Drone Found – Route 50 MD (Near Eastern DC)

kawrider

New member
First, I know this may be the incorrect forum or place to put this, but please understand I am not a member here I am just trying to help out who ever lost this drone, please mods if necessary move this post to the correct forum location

So straight to the point, I found a Drone this morning on my commute in to work.
It was laying on the side of route 50 in the Cheverly / Landover Hill area.

The good news is I found it and want to get it back to you, the bad news it has been raining all morning and I'm sure this has at least been sitting there since this weekend so its been soaked for at least 10 hours straight. I unplugged the battery and laid it out to dry... hopefully nothing’s fried.. but chances are there is some electrical damage to the servo / motors

Don't need a reward, just want to get this back to whoever owns it.

I know sadly there are some people out there trying to snag a free stuff, so don't even reply to this ad unless you have a picture and or serial number of the drone you lost along with a contact number so I can get in touch with you.

If your picture matches Ill let you know and we can schedule sometime we can meet up after work so I can get it back to you.

This is posted in on craigslist in the Washington DC post. Go to the community section, and lost and found, when you find the post respond to me through there in order to get in contact with me directly. I have to do it this way as I am posting this in many areas across the web and want to make sure I get the response addressed. If the craigslist post is down, the drone made it home and it wasn't your drone.

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/laf/d/drone-found-route-50/6384903588.html

Mods if the craigslist post is down, can you please archive or delete this forum, thanks.
 

French

Construire Voler S'écraser Répéter
Kawrider, thank you for posting this. Many people wouldn’t take the time to do what you’ve done.
 

CrashRecovery

I'm a care bear...Really?
Mentor
I saw that you found a number on it, check with the AMA and see if it is a number they recognize.
 

kawrider

New member
I saw that you found a number on it, check with the AMA and see if it is a number they recognize.

AMA? Did you mean FAA? I don't know that AMA acronym.

If you meant FAA then yes is has a UAS number,

I'll try keep this short, but in the future I'm probably going to post a write up about just this point alone to update everyone.

Straight to the point. FAA no longer tracks personal drones under 50 pounds. Not only do they not track them, due to law changes last year they no longer keep a database. I mean they even internally can not track a drone to its owner. There is no longer any system to do this.

There is a lot of misleading information on the web, I spoke with the FAA directly and had a long conversation with the personnel in charge of the registration. The now only track flight models with "N" number registration, which is personal flight vehicles.

That FAA / UAS number no longer means anything to anyone. Its simply a unique number you can now use to identify your drone. Which, in some ways is still good as the person looking for their drone will be able to tell me what UAS number is on it and I can then confirm its his.

Luckily to anyone who paid for a consumer/private registration through the FAA for a registration are now entitled to their money back (which was either 5 or 10 dollars I believe) . You need to fill out a form on the AFF website to do so.
 

TexMechsRobot

Posted a thousand or more times
The AMA is the Academy of Model Aeronautics and has memberships that offer various benefits. Many private clubs require membership to the AMA for insurance purposes and often, their AMA number is affixed to their RC craft.

What does the number look like? How many characters? Are there letters and numbers?

You are correct about the FAA regulations. This was a hotly debated topic on this forum and elsewhere for a long time and many of us were glad to see it go.

Have you tried posting this on RC Groups as well? There's a large audience there as well.
 

LitterBug

Techno Nut
Moderator
I'm guessing this thing has a GPS and has logged where it has flown. You may be able to hook up up to a computer and download the logs to home in on a "home" location. Might also be able to to find a serial number and try to track it back via the manufacturer.... Guess this all depends on the make/model and type. Just some random thoughts on tracking down the owner.

Cheers!
LitterBug
 

kawrider

New member
The AMA is the Academy of Model Aeronautics and has memberships that offer various benefits. Many private clubs require membership to the AMA for insurance purposes and often, their AMA number is affixed to their RC craft.

What does the number look like? How many characters? Are there letters and numbers?

You are correct about the FAA regulations. This was a hotly debated topic on this forum and elsewhere for a long time and many of us were glad to see it go.

