taking off from bridges

[lloydr]

There is a place here in Florida that has a long bridge over a river in back country that has lots of alligators close to the bridge. There is so much rebar in the deck and guard rails that I cant get safe readings for take off. Tried it on the tailgate and still get error messages. Want to get some good close gator photos and videos but am wondering if what I am trying to do is doable? Havent tried it yet but now have a fiberglass cap on the bed and might try launching it from the top of the cap. That's about 4 feet from the metal bed.

 

[Just_nick]

Why can't you just park by one end of the bridge? Or take off in atti mode?

 

[Meta4]

There is a place here in Florida that has a long bridge over a river in back country that has lots of alligators close to the bridge. There is so much rebar in the deck and guard rails that I cant get safe readings for take off. Tried it on the tailgate and still get error messages. Want to get some good close gator photos and videos but am wondering if what I am trying to do is doable? Havent tried it yet but now have a fiberglass cap on the bed and might try launching it from the top of the cap. That's about 4 feet from the metal bed.

Four feet might be enough separation between your compass and the steel or it might not.
This thread explains why you don't want to launch from steel surfaces.
Looking for Trouble ??

 

[Meta4]

Why can't you just park by one end of the bridge? Or take off in atti mode?

Taking off in atti would not make any difference.
Switching to atti just stops the flight controller from using GPS data.
There's no problem with the GPS data but there would be a huge problem with the compass.
Because of the compass error, he would be in atti mode anyway even without switching to atti.

 

[Just_nick]

Taking off in atti would not make any difference.
Switching to atti just stops the flight controller from using GPS data.
There's no problem with the GPS data but there would be a huge problem with the compass.
Because of the compass error, he would be in atti mode anyway even without switching to atti.

That’s what I mean. If you know how to actually fly a drone, flying atti should not be an issue at all. I don’t know how the drone reacts once clear of interference and switched to P-mode, though.

 

[Meta4]

That’s what I mean. If you know how to actually fly a drone, flying atti should not be an issue at all. I don’t know how the drone reacts once clear of interference and switched to P-mode, though.

Flicking to atti won't do anything to address the major issue of the compass error.
Launching from steel or reinforced concrete surfaces can cause major headaches and make the Phantom do strange things.
Read the thread I linked in post #3 to get an idea of what the problem is.

 

[Just_nick]

Flicking to atti won't do anything to address the major issue of the compass error.
Launching from steel or reinforced concrete surfaces can cause major headaches and make the Phantom do strange things.
Read the thread I linked in post #3 to get an idea of what the problem is.

I read it, and I watched a video of the pier launch, but I'm curious how violent the reaction to the rebar is versus the lack of skill of pilots that are used to controlling a craft almost entirely assisted by stabilization electronics. If mild yawing is occurring, that's not bad. But, if uncontrollably-rapid spinning happens, that is another thing entire.
It'd be amusing to try it with a cheaper, older model.

 

[With The Birds]

Hand launching will probably see things go well for you. Just look at the compass mod value while holding the AC above your head- if the value looks ok go for it. One of the places I fly from often is heavily reinforced concrete- hand launching works out well.

 

[LarBear360]

There is a place here in Florida that has a long bridge over a river in back country that has lots of alligators close to the bridge. There is so much rebar in the deck and guard rails that I cant get safe readings for take off. Tried it on the tailgate and still get error messages. Want to get some good close gator photos and videos but am wondering if what I am trying to do is doable? Havent tried it yet but now have a fiberglass cap on the bed and might try launching it from the top of the cap. That's about 4 feet from the metal bed.

If you have access to to one, I've heard of people launching from boats.

 

[Meta4]

I'm curious how violent the reaction to the rebar is versus the lack of skill of pilots that are used to controlling a craft almost entirely assisted by stabilization electronics.

There have been more than enough cases of completely uncontrollable Phantoms zipping away at high speed when launched from reinforced concrete surfaces.
Not just a little compass error but a Phantom acting like it's possessed.
These ones usually show a Yaw Error

 

[kndll]

I read it, and I watched a video of the pier launch, but I'm curious how violent the reaction to the rebar is versus the lack of skill of pilots that are used to controlling a craft almost entirely assisted by stabilization electronics. If mild yawing is occurring, that's not bad. But, if uncontrollably-rapid spinning happens, that is another thing entire.
It'd be amusing to try it with a cheaper, older model.

compass error causes VERY erractic behavior , you never know which way your Phantom is going to go , speed was increased in my experience with compass error , went violently sideways and tipped over as I tried to land , this was caused by the magnet in my tablet cover that was in my backpack used as a launch pad at the beach .

 

[Deleted member 98732]

My P4A works fine off my truck bed. However, I use a plastic top table which is about 3 ft. above the bed floor. Bed floor is also coated, if that matters. Launch and recovery are all good.

 

[Robert P]

There is a place here in Florida that has a long bridge over a river in back country that has lots of alligators close to the bridge. There is so much rebar in the deck and guard rails that I cant get safe readings for take off. Tried it on the tailgate and still get error messages. Want to get some good close gator photos and videos but am wondering if what I am trying to do is doable? Havent tried it yet but now have a fiberglass cap on the bed and might try launching it from the top of the cap. That's about 4 feet from the metal bed.

What part of florida are you.