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Road Tripping With My ALTA

Discussion in 'ALTA Showcase (Photo/Video)' started by Steve Maller, Nov 3, 2015.

  1. Steve Maller

    Steve Maller UAV Grief Counselor

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    I'm part of a small film crew on a nine day journey from Michigan to California through some of the prettiest places in the USA. And we're going to film the heck out of these places with a dozen cameras and rigs, including my ALTA. This is a first for me on many levels including living in an RV. Things like battery charging and gear stowage are interesting challenges. And the coffee really sucks out here. First couple days have been amazing and I'm really enjoying myself. My rig is blowing them away and we're getting some great footage.

    https://www.facebook.com/stevemaller/media_set?set=a.10154290587942995.1073741970.502237994

     
  2. Mark Hoffman

    Mark Hoffman Active Member

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    Steve

    Have you already passed thru Omaha? I'd love to see the alta in action.

    Mark
     
  3. Steve Maller

    Steve Maller UAV Grief Counselor

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    Damn...just blew through Omaha last night. Sorry!
     
  4. Steve Maller

    Steve Maller UAV Grief Counselor

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  5. Mark Hoffman

    Mark Hoffman Active Member

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    That looks like a country road in NE. Enjoy the CornHusker state!
     
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  6. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
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    Yeah, life and videography in an RV make for an interesting mix. The tiny table tends to fill up very quickly with laptops, chargers, and LiPos. Also you develop a technique, given that not everyone can stand up and move around at the same time, that the poor guy who is standing up gets to fetch things.... "As you're standing, could you pass me a beer..."

    Why is the coffee so bad? You mean you didn't travel with your own?
    If you can predict where you are going to be and when Kay and I could ship you a Care Package of some Illy coffee....These Things Matter®. :) And, as you already know, without caffeine I have no personality whatsoever. I suspect the same is true for you.

    Andy.
     
  7. Steve Maller

    Steve Maller UAV Grief Counselor

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    I did manage to find us a Starbucks out here on the frontier. That made me very happy. Thank you for your kind offer. It sound especially good as I sit out here in the freezing wind babysitting a timelapse!!
     
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  8. Steve Maller

    Steve Maller UAV Grief Counselor

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    Our road trip has successfully concluded. Here is some numbers for your consideration:
    • flew 35 flights across 7 states (from Michigan to California) over 9 days
    • longest flight (2x10000 mAh LiPos, M5, GH4) was 22 minutes
    • highest altitude of operation: 12,000 feet ASL
    • lowest temperature of operation: 21°F
    • flew 4 flights in light snowfall
    • calibrated compass only after >500 miles traveled...GPS PH was spot on at every location
    And here are a few photos of our operations. It was an amazing adventure! Day 8 scratch.00_12_40_02.Still006.jpg 2015-11-05_09-57-05.jpg 2015-11-05_09-58-40.jpg chimney approach.00_00_52_06.Still002.jpg day 2 part 2.00_14_42_00.Still005.jpg day 4.00_13_07_11.Still006.jpg day 5 scratch.00_22_01_17.Still008.jpg iphone alta launch in kansas.00_00_44_21.Still001.jpg Sequence 04.00_00_00_00.Still001.jpg the-crew.jpg
     
  9. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
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    And your visit to Deer Trail, CO (where they issue permits for hunting drones?) :)

    Andy.
     
  10. Steve Maller

    Steve Maller UAV Grief Counselor

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    OF course! :D
    11988286_10154297254087995_1631369959435583481_n.jpg
     
  11. Duane Bradley

    Duane Bradley Active Member

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    The most important piece of equipment for travelling is an Aeropress. Good coffee anywhere, all you need is boiling water and your own grounds. It has revolutionized how we drink coffee at our house and it is such a small unit that chucking it in a bag is no big deal!
     
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  12. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
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    Duane: *NOW* you tell him? :)

    By the way, your second signature line reminded my that I must do something with the domain name I registered: TheGroundIsTheLimit.com :)

    Andy.
     
  13. Duane Bradley

    Duane Bradley Active Member

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    Should be a good site. Maybe a site filled with UAV wreckage? Just don't make is so pessimistic and bleak, remember that the ground is also the start for all of us too.
     
  14. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
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    I agree. I was originally thinking of it more in the context of reminding us that the sky is no longer the limit, thus we need to be more safety conscious because the ground really is the limit. Otherwise known as CFIT in the aviation world.

    Andy.
     
  15. Steve Maller

    Steve Maller UAV Grief Counselor

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    Actually I have a Handpresso which I keep in my car for emergencies, and is a fine bit of kit. Boils the water, too. But I didn't take it with me (sadly).
     
  16. Adam Orens

    Adam Orens Member

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    Would it be possible to take a look at your configuration file? We have the same setup for the most part and are having some issues with the shakes. Seems like a real balancing act between the "Hold Strength" and "Stiffness Settings" :confused:. Coming from designing and building my own gimbal systems and finally getting comfortable with PID's...... Now I have to learn it all over again....:mad:
     
  17. Steve Maller

    Steve Maller UAV Grief Counselor

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    MōVI or ALTA? My ALTA is running factory defaults except for pos hold strength (a little lower).
    MōVI is autotuned and I don't have it with me so I can't share its numbers.
     

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