Introduction:
Modern drones are incredible machines that are capable of doing amazing things in the marine and yachting environment. They can be used to spot schools of fish, locate a mooring or open area in a marina to drop anchor, locate an assigned mooring, preview a virgin beach or island, locate items or people that went overboard, capture great videos and photos of the ship whether at anchor or underway, or even drop security or other equipment in remote locations.
However, drones need to be handled differently when used in terrestrial or terrestrial environments, apart from specific models that are better suited to marine and yachting environments.
1: Types and Models of Drones
There are a number of issues to consider when selecting a drone for this environment: DJI and Yuneec make a number of drones capable of being used in this environment. The Splash Drone is waterproof and is a great Drone for this environment. GoPro and DJI have just introduced new little models that “fold up” and fit into small backpacks and are capable of flying for 20+ minutes in 20+ knot wind!
A: Size – Consider how and where you will store your drone on board your yacht: in a berth, in a storage locker, in the cabin. The drone must be stored in a secure location where guests and crew will not drop objects on the drone or hit or kick it.
B: Flight time: Please note the flight time and battery capacity. Small drones can have less than 10 minutes of flight time, while larger drones fly up to 25 minutes. For casual videos, 10 minutes of flight time may be sufficient, however, if you plan to use the drone to locate schools of fish or remote moorings, then consider purchasing a drone with longer flight times.
C: Camera – Many drones come equipped with their own camera, while others may use external cameras like a Gopro or DSLR. The included cameras range from low resolution with images stored on a memory card, while others are capable of 4K resolution (broadcast quality) and transmit live images via WIFI to a smartphone, tablet or control LCD screens. External cameras generally offer the owner more options and higher resolutions, but may not be fully integrated with the included control system.
An example is the Yuneec Typhoon G set up to use the GoPro Hero3 or 4 4K cameras. This is a great setup capable of unusually stable video in most windy conditions. However, while the operator can see what the camera sees on the Typhoon controller’s LCD screen, the controller cannot control any of the GoPro camera’s functions, and the operator must activate the video record button on the GoPro before take power off and then you can only turn off the video recording after you get the Drone back. Integrated cameras can usually be controlled from the controller.
D: Ability to handle windy conditions – This is an important issue for operators to consider when purchasing a drone. Many of the small and older Drones, like an older Parrot AR Drone or a newer SYMA X5SW Drone, lack many features and do not have the ability to stabilize the flight when facing more than 5-10 knots of wind. Also, these drones do not have stabilized camera mounts to smooth out wobble and roll in windy conditions. Larger drones and drones with better electronics and modified onboard camera mounts have better high wind video capabilities.
E: Retrievable – Many small drones do not have the ability to “home” and are difficult to land in any condition. Most of the new drones have a highly developed “home” ability and can land back to their starting location automatically.
Most if not all drones today use GPS. Other Drones use a handheld or wrist-mounted device so that the Drone can “point” at the controller or other device location. Newer Drones incorporates a combination of optical recognition and GPS location of the controller. The latest DJI Drone has a downward-facing camera that takes thousands of photos as it takes off and then compares the photos to the landing spot. In my opinion, this is fantastic technology if you are using the drone from a moving yacht or boat.
Another feature that newer drones incorporate is object collision technology that allows the drone to “see” and avoid the sides of ships, radar arches, and other structures that can interfere with flight or landing.
2. Safe use of a drone on board: A drone is a robot that uses high-powered motors to spin the propellers, propellers that can cause significant damage if the drone comes into contact with the operator or guests on board . Operators must be aware of who is near the Drone, both during takeoff and landing. Additionally, operators should avoid hitting radar arches, stabilizers, flags, airlifts, and other yacht and ship structures. Operators need to be sure to plan how they will use the drone: from the bow, from the stern, from an open bridge, or from the top of a bridge.
3. Safely Storing a Drone on Board – I highly recommend using a padded soft or hard case for transporting and storing a drone on board a yacht, boat or boat. Bringing a drone aboard a yacht, ship, or boat without storage protection is asking for damage.
