Introduction + question (and a sweet video as bait)

Speedwagon said:

Good Evening,

I'm a firefighter in Oregon that's been building drones for about a year now, in order to be used on wildland fires. I have a few that are ready to be used with Thermal & standard CCD board cams on gimbal turrets, but I'd like to add a specific type of laser pointer and, if anyone happens to have experience, an LED spotlight.

I have no idea of my expectations on a laser are realistic, but I'll lay out what I'm hoping for.
1. Function on 3.3v, or 5.1v if necessary. 3.3v would be better.
2. Visible "line" from the drone to the targeted point. My plan is to use this to point out hot spots picked up with the Flir Tau, but I'd also like to be able to use it on search & rescue dispatches.
3. Safe? Is this even possible with a solid line laser pointer meant to reach 800ft? I'd really prefer not to light someone's retina's on fire if we're trying to rescue them.
4. actually, that's mostly it.

As for the LED spotlight, I know there are options for the power I want, but I haven't seen any that are the right size for a 6lb drone. Any ideas for something under 100grams that could reach out to 400ft?

Thank you for any help or doses of reality.


Also, here is a video of the first night test with the thermal on a new gimbal (which just got replaced today).
(video isn't loading for me. Just in case - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqVTpb59Kmw )

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Speedwagon said:

Hi joey,

I already have tracking set up and am just getting it dialed in with the flir. I can point the camera, I would just like to figure out of there is a small laser module that I can put in the gimbal and control with a 3.3v relay switch. I'm pretty comfortable on the robotics side of the project, I just don't know anything about lasers.

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