Have you tried posting this on RC Groups as well? There's a large audience there as well.

Okay, thank you for clarifying, AMA in my book is "American motorcyclist association" but that's cause I have a different hobby =)

Its definitely an AFF number, that was confirmed that for me when I spoke to someone regarding this originally, and its sadly the only number on there.

Yes I do have it posted on RC groups, as well as about a dozen other places... still no hits yet...
 

kawrider

New member
I'm guessing this thing has a GPS and has logged where it has flown. You may be able to hook up up to a computer and download the logs to home in on a "home" location. Might also be able to to find a serial number and try to track it back via the manufacturer.... Guess this all depends on the make/model and type. Just some random thoughts on tracking down the owner.

Cheers!
LitterBug

I contacted the manufacture, they were very nice and actually posted my craigslist post on their facebook in order to help out in trying to find the owner.. they however do not keep records as they sell to retailors and not directly to the end user. I called retailors near where it was found.. but no dice, they don't track anything either.

I know very little about these, and did not even realize they could be plugged into a computer. I see now that it has a standard micro USB but this battery is long dead and I have no way of charging it or any idea how to get that info even If I can get it charged.

I'm gonna PM you
 

TexMechsRobot

Posted a thousand or more times
I must say I'm impressed with the lengths you've gone to in order to put this back in the hands of the owner.

If you are unable to find the owner (and that is the most likely outcome) might I suggest that you find a young person to gift it to who could use it as a starting off point for the hobby? It's a great way for a curious and responsible adolescent/teen to learn about mechanics, electronics, research, and hard work as well as countless hours of fun. I'm sure you can come up with a way to find such an individual.
 

kawrider

New member
I must say I'm impressed with the lengths you've gone to in order to put this back in the hands of the owner.

If you are unable to find the owner (and that is the most likely outcome) might I suggest that you find a young person to gift it to who could use it as a starting off point for the hobby? It's a great way for a curious and responsible adolescent/teen to learn about mechanics, electronics, research, and hard work as well as countless hours of fun. I'm sure you can come up with a way to find such an individual.

I am really just hoping I can get this back to the owner... I mean the person has several aftermarket parts, its not right of the box like this. Props, motors, antennas all upgraded and changed out... I would assume he's got to be on a forum or something somewhere? I've updated all the main forums I could find, updated several lost and found post sites, multiple craigslist post, multiple other forum members across several different boards posted the found link to their Facebook groups in the area and out of it. Contacted local resellers and the manufacture who also posted a found post of it.

Playing the waiting game for now, hoping for the best.
 

kawrider

New member
Just wanted to update all the forums, as of today I have sadly still have not found any leads on who this belongs to.

I am going to continue waiting for a couple more days, but come beginning of next week if I do not hear anything, and cant get this back to the originally owner, I am going to sell and donate this.

I thought about this for a little while and decided I don't want to make money off someone else's lost, so instead I think it would be nice to at least turn this lost into a good ending.

So this will go for sale on eBay, and ALL proceeds with go to two different organizations.

The First being Cross International, Which is an Awesome Organization for getting support and food to those less fortunate, and the majority of the remaining to a local Organization that provides Toys for Children in the Area for Christmas, since it is the season it seems like the right thing to do.

If that time comes, I will post all the information on the item.

Until then, if you do hear something or know who may own this, please still get in touch with me so I can get this to him / her.
 

TexMechsRobot

Posted a thousand or more times
That's a fitting end. I have doubts that you'll get a lot for it seeing as how it's a used drone with a potential for water damage. Go you know the make and model? That will help you determine it's original value.
 

kawrider

New member
That's a fitting end. I have doubts that you'll get a lot for it seeing as how it's a used drone with a potential for water damage. Go you know the make and model? That will help you determine it's original value.

Yes, its an upgraded race drone. I priced out the drone and all its parts, the guy or girl originally spent somewhere between 600-900 on it.

Really just hoping if no one can claims it (which would still of course be the ideal option) it sells for enough that a couple kids can a toy out of it. If it sells for a 100 bucks, hey that's 5 kids that got a present they weren't going to get for Christmas, so it would still be blessing to someone.
 

