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Found! Found Quadcopter!!

Discussion in 'For Sale and Lost & Found' started by Tom Green, Jan 16, 2014.

  1. Tom Green

    Tom Green Member

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    I was flying my OFM Seeker Quadcopter with a camera attached around the Southern Walk area. I lost the signal and the return to home function never returned the copter to home.

    If you found it or have information leading to the return of the quadcopter I will pay you a reward of $200.
    Call me at 703-728-9406

    Thank you,

    Tom Green
     
  2. Tom Green

    Tom Green Member

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    Here is a photo of the OFM Seeker that was lost.


    Screen Shot 2014-01-16 at 7.27.56 PM.jpg
     
  3. Tom Green

    Tom Green Member

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    Raised the reward to $300.
     
  4. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    is that a FPV one? I've been looking to slowly get into the hobby again (starting with a blade qx nano and then move up from there... eventually a stabilized gimbal gopro/dslr mount would be sweet)... hope you find it... those things are pricey :( I don't see the map since it appears to be a gmail link... you might have to share it on google drive or imgur or something.

    Side note, I saw this the other day and thought it was cool!
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2014
  5. Tom Green

    Tom Green Member

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    Here is the course it was flying!


    Seeker Course.jpg
     
  6. Tom Green

    Tom Green Member

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    Yes, I have seen this before. Thanks.
     
  7. Tom Green

    Tom Green Member

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    I reposted the course it was flying. You think that someone would have seen it. I had a GoPro and a Garmin tracking device on the copter, but in my haste to perform a test flight I forgot to turn on the tracking device.

    :(
     
  8. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    and you don't know near which point it was lost?
     
  9. Tom Green

    Tom Green Member

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    Here is the Reward poster I have made with all the information.

    Tom
     

    Attached Files:

  10. Neighbor

    Neighbor Member

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    Just curious, is it not dangerous to fly over the Greenway (267) with cars driving 70+ mph? I would imagine if it came down on a car doing 70, it would do some serious damage.
     
  11. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Like.. birds... airplanes... etc? :)
     
  12. Tom Green

    Tom Green Member

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    The copter was supposed to cross the greenway and then fly up the side of it to Waxpool Road. It was programmed to fly at 80 meters (about 250 feet). This was a short test run that did not turn out as I had hoped. To answer your question, no, I do not think it is dangerous. Walking down the greenway would be dangerous.
     
  13. Neighbor

    Neighbor Member

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    Beware, the FAA considers these "unmanned aircraift." It is illegal to fly over congested areas. It sounds very dangerous to me to intentionally (knowingly) fly over a busy highway with cars going 70+! A 3lb object falling from 250' into a windhiled of a car doing 70 is going to wreck havoc. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of quadcopters, but I wouldn't want to be on the other end of that lawsuit.

    http://nofilmschool.com/2013/10/dji-phantom-quadcopter-crashes-manhattan/

    http://www.military.com/video/aircr...ian-drone-crashes-in-manhattan/2785216759001/

    oh yes, they arrested this nut:
    http://gothamist.com/2013/10/18/nypd_arrests_man_for_allegedly_flyi.php
     
  14. Tom Green

    Tom Green Member

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    The problem lies in the definition of "congested areas". Manhattan is a congested area. The Broadlands is not. Stadiums and open air assemblies are congested areas. The Greenway is not. Besides, the copter was only crossing over the Greenway and flying up the grassy side.
     
  15. Neighbor

    Neighbor Member

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    You bet your a$$ the FAA considers Broadlands and the Greenway a congested area! You need to do some research! FAA.Gov
     
  16. Neighbor

    Neighbor Member

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    Here I did it for you:

    http://www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/media/order/8130.34b.pdf

    (4) The UA PIC must avoid densely populated areas and exercise increased vigilance
    when operating in the vicinity of a congested airway in accordance with § 91.319.
    The system will not be operated over congested areas, heavily trafficked roads, or an
    open-air assembly of persons.
     
  17. Tom Green

    Tom Green Member

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    The FAA adjudicates "congested area" on a case by case basis. You have already made yourself the judge, an anonymous judge, at that. Don't get me wrong, I think you have some valid points. The course you saw above is not the exact course by the way. It is an approximate course. I was trying to fly it along side of roads and not over them. I quickly marked the course on a map so that if anyone asked where the copter might be, they could visualize it.I flew it on that course in hopes that it would be close to a road so I could recover it quickly.

    I have flown these copters hundreds of miles and this is the first loss. It was under positive control. When it loses the RC signal it is supposed to fly back to the launch site. Hopefully, it will be found and then I will be able to delve into what exactly went wrong.

    In the mean time, thanks for your concern. I will consider your suggestions.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2014
  18. Neighbor

    Neighbor Member

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    I'm just trying to help you. Maybe next time, just choose a flight path that doesn't include a major highway. I'm sure you will feel pretty bad if your unmanned aircraft goes through the windshield of a vehicle and hurts or kills someone. The FAA explicitly states that "the system will not be operated over congested areas, heavily trafficked roads, or an open-air assembly of persons." I think you got the point. Good luck finding your machine.
     
  19. Home Sweet Home

    Home Sweet Home New Member

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    Checked our yard, no luck. Hope you find it Tom.
     
  20. Tom Green

    Tom Green Member

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    Thank you very much.
     

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