4 ms·

BYD cars now have an on-vehicle DJI drone launch platform

30 points by nickthegreek 2y ago

Havoc 2y ago
To what end?
- gedy 2y ago
  Top down view to you can drive like a videogame?
- bionhoward 2y ago
  Could be cool for recording video, or scouting traffic patterns?
  - viraptor 2y ago
    Traffic patterns have basically been solved by maps/waze/whatever. And you really don't want to be watching that screen even in a slow moving traffic. Recording video... maybe, but is that ever an in-the-moment thing? I never had an "I'd like to film my car going at city speeds" thought.
- r00fus 2y ago
  This is a consumer version of what the PLA is probably deploying for military operations already. Imagine a Humvee-equivalent with integrated drone scout giving real-time threat and mobility assessments... or for targeting support for air power.
  - onlypassingthru 2y ago
    Or a mesh network. Getting a signal is probably easier if you've got a repeater hovering above.
    - euroderf 2y ago
      Based on the application domain, I want my personal security auto-mobile drone to resemble the gyrocopter in Mad Max.
  - euroderf 2y ago
    A good way to create a dual-use technology in order to monetize it, amortize the development costs, and achieve production economics of scale. For that matter, check out what China is doing with Ro-Ro ships. Amphibious assault -adjacent.
- r14c 2y ago
  I can imagine using this tech to take high-res landscape videos while driving through wilderness regions or places with amazing vistas in general. You'd obviously need a co-pilot to actually operate the drone, but you could get some really amazing footage on the way to a camp site and while you're camped too. Could be cool for capturing candid videos during parties or at family reunions or such.
- dharmab 2y ago
  Surveying a pipeline, canal, electrical/communication line, rooftop. Drones are standard tools for site survey; you can inspect infrastructure without the same risk of human injury.
- lern_too_spel 2y ago
  The Green Hornet used a car-launched drone to fight crime in the 60s. Similarly, Joe Astor in the 90s.
  - euroderf 2y ago
    I'd be curious to know the specific design and capabilities of the Green Hornet's drone.
greatgib 2y ago
This is something that Chinese company are very good at. Partnership and working together to deliver Amazon products. Western companies are more like "protected garden" with big companies very afraid to share innovation and sure that they can only strive supported by their own strong "intellectual property"!
- r00fus 2y ago
  s/Amazon/amazing/ but really funny honestly.
iFire 2y ago
Neat. Scout vehicles for invasion.
robocat 2y ago
This has the potential for social media to create influencing videos for BYD. I love the concept: if your car is a status symbol then you want great videos of your car in spectacular situations. A bit like the drones that follow you while skiing or biking. Probably mostly about admiring yourself or bragging, but perhaps sometimes useful for other feedback. Because it is relatively expensive, perhaps that is a good selection bias for valuable influencers?
perihelions 2y ago
I wonder it'd make sense to rent out vehicle drone launchpads for delivery drones to attach to to hitchhike, while recharging. You could imagine a fleet of always-connected private cars uploading their autopilot routes, and a parallel fleet of quadcopters matching *their* routes and picking out optimal carriers. - extend range - higher uptime due to recharging
- euroderf 2y ago
  Clearly you need the right incentives for drivers. Poland had a neat system for hitchhikers back in the day. A hitchhiker bought a book of tickets. It included a small, distinct sign to hold up to signal drivers. When you got a ride, you tore off a coupon the driver, and each ticket was ... (drum roll please...) a lottery ticket. So, every lift you gave gave you the driver a non-zero shot at a prize.
lofaszvanitt 2y ago
I had this idea for a long time, but for bikes And of course for speeding. You launch the drone, which can go at tremendous speeds. Goes ahead, and reports back if any cars-tractors-cops-whatever are in your way. So you could react faster or the bike itself could brake before the obstacle would appear on your horizon.
segmondy 2y ago
Idea is 8 years old https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/07/land-rovers-new-discovery-search-and-rescue-suv-has-a-roof-mounted-drone/ https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/07/land-rovers-new-discovery-...

