RC Airplane for Aerial Recon (I do it)

[ScubaFinder]

I've seen a few posts lately regarding using RC airplanes to survey areas, since I've been doing this for years, I thought I'd offer some advice and expertise on the matter for anyone interested. First let me say that there are a lot of junk products out there, and second, you must first learn to FLY one before you can effectively strap a camera on it and put it use.

With thise things in mind, my suggestion would be to get an electric powered sailplane, very easy to fly, and cheap (respectively) to set up. There are many makers of high density foam aircraft that can really take a beating. My personal recommendation is the Easy Star from Hobby Lobby, I just taught a friend how to fly with this airplane and he had no trouble at all...really easy to fly, VERY durable, and a perfect platform for the camera system we are talking about. - $189.00
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/easystar-rtf.htm

Next is the camera system...don't be fooled by the range estimates that most give these things, with an economy model, you'll get just under one mile, and the video will start to break up once in a while starting at about 1/2 mile. I use this system in a very simple method, I research and find an area that has potential, then I get a plat map from the county with Land Owners names, then I go fly over the plats and see which ones I want to contact based on what I see from the air. The camera I'm using right now (best for the money) is the RaidenTech Mini Wireless SpyCam at $74.95
http://www.raidentech.com/24ghzmiwicoc.html

I set up the ground station to be battery operated, and record the flights on my camcorder for later review on the big screen. This also allows me to watch the flight in the LCD of the camcorder and go down for a closer look on targets of interest. So far I've only made a few flights to scope metal detecting sites, I'm kinda new to this. I'm an old hand at RC flying and onboard cameras though. If you think this could help you, this is probably the cheapest, easiest to fly setup for getting it done. I'll get some pics of my setup soon so you can see how I have everything rigged up for the ground station, basically a 10 cell NiCad battery pack providing the 12 volts for the reciever station and a Sony HandyCam.

In the mean time, here is some video I shot a few years back over a model airplane fun fly with a slightly older setup. This had the cam on the wing pointed outward, I now fly with them pointed down for easier orientation. Bear in mind that this was on a very lightweight aerobatic model on a very windy day with an older camera setup, and it's been compressed for veiwing on the web. The video nowadays (which I will post AFTER I have hunded the great site I found with it) is much more stable and clear. The video of the site has too many easily "findable" landmarks in it.

I'll answer any questions any of you may have...just thought I'd put a little experience into the matter for whoever is interested. Here is the video.

http://www.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/2003/sep/neat/neat.wmv

Jason

 

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[xdanthemanx]

hey man ive been doing the same thing with my helicopter, and have actually been hired several times to do watertower and cell antenna inspection, i havent done in a while but i was using a 60 size xcell helicopter (gas model works better with less vibration) . you can easily strap a couple pounds of equipment to this setup.
i also had a hi res camera hooked to a 1/4 scale giant aeromaster bi plane, with the dual wings i could have easily loaded 5 lbs of crap into that thing had g62 gas also, some hobbies definatley float into others
dantheman

 

[AMorgan]

http://www.fugroairborne.com/news/fugro_explore/FugroExplore03.pdf

Same technology as the Predator Drone.

Alan

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Because I'm a member of the AMA (#747089) and IMAA (#30723) I've agreed not to fly out of line-or-sight or over people or structures so I'm limited. FInding suitable landing sites near where I might want to detect seems would be a big limitation, also.

Walking seems a better alternative, but if it works for you . . .

My Hot Stik and 1/4 scale Ultimate (at a mall show).

 

[bomber]

SUPER COOL!

 

[Highmountain]

I've seen a few posts lately regarding using RC airplanes to survey areas, since I've been doing this for years, I thought I'd offer some advice and expertise on the matter for anyone interested. First let me say that there are a lot of junk products out there, and second, you must first learn to FLY one before you can effectively strap a camera on it and put it use.

With thise things in mind, my suggestion would be to get an electric powered sailplane, very easy to fly, and cheap (respectively) to set up. There are many makers of high density foam aircraft that can really take a beating. My personal recommendation is the Easy Star from Hobby Lobby, I just taught a friend how to fly with this airplane and he had no trouble at all...really easy to fly, VERY durable, and a perfect platform for the camera system we are talking about. - $189.00
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/easystar-rtf.htm

Next is the camera system...don't be fooled by the range estimates that most give these things, with an economy model, you'll get just under one mile, and the video will start to break up once in a while starting at about 1/2 mile. I use this system in a very simple method, I research and find an area that has potential, then I get a plat map from the county with Land Owners names, then I go fly over the plats and see which ones I want to contact based on what I see from the air. The camera I'm using right now (best for the money) is the RaidenTech Mini Wireless SpyCam at $74.95
http://www.raidentech.com/24ghzmiwicoc.html