TexMechsRobot

Posted a thousand or more times
Agreed. I was going to offer to help you price it out but looks like you have everything under control!
 

kawrider

New member
Update!

Got some great news this weekend, got contacted by email that someone who believed what I found was their friend’s drone that went down. They spoke with their friend and got his FAA number and model to me and it was an exact match. After some questions I got in touch with the owner himself and confirmed it was in fact his.

This morning we met up and I am pleased to announce it is back in the original owner’s hands now. He was so happy to have it back and so pleased and grateful I could get it back to him, and to be honest I was equally as happy to see him so thankful. It’s great to know this “case” is now solved!

So for those of you who were wondering…

What was the quad type?

This was a race drone. The main body was an ImmersionRC Vortex 250 Pro Racing Quad. It had a Spektrum FPV Racing Receiver, Blue Bullnose Tri-Blade Dalprops, Xnova Racing Motors, Pulse 1550 Quad Lithium Battery Pack, 120 Degree Cloverleaf Antenna, Immersion RC Upgrade 12 LED With Diffuser to name a few of the most noticeable aftermarket parts.

How’d it get lost?

It lost signal from the park on the south side of route 50 and took off and dropped down approx. 3500 feet north east of where the flight point started at. Either the failsafe failed or wasn’t set and it traveled nearly 3/4 of a mile and dropped down on the highway were I found it 5 days later. So for those of you that don’t have a failsafe program, get it. For those of you that have one, test it out first… especially if you are flying your drone at over 60 mph. In less than a minute it can be nearly a mile away. This being a clear case and point.

How’d it get recovered?

I found it on my morning commute and I posted it as found on quite literally every main forum I could find, as well as numerous lost and found forums. I posted in lost and found areas on craigslist too. But what ended up being what worked, in the case specifically, is I posted in the "for sale" section of craigslist with a “drone found” post. His friend, who is also a drone hobbyist, saw the post when searching for parts for himself and notified his friend.

Lost on Nov 8th, found on the 13th, contacted the 18th and back in owner’s hands the 20th.

What can be learned here?

First and foremost, put your Email and or Cell Phone number on your drone. Just a printed label from a label maker will work.

Second, if your drone has the ability to fly outside of your line of sight or at speeds that it may damage something if it went loose. You need to have a failsafe programmed. Not just to not lose your drone… but also not to have your drone injure someone or something else.

Those two things could really help out if and when your drone gets loose.

I learned a lot about flight recovery while trying to find the owner, and If I get the time I may make a separate post just to share what I leaned.

Thanks to everyone who also helped get the word out!
 

JimCR120

Got Lobstah?
Site Moderator
God bless you sir for your uncommon diligent pursuit of someone else's benefit. You were determined to have someone else other than yourself benefit from this. Thank you for being so honorable. Your community is blessed to have you as are we to have met you.
Sincerely,
—Jim

PS. Have you considered entering the hobby? It's a great way to socialize and have fun in the process.
 

LitterBug

Techno Nut
Moderator
This is most excellent news! Thank you for your efforts to return it to the rightful owner!

Cheers!
LitterBug
 

kawrider

New member
God bless you sir for your uncommon diligent pursuit of someone else's benefit. You were determined to have someone else other than yourself benefit from this. Thank you for being so honorable. Your community is blessed to have you as are we to have met you.
Sincerely,
—Jim

PS. Have you considered entering the hobby? It's a great way to socialize and have fun in the process.

Thank you Jim for your kinds words! And Yes I have thought about it, and watched more than a few you tube videos on not only flights but custom builds... However its a bit out of my price range for now... On a tight budget and got 4 little ones 8 and under so Id personally feel a bit guilty if I spent the money on it.

To be honest, I convinced my wife a little wile back that that kids would love it (They did, but it was really my want that started it) and we tired one of the cheaper models from a big box store... and well as you probably all know... that just makes you want a real one, and frustrated they only work for like a week...lol

Some day though!