4. Maintaining your drone while on board – Be sure to include a small toolkit with tools for use on a drone: small pliers and screwdrivers, small Allen key set, spare screws, small wrench set, nuts and locks tool, prop removal tool, small knife, cable ties, adhesive tape, terminal cleaning spray, silicone spray to protect your drone from salt water and salt air, etc. A large fresh water spray bottle will be needed to wash off the salt water in case your drone goes swimming!
Be sure to add spare propellers, plenty of them, spare landing feet, spare CHARGED batteries, 12V and 110V battery, battery connection cables, spare controller batteries and/or controller charger and protectors. spare propeller.
5. Limits of the drone when flying a drone over water: The operator MUST be aware of the battery usage and flight time of their drone. Most controllers display the battery charge level of the Drone. At the 50% level, I highly recommend that the operator initiate the return process to get the drone back or the drone can go swimming. Also, the operator must put a timer on the controller so that it knows the time of flight.
Please note that while launching the drone is relatively quick and easy, landing and recovering the drone can be quite challenging and consume all remaining battery capacity.
6. Drone Batteries – Most if not all batteries used for Drones and their controllers are LIPO batteries and are subject to generating a great deal of heat and require very specific charging and storage techniques. LIPO batteries must be transported in special aluminum packages and definitely not in the Drone. Special chargers are required to charge LIPO batteries. Also, it can take up to 2 hours to recharge depleted batteries, so the drone operator must ensure that the main and spare batteries are charged when the operator and drone arrive on board. The Operator must allow sufficient time to recharge the batteries after use. Operators should consider purchasing a multi-battery charger.
7. Using Smartphones and Tablets: Operators should practice pairing the drone to their drone controller’s smartphone and/or tablets. Aboard a moving vessel is not the time to become familiar with the operation of Drone operators. This is especially important if the operator is using a GoPro camera, as the operator will need to learn the WiFi “pairing” procedure in order for the drone, controller, and GoPro camera to communicate.
A Screen Hood is a must have accessory for operating a Drone in sunlight! Operators must know how to connect the cover to the device and how to use the touch panel with the cover on.
Operators should consider adding a lanyard attached to the controller – it prevents losing the controller overboard and allows the operator to use both hands to work the drone during landing.
8. Using Prop Guards – I highly recommend operators use prop guards on their drone. They are available from most manufacturers or from third-party providers. Most simply snap into place, like the guards for the Yuneec Typhoon G, while others, like the prop guards for the SYMA series, require very small Phillips head screws and a screwdriver to attach.
The guards will not only prevent the drone’s propellers from harming guests and crew, but will also help prevent the drone from becoming entangled in sailboat standing and running rigging, fishing boat stabilizers, bows radar, radio antennas and radomes, navigation lights and safety rails. ! Propeller guards are a MUST HAVE accessory!
9. Drone Recovery Strategies for Windy Conditions: Drones are difficult, if not impossible, to land safely in windy conditions. In most cases, the operator hits the “start” button and hopes for the best. Another technique is to line up the drone overhead and “drop the drone out of the sky” in the hope that it will land on the deck or cockpit.
An alternative technique is for the operator to “float” the drone within the operators range and then the operator simply grabs the landing gear and lowers the drone. The operator should be sure to wear gloves as a finger could easily be cut by the propellers.
Another technique is to attach a thin weighted line to the drone so that when the drone is close, the operator simply grabs the line and “pulls down” the drone.
The new drones include cameras and optical reconnaissance software that should have the ability to land the drone in windy conditions and on a moving yacht or ship.
Please note that in windy conditions or if you are operating on a moving yacht or even a passenger cruise ship, you may need to fly the drone in front of the yacht or ship and then let the drone return to the landing position. while slowly lowering the Drone onto the deck. I witnessed a drone operator trying to land his drone on a cruise ship that was moving at 20+ knots. Instead of employing the above technique, the operator panicked because his drone’s battery was dying (!!) and tried to land the drone by moving it amidships and then flying it sideways to land on the upper deck. The operator had absolutely no control trying to run sideways in 20+ knot wind and totally destroyed his $4,000 drone when it crashed into the steel upper structure of the cruiser!
Conclusion: Drones are magnificent tools for maritime or yacht use, however, operators must be aware of their limits, establish procedures, safety, have the necessary tools and spare parts on board to fully enjoy and take advantage of the incredible capabilities of drones. drones.
