rotor drone - july - august 2015

Our devotion to reliability and performance is what you’ll find in every Blade® drone design. That’s because each

one is engineered by a team with decades of combined flight experience. A team that knows a great experience

requires durability, maneuverability and power to spare. This performance is complemented by innovative SAFE®

technology that delivers precision, stability and the kind of intuitive flight mode options that exceed expectations.

Whether it’s aerial video capture, learning to fly or just having fun, we have the drone experience you deserve.

DRONEdEVOTIONSee More At BladeQuad.com

Our devotion to reliability and performance is what you’ll find in every Blade® drone design. That’s because each

one is engineered by a team with decades of combined flight experience. A team that knows a great experience

requires durability, maneuverability and power to spare. This performance is complemented by innovative SAFE®

technology that delivers precision, stability and the kind of intuitive flight mode options that exceed expectations.

Whether it’s aerial video capture, learning to fly or just having fun, we have the drone experience you deserve.

dEVOTION

©2015 Horizon Hobby, LLC. Blade, E-flite, Glimpse, Mach 25, Chroma, EFC, SAFE, the SAFE logo, Serious Fun and the Horizon Hobby logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Horizon Hobby, LLC. All other trademarks, service marks and logos are property of their respective owners. Actual product may vary slightly from photos shown. 48202

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Pico QXRTF (BLH8200)

• Compact 8 gram micro quadcopter • Single or double flip button• Internal battery and LED lights

Glimpse™

RTF (BLH2200) | BNF (BLH2280)

• Integrated HD camera and free App• Low-latency Wi-Fi video downlink• Durable airframe with blade guards

FPV Nano QX RTF (BLH7200) | BNF (BLH7280)

• Spektrum™ ultra micro FPV camera • Fat Shark Teleporter V4 headset (RTF only)• Small enough to fly in any room or office

Mach 25™ FPV RacerBNF (BLH8980)

• AR636QR receiver with pressure sensor• Spektrum ultra micro 25mw FPV camera• Robust 2mm carbon-fiber frame

200 QXBNF (BLH7780) • Powerful brushless motors• Integrated, bright LED lighting• Support for optional HD camera

350 QX3AP COMBO (BLH8160)RTF (BLH8100) | BNF (BLH8180) • Available with the CGO2 GB camera/gimbal unit• Brushless power and Li-Po flight battery• Free PC programming interface

Chroma™

Camera Drone

• Easy to fly with 30-minute flight times • Available with camera or GoPro-ready• No-distortion 4K and 1080p options

Pico QX

Chroma™

Camera DroneRTF (BLH8675/BLH8670/BLH8665) BNF (BLH8680)

• Easy to fly with 30-minute flight times • Available with camera or GoPro-ready• No-distortion 4K and 1080p options

ENGINEERED WITH

RotorDrone (ISSN 2374-8389) published by Air Age Media, 88 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897 USA. Copyright 2015; all rights reserved. Canadian Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40008153. SUBSCRIPTIONS: To subscribe to any Air Age publication, call (800) 877-5169 or go to AirAgeStore.com. Canada and elsewhere call (386) 246-3323. CONTRIBUTIONS: All materials published in RotorDrone become the exclusive property of Air Age Inc., unless prior arrangement is made in writing with the Publisher. Descriptions of products were obtained from manufacturers or their press agencies and do not constitute an endorsement by the Publisher or guarantee their safety. ADVERTISING: Advertising rates are available on request. Please send advertising materials to Advertising Dept., Air Age Inc., 88 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897 USA; (203) 431-9000; fax (203) 592-3010.

on the cover: Where and how will multirotors be used in five to 15 years? Ten experts share their predictions in our feature article, “The Future of Drones.” Illustration by Sinelab

on thIS PAGe: An artist rendering provides another look into the future of drones.

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JULY/AUGUST 2015

30 | The Future of DronesAs drone advancements accelerate, experts weigh inBy Team RotorDrone

42 | Disaster in NepalDrones aid first responders in the aftermath of a devastating earthquakeBy Team RotorDrone

48 | Total Control! The inside scoop on eight great flight controllersBy Team RotorDrone

54 | A New Breed of MultirotorSprite’s form follows its functionBy Team RotorDrone

58 | AeroCineArtistry, industry, and innovation take flightBy Matt Boyd

80 | RCX: Radio Control & Hobby Expo The ultimate radio control expo returns to the OC!By Team RotorDrone

FEATURES

EXPERT TECH72 | Video Editing Tools 101Which program is right for you? BY ROBERT C. RODRIGUEZ

88 | 3D Printing ProjectA DIY $30 quadcopterBY WILLIAM LEVASSEUR

94 | Legal View: State & Local Drone Laws No substitution for strong federal rules BY JEFFREY ANTONELLI

AIR SUPPORT68 | DJI Phantom 3 AdvancedThe next generation of video production, ready to go out of the box BY JOHN REID

76 | Graupner Race Copter Alpha 250QA speed demon with all the bells and whistlesBY JOHN REID

92 | Blade/Horizon Hobby GlimpseA compact FPV HD camera drone BY GERRY YARRISH

DEPARTMENTS12 | Top View

14 | Return to Home

17 | Aerial Intel

98 | Over the Horizon

10 RotorDroneMag.com

CONTRIBUTORS

RCX.com Magazine Publishers of America

Printed in the USA

EDITORIALExecutive Editor Debra Cleghorn › [email protected] Technical Editor Gerry Yarrish › [email protected] Editor John Reid › [email protected] Editor Matt Boyd › [email protected] Manager Kayla Parent › [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORSJeff rey Antonelli, Tim Bresien, Mark Cayouette, Gus Calderon, Mike Gantt, William Levasseur, Kyle Matthew, Gordon Meehl, Patrick Sherman

ARTCreative Director Betty K. NeroArt Director Kevin Monahan

DIGITAL MEDIAWeb Producer Holly Hansen

VIDEO/PHOTOGRAPHYPhotographer Peter HallVideographer Adam Lebenstein

ADVERTISINGAdvertising Director Mitch Brian › 203.529.4609 Senior Account Executive Ben Halladay › 203.529.4628Account Executive Diane de Spirlet › 203.529.4664

CONSUMER MARKETING/PRODUCTION� e Media Source, a division of TEN, � e Enthusiast Network

MARKETING & EVENTSAssociate Creative Director Leslie CostaMarketing Assistant Erica DriverEvent Manager Emil DeFrancesco

PUBLISHINGGroup Publishers Louis V. DeFrancesco Jr., Yvonne M. DeFrancesco

FOLLOW USOn Facebook: rotordroneFollow us on Twitter: @rotordroneInstagram: instagram/rotordronemagVisit us online: ModelAirplaneNews.comComments may be sent to: [email protected]

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FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ANDSUBSCRIPTION QUESTIONS Renewals, Address Changes, Email Preferences, Billing and Account Status, go to ModelAirplaneNews.com/cs. You can also call (800) 827-0323 or +(386) 246-3323 (outside the U.S.)

The Official Publication of the UAVSA.ORG

Jeffrey AntonelliLegal View: State & Local Drone LawsJeff ’s law fi rm, Attonelli Law, recently launched Drone Democracy (dronedemocracy.com), which allows drone users with simple applications (like residential real estate)

to petition the FAA for approval to fl y commercially and off ers lower attorney’s fees than more sophisticated applications like photogrammetry and pipeline inspection.

James WilliamsThe Future of DronesJust recently retired from the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Offi ce, James believes that drones will become commonplace in our skies in the very

near future. He is looking forward to what he calls his “encore career” in the UAS fi eld.

Bob SuttonGraupner Race Copter Alpha 250QBob enjoys shooting images for RotorDrone and notes, “I like working with the drones; every photoshoot I learn something new about them. I am surprised by how

advanced the technology is getting for these little four-blade wonders and am amazed at how fast they can go.”

Patrick MeierDisaster in NepalAn internationally recognized thought-leader on humanitarian technology and innovation, Patrick is the founder of the Humanitarian UAV Network (UAViators),

which has been endorsed by the United Nations. � e UAViators provide assistance wherever it is needed after disasters like the earthquake in Nepal.

Randy Scott SlavinGet Race Ready!Randy is a commercial director and aerial cinematographer based in New York City. When his video “Aerial NYC” went viral in early 2014, he came up with the

idea to start the New York City Drone Film Festival so aerial cinematographers could have a place to show their work. He shares his tips for getting into FPV racing in this issue.


top view

John ReidSenior [email protected]

The speed at which drones and multirotors are moving in development and application is really quite astonishing. I am amazed by the new designs and features that the drone marketplace keeps developing. What will they be like, and what will they be doing, in five to 15 years? That is the very question we asked many leaders in the industry. We talked to designers, manufacturers, operators and policymakers who work with drones in every segment of the industry. They gave us their thoughts on what the future holds for drones in their field of expertise. Check out the Future of Drones feature this month for some thoughtful insight as to what you can expect to see from drones very soon. In addition, the key piece of equipment that provides all of the latest features for flying current and future drones is the flight controller. Our editorial team looked at the latest flight controllers available to give you some insight as to which controller you can use on your rig. Check out “Total Control: the inside scoop on eight great flight controllers” to see which multirotor brain fits your needs.

If you’re looking to add a multirotor to your fleet (or get started!), we have three nice quad reviews. The Blade Glimpse is the ideal drone for pilots who want to start out in aerial videography. For those of you who have a need for speed, the Graupner Hott Alpha 250 racing quad will definitely scratch that itch. Advanced pilots who want to

get serious about cinematography will want to check out our review on the DJI Phantom 3; I can tell you this is one sweet bird!

Many drones are being used for good causes, and our article on the Nepal earthquake is a perfect example of this. We wanted to find out how drones are being organized for humanitarian aid and learn what it’s like to fly a multirotor in such a devastated area. We solicited the expertise of Patrick Meier, who has been an advocate and innovator in setting up the Humanitarian UAV Network. Then we talked with Naimul Islam Opu, the owner of Cygnus Aerial Photography in Dhaka, Bangladesh, who gave us a first-hand look at what it is like on the ground helping out with his drones after the earthquake. And last, but not least, I am proud to announce that RotorDrone Magazine recently presented its first Drone of the Year award at the RCX radio-control exposition in California. Don’t miss our RCX show coverage; this event incorporates the entire remote control industry and multirotors have established a strong foothold in that community. We had a blast putting this issue together and I’m sure you are going to enjoy every page of it. I hope you’ll take a minute to let us know how we did, and what you’d like to see more of in RotorDrone. You can email us at [email protected] or leave a comment on our Facebook page. We look forward to hearing from you!

Moving at the Speed of Sound and Beyond


RETURN TO HOME

We love hearing from readers: your emails, tweets, and comments let us know what you’d like to see more (or less!) of in print and online. Here’s what some of you are saying about RotorDrone magazine.

RotorDrone88 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897

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[email protected]

FACEBOOK Firefighters vs. Drone We asked, “Were the firefighters in the right by shooting a drone down with a water hose while battling a blaze at a home in Walden, NY?” You gave us your replies quickly.

BD: � e operator should not have shot directly above the fi refi ghters. If it failed and fell from the sky, it could land on them. Also in some shots, he moved in a little too close. Still, the fi refi ghters should shown restraint and try not to spray the drone.

PT: It seems like both sides should have handled this a lot better. If the guy wants video of the fi re, then get up higher and stay above the next lot over (above the trees) so the fi refi ght-ers can focus on their job and not on a vehicle buzzing above head. Use some common sense and don’t fl y above people, or that close to emergency responders. Having said that, if the fi refi ghters were unhappy about this, they should have approached the pilot afterwards to tell him, rather than trying to destroy his personal property.

INSTAGRAM

RotorDroneMag.com › Star Wars Speeder Bike

This unique scale quad was created by Adam Woodworth from a 1/6-scale Hasbro Speeder Bike toy, and it generated a lot of conversation!

Oil Spills We showed you another way to use drone technology in “Drones can now give a better view of oil spills.”

SAPF: � ere’s nothing that drones can’t do!

TC: I think this is a very cool vehicle. Would it be possible to build a model for me? If so, how much would it cost?

LB: Being a Star Wars fan I just loved the way it fl ew. Star Wars fan I just loved the way it fl ew. Star WarsAt fi rst I could not see the Rotor Blades so you really had me with how is it being powered. Super job!

TABLET EDITIONOur tablet edition—for iPad, Android and Windows devices—is the same page-turning magazine you enjoy, plus videos and other bonus content. Follow the links to download the app at RotorDroneMag.com. Access is free with your print subscription!

July/August 2015 17

AeriAl intelreviews | accessories | gear | technology | news

Hawk Aerial MultirotorsFor Full-size aircraFt to be approved for commercial use, they must have back-up systems, which can mean the difference between a successful flight and an accident. As the FAA continues to grant exemptions for more commercial unmanned aircraft operations, the need for back-up systems is essential as these platforms carry expensive payloads (such as thermal sensors and infrared cameras) and fly over a large array of solar panels. Leading the way in the commercial rotor drone arena, the German company Service-Drone has sold over 400 airframes and is conducting successful and safe operations in Europe, with no accidents or incidents due to component failure. All of their multirotors have flight data recorders, and even though some of their multirotors were involved in incidents, review of the flight data revealed that they were all due to pilot error. Service-Drone multirotors are designed to be compatible with Jeti Model radio systems, and they have dual speed controls and dual battery packs. The proprietary flight controller has two processors that provide very precise altitude control with integrated high-quality sensors and a referenced GPS system. These multirotors are designed for surveying, mapping, and inspections when the highest level of flight stability is required. Hawk Aerial, the North American reseller of Service-Drone multirotors, allowed me to demo their Eagle 2 and Skycrane. Flying these remarkable aircraft made it easy to understand how they earned the nickname “Survey-Robot.” —Gus Calderon

AERIAL INTEL

UAVSA Insider

Fast Track to 333 ExemptionLast issue we previewed the changes that the UAVSA helped work for with the FAA to streamline the 333 Exemption Application process and help drone operators to fl y safely and legally in the U.S. From this action, we are very happy to report the UAVSA’s “Fast Track to 333 Exemption” program is a big success as we continue to assist our members with creating and applying for their 333 Exemption Application to the FAA. We encourage you to visit uavsa.org/333 to learn more about how we can help you to fl y commercially legally, safely and insured. � ere are big changes coming to the FAA for drones as James H. Williams, the manager of Unmanned Aerial Systems in the National Airspace System for the FAA, retired June 1st and we have yet to hear the announcement of his replacements. (Yes, you read that correctly, that is “replacements” as the FAA is expanding the offi ce to two offi cers now assigned to oversee the integration of Unmanned Aerial Systems into national airspace.) � is shows the urgency as well as the acknowledgment of the need for the FAA to move quickly and to not impede the progress of commerce driven by technology. One of the big issues that we are pushing hard for at the UAVSA is the creation of an “Unmanned Pilots Requirement,” and we have some news that we could see this as soon as the end of this year. � is won’t eliminate the 333 Exemption Requirement, as the integration of small drones into U.S. airspace continues to be a much broader issue with many manufacturer standards, certifi cations for pilots and aircraft, and the legislation that must be vetted federally and locally still to be debated publicly and politically.

U A V S A . O R G

Another big win for the UAVSA and all commercial drone operators was the approval of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway for the ability to test the fi rst drone operations beyond line of sight for commercial purposes. � is is paramount for the expansion of the technology commercially, and the data that will be collected will help to create the standards needed for the FAA and all legislators to understand and approve systems that fl y beyond line of sight for commercial use.

