My latest FPV video

Post by **Noircogi** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 11:26 pm

Check it out! FPV flying on 12/29 in the SF bay area.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df6LSIUJ5fA

Post by **Ylyrra** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 11:50 pm

Very beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Post by **Timothian** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 1:02 pm

Great scenery, but the geek in me is thinking about the impressive video feed you are able to get.

Post by **Lorai** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 3:32 pm

Beautifully done Noir, and I love the music too.

Alsmack · Post by **Alsmack** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 4:36 pm

Aae got me thinking - is that video feed returned to you and you fly using it, and we're seeing what you see? Or is that video feed just recorded onboard and you pull it later?

Either way, neat stuff. I'd love to try my hand at this, but I can't afford yet another expensive hobby =)

Post by **Noircogi** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 5:57 pm

There are actually two cameras on the plane. That video is from a GoPro (Hero3 Black) which is along to record.

There is also a standard-definition security camera onboard. It's output passes through the flight controller which overlays full instrumentation onto it and that is sent back to me on the ground.

This is a video from someone else which uses the same on-screen display as I have:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ov5tYRPq4c

On the ground I have a small base station with video receivers and antennas mounted on a tripod. I also have a mini DVR connected to that which records the live video stream. In addition, there's a small display which logs the last known GPS coordinates of the plane (in case it goes down). The flight controller implements a "failsafe", "return to home" function which will automatically bring it back to circle the launch point if it loses contact with the radio control, or if I flip a switch.

I wish the live video feed was in HD, it would make the experience even more immersive.

Three things limit the range of my setup.
1. It has to be line-of-sight for the control and video links to work. (They'll go through trees and houses but not mountains)
2. The video down-link with my current TX/RX and antennas probably limit the range to about 14 miles. I've never been over about 7.5 miles from launch since it's so hilly around here (see #1).
3. The size of the batteries powering the plane. I can currently do about 35 miles of total distance in one flight with the batteries I have. I'm getting some bigger ones which should up that to about 45 miles.

This flight from back in June was pretty much the full 35 miles of distance, but a massive chunk of the last two legs is edited out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LesHzQmt9c0

The rules say that RC planes should not go over 400 feet of altitude within 7 miles of an airport so that limits me too since there are several nearby.

Alsmack · Post by **Alsmack** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 9:48 pm

That's really cool. Pretty full fledged instrumentation there. Are you choosing a plane over a chopper for weight concerns, distance/speed, or both? I would think the maneuverability of a chopper would make aerial recording more fun, but if you require LOS then you can't really use that to much benefit I guess.

Post by **Noircogi** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 7:48 pm

I have some multi-rotors too. If you check my youtube posts there are videos from a quad-rotor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAVpSwvtaow
and also a Tri-copter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN-r5AiWcds

I like the way the tricopter flies much better.

For long range, multirotors don't compare to planes. My tricopter will hover for about 17 minutes max. At full speed it's more like 12 minutes. That means something like 6 miles round-trip max if I set it up for long-range.

I use normal radio control and 5.8GHz for the video link (it's much smaller than what I use on the plane) on the Tricoper so I really only have about 1 mile of max FPV range.

The copter is much better for close-up filming of specific stuff.

Post by **Astute** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 9:06 pm

Sorry but damn that's cool Lol.

Post by **Noircogi** » Thu May 01, 2014 11:54 pm

Here's a new one that turned out really great. The light was amazing.
Resolutions up to 1440P are available if you have a high-res monitor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj92PnahDUg

Alsmack · Post by **Alsmack** » Fri May 02, 2014 12:40 am

Man, If I had a few grand to blow, I'd totally get in to this hobby.

http://eq.magelo.com/profile/475375 · Post by **Sunnie** » Fri May 02, 2014 12:46 am

Beautiful scenery!

Post by **Ylyrra** » Fri May 02, 2014 6:49 pm

Noircogi wrote:Here's a new one that turned out really great. The light was amazing.
Resolutions up to 1440P are available if you have a high-res monitor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj92PnahDUg

Breathtakingly beautiful! Thanks for sharing.