I set up the ground station to be battery operated, and record the flights on my camcorder for later review on the big screen. This also allows me to watch the flight in the LCD of the camcorder and go down for a closer look on targets of interest. So far I've only made a few flights to scope metal detecting sites, I'm kinda new to this. I'm an old hand at RC flying and onboard cameras though. If you think this could help you, this is probably the cheapest, easiest to fly setup for getting it done. I'll get some pics of my setup soon so you can see how I have everything rigged up for the ground station, basically a 10 cell NiCad battery pack providing the 12 volts for the reciever station and a Sony HandyCam.

In the mean time, here is some video I shot a few years back over a model airplane fun fly with a slightly older setup. This had the cam on the wing pointed outward, I now fly with them pointed down for easier orientation. Bear in mind that this was on a very lightweight aerobatic model on a very windy day with an older camera setup, and it's been compressed for veiwing on the web. The video nowadays (which I will post AFTER I have hunded the great site I found with it) is much more stable and clear. The video of the site has too many easily "findable" landmarks in it.

I'll answer any questions any of you may have...just thought I'd put a little experience into the matter for whoever is interested. Here is the video.

http://www.rcgroups.com/articles/ezonemag/2003/sep/neat/neat.wmv

Jason

Jason: Thanks for all the info and links. While it mightn't be the best alternative for a lot of projects, for some it might be far and away the cheapest and most successful. It's certainly one I'd never considered. I wasn't even aware technology of this sort is available.

Gracias,
Jack

 

[ScubaFinder]

Thanks Jack! I never thought much of the camera plane until I found the old home and cellar pit with it. In truth, when I started I was just justifying a new toy for myself. I'd always wanted to do aerial recon, saw an opportunity, and took it. I think that's what TNET is all about...if it works for you, tell people about it. If it helps one person, one time, I'm happy.

Now I've started hunting shipwrecks, and I've built a SeaDoo with side scan sonar and surface supplied air for diving. It works for me too, and (as you said) it might not be perfect for every situation, but it might be of some use to an innovative individual somewhere.

Glad you enjoyed it. I now have a new RC float plane with video and high-resolution still imaging capability. It works for me too.

Jason

 

[Highmountain]

Thanks Jack! I never thought much of the camera plane until I found the old home and cellar pit with it. In truth, when I started I was just justifying a new toy for myself. I'd always wanted to do aerial recon, saw an opportunity, and took it. I think that's what TNET is all about...if it works for you, tell people about it. If it helps one person, one time, I'm happy.

Now I've started hunting shipwrecks, and I've built a SeaDoo with side scan sonar and surface supplied air for diving. It works for me too, and (as you said) it might not be perfect for every situation, but it might be of some use to an innovative individual somewhere.

Glad you enjoyed it. I now have a new RC float plane with video and high-resolution still imaging capability. It works for me too.

Jason

Thanks Jason:

I've been doing a number of web searches and reading everything I can find about this, but the info seems to mainly be directed to folk who aren't into it for the specific purposes we're discussing here. I really like the cheapie foam plane you suggested as a beginner and maybe an ender for what I want to do.

A couple of questions for you:

1] The environment I'd be using it in has a lot of mountainous type air currents and will have some severe updrafts and downdrafts. I generally know how to find updrafts and to the extent possible, avoid downdrafts, but I do need range on the controls as far as line-of-sight will allow because it might be necessary to recover the plane.

Do you know of any relatively simple, cheapest possible but best for the job, control unit that's best bet?

2] If the plane gets outside the range of reception for the camera/recieving unit does it store the pics or lose them? You've said a half-mile, which might be enough, or mightn't in my case. I'd be, or might be, willing to forfeit the movie aspect of it if I could just have something that snaps a picture every five seconds and stores it. On the other hand, maybe it's important and helpful being able to see what's being photographed.

I think your experience might be helpful deciding what's best.

3] I assume the controls on these things are akin to flying a regular aircraft when the sailplane is flying away from you. It seems to me remembering to reverse the controls when it's flying toward you might be a bit confusing. Does it take a lot of practice to get used to it?

4] Does the little electric motor run all the time, or does it switch on and off as needed so's to allow you to sailplane except when you need power?

Thanks for your thoughts and those of anyone else who has knowledge of these matters.

Jack

 

[ScubaFinder]

1] I do need range on the controls as far as line-of-sight will allow because it might be necessary to recover the plane.

