Flying a Drone at Night? You Need to Have This!

Thanks for sharing!

So basically an 8-minute advert for something that pushes the Mini 2 over the 250g limit without any form of real-world testing?

No link showing.
Link Please.

Does having the strobe mounted on the top of the Mini 2 have any effect on it's GPS/IMU?

The guy in the video could not see the light from 800 feet away? Something is very wrong with that statement. I could easily see a very cheap $13 "econo" strobe from 2200 feet away at night.

And what about the bash on regular Velcro "fuzz", which is not fuzz at all but tiny hooks? I would never use dual lock on a drone because it can come loose way too easily with lateral force.

Hello there DAFlys. Thank you for reaching out and for posting this video created by 51 Drone that you have found. Nice find and thank you for your support.

Throbber Posted at 1-24 14:36
Does having the strobe mounted on the top of the Mini 2 have any effect on it's GPS/IMU?

Not that I have found.

Too bad we are not allowed to do this in NL......

Montfrooij Posted at 1-25 02:24
Too bad we are not allowed to do this in NL......

maybe soo they will change the rues.

DAFlys Posted at 1-25 04:22
maybe soo they will change the rues.

I doubt so.
And if they do, it will be in the 'wrong' direction.

Montfrooij Posted at 1-25 04:38
I doubt so.
And if they do, it will be in the 'wrong' direction.

Glass half full or glass half empty.

DAFlys Posted at 1-25 05:46
Glass half full or glass half empty.

Full right now.
Not sure what the future will bring

Throbber Posted at 1-24 14:36
Does having the strobe mounted on the top of the Mini 2 have any effect on it's GPS/IMU?

Or the compasses????

not a fan of that video for many reasons. facts matter.

Flycaster Posted at 1-25 06:50
Or the compasses????

I've used a Lume Cube and it had absolutely no ill effect on the GPS, IMU or compass.  

That is awesome that the Lume Cube strobe can be used and the Mini still is under 250g.

Is lighting / strobe light actually required by legislation or is it just a gimmick?

I’m confused.  Don’t understand their makings and design of any of these strobe lifts. They are great if looking straight down on them.  Why aren’t the little light cubes in them mounted vertically. They should make them with four lights in a square like a cube. If you look directly into them they are really bright. It would seam they would see them much better if they were vertical. Most of us are mounting them on top of the drone so the LED is lying flat. So am I missing something here on the design.  Also it said the price is coming down at some sites. I have not seen any link to that matter.
Doug

GaryDoug Posted at 1-24 21:18
Not that I have found.

Thank you!

jonny007 Posted at 1-25 09:35
Is lighting / strobe light actually required by legislation or is it just a gimmick?

Here in the U.S. (your location is noted), you can fly at night IF, you are flying as a hobbyist, and you have lighting, like a couple of strobes, that are visible to 3 statute miles. (this is a small "carve out" for hobbyist flyers in the 107 reg.)

If you are flying under the Part 107 (in the U.S.), you will need a waiver from the FAA for night flights.

Flycaster Posted at 1-25 13:32
Here in the U.S. (your location is noted), you can fly at night IF, you are flying as a hobbyist, and you have lighting, like a couple of strobes, that are visible to 3 statute miles. (this is a small "carve out" for hobbyist flyers in the 107 reg.)

If you are flying under the Part 107 (in the U.S.), you will need a waiver from the FAA for night flights.

I believe the FAA changed the waver part for night flying for the Part 107.
It would be strange that Recreational could fly but part 107 holders have to get a waver.

Flycaster Posted at 1-25 13:32
Here in the U.S. (your location is noted), you can fly at night IF, you are flying as a hobbyist, and you have lighting, like a couple of strobes, that are visible to 3 statute miles. (this is a small "carve out" for hobbyist flyers in the 107 reg.)

If you are flying under the Part 107 (in the U.S.), you will need a waiver from the FAA for night flights.

"Do not fly at night unless your drone has lighting that allows you to know its location and orientation at all times."

Montfrooij Posted at 1-25 06:08
Full right now.
Not sure what the future will bring

I had a day like that yesterday,   CNC controller went up in smoke,  whilst I was tying to find my design so I could replace the components that had failed, 6 ton of logs got delivered which I now have to move.   Funny think was we didnt order the logs,  the tree guy we know passed our details onto another tree guy who was in the area.

DAFlys Posted at 1-26 00:13
I had a day like that yesterday,   CNC controller went up in smoke,  whilst I was tying to find my design so I could replace the components that had failed, 6 ton of logs got delivered which I now have to move.   Funny think was we didnt order the logs,  the tree guy we know passed our details onto another tree guy who was in the area.

Ouch.
That is not too nice.
And yes that is very cool.
Wish we had that too.
(the wood)

Montfrooij Posted at 1-26 00:44
Ouch.
That is not too nice.
And yes that is very cool.

Yes it was a surprise.   So we may have a new free supplier this year which will be nice,  now I have to move it all.

DAFlys Posted at 1-26 00:53
Yes it was a surprise.   So we may have a new free supplier this year which will be nice,  now I have to move it all.

Send me some

Flycaster Posted at 1-25 13:32
Here in the U.S. (your location is noted), you can fly at night IF, you are flying as a hobbyist, and you have lighting, like a couple of strobes, that are visible to 3 statute miles. (this is a small "carve out" for hobbyist flyers in the 107 reg.)

If you are flying under the Part 107 (in the U.S.), you will need a waiver from the FAA for night flights.

The type of lighting required will vary from country to country. But I think it's difficult or nearly impossible to standardize this. 1 watt LED, 3 watt? 300 or 450 lumens? Green? White? Permanently on or flashing? Once a second or at least 15 times a minute? Mounted at top of the fuselage or behind or below? Who needs to see the light, just me or astronauts on the ISS? ;-) Is the maximum permissible flight distance then higher at night, because I can still see the light e.g. at 800 meters (VLOS) but the drone only 500 meters during the day? I recently flew at night, not far, maybe 200m and saw the normal lighting of the Mini (red / green) still well. Should be enough as "lighting" (?)

Montfrooij Posted at 1-26 02:23
Send me some

Looking at the workout stats from my watch I waled 3.9 miles moving it.

DAFlys Posted at 1-26 04:26
Looking at the workout stats from my watch I waled 3.9 miles moving it.

3 times the heat!
Cutting
Moving
Burning.

Montfrooij Posted at 1-26 05:49
3 times the heat!
Cutting
Moving

thats very true.

Donut Michigan Posted at 1-25 15:52
I believe the FAA changed the waver part for night flying for the Part 107.
It would be strange that Recreational could fly but part 107 holders have to get a waver.

Yes, does not make sense, but that is the way they worked it.......
The hobbyist gets the little "carve out" allowing night flights.
Just get a couple of the little Cree strobes (look like a tick when mounted, one on top and one facing down) something like these:
https://www.dronenerds.com/produ ... e-d2clsfaa-dji.html
Good to go, as a hobbyist....

DAFlys Posted at 1-26 06:01
thats very true.

I usually get 1 or 2.
(helping out people)