Drone repairs...

No Amazon Prime Day deals for the DJI drones I had my eye on so did some more work on the drone today.  After a good rest, the battery seems to be OK and I was able to fully charge it.  Leg repairs done and did some successful hover tests.  Got some smudges on the protective lens cover but they don't seem to affect image quality.  If I decide to replace it - it's a cheap/easy fix.  Next, I have to address some issues with the camera gimbal and shaky video.  103,109,77,0,B

private flight...

Drone video for some friends in Cedar Springs today.

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Really...they are friends

As for Ben vs the drone.  I used to see this kind of horn action a lot when there were wild longhorns loose around my property.  I find it particularly interesting that Ben instinctively knows how to use his horns without being taught by a herd.  Among other uses, their horns allow them to attain a stature beyond the compactness of their bodies to serve as a warning.  They are not used as weapons - but instead they are used in a species specific manner to push (not poke) and to hold or deflect an attack.  They are frequently used to hold their heads together preventing them from slipping off during a head to head trial of strength - the means by which they establish their place in the herd. (I established my place with Ben a long time ago.)  Horned cattle also exhibit quite specific grooming behavior - using them to scratch their backs or using the tip of another cow to scratch and clean their own eyes.  Each animal is acutely aware of the size and form of its horns and where they end.  Benita took it to the next level by using her horns to scrape the fruit off of prickly pear cactus, making them easier to eat without getting a nose full of spikes.  64,76,45,0,C

savoring the moment...

You know if the box has a lithium ion battery warning...it must be something good.  99,103,63,0,B

Drone Wars

We have all been hearing about great consumer camera drones for a couple of years now. To be honest, they never really interested me since I already own 2 GoPro cameras and a $9,000 paramotor...until now.  What led me to Wednesday's 10 BULLETS post was a conversation I had with Uncle Ricky when he was here two weeks ago - he told me about Tony Sachs, the Neistat brothers, and YouTuber Casey Neistat in particular. I checked out some of his recent videos and came across his review of the latest offering from the drone king DJI - the Mavic Pro.  (GoPro has also just come out with their own drone.)  Since I never really paid much attention to all the drone hype, I never realized their capabilities.  It is not just about getting great shots from high up.  After all, how many aerial shots can you get before the novelty wears off?  The new offering from DJI like its' predecessor the Phantom 4 can get great shots and track subjects in a variety of ways from any altitude along any kind of terrain.  What is really impressive about the Mavic Pro is that for about the same price, it has the same battery time (about 27 minutes) but they have extended the range to 4.3 miles, can go up to 40 mph, and can handle winds up to 27 mph.  It also has additional sensors so it can find its' way around even indoors where it can't pick up a GPS signal.  And unlike the Phantom 4, it folds up and almost fits in your pocket instead of a small suitcase.  As temped as I am, I think I will wait to see if I can actually fly again with my camera before I pull the trigger on a remote controlled flying camera.  Who knows how much further the technology will advance if I wait a year?  76,81,63,0,B