build a kite camera

I really don’t think I’m going to get around to this… it’s one of those projects which marries technical skill with mechanical work – just the sort of thing I never get round to.

I’m good at purely logical projects (programming, learning etc.) but when mechanics get involved (building) I’m really not so good. It’s not that I can’t do it… just that I never have the get-up-and-go to … erm … get up and go.

This is one for the summer. I’ll remind myself around springtime to start thinking about it.

I’m getting much closer to completing this. I have the prototype timer circuit working with the camera, and next I will solder it together and get an enclosure.

As soon as the rain stops (March?), I should be able to take it for a flight.

http://flickr.com/photos/djbones/78369301/

I just realised – I have a wireless (802.11g) webcam which, if I could build a suitably light battery pack, could be sent up on the kite completely wires-free. My laptop on the ground could receive live pictures from the kite and record them as necessary.

Sounds like a good way to try it.

I have a large (10’) flexifoil, so it should easily be able to lift any kit I care to send up on it. I don’t currently have photographic gear that I’d be happy to send up in the air which would also do the job required. I’m not that great at landings, so it’d have to be semi-disposable, just in case!

I have a very small CCTV camera which I might be able to send up with a trailing wire for the power and signal… hmmm….