a commercial use of a remote control aircraft and the FAA is gonna come get them with a $10,000 fine. Just ask Mr Trappy.
What a cool video it is, almost 2 million hits on YouTube, now that is what I call marketing.
@Dallin: Most likely a normal S800. The first users just got their EVO's, so it's unlikely that was used in this video. And regardless, it is the Z-15 Zenmuse gimbal that is giving the great video results you want. The S800 aka "wobbly plastic arms" frame has a lot of issues, so I would recommend using the gimbal together with a proven CF tube frame design instead.
Coming from the perspective of flying these vehicles at home and at work (I'm on the team that took the NASA video) you are always evaluating the risks. It is a balancing act taking video, especially of a moving object, getting as close as possible to get the best shot, but being far enough away to account for GPS drift, winds, and enough space to recover from failures. When we fly we are always only a single click or switch away from aborting the flight and moving away from our target. This doesn't mean we'll never lose control of our UAVs, but we carefully manage the risk, build up lots of flight time experience, and practice recovering from in flight failures. You can debate whether it's worth using a multicopter vs. a ground camera for some videos, but there is a role for UAVs to replace manned vehicles as chase planes to reduce the risk.
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