Los Angeles Drone Expo� e 2nd Annual International Drone Expo in the Los Angeles Convention Center December 11-12, 2015 is shaping up to be the most incredible international commercial drone event in history with the addition of pavilions from all across the globe displaying and demonstrating cutting-edge, never before seen technology and product announcements. � e co-located Professional Drone Business Conference will have experts, entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers, designers, and business professionals from around the world, creating the most comprehensive and immersive professional commercial drone experience ever. If you’re interested in exhibiting, presenting, or attending, please visit intdroneexpo.com for more information.We would like to thank our partner and the offi cial publication of the UAVSA for a wonderful experience at Air Age Media’s RCX Show and for a fantastic event! For more information and to join the UAVSA, visit uavsa.org. —Keith Kaplan

RotorDrone: How did you start Dronefl y?

Taylor Chien: I started Dronefl y as a small side project and the goal was to sell just one or two drones a month for a little extra pocket money. I remember my fi rst big order (at the time) for 20 units: I thought, “How in the world will I sell all 20?” I attended the NAB show in Vegas in April 2013 and sure enough sold 25 my fi rst day. In eight months, we did over 3 million in sales from only one

Dronefly’s Taylor ChienCo-founder and CEO of Dronefl y, Taylor Chien has been fl ying since 1997, when he fl ew radio-control helicopters in 3D aerobatic competitions. He got hooked on multirotors in 2012.

July/August 2015 19

Another big win for the UAVSA And All commerciAl drone operAtorS wAS the ApproVAl of bUrlington northern SAntA fe rAilwAy for the Ability to teSt the

firSt drone operAtionS beyond line of Sight for commerciAl pUrpoSeS

model drone, the Phantom 1, and a few accessories. I think our name was a hit as well. Before Dronefly, I used to order parts from other dealers and I remember not receiving the help I needed or the customer service I thought was necessary. So I knew that if I was going to do this I needed to make sure that was our number one priority. Both my brothers and good friend Frank Tesoro joined the team and now we have about 20 employees. RD: Your film “Superman with a GoPro” won the Best in Show award at the first New York City Drone Film Festival. Can you tell us a little bit about what it was like to film this piece and what inspired you?

TC: That was a lot of fun. That video pushed my flying limits since there were many shots that required me to fly through tight areas and far away. One of the shots that took place over the downtown Los Angeles river. My battery ran low when I was flying far away and over water. I noticed that I was quickly losing power and since I was over water, I had to quickly pick a dry spot to land on the river bed so I did and saved the drone. A couple

of other shots required me to fly around some buildings and fly below me as I stood on top of the high-rises. Flying below yourself is always weird. There are so many cool videos you can create with drones; everyone seems to always do the same thing so we wanted to create something no one has ever seen before.

Best in Show winner of the New York City Drone Film Festival, “Superman with a GoPro.”


aerial intel

PerhaPs the single greatest joy of being involved with rotor drones at this particular moment in history is that this is still a very young industry. As a result, you never know who you’re going to meet when you step outside your front door, and how meeting them might forever alter the trajectory of your whole, entire life. Such was my experience at International Drone Day this past March. Among the people I met out on the El Dorado Dry Lake Bed was one named David Prall who, it turns out, is the chief operations officer for Unmanned Experts. At the time, neither David nor I recognized what a fateful meeting that would ultimately prove to be.

As it happens, each of us had a problem that the other was ideally suited to solve. Unmanned Experts is a powerhouse in the industrial, public safety and defense sectors of drone operations, offering training, consultancy and managed services. The list of projects that they have worked on is truly staggering: They have worked with the U.S. Air Force to develop the first—and still the only!—multi-aircraft control system for

the MQ-1B Predator drone. The U.S. Department of Justice selected them to perform groundbreaking research using rotor drones for fatal crash scene reconstruction and they are doing ongoing work with the Dutch Ministry of Defense and Canadian civil aviation authorities. Yet, in spite of their formidable list of accomplishments and obvious depth of knowledge on this subject, they had not succeeded in getting much traction for their training program aimed at civilian and commercial operators. Here at the Roswell Flight Test Crew, we’re all about helping those individual operators learn to fly safely and responsibly while using drones for beneficial purposes. Our problem was that we were only ever going to be so effective in achieving those goals by making YouTube videos and writing articles for magazines. From Socrates right up until today, the best teaching and learning has always been done face-to-face. After International Drone Day, David and I kept in touch by email and over the following months, the ultimate form of our alliance took shape: Flight Ready Training. We designed our program from the ground up to give our students the ability to select the level of training that they need to achieve their individual goals, and to make it as convenient as possible for them to attend.We offer a choice of classes: a 2.5-day Boot Camp and a 7-day Academy. As the name suggests, the Boot Camp

Flight Ready Training

is designed to get people up and running quickly, over the course of a single weekend. The Academy provides smaller classes and more individual time with instructors, additional instruction on the topics covered in the Boot Camp, as well as more hands-on time with simulators and live aircraft. Finally, each Academy session ends with the students producing a video on a subject of their choosing, which is then posted to the Roswell Flight Test Crew’s YouTube channel, making them a permanent part of rotor drone history. Classes are offered monthly in different cities around the United States, to reduce the travel time and expense for students to be able to participate.For me, having the opportunity to stand up a training program like Flight Ready—and to do it in partnership with the consummate professionals at Unmanned Experts—is literally a dream come true. For more information, visit beflightready.com. —Patrick Sherman

National training program accomplishes a range of missions

Flight Ready tRaining CouRses

Denver, ColoraDoJuly 24-26 Boot CampJuly 27–august 2 academy

Seattle, WaShingtonaugust 21-23 Boot Campaugust 24-30 academy

neW York, neW YorkSeptember 25-27 Boot CampSeptember 28–october 4 academy

The Flight ready training Program is the result of a partnership between Unmanned experts Chief operations officer David Prall (left) and Patrick sherman of the roswell Flight test Crew.

Patrick sherman of the roswell Flight test Crew coaches Flight ready Boot Camp student rob-ert Valentine as he pilots a rotor drone during the indoor flying portion of the training course.

During the 7-day Flight ready academy training course, students are exposed to professional-grade systems provided by Unmanned ex-perts, such as the aeryon sky ranger quadcopter and liteye thermal imaging cameras.

Boot Camp aCaDemY


aerial intel

How appropriate is it that we, who selected for our namesake one of the most enduring myths of American folklore—the 1947 flying saucer crash in Roswell, New Mexico—were asked to help investigate one of its greatest unsolved mysteries: the search for Bigfoot? Our years of experience using rotor drones to fly thermal imaging cameras prompted the show’s producers to give us a call, and it was a typical mission for us: use a First-Person View system to fly overhead in support of a team on the ground. In the past, it has been firefighters and environmental scientists, but this night it was going to be Sasquatch hunters: Matt Moneymaker, Cliff Barackman, Ranae Holland and James “Bobo” Fay. For the past six seasons, they’ve traveled throughout the United States and remote locations in Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, China and Nepal in search of their quarry. For this episode, they were paying a visit to one of Oregon’s most distinctive landmarks: Mt. Hood, the state’s highest peak. From its perch on the eastern horizon, the mountain keeps watch over the city of Portland, which happens to be the home base of our operations. We met the crew in the picturesque town of Hood River at 4 p.m. on the afternoon of the search. They had already been on location for several days, talking to witnesses and collecting stories about local Bigfoot sightings. However, it would only be after the sun had set that we would begin our work in earnest. Of course, we are under the strictest possible injunction, which precludes us from revealing the results of our search, so you’ll need to tune in to Animal Planet to see what happened next, but even the most mundane details of the expedition proved fascinating. For example, here is one little known fact I discovered during the shoot: at night, it’s dark outside—really, really dark. Normally, we clever humans get around this fact by building fires, putting up streetlights and so forth. However, if you’re on the hunt for a nocturnal hominid that has successfully evaded all but the most furtive detection for millennia, apparently those aren’t good options. Fortunately, spend enough time in the dark, and your eyes eventually adjust well enough for you to perceive your surroundings; television cameras, on the other hand,

not so much. To get around this problem, the producers of “Finding Bigfoot” rely on infrared cameras. Just so we’re clear, these aren’t thermal imaging cameras like the one we mounted on our aircraft for this mission. Instead, they pick up a frequency of infrared light that lies just below the visible light spectrum. They do not detect emitted heat, but instead rely on reflected light, just like a normal camera. So, the camera operators are using lights to properly expose their shots—it’s just light that’s invisible to the human eye. Most of the cameras available today are actually capable of detecting this type of near-infrared light. In fact, they’re so good at it that camera manufacturers install an infrared cut filter in front of the image sensor, to prevent it from showing up as aberrations in visible light photographs. Apart from the surreal experience of doing a regular, stand-up TV interview in total darkness, the thing that I will most remember about the shoot were the camera rigs that give the show its distinctive look. The Sasquatch hunters, along with their guests, wear backpacks with a long arm protruding over one shoulder, with a GoPro and a small infrared light looking back at their faces to capture their reactions. No big surprise: these aren’t especially compatible with rotor drone flight operations, making it hard to pick up and carry the aircraft, change batteries, work the radio and do pretty much every other task you take for granted when you’re out flying. How the show’s principals manage to navigate heavy underbrush wearing these rigs, I’ll never know.— By Patrick Sherman

The roswell Flight test Crew selected the robust, all-weather Vortex hexacopter from UaV experts as the primary search aircraft in the hunt for Bigfoot. equipped with a thermal imaging camera tied into its First-person View video system, the Vortex is capable of staying aloft for 15 minutes with a 6-cell, 16,000mah Lipo battery.

rather than visible light, a thermal imaging camera “sees” heat radiated by objects in the environment—even in total darkness. in this case, the camera captures an image of Brian Zvaigzne of the roswell Flight test Crew as well as two members of the “Finding Bigfoot” team, standing in the background.

For this mission, the Vortex carried a FLir tau2 640 thermal imaging camera, in the hopes it would capture evidence of Big-foot, the mysterious, ape-like creature that reportedly lives in the remote, heavily wooded ter-rain surrounding Mt. Hood.

Gone Squatchin’The Roswell Flight Test Crew and the Animal Planet look for Bigfoot

Before beginning their nighttime search, the “Finding Bigfoot” team and the roswell Flight test Crew meet to develop a plan. From left to right: Matt Moneymaker, Cliff Barackman, Brian Zvaigzne, patrick sherman, ranae Holland and James “Bobo” Fay.


AERIAL INTEL

Flying a drone and getting great photos and video has never been easier: just strap its tracking device to your wrist and toss Lily in the air to start shooting! Lily fl ies itself using GPS and computer vision to follow you around and has an internal rechargeable battery that provides 20-minute fl ights. It’s waterproof, ultra-compact, and shoots HD pictures and videos. Lily costs $999. lilycamera.com lilycamera.com

ECOPOWER 2204 BRUSHLESS MOTORS

Ideal upgrades or replacements for 200- and 250-size FPV racers, these motors have “bullet style” prop adapters and have a machined aluminum alloy can that provides great cooling. � ey have 7cm wire leads and weigh in at less than an ounce each. A four-pack is $60; single motors are $16. amain.com

HITEC X2 AC PLUS

A built-in 10-amp power supply, internal balancing circuits and 10 charge/discharge profi les will make this new charger a fi eld and bench favorite. It can even be controlled using your smartphone using an optional WiFi module! � e X2 AC Plus costs $99.99. hitecrcd.com

SYMA X8C VENTURE

� is quad’s Intelligent Orientation Control makes it easier to fl y, 2 megapixel video camera means you’ll be capturing all the action in no time. Other features include fl ashing lights, six-axis gyro fl ight control system, 3D lock and more! It costs $120 and comes with a 4-channel 2.4GHz radio and 4G memory card. tenergy.com

BLADE CHROMA

� is friendly fl yer is designed to be easy to fl y and take amazing video and photos—perfect to turn life’s moments into an epic adventure! Its Follow-Me and Tracking modes take all pressure off the pilot, and its cartridge-style battery provides 30-minute fl ight times. Available in a variety of confi gurations, it starts at $599.99. fl ychroma.com

New Releases

LILY CAMERA

July/August 2015 25

ProTek r/C Aluminum universAl multirotor CAse

Protect your investment! This case has a tough aluminum shell, reinforced corners, locking latches and a high-density foam inside that’s custom-cut to fit the DJI Phantom, Blade 350 QX and 200QX, and Walkera QR X350. It costs $194.99. amain.com

ProTek r/C lost AirCrAft AlArm

The only thing worse than crashing your aircraft is not being able to find it after the crash! But if your multirotor has this $8 alarm on board, you’ll be able to follow the beeps to find it. To initiate beeping, turn off your transmitter and to activate the alarm within 60 seconds. It doesn’t require a separate receiver channel, and it doubles as an alarm to remind you when you accidentally leave the power on. amain.com

DJI mAtriCe 100 & GuidAnCe

A rotor drone that avoids collisions on its own? Sign us up! DJI’s new Guidance visual sensing system has cameras and ultrasonic sensors that can scan in all directions to detect obstacles! Combine that with their new Matrice 100 platform, which comes with DJI’s E800 motors and has “expansion bays” that allow you to customize it with any devices you’d like, and you have an ideal R&D machine. The Matrice 100 costs $2999; Guidance is $999. dev.dji.com

BlaCkmagIC DesIgn miCro super 16 CinemA CAmerA

With a Super 16 sensor and 13 stops of dynamic range and built-in RAW recording and features, this $995 HD camera is perfectly suited to rotor drones. The 2.5x3.25x2.74-inch camera can use interchangeable lenses, and its HDMI output makes it easy to connect to a display. blackmagicdesign.com

UDI u842 fAlCon

With 6- to 8-minute flights, the Falcon can easily get the aerial image and video footage you need! It has snap-on safety guards to protect the propellers, and its forward-facing video/photo camera can take high-definition images. It costs $150. tenergy.com

maxamPs pArrot BeBop BAttery upGrAde

Get 40% more flight time from your Bebop with this high-performance 3S 2000mAh LiPo battery pack and tray! With the upgrade battery your Bebop will still be able to flip, and the battery’s 100C rating means you’ll have plenty of power. The tray is available in red, blue, and yellow. amain.com

AERIAL INTEL

AXIS DRONES WALLET DRONE

� is tiny, take-anywhere quad comes with a small controller that also serves as a docking charge station—no wires or access to a USB port needed. Designed to be so small and lightweight that you can carry it in your pocket or purse, it’s the perfect solution for everyday fun and fl ight practice.

Spotted! Cool new drone and gear startupsPopular crowd-funding websites enable the little guy to raise dollars to help get an idea off the ground, and we think these new products deserve to take off (pun intended!). If you spot a new crowd-funding drone or accessory you believe in, let us know on our Facebook page; here at RotorDrone we cheer the inventor!

AIRSTIER YEAIR!

We have a feeling this won’t be the last we’ll hear from this innovative company. With four small 2-stroke 10cc gas engines as the main power system and electric motors for fast maneuvering, Yeair! can fl y for up to an hour at speeds of up to 62mph! � is impressive industrial machine has a “follow me” mode, auto start, return to home and auto-landing functions and can carry a payload of 11 pounds.

B B-UNSTOPPABLE

Like a mini tank, this hybrid quad can crawl over obstacles and turn on a dime, and if the going gets tough, B-Unstoppable can power up its rotors and take off ! B-Unstoppable has front and back lights and can fl y/drive for 12 to 15 minutes. Build the obstacle course and we’ll be there!

RCREBEL BLACKOPS TRICOPTER

Fast, agile, and responsive, this rotor drone is made of powder-coated aluminum and has breakaway landing gear and foldable arms for storage. We like its tilted tail moment, which allows it to change pitch and roll like an airplane, yet still hover like a helicopter and allows it to easily perform aerobatic moves and stunts.

SKYWORKS AERIAL SYSTEMS EEDU

� e creators of Eedu want to encourage the inventor in all of us with this drone kit, which has confi gurable hardware and software options. It comes with free open source software and looks like a great learning tool for kids (and the kid in all of us!). Where do we sign up?


