Class Description:

Drone enthusiast Patrick Bulmer will walk through each step of pre-flight with the class participants, including battery charging and installation, power up procedure, GPS calibration, visual inspection and test flight. Class participants will be given an opportunity to initiate close quarters test flight.

Drone photography–that is, video or still photography take from an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) or “Drone”–is a hot but controversial new topic. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is taking aggressive steps to regulate and license all UAS operations for commercial use. But hobbyist use remains, for the time being, wide open subject to reasonable safety precautions.

The DJI Phantom 2 Vision is a pro-sumer model UAS with still and video photographic capability. It includes a sophisticated GPS tracking system that allows smooth, computer-controlled stable flight with advanced return-to-home features in the event of lost communications.

Time permitting, discussion of mission planning and mid-range sorties.

What to Bring:

A note pad and pencil, binoculars (optional but fun!), and $10 class fee.

Location:

Class will be held  in Upper Bidwell Park in the field adjacent to the Observatory Parking Lot.

Teacher Bio:

Patrick Bulmer is a technology and aerial photography enthusiast. He bought his first “Drone”, the DJI Phantom 2 Vision, in December 2013… right around the time he joined Idea Fabrication Labs as a member.

Please Rsvp Patrick Bulmer at pbulmer@coapp.com