Uses other than photography?

RussA · Apr 4, 2014

I've ordered a camera for my phantom and intend to enjoy taking pictures, but I was wondering if anyone has found a regular use for them besides photography? I thought originally there would be a chance they could be used for geocaching, e.g. maybe dropping a microcache onto an island in a lake (from the shore) or up a tall tree but my initial practice runs have not made that look feasible. Are there any kinds of contests, challenges, or other recreational uses? So far I have not met anyone in my area who has one but if nothing else I think they could serve as a good uniter for a club of some sort.

hook3m · Apr 4, 2014

RussA said:
I've ordered a camera for my phantom and intend to enjoy taking pictures, but I was wondering if anyone has found a regular use for them besides photography? I thought originally there would be a chance they could be used for geocaching, e.g. maybe dropping a microcache onto an island in a lake (from the shore) or up a tall tree but my initial practice runs have not made that look feasible. Are there any kinds of contests, challenges, or other recreational uses? So far I have not met anyone in my area who has one but if nothing else I think they could serve as a good uniter for a club of some sort.

Anyone play Ingress? I attached my phone to it and collected a bunch of XM.

WeaponsHot · Apr 4, 2014

It makes really good blended mud slides if you use a big enough bowl and turn it up side down. :lol: Just teasing. I'm looking at mounting a thermal camera to it.

Big Ben · Apr 4, 2014

If you could control Ingress on your phone remotely through another one you could use it to reach inaccessible portals.

syotr · Apr 4, 2014

I have seen video of Phantoms used to herd sheep and chase geese from a golf course.

Howzit · Apr 4, 2014

Yea, flying them.

iversens · Apr 4, 2014

My wife wants me to rig my Phantom with a gripper so she can send it to her friend's house to borrow a cup of sugar.

Now that the Ground Station works with the P2 I just need to build/buy a servo controlled gripper.

iversens · Apr 4, 2014

Since I bought my first P1 and even now with my P2Z I still feel an itch to challenge myself.

How about starting a thread dedicated to different challenges.

The trick is keeping them safe and legal to ensure the longevity of our hobby.

One idea is to post video/pics of an amazing/difficult spot you've been able to fly and/or land your Phantom.

I've been looking for large rocks nearby to fly my P2Z around. Maybe I'll find a cave in a cliff to explore?

Ideas?

OI Photography · Apr 4, 2014

Just saw this article today: http://www.morrisdailyherald.com/2014/0 ... s/ap4vbp7/

RussA · Apr 5, 2014

Just as I thought - a bunch of wise guys, but I'm still having fun even though I don't have any livestock to thermal image in my back yard.

Mandrake · Apr 5, 2014

You could try bomb runs using the gimbal as a bomb release..closest to target wins..different heights for differing degrees of difficulty...Mandrake

Sent from the thing that does everything.

4wd · Apr 6, 2014

I've used mine to chase geese off grazing land, it occurred to me you could use it to lift a mobile phone higher in a poor signal area, if you wanted to check SMS or email.

RussA · Apr 6, 2014

Someone, probably here in Silicon Valley, will come up with the "killer app" for these things. The commercial uses mentioned are all good. No derogation intended, but I bought mine for fun and photography seems to be the only real entertainment use besides just flying it around that I've seen so far. I'm not into models and modding. I can't even put a decal on straight.

joeflyer · Apr 6, 2014

How about using it to see if the gutters on your house need cleaning.

npalen · Apr 6, 2014

joeflyer said:
How about using it to see if the gutters on your house need cleaning.

Now that's thinking outside the box! I'm going to use mine to sweep the patio.

acoll123 · Apr 6, 2014

joeflyer said:
How about using it to see if the gutters on your house need cleaning.

I did something similar to this a back in January. Noticed a leak around my chimney. We have a small pocket where two roofs and the chimney meet. Sometimes leaves get stuck up in there and cause rainwater to back-up and over some flashing. Sure enough that was the case I saw when flying my phantom up there. So I got up on the roof and cleaned it out. It would be nice if the phantom could clean that out for me - maybe the Phantom 3 . . .

mtbin2 · Apr 6, 2014

Messing with Sasquatch!

RussA · Apr 7, 2014

joeflyer said:
How about using it to see if the gutters on your house need cleaning.

That's actually quite imaginative. I just cleaned out the gutters last month - for the last time until this fall - but it would be more fun to look with the Phantom than moving the ladder all around.

joeflyer · Apr 7, 2014

I had my chimney rebuilt late last year. So one of the first things I did when I got the Phantom was to fly around the chimney to check out what kind of a job they did.

Hiway · Apr 7, 2014

Doomsday Prepper Propaganda Runs.... like they did in Vietnam with the leaflets.

Fast manual mode fly by at night in fpv mode with a release bay and little post it notes saying "We are watching you ~NSA" scattered all over the front lawn over the bunker in the morning.

(disengage LED's!)