Drones are an aDDiction: once you’re into them, it’s a slippery slope before you’re building all different types. I started my addiction with the first DJI Phantom and have since built the QAV 400, S900, Dronekraft Mach 300 V2, Hovership Superbeast and more (and definitely lots more to come). In the beginning I focused on getting the best and smoothest aerial cinematography I could, which was hard before the camera gimbals were available. I took the normal route and started with GPS mode and quickly switched to attitude mode to utilize inertia for smoothness. Manual mode was elusive and I was unsure about why I would ever need it. Nevertheless, my curiosity got the better of me and I tried it. I quickly crashed and never tried it ever again. Why would I need it anyway? My footage is looking great! The reality is that aerial cinematography manual mode, as far as I’m concerned, is completely unnecessary. But once you get into other types of drones, it’s time to face the music: you have to learn rate mode. After seeing the videos of Charpu, Metalldanny, Boris B and others, I started to feel the call of FPV racing. You’d have to be made of stone to see these racing videos online and not want to build and fly one of them yourself. After years of line-of-sight flying, I thought I knew how to fly drones. I can fly nose-in no problem, figure-8s are a breeze, I can do it all … but when you start flying rate, you start all over again. And when it comes to racing, rate mode is the only mode. Here are some tips to get you successfully into rate mode.

start smallCrashing is part of the game but save crashing for when you know how to fly. Get a Blade Nano QX (or Nano QX FPV if you’re going for FPV (these things are awesome), and learn to fly it in agility mode. The Blade Nano QX is fast and nimble and can withstand tons of abuse (you will crash a lot at first). It’s much better to crash a Blade Nano QX than a $500 plus racing drone. Practice rate flying outside and preferably over grass—soft landings are way easier on the wallet. Pairing the Blade Nano QX with a Spektrum radio is even better than the stock controller because it has exponential, which is a must for flying in rate mode. Expo softens the model’s response close to the control stick center position while increasing response as you move the stick to its fullest deflection. Practice using line-of-sight first! Don’t get into the goggles until you have it down with line-of-sight

aerial intel

Get Race Ready! Learning to fly in rate mode

flying! Once you’re good enough, then it’s time to put on the FPV goggles. Don’t be a hero; take it slow.

FailsaFeMake sure to set the failsafe on your radio and on your flight controller and test it without the props installed. When you turn your radio off, the motors should stop. If you don’t have this set and you happen to lose signal, then the flight controller will continue with the last input you gave it and you will crash—hard! Or, even worse, you’ll experience the dreaded space elevator maneuver, where your drone just keeps going up and up and you never see it again.

BuDDy systemAnother good thing to do is find someone who’s better than you at rate flying and have them watch your moves. Have them tune into your VTX video feed while you’re flying, or record your flights and ask them for advice. I was lucky enough to have famed drone designer Andy Shen as my sensei. He’d watch as I flew and give me on the spot advice like “too much yaw,” “ too little aileron!” During your down time, you should also watch lots of online racing videos—especially the videos that have remote camera footage. You can learn tons by watching how the pros take a turn! Finally, practice makes perfect, so fly as much as you can. Ultimately your skill level will be reflected by how much you practice. Ask any of the best racers how often they fly … I’m sure they will tell you “EVERY DAY”! — Randy Scott Slavin

Flying in nyc while andy shen

relaxes and watches my feed.

1. First step is to fly the Blade nano QX on agility mode line of sight. This drone is agile and can take a beating.

2: once you’re comfortable flying line of sight, get the Blade nano QX FPV and start using your goggles.

3: my DroneKraft mach 300 takes a beating like a prize fighter.

4: Futaba 14sG, Fatshark Domi-nator HD and nycDFF swag are all necessary for FPV flight.

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IN JUST A FEW YEARS, multirotor technology has rapidly advanced to the point where these stable machines are being flown in backyards and businesses around the globe. Applications as varied as agriculture, wildlife conservation, search and rescue missions all benefit from adding multirotors to their resources. A few more years from now, where else will multirotors be used, and how will they change? We talked to a few experts to find out where they see rotor drone technology going over the next several years, and here are their predictions.

THE FUTURE OF DRONES

As drone advancements accelerate, experts weigh inBY TEAM ROTORDRONE ILLUSTRATION BY SINELAB

Michael Shabun DJI, Marketing

Manager

Eric Cheng DJI Director of Aerial Imaging

David McCallister Hobbico R&D

Manager, Electronics

Ty Audronis President

Audronis Media

John Minor UVU Provost

Matthew Mosher Aerial DP,

Sky Bandit Pictures

Steve Petrotto Horizon Hobby, Brand Manager

Mike Rivard Founder/CEO

Radflight

James Williams former Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Executiv, FAA

Dan Willyerd Director of Sales,

Monarch Inc.

OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS

It’s hard to guess how drones of the future will look. Our artist was inspired by the Sprite drone (also in this issue) to create this futuristic rendering of a compact, coaxial fl ying robot.


In the next five to 15 years, environmental conservation drones will play significant roles in protecting wildlife, spotting poachers and tracking

forest loss. In some parts of the world where the restrictions on flying drones for commercial purposes are far less than in the U.S., these efforts are already happening. Although it’s still the “dawn of drone ecology,” as one innovator calls it, these unmanned aerial vehicles are already skimming over Indonesia’s jungle canopy to photograph orangutans, protecting rhinos in Nepal and South Africa, and studying invasive species of aquatic plants in Florida. The Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program is testing drones over Indonesia’s Tripa peat forest where fires set by palm oil growers are threatening the world’s highest density habitat of the great apes. One drone team associated with UVU sent a team to Nepal to map the areas of destruction. There will be more organized efforts in the future stemming from NASA and other large and well-funded organizations, many of them private. A UVU graduate from our certificate program is using his knowledge for anti-rhino-poaching in South Africa. —John Minor, UVU Provost

RadFlight had the privilege of working with Captain Charlie Moore who discovered the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” back in 1997. Capt. Moore and

his crew decided that drones were a valuable tool, and he wanted to add them to his arsenal in order to locate and measure the plastic masses that are a part of the larger garbage patch. They were able to get aerial shots of the “plastic soup” that had never been seen before. RadFlight is working with NOAA to develop a research VTOL drone that can take off and land on a moving ship. This will take the range of drones and their visual capabilities beyond where they can currently go. NOAA is currently using drones for monitoring whale populations. —Mike Rivard, RadFlight Inc. Founder/CEO

Imagine a swarm of insect-sized multicopters patrolling forests, each armed with a different type of sensor package: Infrared, ultrasonic, even

sniffers to monitor pheromones in the environment. These swarms can detect embers before they’d turn into fire, detect distressed animals and hikers for rescue, monitor environmental conditions from dew points to CO2 concentrations. They could even potentially monitor fault lines for stress on constant patrol to give warning. Having worked at California Academy of Sciences for four years, and in talking with some of the world’s finest scientists, believe me, this isn’t science fiction. The scientific possibilities with multicopters and swarming are truly astounding. I believe if people can get past their fear of multicopters, these applications—and many more—aren’t even very far around the corner. —Ty Audronis, President Audronis Media

the future of drones

Quiet, compact drones can monitor endangered species like the orangutan in remote areas without disturb-ing the animals.

After Capt. Moore discovered the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” he returned with multirotors to find and measure additional patches of floating debris.

These unmanned aerial vehicles are already skimming over Indonesia’s jungle canopy to photograph orangutans, protecting rhinos in Nepal and South Africa, and studying invasive species of aquatic plants in Florida

ENVIRONMENTAL

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This area highlights where drones can do the job more effectively and more efficiently than the human being. According to a recent report from

the White House, one in four bridges in the United States are in dire need of significant repair, or cannot handle automobile traffic. Typically, when bridges are inspected for defects, such as cracks, engineers must use hanging scaffold systems or view them from elevated platforms. It’s a slow, dangerous, expensive process and even the most experienced engineers can overlook cracks in the structure or other critical deficiencies. In the long run, drones could prove to be a far more cost-effective option because not only would they make bridge inspection safer, they would also potentially detect damage much earlier. University engineers are already employing wireless sensors and drones that may soon be able to examine the condition of bridges in a quicker, more efficient manner. Similar technology can be applied to any kind of infrastructure inspection. Over the next five to 15 years there will almost certainly be many new start-up service companies developed to conduct these inspections based on drone technology. Drones will become a standard piece of equipment for inspectors, engineers, consultants … every part of this industry. We envision existing companies employing many land surveyors and inspectors adding drones to the “toolbox” to make their companies more profitable, but to also provide a better service to their customers. —John Minor, UVU Provost

Inspecting tall structures like bridges and oil rigs is easier and faster with camera-equipped multirotors than using man-power. M

ulticopters could be immensely invaluable in this aspect of daily living. Within five years, I’d expect to see multicopters equipped with

sensor packages to detect things such as stress fractures inspecting some of the larger bridges around the country. In 10 years, multicopters will be executing minor repairs. In 15 years, it would be amazing to see automated service of our infrastructure to completely manage bridges, power lines, even pick up the slack for communication in the event of an outage with onboard signal repeaters.—Ty Audronis, President Audronis Media

Wind farms will benefit from having a safer way to inspect blades. Solar farms will benefit from having thermal cameras to inspect

for early problems, saving many hours of manpower to inspections. Multicopters will be used to inspect bridge and power lines, oil rigs, and a multitude of other applications. —Dan Willyerd, Director of Sales, Monarch Inc.

Drones will become a standard piece of equipment for inspectors, engineers, consultants … every part of this industry

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The ability to arrive on a scene and to be able to “see” the entire situation from an aerial view is a tremendous advantage to public safety command

and control operations. This will lead to saved lives. In addition to the local responders seeing the image, there will be capability to stream the video anywhere in the world over the internet, connecting to the expert for a particular situation; think hazmat subject matter expert, hostage crisis scenario, structural engineering following a disaster such as a major earthquake, tornado damage, bio-chemical incident, nuclear incident, etc. The ability to stream live video can assist these subject matter experts with making professional assessments on how to best handle the situation on the ground. There are large private security firms that are already rapidly adopting and deploying unmanned aerial systems in third world countries. —John Minor, UVU Provost

U.S. Coast Guardsmen assigned to the coastal patrol boat USCGC Haddock count bales of marijuana aboard a seized panga in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern California.

Disaster relief and public safety industries will be two of the biggest beneficiaries 10 to 15 years down the road. I see a fleet of UAVs assisting

in all search and rescue missions, eventually replacing helicopters. There will be UAVs equipped with infrared, thermal and night-vision cameras, all functioning without pilots. Others will have the ability to automatically track where missing people are and deploy defibrillators, food/water, medicine etc. —Michael Shabun, DJI, Marketing Manager

RadFlight has been working on a solution for the U.S. Coast Guard, the Port of Long Beach and the Long Beach Police Department for drones to be

used for Panga interdiction. Pangas are small, very fast boats that smuggle drugs and people along the Southern California Coast. At the present time, the only way the Coast Guard can determine if a small boat is a smuggler or a fisherman is to send a boat out to check them out in person. We see a time when long range “wings” will fly in broad solar-powered swarms that will monitor the coast on a 24-hour basis. —Mike Rivard, RadFlight Inc. Founder/CEO

At the present time, the only way the Coast Guard can determine if a small boat is a smuggler or a fisherman is to send a boat out to check them out in person

public safety

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Having been in the movie and commercial production business for a few years, I believe that within five to six years we will see a drone

on every movie and major production set just as we see cranes and steadicams on every set today. The creativity factor of using a camera drone is still being discovered by directors and cinematographers. The more they use the drone as a cinematic tool, the more creative and complex the shots will become. Drones open a complete other dimension to filmmakers and producers that they are just beginning to discover. —Mike Rivard, RadFlight Inc. Founder/CEO

Over the next five years or so, most films will have some sort of remote aerial cinematography. As the technology continues, the shot design and

execution of aerials will become easier for the operators and in return the shots will be able to break new ground in shot design. —Matthew Mosher, Aerial DP, Sky Bandit Pictures

Aerial cinematography outfits like AeroCine use drone-mount-ed cameras to film action sequences like this car chase in New Mexico more safely and more affordably than a manned aircraft could.

You’re going to see the playing field level off between the content professional photographers/cinematographers have been able to capture for big

budget productions and what independent filmmakers are trying to achieve. Big cranes and pricey helicopter shots will be replaced by a skillful pilot flying a UAV from the ground. You might even see a majority of on ground cameras be replaced with cinema-quality cameras rigged onto UAVs. And who knows, custom silent drones might even be created for Hollywood that can capture audio as well. —Michael Shabun, DJI, Marketing Manager

I really don’t see much changing on these fronts. Of course things will get smaller, and guidance systems will get even smoother. Other than maybe

swarming technology helping with lighting (maybe multicopters equipped with lighting), and special effects sequences (motion capture on set, floating “bullet-time” arrays, etc.), the fact that this industry has been the main driving force in the multicopter industry means that (most) of the possible uses have already been imagined and at least tested. —Ty Audronis, President Audronis Media

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The U.S. is currently behind the Japanese and other countries in implementing “precision agriculture” into our agricultural landscape. The AUVSI predicts

that 80% of drone use will be for agricultural use in one form or another. We are working with major agricultural companies in the Fresno, California area to introduce “swarm” technology and how we can utilize this approach to monitor and scout crops for various signs of distress. A drone equipped with infrared cameras can take a close look at the health of plants to help growers determine whether they need water, are suffering from insect infestation or need additional fertilizer. As we get this equipment in the hands of our farmers, we can increase crop yield using less water, pesticides and fertilizer. Future uses could include: planting, crop sampling, spraying of pesticides and fertilizer, and maybe someday harvesting. Drones allow the farmers to finally have data that they can utilize to increase their yields. As one expert said, “Agriculture is a big data problem without big data,” but drones can change that dramatically. –Mike Rivard, Founder/CEO Radflight

Agriculture will benefit from having a quicker and less expensive way to have precision 3D mapping, multi spectral images to ensure crop health,

monitor irrigation, and spot pests and invasive weed growth; All increasing yields and reducing cost. —Dan Willyerd, Director of Sales, Monarch Inc.

I think line beyond visual line of sight will become commonplace in agriculture. There is a huge market for precision agriculture, which is where you fly your

drones over your field and it tells you everything from where you need to water to where you need to apply pesticides or herbicides. The chemicals used in farming are expensive, so reducing the amount that you need to put down is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Even small farms cover 25 to 30 square miles, so a person flying visual line of sight can only cover a very small portion of that and would have to take down and set up their flight operation many times. The FAA realizes this and is looking into ways to make flying beyond visual-line-of-site a safe process so that in five years it will be commonplace. —James Williams, former Unmanned Aircraft Systems Executiv, FAA

Perhaps the most important way drones can improve our lives is in making agriculture more efficient and cost-effective.

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With the ever-increasing spread of social media and YouTube, I expect an explosion in content and an ever-increasing quality of video from

the casual user in the next five years. Looking farther down the road, 10 years and beyond, I see smaller markets and more specialized multirotors becoming defined. An example of a current specialized market is the 250mm FPV racer. Perhaps this will extend to additional sport and competitive markets. I think regulations will also shape the multirotor culture as to what size, payloads, and areas can be flown legally and safely. —David McCallister, Hobbico R&D Manager, Electronics

Drones, multirotors, quads, or whatever you call them, it’s clear that the everyday consumer has started to latch on to this technology. Now, more

than ever we are seeing the everyday family making a “drone” purchase. Why buy a hand-held recorder when you own a smartphone? Why not spend that money on something that can make your family video that much more epic! In the next few years, we will see even more adoption rates on this aerial media technology and the use of these products will become more and more accepted. —Steve Petrotto, Horizon Hobby, Brand Manager

The way the industry as a whole is heading, you’re going to see some phenomenal advancements in autonomous flight, camera quality and

personalization. If I was a firefighter, a farmer, a snowboader or a number of other professionals and hobbyists who are starting to incorporate UAVS, I’d be really excited. These guys are going to have a hardware and software developed that caters to their professions. —Michael Shabun, DJI, Marketing Manager

Things on this front are going to blow people’s minds. Being able to survey a mountain bike route, hiking route, or have your multicopter follow you

down (or up) the mountain—just incredible possibilities. Just the other day a friend was asking me if he can have a drone follow him while he’s surfing. Believe it or not, the possibility of this already exists. I imagine a future where a micro-multicopters are the new personal assistant, just as common as iPhones. Remember “Bit” from the original Tron? A tiny multicopter that answers your questions, acts as a hot spot, warns you of danger around the corner … the possibilities are limitless! —Ty Audronis, President Audronis Media

Soon, action sports enthusiasts everywhere will be using drones to take selfies during their stunts!

