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michaelmurfy

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#111235 28-Oct-2012 02:23
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This has been found! See This Post





So it has happened, my Quadropter has decided to take it's own flight across Christchurch and would have dropped out of the sky somewhere.



It has got super bright Blue and Red LED light strips on it so can be seen from a distance, if you hear a rather annoying beep that's possibly it yelling it's out of battery.

This Quadropter is my pride and joy, and I would love for anyone to help me find it - if you have got any leads or have actually found this hopefully without it causing any damage to human, cats, dogs, animals or physical objects please flick me a message - findmyquad@murfy.co.nz

I have whipped up a quick site on where I think it might have fallen based on battery, wind, speed and altitude - share it to anyone in Christchurch in hope of getting this back - http://murfy.co.nz

How did it happen?

I was flying it at night in Middleton Park here in Upper Riccarton, Christchurch, wasn't doing anything crazy but was just making it as visible as anything, I had just placed some LED light strips on it (ironic) and all the sudden it lost contact with my receiver.

This is no off the shelf Quad, it's fully custom built complete with an aluminium frame and a MultiWii flight computer, they're no cheap motors either - costing approx $60US/ea to import excluding shipping so it's got quite a bit of power to it.

It has got a killswitch on it in case of it losing contact with the receiver of which it's supposed to attempt to land (by killing the motors essentially) - but this normally gives me quick control of getting it to safety in case anything crazy goes on - but it seems that the board it had lost contact with the radio receivers.

Quite simply put, it decided to go in it's own direction with the wind and ignore everything from my controller, I couldn't reinstate communication with it at all.

What about safety?

This is the worst thing that could ever happen with any hobbyist due to the unpredictable nature of such things, especially if all you were doing is testing something and it decides to fly off on it's own - if it does this there is no way of getting it down until the speed controllers decide to cut the motors due to low battery especially with something like a Quadropter - since it weighs in at approx 1.8kg it could cause some serious damage if it decides to hit anyone - I'm just hoping that since it's night it will have nobody to hit - and hopefully my estimations are correct and it's landed in a field.

Please note, Police have been contacted just in case. They're on the lookout too.


Cheers for your time - share this with anyone in Christchurch: http://murfy.co.nz and let's see if I am able to get this back. Also my contact is findmyquad@murfy.co.nz






Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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Batman
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  #707720 28-Oct-2012 08:01
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it initiated a flight all on its own?



michaelmurfy

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  #707721 28-Oct-2012 08:01
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joker97: it initiated a flight all on its own?


Yes it did, they are known to do so sometimes.




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  #707773 28-Oct-2012 09:48
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I wonder if any approaching flights saw a UFO?

Obviously a hindsight comment, A mate of mine put a sticker with a contact cellphone number on his RC copters just in case of this very thing happening as he started dabbling with flying it via camera.



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  #707779 28-Oct-2012 10:01
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A small GPS tracker would work as well e.g. http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Car-Tracker-GPS-GSM-GPRS-Tracking-Device-GPS-Tracker-TK110/653436517.html (can run off a 5V mini-USB connection)

michaelmurfy

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  #707804 28-Oct-2012 11:07
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There is a GPS on this with a fly to home feature. It has to be activated though and since I was just testing last night I didn't do that. I should have plastered a contact number on it. Defiantly doing that if I get it back / build another.




Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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  #707812 28-Oct-2012 11:15
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GSM and pwm servos nearby dont mix a friend found out trying a cheap tracker like I have in the cars with a RC plane. everytim it GSMed the servos ans speed controller went crazy.




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  #707865 28-Oct-2012 13:07
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I did notice that when I attempted to use a GSM modem connected to GPS and a RaspberryPi - the quad got quite angry with the prospect of being tracked.




Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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  #707869 28-Oct-2012 13:13
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Skynet? Bad luck though dude, hope you find it! Probably look on Trademe if Christchuch crims put it up for sale.




Speedtest 2019-10-14


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  #707874 28-Oct-2012 13:21
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I've posted this on my facebook, I know heaps of people from Uni who live around that area so hopefully it turns up.

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  #707899 28-Oct-2012 14:02
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I posted it on my Facebook too.

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  #707902 28-Oct-2012 14:04
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Sorry. Finders Keepers Tongue Out

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  #707909 28-Oct-2012 14:29
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Maybe it was trying escape from that horrid patterned rug?

But seriously, I will keep an eye/ear out for it as I live in Ilam

michaelmurfy

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  #707981 28-Oct-2012 16:42
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nickb800: Maybe it was trying escape from that horrid patterned rug?

But seriously, I will keep an eye/ear out for it as I live in Ilam


Haha everyone has to comment on the carpet :P - It's funny, I'm surprised you're able to see the quad on that carpet since it seems to "hide" everything else.

I have just had The Press contact me and are wanting to do a story on it, could be interesting :)




Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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richms
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  #707989 28-Oct-2012 16:58
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So long as the press don't decide that it is a "amateur killing drone" and "similar to those used by the US military" or something dumb ;)




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michaelmurfy

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  #708044 28-Oct-2012 18:20
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richms: So long as the press don't decide that it is a "amateur killing drone" and "similar to those used by the US military" or something dumb ;)


Yeah I was thinking that. They asked what kind of damage it could do if it dropped out of the sky. Multikill?




Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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