The Next Offroad Upgrade: A Drone? Toyota Exploring Drones

[LeeroyJ]

Toyota is exploring drone use for off roading

I guess this could be pretty cool and useful if the drone was able to be launched and landed while still inside the vehicle (some sort of on-roof hanger?) and the view could be seen from the vehicle's infotainment system. I wonder if in 20 years this will be something on every 4x4?

WASHINGTON — Toyota Motor Corp. said on Oct. 7 it is exploring the development of a small drone system primarily to support vehicle operations on unpaved roads and trails.

The Japanese automaker said in a filing with the Federal Aviation Administration that the potential system aims to boost situational awareness in places where it is unsafe to exit the vehicle.

“By providing the driver with views of the local environment, including potential hazards around and underneath the vehicle, drivers can plan safer routes and improve vehicle operations,” the Toyota letter said, saying most drone flights would occur close to the vehicle. “At times, operators may fly a drone above the treeline to capture videos used to orient themselves or capture the terrain.”

 

[255/85]

They're de rigueur for the Youtube overlanding crowd. i've seen video of them being used directly in front of vehicles to monitor clearance in tight spaces or fly ahead to check trail conditions. Granted these were older vehicles without other camera systems but still.

 

[Tom109]

I would really like to get a drone, for a number of reasons. But I really don’t need another hobby…

 

[LeeroyJ]

I would really like to get a drone, for a number of reasons. But I really don’t need another hobby…

I've got one, but unless I was really in a tight space I'm not about to spend the time to get it out, set it up, fly it, then put it all away, just to check out a normal obstacle. If they got rid of that part, I might use it.

 

[OkGo]

I would quite like a drone to go on ahead and find + hold a parking spot for me at the supermarket on the weekend.

 

[emax]

... But I really don’t need another hobby…

I bought a DJI Mini 4 Pro, and it is very simple to use and to fly - although you should take some time to get used to flying it. But it is not another hobby, just a new tool. You should try it and if you think it is too much effort just sell it. Yes, you will lose some bucks, but fun costs always some money - which I'd consider ok.
If you buy one, take the rc2 remote control (or the successor if there is already one). This saves you a lot of time and nerves and is pure fun to use. It's really worth the money. A "Fly More Combo" with the RC2 is an ideal pack. Small, light, smart and reliable with three batteries.

The newest version is the DJI Mini 5, but I don't know it. But you'll find many videos and advice about it on Youtube.

 

[MurphyMurph]

I’m going to put my old man hat on for a minute…even though I’m only 40.

The proliferation of drones is starting to get annoying.

On one side of the coin (from the observed perspective): I live on acreage with woods on 2 sides of our lot and not much on the other 2 sides. There are about a dozen homes on our hill and we enjoy our privacy. We moved out to the country for that very reason. Having someone flying a drone around so they can see all that’s going on in my yard just doesn’t feel nice, feels like an invasion of my privacy and the worst part is I don’t know who is flying it or where it’s coming from.

On the flip side of the coin (from the observer perspective): I went with some buddies on a day off-roading trip a couple months ago. One of the guys brought a drone to get some footage of us navigating obstacles. It was fun/novel but didn’t really make my enjoyment of the trip any greater. I actually was a little silly having to wait for him to park his truck, get the drone out, take off, fly around and then get in position to the shot. I would have rather just completed the obstacle and got on with it. Also, the drawbacks of the noise and potential for annoyance to other people, for me at least, will always detract from the draw of a drone. I try to be a considerate person, not everyone does.

All I can say is, “Really Toyota? Why don’t you focus on making your new fuel efficient engines also reliable?”

 

[Tazzieman]

I have a drone but where I live it's quite limited to where you can fly it (Not in National Parks , reserves , near towns , airports etc etc) And if you lose one/crash one (over the sea , just an errant gust of wind , bird attack) it gets expensive quickly.
I've seen plenty of youtubers driving and piloting one simultaneously , which is just idiotic.
Just got bback from 6 weeks in Croatia and UK (mostly Scotland) - carted the drone but didn't use it. Did use a handheld DJI Osmo action 5 (a great device).
In many ways it's much easier (though less personal if that's yuou thing) to use other people's drone footage. Shameless plug for my favourite new band , Peat and Diesel, from Stornoway, Outer Hebrides

View: https://youtu.be/EoLBnk05ris?si=Phql44p861MAgLst

 

[Logsplitter]

I bought a DJI Mini 4 Pro, and it is very simple to use and to fly - although you should take some time to get used to flying it. But it is not another hobby, just a new tool. You should try it and if you think it is too much effort just sell it. Yes, you will lose some bucks, but fun costs always some money - which I'd consider ok.
If you buy one, take the rc2 remote control (or the successor if there is already one). This saves you a lot of time and nerves and is pure fun to use. It's really worth the money. A "Fly More Combo" with the RC2 is an ideal pack. Small, light, smart and reliable with three batteries.

The newest version is the DJI Mini 5, but I don't know it. But you'll find many videos and advice about it on Youtube.

I have the same model and find it very easy to use. Only one crash so far and that was when I set it to track me from the side in Angola. In that mode collision avoidance is disabled and it crashed into a hill side to the side of me. No damage done to it and easy to find with tracking feature. Great bit of kit although I don’t use anywhere near enough for me to justify the gist of purchasing it. I thought was a good idea at the time like most of my purchases