A friend was asking me if he can have a drone follow him while he’s surfing. Believe it or not, the possibility of this already exists

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The drone industry needs the FAA to develop and implement the rules and regulations for commercial use of drones. One day drone

operators with the proper education, experience, training, and certifications should be able to “file and fly” just like is done in manned commercial aviation. A second major challenge is educating the public that drones are good! They can make businesses and non-profit organizations more efficient and cost effective by replacing human beings and manned aircraft. Studies have shown that there is still a lot of fear by the public that drones will be crashing everywhere or used for unlawful purposes. Drone technology has improved significantly and will continue to improve over the next five to 15 years. Multirotor drones have a safety record that is at least as good as or better than manned helicopters. —John Minor, UVU Provost

The ongoing lack of clear direction or policy from the FAA. The 333 Exemption is one step in the right direction, but we still need concrete guidance and

policy making to free the drone operators to work and private companies to hire them. —Mike Rivard, Founder/CEO Radflight

Current drones are fairly barbaric compared to where they will be five to 10 years in the future, and I don’t think that the biggest challenges will

be technical. The biggest challenges are likely going to be on cultural and regulatory fronts. —Eric Cheng, DJI Director of Aerial Imaging

During Drone Day at Apollo Field in Van Nyes, CA a multitude of multirotors filled the sky.

The biggest challenges are likely going to be on cultural and regulatory fronts

challenges


July/August 2015 39

I ’d like to see a multirotor that can stay in the air for much longer periods of time and have a longer range to

assist rescue worker and emergency responders. —Michael Shabun, DJI, Marketing Manager

F rom a technology point of view, we will see increased user friendliness, better camera systems and longer

flight times. User-friendliness is the biggest piece of the puzzle in my opinion. —Steve Petrotto, Horizon Hobby, Brand Manager

I would like to see airbags for protection of people and gear in the unfortunate event of a power failure.

—Matthew Mosher, Aerial DP, Sky Bandit Pictures

I would like to see easy-to-fly, crash-proof multirotors that know where and when they can fly legally and

safely. —Eric Cheng, DJI Director of Aerial Imaging

If the batteries and motors can be significantly improved to offer flight times comparable to fixed-

wing drones, this advance in the technology would be huge for the multirotor industry. In addition, alternative propulsions systems can be looked at that will provide more range and endurance. —John Minor, UVU Provost

Dream features include a transponder that will have the owner’s I.D. on it and a black box that will record

all the flight data. Hopefully this will be the first step in managing the unsafe and careless flights that some of the drone enthusiasts have been doing. When a drone flies too close to a commercial airliner, I think we should know who owns that drone and where they’re flying from. —Mike Rivard, RadFlight Inc. Founder/CEO

Will drones of the future have batteries that allow them to stay airborne for extended periods? The experts say yes!

The ability to track a cell phone would be awesome. Imagine putting a cell phone in an actor’s pocket and

having your multicopter with the camera automatically track that person? That would be liquid awesome. —Ty Audronis, President Audronis Media

The technologies that I hope will tackle challenges to multirotors are collision avoidance and a smarter

airspace. Collision detection technology could prevent collisions that result in property damage and injury while reducing the pilot’s burden. Airspace management technology should allow manned and unmanned aircraft of all sizes to safely navigate and use our airspace. Smaller and cheaper ADS-B transponders and projects like the NASA UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) are hopefully leading us to these goals. —David McCallister, Hobbico R&D Manager, Electronics

In five years, drones will be standard equipment in aerial imaging and survey across all relevant industries.

They will be legally and safely integrated into low-altitude airspace for both recreational and commercial use, except perhaps in a few nations that have philosophical or geopolitical reasons for keeping them out. In 10 to 15 years, small drones could become ubiquitous as aerial payload delivery systems not restricted only to imaging. They could, in acceptable regions, also safely be integrated into manned airspace. —Eric Cheng, DJI Director of Aerial Imaging K

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DISASTER INNEPAL

� ese two images show just how extensive the damage was from the earthquake.

July/August 2015 43

EARTHQUAKE! As soon as they hear the news, teams of doctors, humanitarians, and search and rescue crews are on their way to the damaged area to render aid. This is nothing new; it has been going on for decades. But what is new and newsworthy is the new, essential device that they bring to gather information as quickly as possible: rotor drones.

Flying a multitude of drones around a stricken city, like Nepal after April’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake, is useless unless there is a coordinated effort to gather information and quickly relay to the officials and emergency workers who need it the most. Patrick Meier has been an advocate of getting that information to a central databank that allows a variety of people easy access, and his organization, Humanitarian UAV Network, put people on the ground in Nepal to gather information from the air with small unmanned aerial vehicles. We recently had a chance to talk with him about the Humanitarian UAV Network and the organization’s very important role.

RotorDrone: Tell us a little about your organization, what you do, and how drones have helped.Patrick Meier: � e mission of the Humanitarian UAV Network (UAViators) is to promote the safe, coordinated and eff ective use of UAVs in a wide range of humanitarian settings. We actively promote a Code of Conduct and provide a coordination service during major disasters to ensure that UAVs are used appropriately, and the resulting imagery shared with humanitarian organizations, government, and local communities. UAVs have helped to shorten the time it takes to assess disaster damage and needs following disasters. � ey have also been used to support logistics operations, like road-clearance projects and the search for survivors. In fact, there are dozens of ways that UAVs have, and continue, to support humanitarian eff orts worldwide, including the use of UAVs to carry payloads like medications, vaccines, and water fi lters.

RD: After the Nepal earthquake you had a number of UAViators visit the disaster area. What was your mission there?Patrick: A total of 15 UAV teams voluntarily liaised with

DRONES AID FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE AFTERMATH OF A DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE BY TEAM ROTORDRONE PHOTOS BY NAIMUL ISLAM OPU

Once the drone is airborne, all eyes turn to watch the fl ight.


DISASTER IN NEPAL

the Humanitarian UAV Network in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake. e Network’s mission was to ensure that each team knew about each other (for safety and effi ciency reasons) and to actively advocate that all teams respect the Humanitarian UAV Code of Conduct. In addition, UAViators actively encouraged all UAV teams to share their imagery with appropriate responders. Alas, not all UAV teams respected the Code of Conduct and some did not share imagery. is is unfortunate and will certainly not help their reputations moving forward.

RD: How did employing drones help in that disaster?Patrick: UAVs were used to search for survivors, recover deceased bodies, assess disaster damage to infrastructure, support road clearance operations, evaluate landslide risks due to the upcoming monsoons, and create high-resolution 3D models of Heritage Sites such as temples.

RD: I know that Nepal grounded many drones after the earthquake. Did that aff ect your mission?Patrick: e government of Nepal did not ban UAVs, they simply limited the use of UAVs for humanitarian purposes only. is was in part because disaster tourists and drone journalists were particularly insensitive to local communities vis-a-vis their use of UAVs. In addition, other UAV teams did not even seek to request permission to operate their UAVs, which is a

direct violation of the UAV Code of Conduct. e Government’s decision to limit the use of drones was perfectly understandable. Unfortunately, this has indeed made it harder for legitimate, professional UAV teams to operate.

RD: What new features or technology for drones or programming would you like to see developed that would help your mission?Patrick: We need a dedicated smartphone app to safely coordinate fl ights—something we are working on with several partners. We also need to move entirely to real-time data collection, that is, streaming pictures and videos, and we need methods to clearly analyze this imagery on the fl y, particularly 3D models.

RD: What do volunteers need to do to get involved with your organization and what qualifi cations are required?Patrick: Volunteers who are pilots join the UAViators Pilot Roster and others join individual UAViators Teams that focus on diff erent aspects of Humanitarian UAV Missions such as policy. e Network is open to all. For more information on the Humanitarian UAV Network, go to our blog at iRevolutions.org and get our book and newsletters at digital-humanitarians.com.

Above: 3D-rendered images from a multirotor can help authorities locate problem areas. Opposite, top: Here Opu launches his DJI Phantom to inspect damage on the upper part of the building. t Opposite, bottom: With many buildings collapsed on each other, the only eff ective way to evaluate the damage is from the air.

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“ WE NEED A DEDICATED SMARTPHONE APP TO SAFELY COORDINATE FLIGHTS—SOMETHING WE ARE WORKING ON WITH SEVERAL PARTNERS. WE ALSO NEED TO MOVE ENTIRELY TO REAL-TIME STREAMING OF PICTURES AND VIDEOS.”


DISASTER IN NEPALAuthorities go over the fl ight plans with Opu to let him know where they want him to send his quad.

July/August 2015 47

BUILDINGS CAN EXHIBIT TELLTALE SIGNS OF DAMAGE AND PERHAPS IMMINENT COLLAPSE BY SHOWING SMALL CRACKS AND STRESS FRACTURES. BUT SOME OF THESE CAN BE OUT-OF-SIGHT TO THE INSPECTOR ON THE GROUND.

immediate demolition and which require closer inspections. Drones can speed up this process and help a city to recover after a natural disaster.

� e takeawayNatural disasters such as earthquakes will continue to happen, but the increased popularity of drones means that these increasingly important tools are readily available during emergencies. Drones are easy to transport, so they can be immediately deployed and, when their operators are coordinated, drones can be used to save lives, assess damage and aid in rebuilding. K

Having the ability to easily traverse over piles of rubble is one of the advantages of using quads to scout out damaged areas.

On the GroundNaimul Islam Opu, the owner of Cygnus Aerial Photography in Dhaka, Bangladesh, was on the ground in Nepal right after the earthquake. He was fl ying diff erent multirotors with cameras equipped with real-time telemetry, which transmitted the image back to the ground unit. Offi cials could examine the video and determine if the area was worth the risk of sending rescue workers in to search for survivors. Sometimes the offi cials would stand over Opu’s shoulder and direct where he should send the drone to scout.

Because of the limited resources, it was very diffi cult and time-consuming for fi rst responders to climb over the rubble and assess the damage. Areas in the center of cities have older buildings and in many instances, many of these buildings collapsed on each other. � is made the multirotor a perfect tool to get up over those hills of rubble and see what was on the other side. In this case, the offi cials would watch and examine the video to see if there was a justifi able reason, such as a survivor or injured person, to send rescue workers over the debris and into damaged buildings.

Rebuilding eff ortsAndy Trench from XactSense, designer of custom UAVs for lidar survey and mapping (using lasers to illuminate a target and calculate distance), provided Naimul with assistance from the U.S. to keep his drones fl ying after the Nepal earthquake. He notes that after all the rescue eff orts were over, drones still had value for rebuilding the damaged cities. For example, after the earthquake in Haiti, inspectors had to assess some 80,000 buildings for structural damage for the rebuilding eff ort. Buildings can exhibit telltale signs of damage and perhaps imminent collapse by showing small cracks and stress fractures. But some of these can be out-of-sight to the inspector on the ground.

Drones are the perfect tool for examining a large number of buildings or large areas of a city from a close proximity above the structures. � is video data can be collected and sent to an inspector, who can comb through it and determine which buildings are salvageable, which warrant


TOTAL CONTROL!Lightweight PowerhousesThis first group of controllers is very lightweight and perfectly suited to small multirotors like FPV racing quads. But don’t let their size fool you, these machines have a lot of features and can control much larger aircraft.

A flight controller is the brain of your multirotor: it keeps your aircraft level, allows you to use different flight modes and may even let you customize your flight patterns. Here’s the inside scoop on eight popular units, from lightweight controllers that are ideal for smaller drones to mid-level units with GPS stabilization to high-end, professional machines.

THE INSIDE SCOOP ON EIGHT GREAT FLIGHT CONTROLLERS BY TEAM ROTORDRONE PHOTOS BY JOHN REID

AbuseMark Acro Naze32LIGHTWEIGHT

� is is a very popular fl ight controller board that has a 32-bit ST microprocessor, along with a memory and CPU power that can host a number of sensors. � is board has some great programs and features that aid pilots in getting the most out of their multirotors. � is board does require some soldering of the pins before it is ready to use, which is a very simple process. � e Acro Naze32 version has many of the same features as the full Naze32, which costs slightly more. abusemark.com

WE LIKE

› Easy to confi gure software› Acrobatic, auto-level, heading

hold, head-free and altitude hold fl ight modes.

› Fully customizable motor mixer for any airframe type

› Built-in micro-USB for programming/fi rmware updates

SPECS

› 36x36 mm (30.5mm mounting)› 7.3 grams with headers› 2000 degrees/second three-axis

MEMS gyro and accelerometer › Max 16V on input rail and up to 35V

6S on the voltage sense line› $24.99

WE LIKE

› Very easy to use; can be confi gured› Two fl ight modes› Usable telemetry features with extra expansion possible› Over-the-air setup of all controller features and

functions

SPECS

› 46x21x14mm › 14 grams › 3-axis ultra-fast gyro and accelerometer › 3.6- to 8.4-volt input› $149.99

Graupner GR18LIGHTWEIGHT

� is compact receiver has an integrated fl ight controller and real-time telemetry on board; you will need a Graupner transmitter. One big advantage is that no computers, programming boxes or complex wiring is needed to set up your multirotor; you can do it all at the fi eld using the transmitter. Real-time telemetry notifi cations appear on the transmitter, making it easy for pilots to know exactly what is happening during the fl ight. � e three-axis gyro stabilization can be adjusted with remote gain control from the ground. We found the stabilization to be solid, responsive, crisp and easy to adjust to our fl ying skills. openhobby.com

July/August 2015 49

Open Pilot CC3DLIGHTWEIGHT

We used the CC3D board in an FPV racer and noticed the quad’s crisp response throughout the fl ight (and we can say from our experience that this board is durable!). � e ground control software is very easy to program and set up (via USB connection) to your specifi cations. � is board comes fully assembled and does not require any soldering, and its included RC harness can connect to any standard receiver. � e CC3D supports Spektrum satellite receivers and Futaba S-Bus hardware. openpilot.org

WE LIKE

› Software support for Windows, Mac and Linux (easy to program)

› � ree-axis, high-performance MEMs gyros and accelerometer

› Innovative Flexi-port technology› High-speed USB support (no drivers required), a true

plug and play device

SPECS

› 36x36mm (30.5mm mounting)› 4.8- to 15-volt input › 3-axis MEMS gyro and accelerometer› $34.99

July/August 2015 49

DJI Naza-M V2MID-SIZE WORKHORSE

� is all-in-one controller has an inner-damping three-axis gyro, a three-axis accelerometer, and a barometer. It can measure fl ying altitude and attitude and can be used for autopilot/automatic control. Naza controllers have been around for a while and they now have a fourth generation attitude stabilization algorithm that provides outstanding fl ight stability. Programmable through a computer or app, this controller has a long list of features to fi t any pilot’s needs. After fl ying with this controller in a number of diff erent multirotors, we feel that its fl ight performance is second to none. dji.com

WE LIKE

› Software for smartphone and tablets› Supports nine types of multirotors › Takeoff assistance› Multiple fl ight control modes with intelligent switching

SPECS

› 45.5x32.5x18.5mm › 27 grams › 3-axis gyro and accelerometer w/GPS› 7.4- to 26-volt input› $299.99

Mid-size Workhorses: This group of controllers is designed for larger multirotors in the range of 350 to 900mm. These full-performance controllers have a wide array of programming features and will generally include GPS stabilization. Many of them allow you to select the type of aircraft and features you need and make any adjustments using a computer program or app.

