Hi Forum, Starting in september I am going to travel through Peru, Bolivia and Chile for 2 months with my backpack. I would like to take a drone with me to take some great aerial footage. I had some RC Helicopters in the past but not a real drone yet. Thats why I am asking for your recommendations. My requirements: Preferably the drone captures stabilized Full HD Video. No need to go extremely far or to have extreme flight time as long as the batteries are easily changeable. It should be fairly lightweight and most importantly have a small transportation size. I already have a GoPro Hero 3 black. What I already found: I had a look at the DJI Phantom 2, but it seems too big to take with me in my backpack. The Parrot Bebop seems quite small and the camera footage looks ok too. The downside is, that it cant look straight down, what would make for some cool shots. The Sprite: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ascentaerosystems/sprite-the-portable-rugged-totally-different-small/description This one looks perfect, but it wont be ready until I leave. Do you have any experience with portable drones for traveling or any general recommendations? Thanks in advance, Lale
There is nothing I know of which is much smaller. You either have to give up size or features. The BeBop only works close in - unless you get their optional controller. It can be difficult to get good shots if you have to keep your BeBop within about 50 meters. The Phantom 3 only weighs 3 pounds but is larger. You need GPS or else you are likely to lose the machine. Many people travel with the Phantom 3 - it fits in various custom backpacks. If you decide on the BeBop you should carefully check - and perhaps test - the device you intend to fly it with. The range will differ based on the device used. You cannot control it with precision like you can with those machines that have stick control.
Thanks for the help That would be the skycontroller then, right? Do you have any experience with the Bebop? Especially image quality? I saw these backpacks to, but that would add huge bulk to my traveling. If no there are no other recommendations, I think I will test the Bebop out.
Actually, the BeBop we are testing has issues....it likes to fly-away being the worst one, and I have not been able to save video files successfully yet..... What video it does do is not the greatest, but so far I have only seen it on a 8" tablet from the stream it sends. I suggest you get a Folding Frame UAV, here is a link to a folding frame kit http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__51512__HobbyKing_174_Predator_650_Folding_Quad_Copter_Carbon_Fiber_Version_Kit_.html There are kits like that where you have to source everything to Ready to Fly versions (they tend to be expensive though) The Frame kit I linked above is one I know about quite well, it can carry your GoPro and with good electronics will be a great stable platform for you. It folds up, making for a small package easily pack packed into the brush. The only change to it would be to use different landing gear like these http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__54334__Tarot_T810_T960_T1000_Multi_Rotor_Foldable_Landing_Gear_1_Pair_.html
Your experience with the Bebop doesn´t sound to good... Building a drone myself sounds very interesting. I am going to read into that a bit more. Thanks for your help!
