Drone Cache (Split from original thread)

[CraigRat]

Most drones have camera. Photo of you (can be obscured) at place x.


Amazing how many places drones are banned here in Tassie without permits (even with a RPAS license)

[Smittengranny]

would any drone cache have to be a T5 as special equipment is required?

[Team737]

Amazing how many places drones are banned here in Tassie without permits (even with a RPAS license)

It's the same everywhere.... we commit a Commonwealth offence it seems everytime we take ours for a test spin around our local park, in that we are within the range of a helicopter base that uses instrument approaches. The fact we are well below the tree tops and the height the average kite flies doesn't seem to matter. A helicopter below the tree tops here probably won't be too concerned about our 249g plastic drone in his way!

[caughtatwork]

would any drone cache have to be a T5 as special equipment is required?

I wouldn't think so. A chirp (beacon) cache can really only be done with a garmin GPS (or phone with an ANT receiver), but they are not marked as T5. If you're hunting a drone cache, then you need a drone and that removes the need for a T5 due to special equipment. I would think that the terrain is a combination of how you get to the launch location and the terrain you need to fly into (not the difficulty of the "find").

[caughtatwork]

Most drones have camera. Photo of you (can be obscured) at place x.


Amazing how many places drones are banned here in Tassie without permits (even with a RPAS license)

That would put it in the realm of a virtual style geocache which is cool. I would hope that we can have some discussion on how to use the drone on a physical item.

[mattyrx]

Here are a few examples of what I think could be fun, challenging drone caches. Each example below is quite specific as it’s an idea I’ve had from places in my local area that drone flying is allowed.

• Coordinates are given that lead to a quiet area of open parkland. The cache listing says that there’s something hidden at the top of the old nearby tree - and it needs to be found and identified. The cache page says that shape of this container will be the codeword required to log the cache. After circling the tree, the cacher spots a suspicious object and on closer investigation finds that it is a reasonably sized star shaped Christmas decoration that the hider has strategically hidden by attaching to their own drone and snagging it on the tree. The cacher logs the cache, using ‘STAR’ as the codeword and is awarded the smiley.
• Cacher is given the coordinates to an old disused bridge. The cache listing mentions that directly underfoot lives a grumpy old gnome. He’s a vain old codger and will award a smiley if the cacher can capture a nice photo of him. The cacher needs to be able to navigate the drone under the bridge and snap a pic of said gnome, which they attached to their found log. The caches gallery will show a timeline of photos of the gnome.
• GZ is the base of an old wooden pole, located in a travelling stock route reserve. It has a cross beam on top. Looks like it may have once been used as a telegraph pole, but that was long ago. A bison tube attached to a large hoop of wire hangs from the cross beam. The cacher must attach a hook and string to their drone, then try to snag the bison/hoop and return it to the ground for the log to be signed. Once signed, it can be returned to its spot by the cachers drone.