50 RotoRDRoneMag.coM

Robot Shop Lynx Motion Quadrino NanoMid-size Workhorse

The Lynx Motion Quadrino Nano is a relatively new addition to the multirotor controllers, but from early examination it looks to be a nice unit. This compact controller comes with a number of extras that make it easy to adapt to your particular needs. Using the MultiWii software, it has onboard three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer, three-axis magnetometer, barometer and GPS. It is mainly designed for quadcopters and hexacopters, and the controller has eight speed controller outputs and radio inputs. robotshop.com

We Like

› Vibration-dampening mount › Arduino bootloader allowing for DIY/hacking

projects › Integrated sensors› Built-in GPS module with external antenna

specs

› 53x53x17mm› 28 grams › Three-axis gyro, accelerometer, and

magnetometer w/GPS› 3.3- to 5-volt input› $149.99

Eagle Tree VectorMid-size Workhorse

This is the perfect controller for pilots who want a lot of information while flying FPV. The Vector includes full color OSD with sharp color graphics, voice alerts and has a fast, easy menu system. The flight controller has a number of flight modes to choose from and everything can be adjusted from the onscreen menus. The Vector comes with an input harness that can be connected to any type of receiver and it supports three different types of RC inputs, standard/PCM, SPPM and S-Bus. This flight controller will fit the needs for many different types of multirotors, is very easy to set-up and is perfect for the video/FPV pilot. eagletreesystems.com

We Like

› Built-in flight data recorder› Expandable with additional sensors,

accessories and firmware updates› Built-in OSD with color graphics› Simple to set-up and operate out of the box

specs

› 65x33x14mm › 21 grams › 3-axis gyro + accelerometer w/GPS› 11.3- to 22.6-volt input› $279.99

eight greatflightcontrollers (


DJI A2TOP OF THE LINE

� e A2 is designed for the Spreading Wings group of multirotors but will work on other 800-1000mm multirotors. It can support nine multirotor confi gurations and has a customized motor mixer. A great feature is the intelligent orientation controlsystem that will lower the landing gear during an emergency, motor failure or auto landing to protect the aircraft and gimbal. Of course it also has DJI’s intelligent return-to-home function. � is advanced multirotor stabilization controller provides total ease of fl ight with stability and reliability for just about any situation. We like its compact design and easy set up. dji.com

WE LIKE

› Point of interest fl ying fi x› Banked turn mode to make turning easy

and smooth› Cruise control feature› One motor fail protection

SPECS

› 54x39x14.9mm› 35 grams › � ree-axis gyroscope and three-axis

accelerometer/magnetometer› 7.4- to 22.2-volt input› $1299.99

EIGHT GREATFLIGHTCONTROLLERS (

3D Robotics PixhawkTOP OF THE LINE

� is system includes new autopilot functions that allow sophisticated scripting of missions and fl ight behaviors. � e custom PX4 driver layer ensures tight timing across all processes, and there are basically no limitations to programming for autonomous aircraft. A backup system provides in-fl ight recovery and the unit has a manual override with a dedicated processor and standalone power supply. Some peripheral options include digital airspeed, support for external multi-color LED indicator. � is is an impressive, compact controller that can easily adapt to whatever confi guration needed. 3drobotics.com

Top of the line: These controllers are designed for the large multirotors in the range of 900 to 1000mm+ and with four, six or eight motors. These full-performance controllers offer many standard multirotor types, GPS stabilization and in-depth pre-programmed features. Some of them allow you to select different waypoints and let the multirotor fly autonomously. Pilots will find many different programming features they can adjust to fit their needs, and these controllers have some redundancy and safety systems to guarantee a successful flight.

WE LIKE

› External safety button for easy motor activation

› High-power audio indicator› Redundant power supply

inputs and automatic failsafe› Abundant connectivity

options for add-ons

SPECS

› 50x81.5x15.5mm› 38 grams › � ree-axis 16-bit gyroscope and

three-axis 14-bit accelerometer/magnetometer

› 5.3-volt input › $199.99

54 ROTORDRONEMAG.COM 54 ROTORDRONEMAG.COM

SPRITE’S FORM FOLLOWS ITS FUNCTIONBY TEAM ROTORDRONE PHOTOS COURTESY OF ASCENT AEROSYSTEMS

BR

EE

D

A

OFMULTIROTOR

July/August 2015 55 July/August 2015 55

It’s amazing how many great ideas come about by happenstance. In 2010, twin brothers Nate and Jon Meringer were doing one of their favorite activities: climbing the craggy, 500-foot face of Granite Mountain in Arizona’s Prescott National Forest. It took them four attempts to find the right trail to reach the summit, and when they arrived at the top they realized the path was obvious from an aerial view. The aerospace engineers had an idea that, two years later, became Sprite: a rugged, portable, simple multirotor that’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen. After joining forces with business consultant and RC airplane enthusiast Peter Fuchs, they founded Ascent Aerosystems, and then launched Sprite on Kickstarter; no surprise that their unique project reached its goal halfway through their campaign!

Sprite is a sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicle that’s designed to go and operate anywhere. It will be able to fly completely autonomously with the guidance of its built-in autopilot, and it will also be able to be operated manually by using a standard radio transmitter and receiver or with an Android-based mobile device and downloadable app. Its radical new modular design allows Sprite to easily fit almost anywhere. With no exposed motor arms, its coaxial rotor blades automatically fold against its body so you can easily slip it into a backpack.

The prototype in these photos is a 3D-printed model, and the production version of Sprite will be made of rugged polycarbonate and injection-molded and ABS plastics with some parts made of fiberglass and aluminum to keep the overall weight to a minimum. The entire drone will be just 13.2 inches long, 3.8 inches in diameter and weigh 2.6 pounds. Everything will be sealed so sensitive parts don’t get wet, and Sprite will even float should it find its way into a river or stream. Using a standard 11.1-volt 2,600 to 3,000mAh LiPo battery, Sprite has approximately 10 to 12 minutes of hover-time.

� e Sprite is easy to hand-launch from any terrain, and its blades fold up so it can fi t in a compact space, like a backpack.

56 ROTORDRONEMAG.COM 56 ROTORDRONEMAG.COM

EASY OPERATIONTo get in the air, Sprite uses a simple two-button arming system. Once you’ve made all your preflight adjustments, you simply hold the Sprite up vertically and squeeze the two arming buttons. A tone will sound indicating that Sprite is ready to go. The optional LaunchPod landing gear will be included with Sprite and can be attached without tools between the Main Module and the Payload Module. With its tripod configuration, the LaunchPad ensures a clear field of view for the camera. During landings, the rotor brake stops the spinning blades in less than a second, and they safely tuck in against the airframe before the Sprite rolls onto its side.

SPRITE A NEW BREED OF MULTIROTOR

TRAVEL-SIZEDNot much larger than a standard � ermos bottle, Sprite was designed to be highly portable.

SLIM FIT� e double sets of blades fold down for transport.

THIS UNIQUE PROJECT

REACHED ITS KICKSTARTER

GOAL HALFWAY THROUGH ITS

CAMPAIGN!

3D-PRINTED PROTOTYPE

� e Sprite shown here was produced with 3D-printing

techniques. � e fi nal product will be made of polycarbonate and injection-molded and ABS plastics with some parts made

of fi berglass and aluminum.

July/August 2015 57

JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!Planning on a December release date, the Ascent Aerosystems team is now in the testing phase and evaluating various rotor blade designs, gearing ratios, and motors, all aimed at delivering the longest possible flight times. Pricing is not yet available, but Ascent says various versions of Sprite will be competitive with consumer drones like the DJI Phantom and 3D Robotics Iris. We know what we’re adding to our holiday wish list—and it will even fit into our stocking! K

FLIGHT MODESUsing an open source autopilot, the Sprite is fully compatible with and supports all of the features of the most common Ground Control Station Software including Mission Planner, DroidPlanner and the new Tower flight control software. It can be flown in a fully autonomous flight mode that includes Waypoint-to-Waypoint navigation, as well as programming for Loiter, Circle, Return-to-Home and Follow-me flight options.

ACCESSORIESUsing a unique, modular design, Sprite allows you to change modules to suit your needs. Each module is stackable and quickly interchangeable. Optional components, accessories and parts will include:

� GoPro two-axis-stabilized gimbal

� Close-proximity obstacle-avoidance technology will allow safe flight operations in confined areas

� High-intensity LED light band for improved visibility and night flight operations

HIGHLIGHTSDesigned for active outdoor enthusiasts, serious professional photographers and commercial operators who just need to get the job done, the Sprite has:

� Fully autonomous autopilot with GPS, including waypoint navigation, “follow me,” and return to home functions

� Full-HD 1080p video with stabilized camera gimbal

� Real-time telemetry

� First-Person-View (FPV) ready

� Fully enclosed, compact, ultra-durable water-proof design

GEAR DOWN� e optional landing tripod is designed to provide a clear view for the included camera.

IT’S MODULARDesigned to accommodate a variety of modules, the Sprite can be customized with various sensors to suit the user’s needs.


Co-founder and Flight Ops Director Jeff Brink, Chief Pilot Mike Ferguson, and Lead Engineer Suresh Kumar set up and shake down their newly designed heavy-lift camera platform. Mike flies the craft while Suresh uses telemetry on the laptop to dial in the flight controls, GPS and other instruments. Jeff serves as safety observer for the initial flights. Once Suresh has the controls fine-tuned, he will take over observer duties while Jeff operates the camera.

July/August 2015 59

The initial conver-sation that would become this interview took place via cell with AeroCine’s CEO and co-founder Brian Streem and VP Jon Ollwerther from the back of an Uber cab

shuttling them through downtown Washing-ton, D.C. on their way to meet with the FAA—an appointment that hadn’t even been on the table when we scheduled the interview a few days prior. But the pace at the professional end of the drone world is a frantic one, and AeroCine is right on the leading edge so they are used to reacting fast. As VP of Marketing & Operations, Jon put it—somewhat apologetically at the beginning of our chat—when the FAA asks you to come to Wash-ington to meet, that’s an invitation you accept, even if it’s last minute. As the only company with an exemption to fly commercially in New York City, AeroCine has a strong relationship with the FAA and consults with them on a regular basis, which made our second conversation—in person in AeroCine’s Brooklyn headquarters the following week—all the more fascinating. I would find out at that meeting that the other half of the founding team, Jeff Brink, Director of Flight Ops, missed the FAA trip because he was called to upstate New York to shoot aerial video of the ongoing manhunt for the two escaped prisoners that had been all over the news—coverage that relied to a notable extent on AeroCine aerial video footage! This is a busy team, but the projects and policy discussions they are a part of give them tremendous insight into the state of the professional drone world, and where it’s headed next.

I first met the AeroCine crew at the 2015 New York City Drone Film Festival, where their film The Fallout won first place in the Architecture category, and won the admiration of all with its poignant, ghostly images and by exploiting to full advantage the unique perspective that only a drone-mounted camera can provide. The Fallout was effectively the company’s demo reel; Brian and Jeff created that film almost two years ago to demonstrate both AeroCine’s technical expertise and its filmmaking artistry. I sat down for an interview with Jon and Brian at their temporary offices in the aptly named Industry City section of Brooklyn. They had leased this space while their new larger, permanent offices a few doors down were undergoing final outfitting. Then we went out with Jeff, Lead Engineer Suresh Kumar, and Chief Pilot Mike Ferguson to a park near Coney Island as they flight-tested their newly designed heavy-lift camera drone. Obviously, these guys have a lot going on, but they graciously gave us tremendous access to all aspects of their operation during our visit. Aero

Cin

e Artistry, industry AndinnovAtion tAke Flight

RotorDrone Magazine: You were the first company to receive FAA approval to fly UAVs commercially in New York City. How did that come about, and how important has that been to AeroCine’s success?Jon Ollwerther: “So about a year, year and a half ago, Brian and Jeff were looking into how to legally fly drones in America, because it was still a very gray area; there were people doing it and they were in dubious legal territory. Brian and Jeff had heard about the Section 333 exemption that was coming up, and they decided ‘Hey, this is something we should really look into.’ At that point there was one group— the MPAA—that was about to file. Brian and Jeff decided they wanted to do it on their own. They went out, they hired aviation attorneys, they hired aviation consultants—they hired all the people who knew how this might work and brought them all together and said, well, we really want to file a petition for exemption. And they learned what they needed to do and what the steps were. They

By Matt Boyd Photos By Peter Hall & Courtesy of aeroCine

VP of Marketing & Operations Jon Ollwerther chatting with the author about AeroCine’s consultations with the FAA, and where they hope to see the regulations evolve.


AeroCine

wrote dozens— hundreds—of pages of original material: manuals, safety procedures, proprietary safety management system, and they filed that with the FAA. We were the first independent entity to file for an FAA exemption. You had the MPAA, then you had AeroCine.

How important has that been to AeroCine’s growth? Big companies won’t work with you unless you’re legal—unless you can do things legally. Insurers won’t insure you. By law, you cannot insure an illegal activity. So if you want insurance you have to have an exemption.”

RD: The very first time we spoke on the phone you were in the back of a cab on your way to consult with the FAA! Can you tell us what they wanted to talk to you about?JO: “We’re requesting relief from a couple conditions that exist under Section 333, primarily for closed-set filming. For one thing, filmmakers all want to do car chases at high speeds. And when you’re flying line-of-sight, a car chase at high speed is very, very difficult, because you lose sight of your craft and perspective on the shot very quickly. AeroCine has pretty deep experience operating abroad—operating from moving platforms abroad: from a boat, from a car, from a truck, from a golf cart! But in the U.S. it’s not legally permitted. And when you think about it, on a closed film set there’s not much reason that it shouldn’t be permitted. You have a closed set, you have a controlled environment. You have all the safety precautions that you need. We literally blow up buildings on film sets. We set fires; we set people on fire on film sets. There’s no reason that a drone operator in a chase car shouldn’t be allowed.

The FAA is seriously considering that. And it’s not just for Hollywood. If you look at proposed regulations, you realize that inspecting offshore oil rigs from a drone is not possible while maintaining visual line-of-sight if you’re not on a boat, because the rig inspectors want to fly beneath the rig. And a boat by definition is a moving platform. Even if it’s anchored it can be construed as a moving platform because it’s moving in three-dimensional space. I think that eventually we will be allowed to operate on a closed set from a moving vehicle. The expectation is that the pilot will be able to keep a much better line-of-sight.

RD: You guys were recently on-site for the manhunt for the two escaped convicts in upstate New York. Clearly drones have a lot of potential to help make search and rescue and other sorts of emergency service missions safer and more effective. Do you see that sort of role as something AeroCine will do more of, and how do the demands of those duties differ—in terms of tech or skills—from your traditional projects?JO: “We were hired by several news networks to film the manhunt in upstate New York for the two escaped prisoners. The problem that broadcasters are faced with is that they have a lot of airtime to fill, and the viewer at home is used to seeing a lot of the same shots. But an aerial image really spices that up—breaks up the monotony of the ground shot. B-roll of the State Troopers “beating the bush” from ground level actually gives you another perspective on the whole matter, on how vast the terrain is that they’re trying to search, and how heavily wooded the terrain is. It’s an incredibly difficult task to find two guys in the middle of—we think—three states. So there’s an 800-man effort underway right now— all the machine of ABC, CBS, NBC, reporting teams are up there—in an area where it’s kind of hard to get a cell phone signal. So it’s an incredible opportunity to go and to be able to film live for these networks, in a place that most people can’t drive to—it’s just shy of the Canadian border.

