What drone should I buy if I want....

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Hi all,

I'm looking for a drone that can:

  • Automatically track a specific subject
  • Automatically wait in a location until the subject arrives

I'm looking for a drone that can leave my apartment in Boston, MA and go down to the bus stop wait until my girlfriend arrives and then monitor her from above as she walks safely home. I'd also need a drone strong enough to attach a bright spotlight on the bottom to frighten someone away (a siren would be a bonus).

Is there anything out there that suits these requirements?

Lance
 
Hi all,

I'm looking for a drone that can:

  • Automatically track a specific subject
  • Automatically wait in a location until the subject arrives

I'm looking for a drone that can leave my apartment in Boston, MA and go down to the bus stop wait until my girlfriend arrives and then monitor her from above as she walks safely home. I'd also need a drone strong enough to attach a bright spotlight on the bottom to frighten someone away (a siren would be a bonus).

Is there anything out there that suits these requirements?

Lance

Just get her a 9mm with a flashlight and keep it simple...
images
Just kidding...
 
Welcome to the site!

You might have to wait another year or two. I think almost everything you want is available, but not all in one craft - at least not at the moment. When it is, then you'll have to wait another 3-5 years for the FAA to get up off the couch.

I think a combination of the P4 and the Flytrex Sky comes close to what you want. You could autonomously fly to the bus stop at the correct time (ground station flight). Or you could use the Flytrex system which uses cell towers for control (range-free) and you could fly manually. Once you get to the bus stop, you'd want an FPV connection, and unless you're line of sight, that isn't available at the moment that I know of. Nonetheless, the Flytrex Sky platform is specifically built to carry things like a big powerful flashlight. The trick is locking onto your subject. Best bet is that your GF will have the Flytrex Messenger app installed on her cell phone which allows her to gain control of the aircraft while it's in flight. So at that point, she could set it to "Follow Me", either locking onto her device via GPS or using the P4 technology. Or, if you were LOS and managed the lock onto her like a P4 via your FPV, it would follow her home that way too. The flashlight would have to be set to on before you launched and the beam pointing down.

The real problem is the FPV on your end, which makes me think the Flytrex Messenger app is the most likely solution.

In summary, the aircraft flies to the bus stop, your aircraft waits in a hover, your GF steps off, she gains control of the aircraft with her own smart phone as it is in mid-flight, and she commands it follow her home. When she arrives home, she directs the aircraft back to you.
 
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I'm looking for a drone that can leave my apartment in Boston, MA and go down to the bus stop wait until my girlfriend arrives
Bro, man up, quit being lazy and go get your girl. If i were a chick i'd be embarassed that my BF didn't care enough about me to quit playing his video game and walk me home safe from the bus stop. And in case there is an attacker, you want a siren or rape whistle on the drone???

I'm going to PM you my number - please pass that along to your girl in case she ever wants to call a real man.
 
I thought the same thing, but maybe he is at work and can't be there to get her. Problem is, its NOT going to deter a criminal intent on doing her harm. You'll just be able to see whats happening or happened (heaven forbid anything happens to her) and realize you can't do a thing.

I don't know the gun laws where you live, but Chirp has the right idea if you are worried.

My wife used to work on a somewhat sketchy street. She used to lock up the shop and have to exit the shop through the back and into an alley. I worried about her. We wound up buying her a firearm, got her trained in the use of it and a Concealed Carry Permit. We go to the range and practice drills regularly. I don't worry so much anymore. And fortunately, she's never had to draw it.... But I know she has a fighting chance if someone tries to do something to her...

Bro, man up, quit being lazy and go get your girl. If i were a chick i'd be embarassed that my BF didn't care enough about me to quit playing his video game and walk me home safe from the bus stop. And in case there is an attacker, you want a siren or rape whistle on the drone???

I'm going to PM you my number - please pass that along to your girl in case she ever wants to call a real man.
 
I honestly don't think what the OP is asking is too far-fetched. As Marknmd mentions I don't think its too far off. Why "we" in this community think its a pie-in-the-sky idea is because we know what current (consumer available) capabilities exists.

