Idea for mod

[RamiAgonistes]

OK, I don't know about you guys but when I'm flying and point the camera straight down from a fairly high altitude it's hard to tell where exactly I would land if I went straight down (hope this explanation makes sense)

My idea is for there to be some kind of dead center laser pointer type thing on the bottom of the drone that would indicate where directly down is.

 

[sacooke]

Great idea.

 

[ianwood]

I think what you want are onscreen crosshairs.

 

[PrecisionAeroworks]

Yeah. You need something on screen. Turning the grid lines on might help a bit. You could always draw your own crosshairs on the iPad screen (or perhaps just a Sharpie dot on a piece of Scotch Tape on the iPad screen).

 

[LuvMyTJ]

I always use the onscreen grid, same with my DSLR.

 

[GadgetGuy]

OK, I don't know about you guys but when I'm flying and point the camera straight down from a fairly high altitude it's hard to tell where exactly I would land if I went straight down (hope this explanation makes sense)

My idea is for there to be some kind of dead center laser pointer type thing on the bottom of the drone that would indicate where directly down is.

I just use the center point overlay in the camera settings. Center the aircraft over your landing point with the camera pointed straight down from whatever height, and descend. Correct for any minor drifting using the FPV during descent, and look up when about 20 feet overhead and move next to the descending aircraft and hand catch, or just land.

 

[CactusJackSlade]

An onscreen cross hair would assume your camera is pointing perfectly straight down. I think an independent laser (as Rami kinda suggested) set up perpendicular the the craft would be more accurate. That being said What Gadget Guy said is true as well.... I've used the similar method. Point camera "straight down" on FPV pick a point in the middle of the screen and descend towards it using FPV...

 

[RamiAgonistes]

How do you get these crosshairs on the screen using the DJI app?

 

[PrecisionAeroworks]

An onscreen cross hair would assume your camera is pointing perfectly straight down. I think an independent laser (as Rami kinda suggested) set up perpendicular the the craft would be more accurate. That being said What Gadget Guy said is true as well.... I've used the similar method. Point camera "straight down" on FPV pick a point in the middle of the screen and descend towards it using FPV...

A laser attached to the aircraft would point anywhere but straight down. It would point all over the place as the aircraft changes orientation to maintain position. For any chance of success, the laser would have to be mounted to the stabilized part of the camera, or have it's own gimbal.

 

[sacooke]

A laser attached to the aircraft would point anywhere but straight down. It would point all over the place as the aircraft changes orientation to maintain position. For any chance of success, the laser would have to be mounted to the stabilized part of the camera, or have it's own gimbal.

Carry your cat for added entertainment.

 

[CactusJackSlade]

A laser attached to the aircraft would point anywhere but straight down. It would point all over the place as the aircraft changes orientation to maintain position. For any chance of success, the laser would have to be mounted to the stabilized part of the camera, or have it's own gimbal.

Ahhh yeah, actually you are correct The gimbaled camera would be a better location, was not thinking clearly

 

[GadgetGuy]

How do you get these crosshairs on the screen using the DJI app?

Select the center point overlay from the available camera options.

 

[With The Birds]

What about a plumb bob?

 

[GadgetGuy]

What about a plumb bob?

What about a plum, Bob?

 

[With The Birds]

What about a plum, Bob?

Sorry- I meant Plumb...

 

[GadgetGuy]

Sorry- I meant Plumb...

I know.
But how exactly would a plumb bob help in this situation?
Where are you going to hang it?

 

[Wolfiesden]

Carry your cat for added entertainment.

Operation Cat Drop!

 

[GadgetGuy]

Operation Cat Drop!

Cats always land on their feet, right?

 

[Wolfiesden]

Cats always land on their feet, right?

And fall straight down, thus indicating the potential landing spot for the Phantom.

 

[GadgetGuy]

And fall straight down, thus indicating the potential landing spot for the Phantom.

Cat, if it survived, might decide otherwise, when the bird came down on top of it!