In Broadcast - December 2015 - 48


48

www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 5 - Issue 12 | December 2015

InFocus

Aerial Filming & Drones
David Kirk looks at some of the latest
technology taking flight for aerial filming...

A

distinguishing feature of the
annual NAB Spring Convention
over the past three decades has been
the number of helicopters on the
exhibition floor, supplemented by half
a dozen or more variously parked
outside.
These have been standard tools
for aerial filming for nearly 70
years, followed in turn by aerial
video capture when Ampex
introduced its VR-3000 batterypowered Quadruplex VTR in 1967.
Another key development was the
Wescam gyro-stabilised camera
mount (originally the WESSCAM
- Westinghouse Steered Stabilized
Camera Mount). This allowed the
steady long-zoom shots now taken
for granted in all mid-to-high-budget
documentary television programmes,
and of course for news.
The introduction of miniature highdefinition video capture devices in
recent years has made unmanned
aerial camera platforms a practical
option for aerial shooting, particularly
in locations where a manned platform
would be impractical. Battery-powered
video drones are a relatively new
product category but one that has now
matured into a viable option for many
programme producers. Flying times
per charge cycle have been increased
beyond the five minutes or so of early
generations to a more practical 20
minutes or more, depending, as the
small print always warns, on the flight
payload.
The following is a selective summary
of recent developments in this sector,
concentrating mainly on products
rather
than
aerial
production
companies.
Aerial
Camera
Systems
in
conjunction with Broadcast RF and
Helicopter Film Services recently
completed what is claimed to be
the first live 4K helicopter aerial
shoot over London. Using an Airbus
Helicopters twin engine AS355 fitted
with a Shotover stabilised camera
mount and Sony F55 camera, ACS
cameraman Dave Manton was able to
send back live 4K aerial images using
Broadcast RF's newly developed 4K RF
system. The 4K video was transmitted
to the ground over the same channel

Hubsan quadcopter

bandwidth used for a 2K HD feed.
Aeryon's SkyRanger is a 102 cm
diameter quadcopter with a claimed
50 minutes flying time per charge. The
standard model can operate at up to
3 km distance and up to 450 metres
altitude. The camera delivers1080/24
H.264 video.

This can be configured by the operator
as a transmitter, receiver or rangeextending re-transmitter. Function
modules are available for lens, servo
or camera control. Parameters such as
Airborne Robotics AIR8
data style, parity and baud rates can
Airborne Robotics' AIR8 is an be set via the menu on the transmitter.
eight-rotor drone with a 15-minute The companion RD_12 Radio CCU
flying time. Powered by two 10 Ah Receiver is the smallest, 88 x 60 x 12.5
batteries, it can carry loads of up to 7 mm, and lightest, 100 grammes, that it
kg and operate at up to 50kph. Remote produces.
control range is 2 km. The AIR8 is 108
DJI's Phantom 3 is a miniature
cm in diameter and incorporates a four-rotor drone with a total diagonal
three axis camera mount. Designed size of 590 mm and all-up weight
for use with high grade video and of 1.28 kg. It comes complete with
digital cine cameras, including 6K a 12.4 megapixel camera capable
models, it is based on the experience of operating at up to 4096 x 2160
of the company's production division, resolution and 24/25 Hz frame
Airborne Motion Pictures.
rate. Integral image storage is to
Class 10 Micro SD card (64 GB
maximum capacity). MP4 and
MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) video
file formats are supported.
Maximum
horizontal
speed
is 16 metres per second and
altitude limit is 120 metres above
BR Remote: Multi Function Controller takeover point (6,000 metres
BR Remote Ltd - at IBC introduced absolute). Features include three axis
a new R-C interface board that stabilisation (pitch, roll and yaw), GPS,
works with its professional remote and a 3.5 km CE-compliant transmitter.
control panels to add broadcast
Dynamic Perspective's DynaX5 is
quality camera control to cameras a lightweight 5-axis gyro-stabilised
mounted on drones. The R-C interface camera gimbal optimised for film/
controls gimbal pan, tilt and roll. With TV production with ultralights,
additional modules, it can also control drones, cable cams, helicopters and
lens zoom, focus and iris, and CCU light aircraft. Designed for use with
parameters such as colour balance, compact broadcast and digital cine
gains and blacks. The R-C Interface will cameras, it can perform continuous
be sold as a PCB for users to install into horizontal pan, 210 degree vertical tilt
their drones. The system can control and 45 degree roll offset.
Sony, Hitachi, Ikegami, JVC, Panasonic
Flying Glass is one of many aerial
and Grass Valley cameras, as well as production companies around the
LANC cameras and its own camera world which builds its own drones. The
range. The live demonstration at IBC company's latest drone is being put
showed the camera moving in three to use flying Arri Alexa Mini and F55
dimensions on a four-wire system from cameras for drama and commercials.
Dynami-Cam. The R-C Interface can be Flight times of 10 minutes are being
used with the RD_11 Radio Data System. achieved with an 8 kg payload.

Flying-Cam
SARAH

Flying-Cam's 3.0 SARAH is a 25 kg
electrically powered helicopter-style
drone with a 2.2 metre diameter main
rotor. Claimed flying time is up to
30 minutes with a 5 kg payload. The
battery can be charged in one hour
or replaced in one minute. Features
include auto-pilot, gyro-stabilised
camera head, GPS and optional
weather protection.
Gyro-Stabilized Systems' GSS B520
is a five-axis gyro-stabilised camera
platform with a 20 inch diameter
gimbal. Designed for attachment to a
manned helicopter, the platform was
developed to integrate the latest fullsize broadcast cameras and associated
long focal length broadcast lenses. GSS
B520 capabilities include stabilised
or steerable horizon with in-flight
automatic calibration, standard and
inverted use, wireless control option,
metadata outputs (lens, camera and
GPS), remotely controlled optical filter
and an electro-mechanical gimbal stow
mechanism.
Hubsan's H109S X4 Pro quadcopter
includes a 1080p HD camera and
can fly for up to 25 minutes with its
payload. It is supplied with a 2.4/5.8
GHz transceiver working with a 7-inch
touch screen and Google Android
operating system. Operating features
include direction control, return to
home, programmable waypoints, GPS
and onboard barometer. Weight is just
over 1 kg and diagonal size is 370 mm.
The H109S X4 Pro is powered by a 7 Ah
3S LiPo battery.
http://www.inbroadcast.com http://www.hubsan.com/Video/index.html https://youtu.be/6eSSsqrNuW0 http://flying-cam.com/en/movies.php?PHPSESSID=6233197ee586db0cb23e3b36152b1c1e http://www.br-remote.com
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