Quad for chimney inspection?

Hi Dana. I have said this before but it bears repeating. I have a DJI Phantom quadcopter from DSLRpros.com (I have no relation, just think they are good to deal with). It costs $480 and is extremely sophisticated machine (GPS stabilization among other features), but VERY easy to fly (train yourself, no lessons needed, in an open field). It will maintain a stable hover (within 1 foot) even in wind 15-20 mph and even if you lay the controller on the ground and walk into the house for a cup of coffee. Most people outfit this rig with a GOPro HD video and hi-res camera and you would also want a radio controlled gimbal so you can point it where you want. Flying by sight would probably work but you might want a FPV setup so you can see what it sees. Think you can't control it enough??? See these videos using this rig.
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I would not suggest trying to DIY when there are this, and other, options that are ready made. And, i personally wouldn't worry about getting in trouble unless I was surveying the FAA headquarters building.

 

LOL, just looking at the chimney top above I see problems.
A lot has gone on since we last talked. A couple of guys in my 'Home Inspector" circle on G+ have started using Phantoms with gimbal mounts and GoPros to do roof inspections. The videos are quite good but then they just spent $1200-$1500 for gear. I myself, have purchased a couple of "toy" quads for practice. Although it has been fun to learn to fly them, it also reveals that these lightweight little toys are very skittish in anything but the calmest of air. At around $70 each, they certainly don't benefit from any high-tech electronics or software for stability. The Phantom and others like it are Gyro and GPS stabilized and fly much better in windy conditions. when properly set up, one can take it to altitude and have it just hang there hands-off by itself. One can even get a GPS-based "return home" capability in case the control signals are lost.

It is also my belief that the only feasible way to do this is by using an FPV system so you can actually see what you're taking pictures of. That alone brings in a whole new set of issues. FPV should only really be attempted with a spotter, a second person to help you watch where the bird is while you've got your face buried in the FPV viewer. I think realistically that the minimum price for a workable system is going to be closer to $2500 on the low end.

Personally, being a thermographer, I would like to explore the use of an infrared camera for things like crop inspections or very large roof scans. The flyover roof scans are available now but they use fixed wing or full-size helicopters to do them and at minimum they cost $5000 or more. Infrared cameras are hideously expensive for anything decent. As an example, in 2007, I bought a low-end handheld camera that was $4000 by itself. It has more than paid for itself.

On the legal front...Yes, the FAA has been directed to "open up the skys" to commercial use. Being a pessimist, I'm sure this will be heavily lobbied by the commercial firms to try to tie it up so that only THEY will be able to afford to enter the field. Things such as requiring a helicopter pilot's license ($10,000 or more) and huge liability insurance will be mandated or you ain't flying to make money.

 

Nice videos. I need something like this with a remote speaker so I can call my dog back when he runs off. ROFL!

 

Logic and reality have little to do with it. It's all about the money. If there is money to be made, they will try to block the little guy and independent.

I will go something like this: The NAR (National Association of Realtors) will see a competitive advantage to this type of video. They will lobby (read fund campaigns) of the clowns in the State Legislature or Congress to pass laws to make it mandatory that any license to do this also requires that the applicant to also be a licensed Realtor or some such nonsense. There are already States that issue "Drone Hunting Licenses" and some have already been shot down.

 

Bart, great video. That is impressive. Exactly the type of control I would look for.

Dana, your operation sounds about like mine. Same cost on the thermal camera at about the same time. I may have purchased a notch up from the $4K unit. Don't recall. I'm not looking to use this drone 'copter for thermal imaging, but would like it for other things. After my posting earlier today, I looked around and saw the new phantom quad that is going to come out in November. It will be controllable by my phone or my android tablet. Pretty cool. I'm going to wait to see what the cost is for that. Various sites are projecting that at $1500 or less, so your $2500 may be a bit high (I hope).

As for the NAR pushing for requiring licenses for Drone flyers, I think that's a stretch. They're still in freak out mode from the last 4-5 years. However, I could see someone going the "patent troll" route and coming up with some protocal to inspect roofs and chimneys and then trying to extort money from inspectors to "use" their patent technology. Heck, it's already happening with HomeSafe and the use of thermal imaging equipment for home inspections.

This discussion is exactly what I was looking to see. Thanks all!!

 

The NAR thing was just an example. May not be them, but someone will try to muck it up.
As for IR, It would take a pretty beefy rig to be able to carry one of our IR cameras. I haven't tracked it down yet but FLIR has a tiny one, around the size of a fat Go Pro that I've seen it a few videos. Saw some pretty impressive grape vineyard flyovers and IR.