I’m planning to fly at Durdle Door in December, weather permitting. I’m planning to TOAL from the steep shingle Beach, near the arch and hope to use 2 drones. One of my drones, a Parrot Anafi, is a little bit tricky doing a TOAL from the hand, so I have made a launch pad that fits onto my camera tripod. Has anyone else done this? I had a look on line and found 1 hit on the Instructables website, where someone had also made one. I haven’t see any commercially available but can’t believe the idea hasn’t already been considered. In certain situations, it’s a useful extra.
7 Likes
Whats the netting on top of the perspex for, Patrick @Nikonitis ?
(Is it netting? 
)
I suspect most people just hand launch or use a landing mat 
I have a tripod stand for my projector that has a flat tray on it
1 Like
Anti-skid ?
2 Likes
Ah yes, could well be!
1 Like
At first I didnt see the point as I hand launch a lot but then I thought of all the times I could have done with some sort of table when setting up and now I want one.
Now Im thinking could a very portable version be made that folds out, wouldt have to have a motor like this one but something like this mechanism
2 Likes
The netting is actually rubber anti slip carpet underlay. Quite light and I have it in the shed.
Yes! The plastic disc is actually a 4mm roofing panel doubled up. Full of air gaps so very light. The tripod mount is marine ply and the rubber carpet anti slip net to stop slippage!
Yes that’s an interesting idea. Any thoughts on what material you’d use. Maybe 2mm acrylic? I don’t suppose it would need to be very thick as rigidity would come when fully opened up.
I can see the point of this for larger drones, especially for people like me who have small hands… It’s got me thinking, perhaps a smaller TOAL platform on a strap around your wrist, a sort of cross between droning and falconry. About 9" diameter with a lip to prevent the drone from accidentally sliding off; a camping saucepan lid would prolly do it!
I find that taking off from my palm is a bit awkward due to DJI’s TO method, where you have to press a take off button then press and hold a bigger button. I could do with an extra hand (in fact I have often thought that our biggest evolutionary mistake was losing the prehensile tail) to hold the RC/phone, press the buttons, and hold the drone level; I get by by holding the RC/phone on my arm, waiter-style, but it’s an unnatural thing to do and chances of dropping it, or the drone, are not low…
Had a tripod based table for a few years, but mine is square and based off a spirit level tripod.
You could have just used a uni student mortar board and taken off from your head😁
3 Likes
Just push the left stick up…
3 Likes
Printables have one, just need to find a friend with a 3d printer
learn to hand launch and land… cuts down on all the additional bits you need to fly.
if you are flying a proper drone (one without GPS and using sensors for stability or position hold) then yes… a mat or table is required (unless you want to become a frequent flyer at a&e with a parking discount card)
The big button that appears on the screen? Use your nose (not joking).
It was just a thought. Might be useless as a table if the holes are too big but maybe 3d printed hollow honeycomb panels in triangle shapes so it weighs next to nothing.
That, sir, is a perfectly cromulent idea; I will experiment and report back!
1 Like
With the RC2 and a lanyard it’s pretty easy to TOAL from hand, basically press the small takeoff button on the left, then when the big take off button is shown I hold the RC2 backwards with my fingers underneath and can easily press the big button with my thumb. With the Mini 4 Pro I’ve only ever taken TOAL from the ground for my first two flights, all the rest are by hand.
I would just use a hand launch in that location if needed…