Gathering of the Fools 2017 video

[Serk]

Short video I put together from Hotglue and Flamingobabe's 2017 Gathering of the Fools...

I can't begin to tell ya'll how much this event has meant to me and my family over the years, it will be missed, but we understand, ya'll have huge hearts for putting up with us all these years...

Sorry for the quick and dirty video editing, I'm not much with the video software, and my camera work needs a lot of work as well, but.... Here's a little something for the memories:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSA-cirG0r4

[HayHauler]

That was AWESOME Brian!  Thanks for taking the time to record, edit, and post this video.  Saving the link.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[The emperor has no clothes]

 

[Oss]

Terrific work.

Did you ride home today or last night?

[Serk]

Did you ride home today or last night?

I rode home last night, got home just before 2AM... Light show all around me most of the ride from lightening, but only about 10 minutes of rain, was a glorious night ride!

The spousal unit, father in law and spawnlings came home via cage today...

Hope your travels go well!

[JimC]

Great video!

I do regret that I have never been able to make one of them.

Jim

[Jess from VA]

Thanks.

[Wizzard]

Thanks for posting Serk. Sad that I never made one, but something always got in the way. Looked like a large time as always.

[TJ]

     

[Valkorado]

  Really cool video Serk, thanks for sharing.  Is that green grass and trees I'm seeing there?  Like others have said, I sure wish I could have made it to one of these gatherings.

[solo1]

Great video and you picked the right Wagner piece to go along with it!

Wayne

[Misfit]

 

[wiggydotcom]

That video was awesome, Brian. Thanks for sharing it. That looks like a very nice piece of property the Bakers have for hosting GOTF. And I second that what they've done with hosting this event these years is just phenomenal and very giving by a wonderful couple.

Your drone/quadcopter is very impressive in the video it takes. Would you be willing to share the make/model?
Does it have the tracking capabilities where it can track you while on your Valk, either from the front or rear?


Again, thanks for posting the video.

[MarkT]

Great video Serk.   

[ChromeDome]

That was excellent! 

[Serk]

Would you be willing to share the make/model?
Does it have the tracking capabilities where it can track you while on your Valk, either from the front or rear?

Oh no, twist my arm and make me talk about my toys!

It's a DJI Mavic Pro... One of the REALLY nice things about it is it folds up and fits in a tiny little bag, easily fits in the saddle bag of my Valk. I can get the drone, controller, 3 batteries (~25 minutes flight out of each), some spare props, ND filters, etc into a little bag that takes up about 1/3 of one of my saddlebags.



It has several Active Track modes, but I haven't worked up the confidence to use 'em much, something about trusting that much $$$ flying around under it's own control I'm having trust issues with, but here's a demo of some of the stuff it can do (Not my video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_br7JFLwzxo

It's also got redundant GPS and GLONASS receivers to know where it is (And to find it's way hone), redundant inertial navigation units, redundant compasses, 16 core CPU, Ultra 4k HD camera, etc. etc. ettc...

(No, I don't get a kickback for selling 'em, I'm just a very happy customer... )

[wiggydotcom]

Would you be willing to share the make/model?
Does it have the tracking capabilities where it can track you while on your Valk, either from the front or rear?

Oh no, twist my arm and make me talk about my toys!

It's a DJI Mavic Pro... One of the REALLY nice things about it is it folds up and fits in a tiny little bag, easily fits in the saddle bag of my Valk. I can get the drone, controller, 3 batteries (~25 minutes flight out of each), some spare props, ND filters, etc into a little bag that takes up about 1/3 of one of my saddlebags.



It has several Active Track modes, but I haven't worked up the confidence to use 'em much, something about trusting that much $$$ flying around under it's own control I'm having trust issues with, but here's a demo of some of the stuff it can do (Not my video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_br7JFLwzxo

It's also got redundant GPS and GLONASS receivers to know where it is (And to find it's way hone), redundant inertial navigation units, redundant compasses, 16 core CPU, Ultra 4k HD camera, etc. etc. ettc...

(No, I don't get a kickback for selling 'em, I'm just a very happy customer... )

Thanks, Brian. I'm at work now but I will check this out more later. I'm glad you provided the info so I can read up a bit without having to ask you tons of questions(the most obvious being what kind of range does it have and is it based on distance from the controller?). I watched the video and have a better grasp on how the tracking works.

