Welp, five years and literally thousands of flights and finally got the thrill of getting stuck in a tree for the first time.
Flying P4P V2 in a Pix4D mission.
Was flying at 100' and usually extremely careful and keep everything LOS.
Somehow, I managed to fly into a tree while flying sideways.
This happened on Monday.
I figured out pretty closely from flight path, last photo taken GPS to know which tree it was in.
But the canopy was so thick and was impossible to actually see it.
I flew my Mavic in a grid just several feet above the tree line and still no sign of it.
Nevertheless, after MANY calls and internet searches, finally found a tree climber to attempt a rescue.
He called me back on Thursday and it had rained a bit one night.
I wasn't worried about the rain as I figured it was already damaged and just needed it for replacement with DJI Care.
(6th drone, first time I bought the insurance!)
James, my tree climber arrives.
I walk through the trees and point to the one that I think holds my drone.
James puts his gear on, sizes up the tree, takes a deep breath and before I know it has disappeared into the canopy.
The drone was flying at 100' but the trees were on a slope and maybe 10' - 15' above where I took off so maybe 85'.
I don't hear anything for 15 minutes or so. FAINTLY (because he is so far up) he's asking me again the size of the drone.
I had shown him a photo and reiterated the size. He says he sees something much smaller, but white, and it isn't this tree... it is the tree next to the one I thought.
James drops a rope down and asks me to go to his truck and grab a pole saw and tie it on.
Up goes the pole and saw.
Five minutes later, he screams, "STAND CLEAR!".....and the battery drops to the ground.
So I figure the drone can't be TOO far.
Five minutes later.....he says, "I SEE IT".
About ten minutes later, he slowly emerges from the canopy and comes down the tree with the Phantom 4 attached to one of his carabiners.
We had agreed to: $200 to go up the tree. $300 to get the drone down in any condition so I didn't expect much in terms of care with handling.
BUT HERE'S THE THING: Despite the impact causing the battery to EJECT to a different tree. Despite the battery dropping nearly 100'. Despite the drone being in the tree for 4 days with some rain. Everything is working perfectly!!!
Flew 20 minutes. GPS. Sport Mode. Took photos. Took video. Tested all sensors. Everything is miraculously fine!
I did decide to ditch the battery even though I flew ten minutes with it. Better safe than sorry. And it was one of my oldest batteries and near end of life anyway.
So, couple of questions:
1) Battery is not an issue since I am discarding it but is there anything else that may not be obvious with long term issues? Anything to be worried about after this? Should I just crush it and get a replacement with DJI Care anyway? My term ends in November and doubt I will have to use it again....I can live without it for several weeks as I have another drone to use for work.
2) Do the side sensors really not work with Pix4D? I thought they were always active but some people suggest only in beginner or tripod mode?
Pics attached of the rescue!
BTW, it was TOUGH to find a tree climber near me (in MA). If anyone in New England needs contact info for James, I would be happy to pass it along. He was great in a pretty challenging situation.
Flying P4P V2 in a Pix4D mission.
Was flying at 100' and usually extremely careful and keep everything LOS.
Somehow, I managed to fly into a tree while flying sideways.
This happened on Monday.
I figured out pretty closely from flight path, last photo taken GPS to know which tree it was in.
But the canopy was so thick and was impossible to actually see it.
I flew my Mavic in a grid just several feet above the tree line and still no sign of it.
Nevertheless, after MANY calls and internet searches, finally found a tree climber to attempt a rescue.
He called me back on Thursday and it had rained a bit one night.
I wasn't worried about the rain as I figured it was already damaged and just needed it for replacement with DJI Care.
(6th drone, first time I bought the insurance!)
James, my tree climber arrives.
I walk through the trees and point to the one that I think holds my drone.
James puts his gear on, sizes up the tree, takes a deep breath and before I know it has disappeared into the canopy.
The drone was flying at 100' but the trees were on a slope and maybe 10' - 15' above where I took off so maybe 85'.
I don't hear anything for 15 minutes or so. FAINTLY (because he is so far up) he's asking me again the size of the drone.
I had shown him a photo and reiterated the size. He says he sees something much smaller, but white, and it isn't this tree... it is the tree next to the one I thought.
James drops a rope down and asks me to go to his truck and grab a pole saw and tie it on.
Up goes the pole and saw.
Five minutes later, he screams, "STAND CLEAR!".....and the battery drops to the ground.
So I figure the drone can't be TOO far.
Five minutes later.....he says, "I SEE IT".
About ten minutes later, he slowly emerges from the canopy and comes down the tree with the Phantom 4 attached to one of his carabiners.
We had agreed to: $200 to go up the tree. $300 to get the drone down in any condition so I didn't expect much in terms of care with handling.
BUT HERE'S THE THING: Despite the impact causing the battery to EJECT to a different tree. Despite the battery dropping nearly 100'. Despite the drone being in the tree for 4 days with some rain. Everything is working perfectly!!!
Flew 20 minutes. GPS. Sport Mode. Took photos. Took video. Tested all sensors. Everything is miraculously fine!
I did decide to ditch the battery even though I flew ten minutes with it. Better safe than sorry. And it was one of my oldest batteries and near end of life anyway.
So, couple of questions:
1) Battery is not an issue since I am discarding it but is there anything else that may not be obvious with long term issues? Anything to be worried about after this? Should I just crush it and get a replacement with DJI Care anyway? My term ends in November and doubt I will have to use it again....I can live without it for several weeks as I have another drone to use for work.
2) Do the side sensors really not work with Pix4D? I thought they were always active but some people suggest only in beginner or tripod mode?
Pics attached of the rescue!
BTW, it was TOUGH to find a tree climber near me (in MA). If anyone in New England needs contact info for James, I would be happy to pass it along. He was great in a pretty challenging situation.