Drone stuck up a tree (around 15m high) - Best way to get it down

General Drone Discussion
1

IMG_2860
IMG_28603024×4032 2.74 MB

IMG_2861
IMG_28613024×4032 1.94 MB

With just my luck, I managed to crash a drone into a tall tree after one day of receiving my warranty replacement. (Beddington park)

I have already tried a few methods but didn’t work

  1. Water bottle attached to string - too high and tired both people out within 30 minutes.
  2. Booting a football up towards the tree - Managed to get both footballs stuck in the tree as well :confused:
  3. Local tree trimmer (Quoted me 120 quid and 300 quid, which its not viable, as I could claim DJI Care refresh for 129, but I don’t want to give up so easily

Still a newbie to droning, so any help would be much appreciated. Cheers!

P.S If anyone could get it down

2 Likes
2

Tagging @group-fpv and @Steviegeek @stevesb and @bmsleight All have positive drone rescue experience.

A mantis claw hanging below another drone is a tried and tested method :+1:t2:

4 Likes
3

Get a local youf to climb up

1 Like
5

No can do, too many thin branches and regular climbing would be pretty impossible (as seen in the first pic)

6

A simple Arborist Throw Line can be made with a length of cheap cord and a heavy weight. Have a look at the technique for an Arborist Throw Line.

Try a smaller weight and a whip it round a few times. Have a look at a few video using the search term Arborist+Throw+Line

https://www.google.com/search?q=Arborist+Throw+Line

Seriously put a poster on the tree with you contact details - even an email address - it worked fro me. Julia 0 Tree 1 = Lost Drone ... Updated - Now Found! - #50 by bmsleight

7

Shake the tree. Go up until the branches can’t support a weight then shake.

Can you red circle where in the tree it is ?

Also the throw line - you just need to get it close enough to shake the branch - get the throw line over a nearby branch and shake lots - bounce the branch with full weight.

8

Most areas are getting high winds, tomorrow evening, so it may dislodge by itself.

BUT … there’s quite a lot of rain forecast with the wind … so some damage from that isn’t impossible.

2 Likes
9

Damn it is just down the road from me but I am out all day tomorrow having been at football today.

I have a throw line. I can pop down on Monday evening before darkness?
Message me!

3 Likes
10

If you know any fishermen, a roach pole might poke it out.

2 Likes
11

If trying this method then a system to release hook or claw is recommended as you don’t want the second drone stuck if it can’t pull the first one out.

1 Like
12

Hiya, I can’t seem to message you here. Do you have any socials that you could link so I could DM you?

13

Sorry @isaacthere Isaac
If it was closer I’d come to help :man_shrugging:
Good luck, hope you get it recovered
Steve

14

@bmsleight will be able to message you when he’s here next.

You’d need to be a Silver/Golder member to be able to initiate a message.

15

Sorry, I meant private message. Do I NEED a membership to private message him?

1 Like
16

Hi @isaacthere

Our Bronze Members are not able to initiate a Direct Message to others.

Should you wish to proceed with DMs, @bmsleight (who is a Silver or Gold Member) will need to initiate a DM with you.

@bmsleight please send @isaacthere a DM to continue the discussion in private :slight_smile:

1 Like
18
2 Likes
19

The thing I’ve had most luck with is my really long pole… Mine is a telescoping doca-pole.

It’s quite expensive, but I have lost count of how many times it’s made it’s money back. I never go drone flying without it… and the telescoping ladder and the arborist rope…

The arborist rope is still the one that has been used the least and with zero success so far.

In the video I linked to above, JB uses one of these… https://www.thedronesaver.com/

Not available in the UK, but they’re basically just a telescoping flag pole.

BTW, 15m is probably significantly taller than that tree. We got my P51D out of the very top of a very, tall tree with my doca pole and that is only 9m long. Ok, brendan did have to climb up a couple of branches using the telescoping ladder, but we did it…

(I would come to help, but I live a very long way from you)

20

Where are you based? Is there a local climbing club. Ideally you need a rope fired up to near that branch. Then use an ascender to pull up to the area. You could ask there if someone at the club is up for a challenge in exchange for a few pints!

21

22

Thank you so much for everyone’s help. As you predicted, the high winds in the area knocked the drone off onto a much much lower branch, and I was able to chuck a piece of wood and hit the drone, and the drone was successfully retrieved. This took around 4 trips to the park, but it was so worth it. The drone survived with not even a scuff on it :grin:

Special thanks to bmsleight, who offered to come down to help, it’s really appreciated.

My drone and I both thank you all!

IMG_2853
IMG_28534284×5712 2.34 MB

25 Likes