IMO, Drone manufacturers would love to get to that point. They would love Drones to be used for such purposes and be so easy to use like the "Lily". So easy a person doesn't even need to know how to fly a Drone, that it becomes completely autonomous. Why? Because they would sell millions and millions of them. Manufacturers would love them to be as common as GoPros are...
 
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I don't know many men who would just set at home and allow his girlfriend to walk home to him through a dangerous neighborhood.

I know a few trolls who relish making bombastic posts that are sure to garner a mix of reactions.

So you think the answer is a spotlight and a siren to save your girlfriend?

Here you go - far more practical and free of FAA fines:
iSafe Alarm Backpack
and
MF Tactical PowerStar - 4800 Lumens Max 5 Mode - MF Tactical
She can hit him over the head with the flashlight! And now you won't even have to monitor the drone so you can continue playing your Xbox games while she faces the real thugs in the world. I see it as a win win.
 
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This is:
a) a troll
b) someone with medical condition


Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots mobile app

You for got: c) Both.

;)
 
Thanks for all the helpful responses, especially from Marknmd. From reading about the P4 it seems like I'd be able to direct it to the bus stop and it would wait for my partner there and then once she stepped off, I could tap on her from my monitor and the P4 could lock on and follow her home. Would the P4 avoid other buildings, tree branches, and telephone wires on it's way to and from the bus stop? Another question is, will the P4 be able to lock onto a subject in the dark?

Safety through the training and carrying of a concealed weapon isn't an option in our case because it is against the current laws in the universities and colleges of Massachusetts to carry a weapon for self defense. NEair, that taser might be an option but we'd need to contact the school. My partner already has some personal tool on her and I don't think a taser would be more helpful than what she'll currently use.

I understand everyone's concern that I should instead walk her to and from the bus station but that is not always a possibility for me through my work.


Lance
 
I understand everyone's concern that I should instead walk her to and from the bus station but that is not always a possibility for me through my work.
Yet your work will not interfere with sending a drone to escort her home???

No, the obstacle avoidance will not work with power lines or tree limbs according to DJI.
I don't think the tracking will work at night either.
A bright spotlight shining from the sky will be quite a distraction and attention getter - not sure you will want to deal with the potential repercussions from Campus security, Local LEO, and possibly the FAA.
 
Last edited:
It's all speculation because first we need the FAA to at least try to pretend to go through the motions of showing even a modicum of interest in catching up with the world.
 
Thanks for all the helpful responses, especially from Marknmd. From reading about the P4 it seems like I'd be able to direct it to the bus stop and it would wait for my partner there and then once she stepped off, I could tap on her from my monitor and the P4 could lock on and follow her home. Would the P4 avoid other buildings, tree branches, and telephone wires on it's way to and from the bus stop? Another question is, will the P4 be able to lock onto a subject in the dark?

Safety through the training and carrying of a concealed weapon isn't an option in our case because it is against the current laws in the universities and colleges of Massachusetts to carry a weapon for self defense. NEair, that taser might be an option but we'd need to contact the school. My partner already has some personal tool on her and I don't think a taser would be more helpful than what she'll currently use.

I understand everyone's concern that I should instead walk her to and from the bus station but that is not always a possibility for me through my work.


Lance
I was going to suggest pepper spray since that is finally legal in MA without a permit. But then you mentioned schools.... Yup even pepper spray is forboden at schools in MA. They would rather someone be raped than to successfully defend themselves.

Tasers though are illegal everywhere in MA so don't even entertain that idea.

I gotta say, your drone idea sounds a bit hairbrained to me. Even if you can get it to work, do you want everyone to notice a drone always follows her around?

Maybe just carry a cell phone and stream video continuously to you until she knows she is safe on the bus. That would be simple. Or if she has some place she can stash the pepper spray before entering campus.

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I didn't think about your location and its laws. I would still urge against using a uav for this. I think it would draw more attention then you would want. There are some apps that are made for situations like this:
EmergenSee by EmergenSee, LLC https://appsto.re/us/u50HA.i

SafeTrek - Hold Until Safe℠ by SafeTrek, Inc. https://appsto.re/us/4PuSQ.i

Or if it helps put you at easy maybe Skype with her while she is walking.


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