Drones!

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

"More or less 50 mph" is a quite adequate answer. It means the device can keep up with a sailboat going hard upwind, which was all I wanted to know.

So, that looks perfect, except that it will be hard to stow it.

Sent from my D6633 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

All what I will call "middle tier" platforms (the really expensive ones are six figures) require what is called IMU calibration and something called the compass dance. The IMU calibration is done after using something like carpenters level to make sure the platform is perfectly level and takes from a minute to sometimes five minutes. While catamarans are known for staying relatively level even a small chop is enough to throw the calibration off. The compass dance consists of holding the platform fairly level and rotating it 360 degrees, or sometimes 720 degrees; then the platform is rotated 90 degrees with the nose down and another 360 degrees rotation is done. Not something you could not do fairly easily on a boat; problem is if you do it close to metal the compass calibration will be off.

Once you do both of these things you probably only have to do them if you travel more than a couple of hundred miles between flights. But when you turn the platform on you have to have it level again for probably 30 seconds.

Here is a video of the compass dance, you may want to skip to about the one minute mark; or not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cabzFUjKTs

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by tomfl

All what I will call "middle tier" platforms (the really expensive ones are six figures) require what is called IMU calibration and something called the compass dance. The IMU calibration is done after using something like carpenters level to make sure the platform is perfectly level and takes from a minute to sometimes five minutes. While catamarans are known for staying relatively level even a small chop is enough to throw the calibration off. The compass dance consists of holding the platform fairly level and rotating it 360 degrees, or sometimes 720 degrees; then the platform is rotated 90 degrees with the nose down and another 360 degrees rotation is done. Not something you could not do fairly easily on a boat; problem is if you do it close to metal the compass calibration will be off.

Once you do both of these things you probably only have to do them if you travel more than a couple of hundred miles between flights. But when you turn the platform on you have to have it level again for probably 30 seconds.

Here is a video of the compass dance, you may want to skip to about the one minute mark; or not.

Thanks; that's very helpful and informative.

Sent from my D6633 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app