About the Gear
Behind every stunning FPV drone there is a collection of highly specialized equipment. The camera, while critical to capturing the video, is only a fraction of the entire platform...
FPV drones were originally designed for drone racing, and as a result, they are unbelievably capable devices. Capable of flying at 60 miles per hour or more, and executing rapid flips and rolls on any axis, they are in a class of their own. That being said, the most dynamic footage, is often not the most cinematic. These drones are still perfectly happy traveling clean, smooth paths with varying altitude for a more cinematic feel.
All videos to date have been captured on a GoPro of some sort. The compact size, durability, image quality, and support for stabilization in post is second to none. That being said, there are some limitations, specifically weight. Our lightest drone sports a custom, striped down "naked" GoPro, specifically for use during Category 1flights or tight and delicate spaces.
There are two critical signals that travel between a pilot and their drone. The first is the control signal. This is the signal that carries the instruction from the pilot to the drone to tell it how to fly, which way to turn, to accelerate, slow down, etc. The second is broadcast from the drone, to show the pilot what it sees, so that the pilot can make decisions about the drone's flight path and heading in real time. We use cutting edge protocols and quality equipment to minimize signal loss during flight and maximize control and video signal range.
We routinely use a collection of neutral density (ND) filters on our cameras. This allows us to slow down the camera's shutter speed in order to capture silky smooth video when desired..
While we do our best to make our flights as smooth as possible, a drone is a high-energy device. Because of this we leverage image stabilization software that will use movement data recorded by the camera to smooth out the resulting video in post. While there are times when stabilization may be undesired, it generally results in a much more optically pleasing end product.
While our batteries never last as long as we would like, they are capable of delivering significant energy over a short duration. This allows dynamic movement when desired. We use high quality memory cards that are capable of recording in 4K, our preferred resolution.
Our goggles are some of the most cutting edge available. This allows for optimal signal range, image quality, and minimal latency. These all result in improved response time for the pilot during flights in order to capture that uniquely dynamic video.