RD: Do you find that filmmakers/producers etc., now understand the potential that drones present for their needs, or are the capabilities of aerial camera platforms still something of a black art? If so, is it fun to show up and be able to blow their minds with what your rigs can do?JO: For me, the shot [in The Fallout] where our camera comes out of one of the cooling towers in Chernobyl is emblematic of—wow, that is a drone shot. And there is no other way you could do that—flying from inside to outside, doing a beautiful pirouette over a cooling tower that looks so drastically different when viewed from ground height. A lot of people in Hollywood consider cable cams—a Klaus cam [Ed: a stabilized long line camera system that is suspended from a cable that attaches to the cargo hook of a helicopter] as an alternative to a drone. And you figure you’ve got 50 to 150 feet of tether to run a Klaus cam or a cable cam under the

AeroCine has extensive experience abroad operating

drones from moving vehicles. In Dubai they even flew from a

golf cart! They are working with the FAA and hope to amend the

rules that prohibit it in the U.S.

AeroCine X8 Camera DroneAeroCine just finished building the prototype camera platform designed in-house by airframe engineer Julian Alvarez, gimbal designer Phil Salisbury and avionics developed by Suresh Kumar. Originally they had used commercially available drones, but decided a custom design would serve their specialized needs more effectively. This monster runs eight KDE motors on four aluminum booms. Once the testing is done they may switch over to carbon fiber. Interestingly, Suresh found more aerodynamic efficiency by running wood props (which give a wider selection of prop pitch) on the bottom motors, and lighter carbon fiber props on top. They fabricated an accurately weighted and balanced dummy camera to simulate the ultra-expensive RED Epic, as well as Alexa Mini and Sony F55 cameras.

QUICK SPECS Weight: Airframe ~20 lb.; payload 20+ lb.Flight Time (fully loaded): 15 min.Typical Battery Configuration: 2 MaxAmps 8S, 22,000mAh LiPosMotors: 8 KDE 5215XF brushlessSpeed Controls: Not disclosedFlight controller: Not disclosed

July/August 2015 61

We tagged along as the fl ight team tested its custom camera

platform in a park near Coney Island. It carries an authentically

weighted and balanced dummy camera to simulate payload and

conditions it will encounter on set.

Above: Mike, Suresh and Jeff discuss calibration settings after the fi rst fl ight.Below: AeroCine’s portable charging rig mounts a pair of iCharger 4010duos in a Pelican case. It came in handy when the three-man fl ight team had to charge up while driving up to upstate New York to video the manhunt for two escaped prisoners.


belly of a helicopter, but you’re also dealing with rotor-wash and safety issues. In a helicopter crash, there are at the very least two people in it, and their chances of surviving, especially in a low-altitude power failure, or in contact with power lines or terrain, are drastically reduced because they have no time to react. If you’re 50 or 150 feet off the ground you have no time to react.

We’ve had a couple jobs come up where helicopters don’t exist. These are islands where you cannot get a helicopter. Or if you get a helicopter

there it’s because you put the helicopter on a boat, and that’s incredibly expensive. By contrast, we can throw a couple Pelican cases in a plane and we’re there. With a helicopter—there are certain shots you can’t do with a drone—or can’t do legally with a drone. You can’t exceed 400 feet above ground level. That’s a definite constraint, but 90% of the time, maybe even 95% of the time, when someone is looking for an aerial shot, they may think they want more altitude, but for the most part that makes people on the ground look like specks. You know what people like watching? People like watching people.

RD: What’s the biggest challenge to fulfilling the potential of drones moving forward?JO: The biggest limitation I see in the industry right now is batteries. You look at the battery technology and research that’s been thrown behind cars and houses, and that’s where a lot of the advances have been made. Unfortunately, they are incremental advances.

RD: Some high-profile and somewhat salacious things that have happened with drones in recent months, have you found that that has made client conversations harder for you, or do people kind of take those episodes with a grain of salt? JO: “You know, most people who are sophisticated in business understand that with new technology there are going to be early adopters and there are going to be people saying no. To the naysayers, technology always wins. Technology always, always wins. If you look at the horseless carriage, this was a terrifying invention to Americans when it came out. And I think you’d be hard pressed to find somebody who would not get in a car today. Now if you look at, sure there are more cars on the road than there are drones in the air, but look at the number of flights and accidents there are vs the number of driving occurrences and accidents, I think the numbers are going to be staggeringly in favor of UAVs. We’re flying $500,000 worth of camera equipment and we don’t take that lightly. We’re also flying over people’s heads sometimes on set who are by definition part of the film shoot, but that doesn’t mean that we take that lightly. There’s nothing more sacred than human life.

Let’s talk about something topical for a minute. Enrique Iglesias—that’s something that the press wants to know about and I think this is very

AeroCine

To The naysayers, Technology always wins. if you look aT The horseless carriage, This was a Terrifying invenTion To americans aT firsT. BuT you’d Be hard pressed To find someBody who would noT geT in a car Today.

Lead engineer Suresh Kumar fine-tuning the new custom heavy-lift camera platform.


topical for your readers. [Ed: Iglesias recently suffered a well-publicized hand injury while reaching out to grab a drone during a live performance.] We had a lot of our news partners who we work with calling us and asking us to comment on this. We had print media calling us. Brian was on Inside Edition. Everybody wants to know, ‘Oh drones are dangerous! Just say drones are dangerous.’ Well, drones aren’t dangerous. You know, if you lean on a stove that’s hot, that’s dangerous also. If you stick your hand in a blender while it’s running, it’s dangerous. Common sense is paramount, and grabbing a copter out of the air that has props that are spinning between 6,000 and 8,000 revs per minute, whether they’re carbon fiber or plastic doesn’t really matter, as Enrique found out. They had a drone as part of the show. It wasn’t in the U.S. so they weren’t subject to FAA regulations. But the question isn’t how to completely eliminate any risk, because there is risk associated with everything in life. There’s risk associated with walking across the street. The question is how do we mitigate and minimize those risks. How do we bring that risk down

to an acceptable level? And so that’s something that the FAA considers, that’s something that we consider, that’s something that the compliance departments of large companies consider.

RD: AeroCine’s original mission was obviously aerial cinematography (hence the name) and that’s what you’re known—and have won awards—for. But you’ve since diversified a bit. What’s next on the horizon for AeroCine? JO: Yeah, we have a lot of big stuff in the works. There’s a lot that I can’t specifically talk about, but I will say that the company is growing rapidly. We’ve done more live TV broadcasts from a drone than anyone in the world. And I think that probably points to the direction that the company may be headed in. The film business will always be a business for us—TV, advertising. Events and experiential marketing. We have a competency—we can design copters, we can build copters, and what’s more exciting to a brand than having a copter that meshes with their message?

That’s a Wrap Things are fast and fluid in the circles AeroCine runs in. Rules are changing, technology is changing, and the demands on companies like AeroCine that operate drones professionally are changing even faster. Public awareness is exploding, and with that the demand of companies to capitalize on the unique capabilities that only drones can provide—even as that same public has little concept of what those capabilities actually are! AeroCine’s challenge is to meet those demands, while threading the regulatory needle and helping the FAA develop policy that will be in the best interests of public safety and good business. They are an informal but professional group of guys, and their success speaks for itself. Whether it’s big movie and TV studios, big ad firms, or the big news networks, demand for its aerial cinematography and live video feeds is strong and growing every day. If you want to know what the future looks like in the professional drone world, look to the skies above Brooklyn!

Mike Ferguson and Jon Ollwerther with The TODAY Show host Matt Lauer on

the North Fork of Long Island.

AeroCine


The Fallout: AeroCine’s Ultimate Demo ReelAeroCine created their award-winning short film The Fallout to introduce their company the world. What better way to showcase the nucleus of talent and experience they had assembled? The film is striking not just for its subject and location, but for the skill and subtlety with which it is flown and filmed. Put together by founders Jeff Brink and Brian Streem, with world-champion helicopter pilot Oscar Ohlson at the sticks, it’s a tremendous piece of work and showcases the kind of work that can only be performed by a drone. I talked with Brian about his experience filming The Fallout.

RD: You guys won an award for The Fallout, which documented the site of the Chernobyl Nuclear disaster more than 25 years later. What was the experience like to actually be there? Brian Streem: “Chernobyl was like the first thing that we did. Jeff and I thought: ‘What’s the coolest place we could go film?’ Oh, Chernobyl, that seems obvious. I had information from some people. People go on vacations to Chernobyl, people like go to it. I’ve seen photos of it. Photographers go to it. There must be a way to go there. My background is in film production, so I called a local production company that works in Kiev and I said ‘I want to do this, and how much is it going to cost, and I need you to set it up for me.’ In the film industry it’s called a fixer: the local guy who’s going to show you around. The

scary thing was that there happened to be a political coup going on in Kiev that very day. We were supposed to show up and we were getting emails from the United States consulate advising us not to go. But here we were at the airport with a drone and all this other stuff and we decided, ‘Eh, screw it. Let’s take a risk and just do it.’ Showing up with a many thousands of dollars in rotor drone gear and equipment—mind you, this was still like a year and a half ago so this was really before drone fever really kind of took storm. We looked like lunatics and of course we were immediately pulled in by these Ukrainian guys at the airport that didn’t look very friendly. And I’m just there waiting and waiting and hoping to God that the guy who I hired on the other side is going to show up. We each get pulled into a separate room. They took my IDs, they took the drone; I don’t know where my friends are. They didn’t even speak English. Then this fixer—who I never actually saw before—walked into the room and started speaking Ukrainian, and then we were walking around the streets of Kiev an hour later. It was scary. They were killing politicians and the whole country

was kind of going nuts, and I kind of assumed they’re not going to put us in the city where this coup is going on. But no, we’re staying in Kiev … we were on the block where people had barricaded all the streets where guys with guns were standing. They had militarized the zone.

Then the next day we drove two hours north to Chernobyl. I don’t really know how much authority we had to be there. I was one step removed from that. I hired other people to do it for us. And being there was very spooky. But the most surprising thing is that there is actually like five or six thousand people that live in Chernobyl. They’re all scientists conducting research on the plant and wildlife that have inhabited the area. There is somewhat of a normal life there. We had a Geiger counter with us, obviously measuring radiation. You know, I don’t know if it worked, I don’t know if the operator knew what they were doing. But I remember driving by the reactor that melted down, when we drove by that, the Geiger counter started to spike.”

RD: So the footage that you took was kind of guerilla style to a certain extent? You had semi—official permission, but you just said, “You know what? This is the shot we want.”BS: “I think we had permission. This is what I was told by the people that I’d hired. I don’t know if we had permission to fly a drone, but I also don’t know if anybody really cared. Like, nobody cared is the real answer. If a tree falls in the woods. But we were not just in the woods, we were

in the radioactive woods, so nobody’s there. The weird thing was that there was stuff going on there. There were soldiers moving about. There were people kind of doing maintenance on stuff. The hotel we stayed in—like you can imagine, who was the hotel caretaker that has a business here? It’s definitely not like a Ritz Carlton, you know.

I think we were there for two or three days, and at the end of every day there you’re supposed to go through this machine. You know like the subways in New York, how you go through like a turnstile, like a full body turnstile, it’s kind of like that but it looks older and more decrepit than those things. You put your hands on these boxes and then the light either blinks green or blinks red but it looks like this freaking thing hasn’t been serviced since the ‘70s so who the hell knows if it’s actually working. And that was the test essentially [to see] if they would allow you to return to the outside world. If the red light blinks, I can only imagine what they do to you! Did I like lose a day or two of my life—or even a year —going there? Maybe, but I’ll never know it and it was probably worth it.” K

“I don’t know If we had permIssIon to fly a drone, but I also don’t know If anybody really cared… ‘If a tree falls In the woods.’ but we were not just In the woods, we were In the radIoactIve woods. so noboDy’s there.”

AeroCine CEOBrian Streem

July/August 2015 67

Eerie and hauntingly beautiful, Chernobyl provided a striking and unique setting for

AeroCine to showcase its artistic vision and technical skills. Flying through decrepit

carnival rides and up out of a dilapidated reactor cooling tower would be impossible

for anything other than a drone.


When it comes to aerial platforms for video capture, no one does it better than DJI, and the new Phantom 3 Advanced and Pro are great examples of this. This multirotor is designed for the aerial enthusiast who is looking to capture some nice

footage (both video and stills) from a high perspective.

DJI Phantom 3 AdvancedThe next generation of video production, ready to go out of the boxBy john reid Photos By bob sutton

air support

July/August 2015 69

SPECIFICATIONS

Name: Phantom 3 AdvancedManufacturer: DJI Technology, LCC (dji.com)Type: camera rigSize: 590mmWeight: 45.15 oz.Motors: included and installedBattery: 4480mAh 4S intelligent battery Speed controls: included and installedFlight controller: included and installedRadio: included and bound to the Phantom 3Price: $999 (Advanced), $1259 (Pro)

WE LIKE

+ Ready to fly

+ Comes with high-quality camera/gimbal installed

+ Easy to fly and control

+ Full camera control from the pilot app

HIGHLIGHTS� e Phantom 3 is available in Advanced and Pro versions, with the key diff erence being the quality of camera resolution: Pro shoots at 4K and the Advanced shoots at 1080p. � e Phantom 3 comes completely assembled and just requires that you charge the batteries and attach the props. � e GPS positioning is very solid, and if you fl y into a GPS-free area (indoors), a vision-positioning system underneath the aircraft uses both visual and ultrasonic sensors to maintain its position. Flying from inside to outside is seamless, and you even can set up a GPS enabled “geofence” that keeps the aircraft fl ying within a given distance and altitude. � e included Sony Exmor camera is attached to a three-axis gimbal that provides great video stabilization and can be vertically controlled (somewhat) by the transmitter. I worked with the Advanced version and the 1080p video and the 12 megapixels photos it produces were high quality. Live HD real-time viewing is possible with a tablet or smartphone attached to the transmitter using DJI’s built-in Lightbridge image transmission technology. � e downloadable app also provides easy to use controls for the camera and quad. � e transmitter has all the controls needed for operating the quad and camera without the tablet or smartphone (but your fl ight experience and control is enhanced with them). A fl ight modes switch, camera control buttons and dials along with customizable buttons allow you to make the transmitter intuitive and user-friendly.

� e vision position-ing system uses

both visual and ultrasonic sensors

and is on the bottom of the Phantom 3.

� is activates when needed and works

seamlessly with the GPS location

system.

Camera controls are on both sides of the transmitter at the top,

within easy reach. It is very easy to transfer between video and still photography during a single fl ight.


If you want a quad that comes out of the box ready to fly and easy-to-fly/control, shoots high-quality videos and photos with creative camera controls on the transmitter, then the DJI Phantom 3 Advanced or Pro version should be in your future.

a e r i a l r e c a pI’ve flown the previous two versions of the Phantom and I have to say that the Phantom 3 has marked improvements in precision, stabilization and flight performance. From my very first takeoff I felt that the controls were extremely smooth and this was a very easy quadcopter to fly. I was impressed by the stability even in some rather high wind conditions that we have in the high desert where some of the test flights took place. I did not test out the maximum flight time of 23 minutes; I did fly an average 19 minutes per battery charge during testing. The auto-return home function works flawlessly and manual landings were very stable and easy to perform. The CPU warm-up takes a minute or two to complete, so just be patient before the flight. Once everything locks in, you have a very solid, easy to fly multirotor in your hands. An auto-takeoff function on the DJI Pilot app can start the motors and lift the quad to a preset height waiting for your input on where to go. This function worked flawlessly every time I used it. Overall, I was really impressed with the flight performance I got out of this mid-size quad.

last word

Camera IncludedOur Advanced Phantom 3 has a fully integrated camera/gimble setup and is able to shoot 1080p video at up to 60 frames per second. In addition it is able to capture 12 megapixel photos, in a single shot, burst shooting 3/5/7 shots at a time, and has auto exposure bracketing of up to five frames with a 0.7/EV bias. The nice thing is that the pilot on the ground can activate all functions from the transmitter or the pilot’s app. The f/2.8 lens has a 94-degree field of view, which does a good job of eliminating distortion. The three-axis gimbal did a great job of keeping the footage stable during some quick quad movements and while flying in the wind. Capturing nice aerial footage is easy to do with this setup.

