UAS on Michael Doornbos

More chip pile measuring

Tue, 28 Jun 2016 16:18:30 +0000

Working outside with flying robots. Yes please.

Measuring chip piles with Unmanned Vehicles

Tue, 26 Apr 2016 10:47:56 +0000

A local paper mill has three large piles of wood chips that get replenished by 20 to 30 trucks every day. They have a requirement that these piles get measured monthly. This task is typically done by two surveyors, one of whom has to actually climb to the top of these piles which is a little bit like trying to walk through waist deep snow. It takes the better part of two days.

Did you know that many states have extra requirements to operate UAS in that state?

Thu, 21 Apr 2016 12:13:35 +0000

For example, in North Carolina you must pass a knowledge test for any operation that’s not recreational.

Shot some real estate this weekend

Mon, 21 Mar 2016 21:12:01 +0000

[youtube=://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snyZfa3IrxU&w=854&h=480]

FAA Administrator Talks Drones at SXSW

Mon, 14 Mar 2016 21:15:50 +0000

“FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and Sally French, “The Drone Girl,” today led a lively panel discussion about the future of small unmanned aircraft at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin on Monday. The panel included a diverse group of innovative thinkers from industry and government.

In his opening remarks, Administrator Huerta outlined recent progress on several important initiatives, including a robust unmanned aircraft system (UAS) registration system that is expected to pass 400,000 registrants this week, the MicroUAS aviation rulemaking committee that will deliver recommendations to the FAA by April 1, and the FAA’s B4UFLY app for iOS and Android devices. He noted partnerships among the FAA, industry and other government agencies are key to safely and expeditiously integrating unmanned aircraft into our skies.

Evaluating Event38 for post UAS Flight mission processing

Mon, 14 Mar 2016 15:25:49 +0000

As an entrepreneur and developer I’m in a “should I build it or should I just buy it” situation currently. A lot of what I’ve tried isn’t very good.

First "REAL" 3D Maps with my 3DRobotics Solo

Thu, 10 Mar 2016 19:23:51 +0000

Switching gears lately in my other life to work with Blueridge Forestry on a mapping workflow for them. Making this map of a local closed landfill turned model airplane field really was a snap.

Docker images for Dronekit

Tue, 08 Mar 2016 20:28:30 +0000

Started on a new project this evening. Docker images for Dronekit and some tools for automating flights. Love me some Docker!

What does a UAS pilot do to prepare for a huge snow storm?

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 20:57:39 +0000

He files for a 9 mile radius NOTAM for the whole weekend over a really beautiful part of the country. That’s what.

[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“800.0”] * the actual flying will be a small subset of this airspace but since they make you do a center point with a radius it has to be filed like this[/caption]

Just requested to add these new UAS models to my "fleet"

Tue, 29 Dec 2015 14:39:06 +0000

3D Robotics Solo
DJI Inspire
DJI Phantom 3
DJI Spreading Wings S900
DJI Spreading Wings S1000+
DJI Matrice 100
Chroma Camera Drone

According to the FAA it takes a few months for approval so I figured I would get these submitted now.

In other news, I’m building a fixed wing model as a competitor to the overpriced models currently on the market.

Aerial work at a llama farm. Why didn't someone tell me llama's are so awesome?!?

Thu, 10 Dec 2015 22:14:35 +0000

Caleb and I did some aerial footage of a llama farm this evening. I can’t believe this is a job. I haven’t gone through all of the video, but here’s a preview.

[youtube=://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgGstk7yp78&w=854&h=480]

Defining a UAS operating area with Flight Service is a snap

Mon, 30 Nov 2015 22:52:00 +0000

Here’s my operating area for the next couple days on a building being painted. Just barely outside the 5 mile radius from the airport and well below the Class C Airspace.

Experimentation Platform for UAS Systems with CHIP

Mon, 30 Nov 2015 19:45:45 +0000

I’m a longtime user of Raspberry PI in my day job and I like it a lot, but I’m going to try the just announced C.H.I.P. System to standardize new products on for UAS work.

I just ordered 3 for a whopping $27 :-)

I hate the use of the word drone

Fri, 20 Nov 2015 14:14:15 +0000

Because this

[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“2973.0”] Image by Michael Doornbos[/caption]

Is not the same as this

[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“3000.0”] MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft" by U.S. Air Force photo/Lt Col Leslie Pratt - Licensed under Public Domain via Commons[/caption]

Automation testing

Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:34:37 +0000

Julie braved the cold and wind today as I worked on programming N609JD to inspect buildings and structures autonomously.

Here’s the launch before it takes off on it’s mission.

[youtube=://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SCUNEvXlns&w=854&h=480]

Unedited first day at the Asheville Model Aircraft club

Sat, 07 Nov 2015 14:35:39 +0000

Turns out there’s a terrific model aircraft club that has a field in an unbelievable location just 20 minutes from my house. I’ve been looking for a place to practice flying and test systems to be ready for complicated production work .

The club has about 80 members, and in the 45 minutes we were there yesterday (a Friday) there were probably 20 airplanes in the air at different times.

Also, it’s hard to beat the view. Here’s my unedited footage of the location.