Comment by yreg | Hacker News Reader

Comment by yreg | Hacker News Reader

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I once did this and it was rather scary.

I was sailing in Croatia (on sails) and we’ve spotted some dolphins. So I launched a Mavic Air to observe them from closer. Soon the wind picked up and so did the waves. I piloted the drone back to the boat and planned to catch it in my hand, but I haven’t felt comfortable doing so, since the boat moved like crazy, while the drone was static in the air. Don’t forget to imagine the million ropes and wires in the air, which is just the reality of being on a sailboat. Wind howling, captain shouting orders, drone’s proximity and low battery alarms loudly screaming.

I had to do something, so I hovered above the bow net and killed the motors. It fell into the net and didn’t damage its propellers/gimbal.

edit: 2.5MB dolphin video: https://files.catbox.moe/98n85f.mp4

How the motors were killed? Were they melted their coils or was anything cracked?

I think they mean that they turned off the motors to let the drone drop into the net.

He means he stopped the motors to let the drone free-fall into the net.

Put the left stick down right (4-5 o'clock) and the right stick down left (7-8 o'clock). It will turn off the motors instantly.

Yes this is what I did. Good thing to know, by the way. Since you don't need it unless you need it, and then when you need it you absolutely don't have the time to look it up.

This command ("Combination Stick Command") is also useful in other situations: the same command can both start and stop the motors. It is exactly what you are going to use when launching and landing in your hand; once you are holding the drone in your hand, and you want to start or stop.

But now: how are you going to do it, when you are holding the drone in one hand, remote in another and do a command with both sticks? Don't you need a third hand for that? The answer is no. You need a lanyard for your remote. That way, you can use one hand for holding the drone and the other for pushing the sticks.

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