DJI Pilot AppThe free DJI Pilot app really does put control in the pilot’s hands. The app is compatible with newer tablets and smartphones, and it’s used in conjunction with the transmitter. The app allows complete control over the camera and gimbal during flight in real time. You also have a display of the video coming from the camera; this is done through DJI’s Lightbridge that is connected from the transmitter to the tablet/smartphone via cable connection. Once installed, the app gives the pilot many options (too many to share here) that make for a complete flight experience.

A smartphone or tablet can be mounted on the front of the transmitter to allow the pilot to use the DJ I pilot app. The Phantom3 can be oper-ated without it, but the addition of the pilot app allows for more control over the video and still photography.

High-quality images are produced from this small camera mounted on a fast-reacting gimbal.

The color-coded props match the colored spindles on the motors. This ensures that the correct prop is always on the right motor.

Left: The proprietary battery is completely integrated in the system and provides up to 23 minutes of flight time—more than enough time for anything I needed to shoot.Right: The battery pack has a combination of LED lights that can easily be seen from some distance away. The number of lights reflect the amount of charge remaining in the battery.

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EXPERT TECHBY ROBERT C. RODRIGUEZ

Video Editing Tools 101WHICH PROGRAM IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Apple Final Cut Studio� ere are two versions of this older software, and depending on which one you started with, you’ll probably hate the other. I use Final Cut Pro7 for a lot of my work, but that’s because it’s what I know best. � e interface is intuitive and similar to other editing platforms, and it supports a huge amount of codecs on both import and export. � e companion tools like the compressor make it really easy to publish fi les to most channels like YouTube and Blu-ray, and because it’s part of the Apple eco system, it works really well when sending projects over to other Apple applications for additional work like titling or scoring sound.Available from Apple resellers › $299.99

Final Cut Pro X� ere’s nothing faster on the market in my opinion for editing than Final Cut Pro X, but it takes some getting used to. It feels very counterintuitive but once you get familiar with the toolset you wonder what people were complaining about! If you’ve tried X in the past and written it off , do yourself a favor and give it another shot. It has come a long way and will quickly become a valuable asset in your video editing tool box.itunes.apple.com › $299.99

Following up on my article in the May/June issue, this article continues the discussion about video editing. There are a lot of options when it comes to

selecting your editing software. Choosing a software package is usually dependent on your choice of personal computer system. One of my favorites is Adobe Premiere Pro, but don’t feel that you have to use what everyone else is using. If the program that comes with your PC is sufficient for your needs, then stick with it. If you’re looking for a better way to tell your story, I’ll suggest a few different tools for you to consider. Today, the cost of entry has come down, so much that the same exact editing tools used by major motion pictures and television shows are now available to everyone for a very reasonable monthly charge. Most of these also have a free trial version available, so I encourage you to try it before you buy it.

Adobe Premiere Pro off ers a unique feature that helps fi x some common issues such as image distortion commonly seen on GoPro or proprietary cameras that come with smaller drones like the DJI Phantom Vision and Vision 2+.


Adobe Premiere ProAdobe’s off ering is very similar in layout to Final Cut Pro. Once you spend some time with it, you’ll quickly realize that not only do some editing platforms look the same, their core functionality is the same as well. I can’t think of any fi le type that I’ve imported into Premiere that it did not like. It even supports some fi les that have been orphaned from their original camera fi le directory system that other platforms are dependent on to read. Where Adobe really shines in its suite of products is how easy it is to bounce projects back and forth. If you’re at all serious about this industry, chances are you already have Photoshop and FX installed on your PC. Premier integrates with these applications brilliantly and you’ll soon be fi nding new effi ciencies in your workfl ow. Premiere Pro should not be ignored.creative.adobe.com › Creative Cloud $49.99/month

Avid Media ComposerIf I had to guess I would say that Avid is used on 95% of all broadcast and theatrical shows. 99% percent of the shows

ORGANIZE YOUR WORKSPACETake some time to organize projects intuitively. One of the worst things you can do is just dump everything into one bin and try to find it when needed. You should find what works best for you, but I suggest grouping shots by shoot date and then by scene or type. Keep your sequences in a separate bin and label them clearly. Music, graphic elements, and pictures all do well tidied up in their respective bins as well. This would also helps if for some reason you weren’t able to finish a job and someone else needed to take over the project. They should be able to find everything without having to involve you. Speaking as a professional, however, be sure to hide a couple items. You always want some job security, right!?

Most applications will allow you to customize your workspace to suit your needs. Select the view that works best for you. Dual displays off er the most fl exibility to keep everything clean, but most applications off er a very well-thought-out, single-display option with minimal distractions.

coming into my day job are cut on Avid. Media Composer off ers you a very mature and battle tested application for your editorial needs. Some may complain that the interface was getting a bit dated, but for those like myself that have been using Avid for years, I appreciate the fact that Avid has continued to innovate its software without changing the familiar feel and workfl ow. If you plan on working in broadcast or theatrical in your career, you’d be doing yourself a huge disservice if you don’t learn Avid.connect.avid.com › $49.99/Month

Black Magic Design Da Vinci ResolveWhether you know it or not, you’re familiar with the gorgeous results that Resolve has been producing for major motion pictures for years. It’s one of the dominating color correctors of choice and up until a few short years ago, was way out of the reach of most of us. � at changed when Black Magic Design purchased Da Vinci Resolve and decided to make it one of the most controversial decisions in post-production history: they gave it away for free! It’s limited in what it can do in comparison to the fully licensed version, but not by much. You may wonder if I’ve made a mistake listing color corrector platform along with editing software, but the answer is no. Download it, load up some media and jump to the editing page; You’ll be greeted by some very powerful and familiar tools that will allow you to edit, title and deliver your project quickly. Resolve has some of the best support for native camera fi les from h.264 all the way up to R3D. Add this to your system. It’s available for Mac and Windows and at this price, you can’t go wrong with it.blackmagicdesign.com › free download

I hope this article gives you an appreciation of the various editing tools available. I strongly encourage you to give new programs a try; you may not know what you’re missing until you check them out! K

EDITING SHORTCUTSI’m going to let you in on a secret. No matter what you program you select, to be your creative best you have to take shortcuts. I’m not talking about cutting corners on quality, I’m talking about learning how to use your editing software by feel like you would a musical instrument. Nothing takes you out of the moment more than having to go through all the menus to look for a feature that you could otherwise accomplish with a few keyboard combinations. If the J,K,L, I and O keys on your keyboard aren’t worn out, you’re not working efficiently. Give it a try.


Graupner has been a leader in radio-control innovation for decades, and now they’re bringing their accumulated knowledge to the multirotor world. The new Alpha 250Q racer has an innovative, combined receiver and flight controller, eliminating excess wiring and weight to create a lightweight, fast and responsive aircraft.

Graupner Race Copter Alpha 250Q A speed demon with all the bells and whistlesBy john reid Photos By bob sutton

air support

July/August 2015 77

SPECIFICATIONS

Name: Race Copter Alpha 250Q Manufacturer: Graupner (graupner.de)Distributor: Open Hobby (openhobby.com)Type: Racing quadSize: 250mmWeight: 1 lb., 2 oz. (ready to race)Motors: Graupner Ultra 2300kv (included)Battery: 3S 1300mAhSpeed controls: includedFlight controller: Graupner GR-18 (included)Radio: 6-channel Graupner (required)Price: $449-$649 depending on configuration

HIGHLIGHTS� e Alpha 250Q comes completely assembled and just needs to be bound to your Graupner transmitter, unless you get the ready-to-fl y version that includes the transmitter. � e triple mode receiver and fl ight controller combination is installed and attached to all the speed controllers. � e body is made up of a strong 3mm carbon-fi ber motor frame and 2mm carbon-fi ber chassis, which gives it strength and keeps it lightweight. � e combination receiver/controller provides additional room in the chassis so you can move the 3-cell battery pack toward the center of the quad. � ere are plenty of locations for attaching your FPV equipment, and the front of the quad is designed for a camera to be protected behind a carbon-fi ber plate. On top is a carbon-fi ber vibration-free camera mount. � e Graupner Ultra 2300Kv motors and speed control provide good performance and very quick response. In addition, the Alpha 250Q includes an aluminum carrying case and two sets of their C-props. � e ready-to-fl y model comes with an mz-12 radio, battery pack and charger. One of the standard features of the Graupner radio equipment is that they come with built-in telemetry with altitude, voltage, radio-frequency signal strength, receiver temperature and live voice telemetry announcements. It was very easy for me set this quad up for racing, and I was in the air after about one hour of setup and FPV installation. Next up: how will this bird perform in the air?

WE LIKE

+ Easy to assemble

+ Fast and responsive

+ Real time telemetry

+ Built-in controller with receiver

� e camera is well-protected by the carbon-fi ber faceplate that stands guard in front of it. � e diff erent color high-intensity LED lights are both in the front and back of the chassis, and come pre-mounted and wired.


This is the perfect quad for anyone who is looking to get into racing without having to deal too much with construction. The Alpha 250Q is durable, fast, and can stand up to some hard hits.

a e r i a l r e c a pFlight performance was answered the next day when I took the Alpha 250Q to my local park for a test flight. On my first flight I left it in attitude mode, which keeps the quad level when the sticks are released. It had no problem lifting off quickly with all of my FPV gear onboard and performed very well in the air. The controls are very responsive and the 250Q really moves out, if you are flying line-of-sight it will get out of sight very fast. Having the battery located in the middle of the aircraft allows it to corner well. If you are a beginner pilot you will need some help from a more experienced pilot until you get a feel for this airframe. I really had no problem placing the Alpha 250Q where I needed it to be and I had a blast flying it around in the park. Switching to rate mode it became very responsive to the sticks and allowed for aerobatics (rolls and flips). This mode requires the pilot to use opposite stick to get the aircraft to level out. This is the preferred mode for racing because the aircraft will maintain a 45° angle.

last word

FPV equipmentFor this review I installed the Lumenier CM-650 mini camera and an ImmersionRC 5.8GHz 600mw transmitter for my FPV. Along with that I used the Fat Shark Dominator V2 goggles. This combination made for a solid connection at the park with little static until I got some distance away and low to the ground. It was easy mounting the camera right behind the front plate on the quad and this did offer protection during some rough landings. This lightweight FPV system worked very well for me and kept everything light.

Flight controller The Graupner GR-18 receiver is everything a receiver should be. The flight controller is built right into it and it can relay a number of telemetry items to keep pilots up to date on all the onboard systems. With some programming, it can control many different multirotor configurations. It is easier to set up than many flight controllers and for this model it is ready to go out of the box. An additional plus is its all-up weight of 0.49 ounce, and installation only involves making sure one of its sides is parallel to the side of the multirotor frame.

Because the receiver and controller are combined, the battery is able to slide in quite a bit toward the center. This keeps most of the weight at the center of the quad and protects the battery inside the frame.

One of the high-performance Graupner ultra 2300 Kv motors, with C-prop attached.

80 ModelAirplaneNews.com

LUCKY THIRTEEN! The Radio Control Expo, better known as RCX, cel-ebrated 13 years of radio control excitement as the event returned to sunny southern California’s beautiful Orange County. The OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa hosted thousands of amped RC fans for a full week-end of fun that included indoor and outdoor flight demos, drag racing, try-me tracks, stunt demos, full-size race vehicles and “star cars” from movies and television—and of course, the latest RC gear. Whether you’re into planes, drones, scale, helicopters, racing, or drifting, RCX had it all. We hope you joined us in person for the fun, but if you didn’t, you can get a look at all the excitement in the pages ahead. And it’s never too soon to plan for next year—RCX 2016 will be here sooner than you think!

BY TEAM ROTORDRONE PHOTOS BY CARL HYNDMAN & JOEL NAVARRO

The Ultimate Radio Control Expo Returns to the OC!

Flight ZonesPart of the excitement each year at RCX is our exciting Flight Zones. To keep all types of RC aircraft and their pilots happy, we provided two zones: a big indoor netted fl ight area for electric powered helis, multi-rotor craft, lightweight 3D fl yers and micro RC planes, and for the RC craft needing a larger fl ight space, a huge outdoor fl ight zone, right outside the center hall. � is year’s RCX saw an amazing increase in the number and scope of mul-tirotor aircraft on display. � e two hot tickets for 2015 were the video camera rotor drones that use WiFi to transmit images to your mobile device, and the hot and fast First Person View quadcopter racers. When it came to fl ight demos, there were so many fl ights, both inside and at the outdoor fl ight zone, pilots had to sign in and pick slots for their demo fl ights. From big electric-powered 3D helicopter fl ight demos with inverted hovers so low they almost trimmed the grass to high energy 3D aerobatics airplanes, both big and small, the outside fl ight zone was the place to be. � e fun and excitement was nonstop!

SEPTEMBER 2015 81

Horizon Flying CageAt the Horizon Hobby booth, attend-ees got a chance to get up close and personal with Blade micro quads and helicopters while fl ying them inside a circular “cage” with 12-foot walls. � e current crop of these micro fl yers is so stable that newbies can fl y them, and even if they do crash they’re so light that they aren’t often damaged. As you can guess, the Horizon Fly-Me cage was a popular RCX destination!


RotorDrones invade RCXA large contingency of drone vendors showed the world how diverse and exciting RC rotor drones really are. Aerial coverage of the RCX show was made possible by Michael Rivard of RadFlight flying an Inspire 1 multi-rotor to capture great bird’s-eye video of all the ac-tion. One of the fastest growing segments in the RC industry, RC drones are also the most exciting, and RCX featured several opportunities to learn all about the tech and fun found in the market. Several vendors including Horizon Hobby, Total Control Innovations, Multicopter Warehouse, Hitec RCD, Samy’s Camera, UAV-RC, DroneFly, Drone Proz, Dinogy Lipos and Graupner were on hand to show their wares. There were also Try-Me Drone Zones, and booth-side flight demos (in protected enclosures), as well as the indoor and outdoor Flight Zones. Several industry pros were also on hand from the UAV Systems Association to field questions. In all, RCX was the perfect opportunity to stock up on aerial cameras, flight bat-teries and the other multi-rotor gear and accessories you need. If you missed it this year, don’t let that happen again. Next year the drone invasion at RCX will be massive!

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1. The RadFlight team captured aerial footage of the show. 2. The Graupner racing quad is a hit at RCX!3. Hitec Q-Cop; just one of the rotor drones on display.4. Samy’s Camera had a variety of multirotors on display.5. The Multicopter Warehouse was a popular booth.6. The UAVSA was on hand to answer questions.7. Editor John Reid interviews the AMA.8. Keep your drone safe in a custom MicroRaptor case.9. This aerial camera will get you a birds-eye-view!10. DJI has dozens of multirotors!11. Horizon’s Blade quadcopters come in a variety of sizes.12. DroneFly demos some new equipment.13. Attendees check out the new Yuneec Typhoon.14. The Eye of Mine Action Camera booth.15. Custom multirotors come in all shapes and sizes.16. Attendees stocked up on motors and gear!17. The UAVSA’s Keith Kaplan gets ready to fly a Yuneec Typhoon.

