Geek festival flags

[robpearson]

I know this doesn't sound related to photography and video, but bear with me.
I've noticed recently that small quadcopters that can carry tiny video cameras are getting very cheap. I have a campervan, and often find it's a little tricky to find in the dark in a campsite especially for people trying to locate me. As a confirmed geek, I was thinking that instead of the now ubiquitous flag I might be able to do something far cooler - a tethered quadcopter with camera and searchlight /UFO style Disc with blinking lights on the outside.

I might be better with this in the models thread, but any advice from those of you with balloon photography or similar experience would be gratefully accepted.

Thanks

[Simpo Two]

The last little quadcopter I saw had a duration of about 7 minutes.

A white balloon filled with helium would stay aloft for days and cost pennies.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

...and a balloon is unlikely to make the people in the tent next door want to kill you.

[Simpo Two]

Why?

Not as annoying as a buzzing noise that stops every 7 minutes, followed by a thud, followed by a slamming door, then another 7 mins of buzzing... rinse and repeat...

[robpearson]

One of the points of tethering it was so it could make an annoying buzzing sound for as long as my 330AH of batteries can last - probably over a week, not 7 minutes. This should also mean i can stream video down using a proper wifi dongle and a raspi. I certainly don't envisage using it when the campsite was asleep, and I probably wouldn't wish to make my location obvious to potential visitors after I'd gone to sleep.

[robpearson]

I do like the idea of a balloon though. I guess there's a website somewhere that can tell me what size I need for a given payload.

[Simpo Two]

You wanted a way for visitors to find your caravan in the dark.

Blinking lights - OK - but what's the video for?

[robpearson]

for seeing them coming

[Simpo Two]

I reconfirm your geekness

Just fly the balloon and sit back and watch TV until you hear a knock on the door.