If we could get autonomous drones, I would have one hold up an umbrella to shield me from the sun at all times as I walk around, lol!

  •  Sam Vimes   ( @SamVimes@beehaw.org ) 
    4•1 year ago

    I actually own and use drones for these things:
    Scouting out roads/hiking-biking trails/camping spots/photog raphy spots. The drone has saved a good bit of time, and kept me from going down some real nasty roads for no payoff or just regular roads that dead end somewhere that has no view, or already has someone parked at. Similarly my ebike is also helpful for scouting out roads to see if it’s worth taking the van down. Yes, I’m conscious of drone laws and how obnoxious they are, I do my best to minimize noise and am careful about not bothering people, people deserve to hear nature in nature.

    Figuring out if I have to clean the gutters again.
    Make friends.
    One time I used it as a birds eye view with VR(ish) goggles for fun. It was fun, it was awful.
    Take pictures of a friend’s van’s solar installation for insurance purposes.

    Things I do that aren’t weird:
    Take aerial photography/videography.
    Fly around and have fun.

    I may use a drone for the following, but have yet to:
    Get a different view to see if I’m gonna run the van into tree limbs, rocks, etc.
    Fly a cup of sugar to a neighbor who would like to borrow some.
    Have an outdoor “ceiling” light.

    If you have any questions, ask away.

      •  Sam Vimes   ( @SamVimes@beehaw.org ) 
        1•1 year ago

        If it was a one time thing, some tape and string, I’d just hover it and they’d snip it.

        If this was something I wanted to do frequently, there are fairly cheap attachments that you can drop things with, which would be more fun, and I wouldn’t have to worry about the person snipping the string tugging it and causing danger to themselves and/or the drone.

        They’re a battery, little servo to move a pin, and usually a photosensitive trigger, and you can drop things by turning the auxiliary/landing light on or off.

        Here’s the first Amazon result for that type of device it’s $37 and has a max payload of 500 grams.