30 points by nickthegreek 2y ago

Havoc 2y ago

To what end?

gedy 2y ago
Top down view to you can drive like a videogame?
bionhoward 2y ago
Could be cool for recording video, or scouting traffic patterns?
- viraptor 2y ago
  Traffic patterns have basically been solved by maps/waze/whatever. And you really don't want to be watching that screen even in a slow moving traffic. Recording video... maybe, but is that ever an in-the-moment thing? I never had an "I'd like to film my car going at city speeds" thought.
r00fus 2y ago
This is a consumer version of what the PLA is probably deploying for military operations already. Imagine a Humvee-equivalent with integrated drone scout giving real-time threat and mobility assessments... or for targeting support for air power.
- onlypassingthru 2y ago
  Or a mesh network. Getting a signal is probably easier if you've got a repeater hovering above.
  - euroderf 2y ago
    Based on the application domain, I want my personal security auto-mobile drone to resemble the gyrocopter in Mad Max.
- euroderf 2y ago
  A good way to create a dual-use technology in order to monetize it, amortize the development costs, and achieve production economics of scale. For that matter, check out what China is doing with Ro-Ro ships. Amphibious assault -adjacent.
r14c 2y ago
I can imagine using this tech to take high-res landscape videos while driving through wilderness regions or places with amazing vistas in general. You'd obviously need a co-pilot to actually operate the drone, but you could get some really amazing footage on the way to a camp site and while you're camped too. Could be cool for capturing candid videos during parties or at family reunions or such.
dharmab 2y ago
Surveying a pipeline, canal, electrical/communication line, rooftop. Drones are standard tools for site survey; you can inspect infrastructure without the same risk of human injury.
lern_too_spel 2y ago
The Green Hornet used a car-launched drone to fight crime in the 60s. Similarly, Joe Astor in the 90s.
- euroderf 2y ago
  I'd be curious to know the specific design and capabilities of the Green Hornet's drone.

greatgib 2y ago

This is something that Chinese company are very good at. Partnership and working together to deliver Amazon products. Western companies are more like "protected garden" with big companies very afraid to share innovation and sure that they can only strive supported by their own strong "intellectual property"!

r00fus 2y ago
s/Amazon/amazing/ but really funny honestly.

iFire 2y ago

Neat. Scout vehicles for invasion.

robocat 2y ago

This has the potential for social media to create influencing videos for BYD. I love the concept: if your car is a status symbol then you want great videos of your car in spectacular situations. A bit like the drones that follow you while skiing or biking. Probably mostly about admiring yourself or bragging, but perhaps sometimes useful for other feedback. Because it is relatively expensive, perhaps that is a good selection bias for valuable influencers?

perihelions 2y ago

I wonder it'd make sense to rent out vehicle drone launchpads for delivery drones to attach to to hitchhike, while recharging. You could imagine a fleet of always-connected private cars uploading their autopilot routes, and a parallel fleet of quadcopters matching *their* routes and picking out optimal carriers. - extend range - higher uptime due to recharging

euroderf 2y ago
Clearly you need the right incentives for drivers. Poland had a neat system for hitchhikers back in the day. A hitchhiker bought a book of tickets. It included a small, distinct sign to hold up to signal drivers. When you got a ride, you tore off a coupon the driver, and each ticket was ... (drum roll please...) a lottery ticket. So, every lift you gave gave you the driver a non-zero shot at a prize.

lofaszvanitt 2y ago

I had this idea for a long time, but for bikes And of course for speeding. You launch the drone, which can go at tremendous speeds. Goes ahead, and reports back if any cars-tractors-cops-whatever are in your way. So you could react faster or the bike itself could brake before the obstacle would appear on your horizon.

segmondy 2y ago

Idea is 8 years old https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/07/land-rovers-new-discovery-search-and-rescue-suv-has-a-roof-mounted-drone/ https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/07/land-rovers-new-discovery-...