This overall technology is still mind boggling to me...and I've worked as an Industrial Electrician for over 30 yrs. I work with servo systems(scales, encoders, resolvers) on a daily basis but am still at a loss to understand all the technology behind these copters.  

They say in the not too distant future that a Tesla owner will be able to drive to the airport, tell the car to go home and come back on a certain day for the pickup.  But I do understand how you would be reluctant to trust it to stay in range. It would make for some fantastic videos with that tracking feature in and around Inzane this summer.

[Serk]

I'm glad you provided the info so I can read up a bit without having to ask you tons of questions(the most obvious being what kind of range does it have and is it based on distance from the controller?).

It would make for some fantastic videos with that tracking feature in and around Inzane this summer.

Ask away, I love talking about it almost as much as I love playing with it! (Wait, that came out wrong...)

In optimal conditions, line of sight they say you can control it and see live video from 4.4 miles away. In a suburban environment with lots of trees, houses, power lines, and LOTS of electronic interference the furthest I've flown it from me is 6,435 feet, the controller signal started to get weak so I freaked out and flew her home from there.

Not sure the range if you were flying it with just the active tracking, but I wouldn't want to get it more than a mile or two from the controller just in case something went off and you had to take over with manual controls.

And, it will be coming to Inzane with me, so if nothing else hopefully I'll be able to get some cool shots of the parking lot at the hotel and that sort of thing, even if I don't work up the courage to fly her out on any rides...

[wiggydotcom]

I'm glad you provided the info so I can read up a bit without having to ask you tons of questions(the most obvious being what kind of range does it have and is it based on distance from the controller?).

It would make for some fantastic videos with that tracking feature in and around Inzane this summer.

Ask away, I love talking about it almost as much as I love playing with it! (Wait, that came out wrong...)

In optimal conditions, line of sight they say you can control it and see live video from 4.4 miles away. In a suburban environment with lots of trees, houses, power lines, and LOTS of electronic interference the furthest I've flown it from me is 6,435 feet, the controller signal started to get weak so I freaked out and flew her home from there.

Not sure the range if you were flying it with just the active tracking, but I wouldn't want to get it more than a mile or two from the controller just in case something went off and you had to take over with manual controls.

And, it will be coming to Inzane with me, so if nothing else hopefully I'll be able to get some cool shots of the parking lot at the hotel and that sort of thing, even if I don't work up the courage to fly her out on any rides...

Thanks for the additional facts. I was reading specs on it and it was listed it could go up to 8 miles(4 miles out, 4 back?) but that seemed like a combo of speed and battery life depending on what mode it's in also.

Understand your reluctance to trust it till it proves it can behave in all situations. If you tried that tracking of your Valk, as long as the controller was on you/your bike, it should track properly until the battery signal gets weak, I would think. Maybe you could try to have it track your wife's vehicle in a remote area with you following behind it...just in case.

One thing is for sure, the possibilities are endless. I've seen where they are flown over Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon...why not over volcanoes, etc?

[Serk]

why not over volcanoes, etc?

Yup...

(Not my video, but they're using the same drone I have.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EblBKqcFaYY

(Not my drone or video, but from the same company that made mine)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pav-10YEIEE

[wiggydotcom]

Thanks, Serk.

Great vids. The real time mode worked out well for the classroom kids.

[AJ4Fun]

Thanks, Serk, for posting the 2017 GOTF video and photos. This was my first GOTF and happy to say I made the editing cut and can be see in this video. (As with all cameras, though, I believe the adage about it adding pounds has to be correct. I looked huge. But that's my vanity and denial of the truth. ) Looking forward to your InZane video.

Mark and Charlyne Baker are very generous with their time, the hosting of the GOTF and raising funds for the children's charity, and  providing some of the best bbq to a huge group. Great job to everyone who helped with the food, cleanup, and donations. I agree with you, Serk. GOTF may be over, but we still have the memories and the friendships that were made.

[bassman]

Very Kewl !  Thanks for taking the time and effort to put this together.  I've always heard and read about GOTF for all these years but never able to attend in person.  This video finally allowed me to "attend"........