A useful tool for working in confined places.

[umop_apisdn]

A webcam.

While working on installing my motor mount this weekend I spent a lot of time laying in awkward positions that brought back long repressed memories of college twister games. And with only one access hole to the lazarette, which was occupied by my arm, I found myself wishing I had eyeballs on the tips of my fingers.

A webcam attached to a laptop did the trick quite nicely.

Noel

[Dave R1]

That's a great idea. 8) I've got access to a fiber optic scope but that requires at least one hand if not two to operate and wouldn't be very good for something like you were dealing with. I never thought of using one of those cameras.

[PAR]

A well positioned mirror works. I have a couple of different "inspection" mirrors with telescopic arms and swivel heads that I use pretty regularly. I picked them up at an auto parts store years ago.

[Ironmule]

Mostly I just close my eyes. It seems to help my fingertips "see".

What I'd like at times is a second joint in my arm and hydraulic shortners or extenders. :roll:

[PAR]

Hey Jeff, hows the long rifle hanging? I'm in Eustis now, bought a nice chunk of woods. I miss our talks on design and history at Dickens and Reed book store (now closed). Good to see your log in.

Paul

[JMetzner]

Oh no Noel!! You've given Dave an idea! Do you have ANY idea what havoc you've unleashed?!?!? No doubt Dave is now planning some elaborate modification entailing a web cam focused on his awesome chain & sprocket steering system with integrated gps course plotting correlating rudder movements to course changes. :shock: For grins he'll probably add a real-time data uplink to a website.

--John M.

Alaska-in-Exile

[Dave R1]

Hmmm.... A servo motor and some optical recognition software, a palm pilot. Yeah. I think I could come up with a great Rube Goldberg-esque auto pilot. Hmmm.... Hey John, any chance I could get satellite access to an XT3 to do the nav calculations?