The controls give you approximately 2 miles depending on a number of factors. You should be fine.

2] If the plane gets outside the range of reception for the camera/recieving unit does it store the pics or lose them?

In my setup, the video is transmitted to the ground and recorded there. If it goes out of range, I record static on the ground. I use the video cam to pick an area from the ground, and then snap a shot with the 5MP digital camera when I get it framed the way I want it. Some digital cameras can be programmed to take shts at an interval if you want to purchas one for this project.

3] I assume the controls on these things are akin to flying a regular aircraft when the sailplane is flying away from you. It seems to me remembering to reverse the controls when it's flying toward you might be a bit confusing. Does it take a lot of practice to get used to it?

It is backwards when coming towards you...I simply turned my body to face the same direction as the airplane and flew over my shoulder until I get used to it. There are also RC Flight simulators that will let you learn the basics on the computer before risking it in the real world.

4] Does the little electric motor run all the time, or does it switch on and off as needed so's to allow you to sailplane except when you need power?

You have proportional throttle control, meaning you can shut it off, go full throttle, or anywhere in between. In your situation, I'd go full power to climb up pretty high, then chop it and glide around on thermals as long as I can, then power back up and try again.

On the system, I started with a HiTech Flash 5X but soon upgraded to a Futaba 7CAP. I'm an RC nut though, you could get by fine with a $99 HiTech 3-channel if this is all you ever plan to do with it.

Best of luck,

Jason

 

[Highmountain]

Scubafinder: Great info. Thanks a bunch.

Jack

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

Interesting gentlemen very interesting.

Don Jose d e La Mancha

 

[Slingshot]

Don't forget the lowely and cheap boxkite, with a camera mounted.

 

[Prime]

Anyone thought of strapping a shortened metal detector setup to an R/C boat and doing shallow water searches via remote? Think "swamps" specifically. Just drastically shorten the rod that's holding the coil and computer unit together. For avoiding underwater obstacles you could just make the rod retractable. I'm sure there is a way to make this work

I'd rather use an R/C method for that kinda search rather than venture into a swamp by myself without first knowing if there's even anything in it. After all, how much metal can there be in your average swamp?

 

[ScubaFinder]

Actually, I did start designing an RC boat that a Humminbird side scan sonar and Pulse 8 coil in tow. I made some finds that lead me to believe that it wasn't in the intercoastal waterway, and the RC boat was not really offshore capable. It would be a cool toy, I wish I would have finished it, but I'm on to bigger and better things now. It was a good idea though...

I'll be doing some new aerials of a 3rd world bay that I'm working in the Carribean. I'll try to post some video if it doesn't give too much away about the location.

 

[brokenarrow]

awsome UAV concept adapted to metal detecting. very interesting reading.

 

[Goodyguy]

ScubaFinder,

I would like to know more about the SeaDoo with side scan sonar and surface supplied air for diving.
Can you post a picture and share the details?
Would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Goodyguy~

I know this is an old thread and a lot to ask but maybe you will help.

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

Good guy, I triple that request. I need more infomation from someone that has had hands on experience, not just co propaganda.

Don Jose de Oa Mancha

 

[auferret]

Another thing you could add is a heads up display. If your camera is facing forward, you would feel like you are actually flying in the plane. It is called FPV (first person view). You could have a second camera facing whatever direction you want and have your base station record both feeds. Check out this guy's setup, he has it all mounted on a helmet.
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/02/headup_display_unit_for_fpv_hobby_f.html

There are a couple of really good forums devoted to FPV flying.

 

[auferret]

Also, if you want to get really fancy, you could add a gyroscopic head tracker. With this, the camera will turn whatever direction your head turns. Google FPV and you will find all kinds of exciting info.

 

[boogeyman]

Anyone thought of strapping a shortened metal detector setup to an R/C boat and doing shallow water searches via remote? Think "swamps" specifically. Just drastically shorten the rod that's holding the coil and computer unit together. For avoiding underwater obstacles you could just make the rod retractable. I'm sure there is a way to make this work

I'd rather use an R/C method for that kinda search rather than venture into a swamp by myself without first knowing if there's even anything in it. After all, how much metal can there be in your average swamp?

PVC pipe 3 bilge pump motors misc parts, & a couple weekends of construction. Whalah!! ROV. Camera on an RC boat will only work if the water is almost crystal clear. Had a camera in a RC swamp buggy looking out a flashlight lens siliconed in the borrom of the hull. Worked great at 6" or less. Built an ROV from plans in the net. Worked great to 65" depth (length of my cable) sold it a year later. Now getting materials together to build another for a project.