As part of an internal grant from HBOI-FAU, the Voss lab has acquired a second quadcopter to continue our use of aerial technology to aid in marine science and outreach. This grant covered the purchase of a second quadcopter and Michael Studivan's summer RA to pilot the quadcopter and produce outreach videos for public use.
The new quadcopter is also made by DJI like our previous model, but unlike the Phantom 2, the Inspire comes with many added features that will be of use in our lab operations. Specifically, the Inspire is controlled by two remotes, one as a dedicated pilot and the second for complete control of the camera (pitch, yaw, exposure, speed) and an uninterrupted 360 degree view. The camera is also an improved model and can shoot video in full 4K resolution without any lens distortion. Lastly, the Inspire has better signal range and GPS functionality to greatly expand our range of operations both on land and at sea.
Please see our Flickr album for photos and our Youtube page for videos from the initial flights!