Cresco from a different angle

CRESCO - Ever wonder what your house looks like from 387 feet in the air?

Stan Fosaaen knows.

Or what does the coastline of the Virgin Islands look from high in the air over the ocean?

Fosaaen knows. 

Or what does the Fairgrounds look like from the sky?

Fosaaen knows.

He is able to see all these places and more with his DJI drone that isn’t much bigger than an over-sized dinner plate and weighs just over half-a-pound (20 ounces when figuring in the battery)! And that includes the camera that takes pictures and video, sending it back to his controller and cell phone.

“I was kinda scared. It took me a while to even fly it because it’s expensive,” he said.

Fosaaen received the drone as a Christmas present from he and Bach’s daughter in Los Angeles. He spent the next few months studying the instruction book and installing all the apps on his phone. His first flight was in March. “They don’t recommend flying it in below zero weather. It uses up the battery faster.”

The remote control can hook up to a newer model cell phone, which becomes the screen. It can also hook up to other mobile devices. 

The screen gives all sorts of information to the pilot — a map of the area with a dot where the drone is located, a view from the camera, wind speed, height, distance it has traveled from home, how fast it is going, how much time is left on the battery (which can fly for about half-an-hour), total mileage (Fosaaen is up to more than 40 miles so far.) and more.

“It knows exactly where it is at all times. It hooks into satellites.” The average number he uses is around 12, with the minimum of 7-8.

He added, “This drone uses the U.S. GPS system, the China GPS system (BDS) and the Russian GPS system (GLONASS), making a total of over 83 satellites that it can use. From what I understand, the drone sends out a signal, and the satellites respond, and it can compute its location to within about three inches. This allows it to hover in even relatively high winds and maintain its position for a stable picture or video. Obviously this drone contains a very powerful computer!”

Legally, the drone can’t fly over 400 feet in the air. He has the maximum height set at 387 feet and a distance of 1-2 miles, although it can go six miles. “When it gets close to the maximum settings, it will tell you and won’t let you go any further. It also has sensors that will make it go around obstacles and keep it from crashing.”

The drone has other fail safe measures. “There is a button that returns it to home. It can land within a few inches up to a foot or two from where it took off. If you don’t tell it what to do, it will just hover in place.” 

He keeps the speed on normal, but he can go 45 m.p.h. Other units can fly even faster.

Fosaaen noted even with sensors, the faster its speed, the more likely the unit could crash into trees, buildings or hills. He is careful to stay away from utility lines, transformers and radio towers.

The drone knows where it can and cannot fly. Looking at the overhead map of Cresco, the courthouse and jail block is restricted and shaded in red. In addition, drones cannot fly over any airports or their flight paths. 

Recreational drones over 250 grams like Fosaaen’s at 570 grams need to be registered. “It’s really expensive,” he joked. “It costs $5.00 for three years!” 

There are also commercial licenses that are required as well. Those businesses include home/roof inspectors, real estate photography, search and rescue, insurance claims and checking on crops.

Although the top height allowed is 400 feet, that can be over-ridden, but the FAA will know about it. Fosaaen has seen videos taken from larger and more advanced drones that flew up to 10,000 feet above the ground — a big no-no. 

 

Camera

The camera can take still pictures or video and can zoom in and out. The camera can be moved around with the controller, going up or down to get a specific angle.

“It can take 4K video and sends a copy to my phone,” he explained. “It keeps track of every flight”

Bach says the drone is totally Stan’s hobby. “He enjoys taking it everywhere when we go on vacation.” She likes seeing the pictures and videos he takes and looking at the monitor as it flies overhead.

Stan has flown the drone at their three daughters’ homes, showing them what their property looks like from the sky. In St. Croix, the Virgin Islands, he took pictures of the sunrise from the most eastern part of the United States. He has flown over many of the lakes around Minneapolis. He also flies it around Cresco, including pictures at the recent Mighty Howard County Fair.

“I’m 70 years old, and I can fly it, so it's not too tough. They tried to make it idiot proof! It is a lot easier to fly than I thought.”

Anyone looking for an interesting hobby might want to look into drones. After the initial purchase, it doesn’t cost anything to use it. Fosaaen has added a landing pad, two extra batteries and a case. Drones can cost under $100 and over $1,500. The mid-range ones, like Fosaaen’s, is around $700.