Total Newbie Replaces Camera on P4P with Laser and Causes Havoc!!

[AirDonkey]

Ok, now that I have your attention...

1) I am a total newbie, though I have flown helicopters, am SAR, and a former electrician.
2) I haven't caused ANY havoc.
3) I AM doing a survey project - I've returned to school and am in my last year of getting my Geomatics/Land Surveying degree..
4) I AM going to try to mount a LASER pointer on the P4P gymbal and use it to do some survey tests for my Senior Project. P.S. at 59 yrs. old, I'm a 'senior' in more ways than one!

Does anyone see why taking the camera off would mess up the flight capabilities/functions of the P4P?

 

[Starz]

Picture of laser ?

 

[Capt KO]

You'd be flying blind. The P4P can carry a lot of weight so putting the laser below the camera might be a better solution.

 

[AirDonkey]

Picture of laser ?

This Rifle laser pointer weighs 1.9 oz. or 53.7 grams
It is within theFCC limit of consumer laser power - 5mW
and has non-rectangular dimensions of 6.2 cm L X 3cm H X 3cm W.

 

[AirDonkey]

You'd be flying blind. The P4P can carry a lot of weight so putting the laser below the camera might be a better solution.

Right. It's only to do some hover accuracy tests so the drone will never be more than let's say 50 meters from me. 90% of the time about 10 meters from me. And I can't mount it to the bottom of the camera because I need the gimbal to point straight down, and the laser on the bottom of the camera would interfere with that rotation. Thanks for taking a moment to reflect on it though!

 

[crash1sttime]

And I can't mount it to the bottom of the camera because I need the gimbal to point straight down,

You can get boards that fit across the bottom of the landing gear, they are designed to prevent the camera getting bashed if you land heavy on rocky ground, you could fit one of those and then mount the laser on that, only downside is that you would need to hand launch each time

 

[Capt KO]

You can get boards that fit across the bottom of the landing gear, they are designed to prevent the camera getting bashed if you land heavy on rocky ground, you could fit one of those and then mount the laser on that, only downside is that you would need to hand launch each time

Those type mounts can be placed behind the camera with the laser mounted on top of it pointing down. Shouldn't interfere with camera, or takeoff and landing. Even if laser is strapped to a leg, ballance and weight shouldn't be an issue.

 

[AirDonkey]

Hmm. Interesting, thanks for the input guys!

 

[Starz]

Anything attached just below the camera may have some effect on the bottom vision sensors. Be careful!

 

[AirDonkey]

Anything attached just below the camera may have some effect on the bottom vision sensors. Be careful!

Thanks! Great point!

 

[jephoto]

You can get boards that fit across the bottom of the landing gear, they are designed to prevent the camera getting bashed if you land heavy on rocky ground, you could fit one of those and then mount the laser on that, only downside is that you would need to hand launch each time

P4P’s are easy to hand launch if need be

 

[AirDonkey]

P4P’s are easy to hand launch if need be

Right, I have seen people doing that on videos, now that you mention it.
I'll keep that in mind as I proceed.
Thanks!