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RutanRC Flight DemosA special treat this year was the Rutan RC prototypes being flown during some amazing flight demos. Two scale SpaceShip Ones and the White Knight mothership model were on display in the AMA booth all weekend and Rutan RC’s Dan Kreigh, with help from Mason Hutchison, put on several demo flights on Saturday. SpaceShip One is the powered model and it carries the un-powered mothership up to altitude. When the two models separate, the mothership glides back down (under RC control by a second pilot), and the smaller SpaceShip One is free to perform. Powered by an EDF unit, it also has the ability to reconfigure it-self for “feathered” descent. The SpaceShip One has full control during both feathered and unfeathered flight and it showed it had plenty of power. Dan actually worked with Burt Rutan as a Scaled Composites engineer for many Rutan designs, including the original Space-ShipOne craft. It is famous for winning the $10 million Ansari X Prize by reaching 100 kilometers in altitude (suborbital, weight-less flight), twice within a two-week period. Dan told us that the SpaceShip One and White Knight combo is just the beginning and they are planning to produce several more of the amazing aircraft.

Top: Team RutanRC poses after their demo flight. Above: RotorDrone editor Debra Cleghorn interviews Team RutanRC.surveymonkey.com/r/9SZBDWG

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Brand Partner-ships Manager Michael Shabun happily accepts the Drone of the Year trophy from Air Age Media CEO Louis DeFrancesco.

Every year at RCX our sister publications celebrate and recognize what we feel are the best products of the year, and this year RotorDrone Magazine gave out its very first Drone of the Year award. Our favorites have many things in common: high quality, great performance, and overall “wow” factor.

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EXPERT TECHBY WILLIAM LEVASSEUR PHOTOS BY WILLIAM LEVASSEUR & CHANTAL RACETTE

3D Printing Project A DIY $30 QUADCOPTER

You can 3D print your own quadcopter, like this one. But I recommend that you do your homework fi rst. Even expert-made projects found online have quirks and will likely require some tweaking before they actually fl y. But I enjoy a challenge!

Building stuff is fun. Building stuff that works is better. Websites like Thingiverse, YouMagine, Cubify and MyMiniFactory offer a variety of projects for your 3D printer. What they don’t provide are any guarantees that your creation will perform as advertised, especially when various electronic components are required. Maybe the servo that you bought is slightly different from the one you needed. Or the circuit board has the right technical specifications, but it’s of a newer model with the holes and pins at different places. There are few things more frustrating than finding out those parts you bought don’t actually fit together.

Quadcopters are a staple of 3D printing project repositories, so I decided to build one for the purpose of this article. I settled on a slick-looking project off ered on TinkerineU (u.tinkerine.com). Tinkerine is a Canadian 3D printer manufacturer, and this website launched in March and is still in its infancy. Most consumer-oriented 3D printer companies have some kind of website off ering projects and STL fi les of stuff that their customers can make. Unlike � ingiverse, which hosts user-generated content, TinkerineU is marketed as a teaching platform, with professionally designed, high-quality projects and lesson plans aimed at schools. In fact, the press release states that the content was co-developed with educators.

July/August 2015 89

I picked a project with challenging fi ne features. 3D printers are not all the same. Your results may vary if you are using a diff erent machine than the person who designed the project in the fi rst place.

Lesson 1: Appearances can be deceiving� e project STL fi les for the TinkerineU quadcopter comes with an instruction manual. It’s all very clean and offi cial looking; I can tell serious man hours went into this. Diagrams show how to put the various parts together, what kind of screws and size motors to use, and where the circuit board goes. I feel that I’m in good hands.But as legitimate as the document looks, I can spot some fl aws. No model number or clue where to buy the motors and no recommended electronics. I’m even expected to 3D print the propellers, which is something I know for a fact is near impossible. Could a high school student build this? Unlikely! But I decide to go ahead anyway ... because if it’s too easy, I won’t have anything to write about!

Lesson 2: Locate the hardware fi rstOn the TinkerineU website, the link for locating the hardware that I need is grayed out, with the dreadful mention, “coming soon.” I inquired about that and Tinkerine replied that they are “currently working diligently with [...] suppliers to have the hardware parts for all the projects available. It shouldn’t be much longer.” � at was back in March, when the website was launched, and

nothing has changed since. Good thing I didn’t wait!� ankfully, this mini quadcopter uses brushed motors

identical to the common Hubsan brand that you can buy online. Brushed motors don’t use electronic speed controls, so one less thing to worry about. I fi gured out that I need the exact same motors as the Hubsan H107L. Replacement motors are easy to fi nd online ($10). � ey have to be for that exact model, though, since the more recent ones use bigger motors. I also buy a Hubsan fl ight controller board ($14), which has the radio receiver built-in, and four propellers ($5), because I fi gure the ones I will try to print aren’t likely to work. I already own a Hubsan, so I have a remote control and battery. � e instructions recommend a 300mAh 1S LiPo. I’ll use a 500mAh, because why not? I’m basically building a Hubsan H107L from spare parts in a custom 3D-printed body.

Lesson 3: Can your printer handle it?I have plenty of time to print the actual frame while my hardware ships across the ocean. My fi rst attempt is a disappointing failure. You see, I don’t own a Tinkerine printer. Mine is a DIY RepRap with a diff erent set of characteristics. � e project is tailored for the company’s

SEARCH & DISCOVERHow can you find good projects? There’s a search engine for that! With possibly dozens of online repositories of 3D printing projects, finding the very best is near impossible without help. I use STLFinder.com and Yeggi.com, two search engines especially made for sorting through several resources at once.


EXPERT TECH 3D PRINTING PROJECT

mention: “� e blades of this propeller are printed fl at and must be bent after printing to create the desired pitch.” No clues on how to achieve that and I will be in awe of anybody who can pull it off . I’ll just use the ones that I bought.

Lesson 4: You are on your ownI located the tiny screws needed to put it all together, but the very fi rst part that I try to attach cracks. My delicate print, coerced from my barbaric RepRap machine, isn’t

going to cut it. Time to improvise! I dismiss the screws and glue everything with epoxy. At this point, I just want it to fl y. And fl y it does! About as well as the Hubsan H107L, whose guts I Frankenstein-ed to life in this new body. � e project worked … after a fashion.

� ere are a lot of ways this could have gone better. Owning a superior 3D printer would have been a plus. It would also help if Tinkerine sold hardware kits for its projects.

3D printing has true potential when it comes to teaching things like physics, mechanics, and electronics. My goal isn’t to discourage you from exploring projects found online and attempting to build them. But you will need to be clever and remain skeptical in the face of things that look too good to be true. K

PRECURSORS TO FAILURE1. No actual real life pictures of the finished project.

2. Absent or incomplete list of required hardware.

3. No links to the stores where the electronic parts can be found.

4. No details or assembly instructions.

5. No comments or pictures from other users who built it.

6. STL files containing errors (non-manifold, intersecting triangles).

7. High detail and/or overhanging parts that look like they could only be printed on a high-end machine.

8. The title reads “NOT-TESED” [sic].

9. The title contains an obvious typo.

10. This is the very first posted object by this user.

printer, which probably handles fi ne features better than my contraption.

No panic! A few calculations and a quick tuning later and I’ve got the layer width of my printer just right. I’m not able to get it precise enough to print all the tiny locking pins this frame is supposed to have, but I fi gure I can use epoxy glue … � is is as close as I can get it.

As for the propellers, I printed one just for the sake of it. It came out better than expected, but in no way strong enough to lift the aircraft. � e instructions come with the

It may be possible to 3D print a propeller, just not such a small one. � is one (left) doesn’t look too bad, but it’s far too fl exible and I have no practical way of shaping it to give it the right pitch. I’ll go with the ones that I bought (right).

At the end of the day, my 3D-printed mini quadcopter is the same as the Hubsan H107L, but with a custom frame. � is is a fun project if you happen to have a broken Hubsan lying around.

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Looking for a compact, HD-camera-equipped, First-Person View (FPV) quadcopter? One that’s easy to set up and fly? Then check out the

new Glimpse FPV HD Camera Drone. An RTF (ready to fly) quadcopter, the Glimpse is perfect for anyone wanting to get started, and it comes with everything you need, all in one package.

Blade/Horizon Hobby GlimpseA compact FPV HD camera droneBY GERRY YARRISH PHOTOS BY PETER HALL

SPECIFICATIONS

Name: Glimpse Manufacturer: Blade (bladehelis.com)Distributor: Horizon Hobby (horizonhobby.com)Type: ready to fly, camera-equipped quadcopterSize: 160mmWeight: 1.83 oz.Motors: 8mm coreless (installed)Battery: 500mAh 1S 25C LiPo (included)Speed controls: Integrated 4-in-1 mixer/speed controls/gyro (installed)Flight controller: SAFE (Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope)Radio: Blade/Spektrum MLP4DSM (included)Price: $ 219.99

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+ 720p / 1.0MP integrated flight camera

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� e Blade Glimpse is an easy-to-fl y, FPV-camera-equipped quadcopter that’s fun to fl y.

July/August 2015 93

HIGHLIGHTSThe Glimpse has a built-in FPV HD camera and includes an easy to use 2.4GHz transmitter, a flight battery, USB charger, and a micro SD memory card and a USB cable. There is no assembly required and all you have to do is install the included AA batteries in the controller and charge the flight battery, which takes about 15 minutes attached to the USB port of your laptop. No tools are required, and the Glimpse even comes with a spare set of rotor blades in case you manage to bump into something hard.To control the onboard camera, you need to download the free Glimpse app and load it to your mobile device. (A smartphone holder is included.) Turn on the radio and power up the Glimpse, then turn on your phone, activate the app and join the Glimpse network. Now you can turn the video recorder on and off and/or take still photos. To retrieve the images, you can either remove the 8GB micro SD card and use a card reader to load to your PC or use the included USB cable and connect the quadcopter to your computer. There is a very slight lag time between the camera and the image in your device screen, but it isn’t long enough to interfere with true FPV flying.

a e r i a l r e c a pThe Glimpse drone features Blade’s SAFE (Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope) technology, making it easy for beginners to fly. It automatically rights the quadcopter in windy conditions, and the pitch and roll responses are limited to ensure positive flight stability. As soon as you release or neutralize the control sticks, the onboard stabilization system brings the drone back into a stable hover. With a full battery charge, we get six to eight minutes of flight time both inside and outdoors. The 8mm coreless motors provide plenty of power to fly the camera-equipped quadcopter and provide lively performance.

Responsiveness. With the SAFE flight controller, the Glimpse is stable yet responds well to control inputs.

Flight modes. The included transmitter provides high and low rates to adjust the Glimpse’s control response. By pressing the right control stick down until you hear a click, you can switch from high to low. In low rate, the model is very docile and ideally configured for first-time pilots. For pilots with more experience and to fly in mild wind, high rate is preferred as it provides quicker response.

For the new pilot looking for an easy to fly aerial camera equipped quadcopter, the Glimpse provides a solid starting off point. It is rugged and easy to fly, and its inverted rotor blade design increases safety. Flown indoors or out, it’s an ideal choice.

last word

The glimpse comes in a ready to fly package including the quadcopter, transmitter, flight battery, spare rotor blades, a micro sd card and a UsB cable.

Above: The inverted rotor blade design keeps the blades well-protected and provides excellent stability and response.left: The built-in camera has a micro sd card slot and it is con-trolled with a downloadable app using your mobile device.


LEGAL VIEW

BY JEFFREY ANTONELLI

State & Local Drone LawsNO SUBSTITUTION FOR STRONG FEDERAL RULES

In previous columns, I have discussed federal rules and laws that relate to aviation and drones in particular. This makes sense—after all, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been tasked with protecting the national airspace and regulating aviation. The FAA currently classifies drones as aircraft and, as readers of this column know, has asserted its authority over many operators.

However, a regulatory vacuum exists in two ways which poses a problem. First, regulations for drones have not yet been fi nalized. Although the FAA has recently announced that the rules will be fi nal in June 2016, the question remains whether the drone operator program will be ready to implement at that time. Second, the lack of a cohesive, national policy for drones including privacy concerns and where drones are allowed to take off and land is prompting local and state authorities to propose, and in some cases, pass laws that aff ect drone users. � ere are serious questions that need to be answered regarding these local attempts at regulation, such as, are they valid? And are they good or bad for the public and the industry? Without having a national policy in place, we are risking having a mish-mash of laws that stifl e the industry because of uncertainty of their validity, and we are also risking having the answers be provided through the ineffi cient process of litigation. Litigation is likely, in the author’s opinion, because of the doctrine of federal preemption which this article will discuss below. And, we may not like the answers that litigation provides.

Hobbyist considerationsIn Section 336 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Congress prohibited the FAA from issuing rules or regulations for hobby or recreational use of small drones, though the FAA is authorized to use enforcement action against anyone using their drone when the fl ight endangers the safety of the national airspace system. However, state legislators and city council members are not directly bound by this mandate, and appear to be allowed to limit what properties may be used for drone takeoff s and landings, so long as there is a rational relationship between the limitation and a legitimate government interest.

Some states and cities have chosen to limit the places where an individual may operate a drone. New York City is considering a ban on civilian drone use within the city, due to safety concerns for uninvolved individuals if the drone should fall. (Consider that at a Memorial Day parade in Massachusetts, a drone operator lost control of his Phantom, which fell from the sky and landed on two

spectators. No one was injured, but that will not always be the case.)

In a similar vein, Chicago is considering adopting an ordinance that would require drone operators to obtain a permit from the Park District prior to fl ying in the city. Phoenix, Arizona, restricts model aircraft fl ight to specifi c parks in the city limits.

� ere are also laws that limit specifi c uses of drones. Illinois and Tennessee prohibit people from using a drone to interfere with hunters, and many states have considered, or have passed, laws prohibiting using drones to hunt wildlife.

Of course, privacy is a major concern across the country. Every state will have laws regarding nuisance and trespass that you should consider before taking your quadcopter out in the neighborhood. Some states are also considering modifying existing laws to make it clear they apply to drones as well. Colorado, for example, is considering criminalizing “drone trespass” and “drone harassment.”

Law enforcement & government agenciesMany states and cities have laws that only apply to law enforcement or government agencies. Some states, such as Virginia, prohibit any law enforcement use of drones. Other states, including Florida, Iowa, and Montana, require police offi cers to obtain a search warrant before using an unmanned aircraft to collect evidence. Illinois also limits the amount of time this evidence may be stored. Wisconsin prohibits law enforcement agents from conducting drone surveillance where individuals have reasonable expectations of privacy. In addition to requiring a warrant for law enforcement use of drones, Oregon also requires any model aircraft used by public bodies to be registered with its state Department of Aviation.

Federal PreemptionIt is important to remember that FAA regulations may trump, or preempt, local or state laws. � at’s because the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution makes federal law the supreme law in the United States. In practice, this means that local governments are allowed to pass laws and regulations as long as they do not confl ict with federal law. If there is a confl ict, though, federal law trumps the local law.

Often, federal law will act as a fl oor that states can be at, but cannot go under. For example, while the federal minimum wage is $7.25, Missouri’s minimum wage is $7.65 and Oregon’s is $9.25. A state law authorizing a lower minimum wage would be preempted by the federal minimum wage.

When it comes to a system of regulations governing aviation, it has been recognized since the early 1900s

Jeffrey Antonelli, Antonelli Law

With a legal background in corporate outside counsel, civil litigation, insurance defense, and intellectual property and drone/UAV law, Jeffrey began flying radio-controlled aircraft several years ago, which lead him to research new technologies, including first-person viewing (FPV) and drones.

May/June 2015 95

that a uniform regulatory system—rather than laws that vary from state to state—is necessary. Even when driving between states, without signs announcing border crossings, it can be difficult to tell where one ends and the next begins. This problem is magnified when traveling above the cloud level, with limited, or no, location markers.

No one doubts the FAA’s authority to regulate unmanned aircraft operating in the national airspace system. Unfortunately, there is actually a regulatory vacuum due to the FAA’s failure to enact a comprehensive regulatory plan. As a result, there are more questions than answers about what is legal, and the United States is severely behind most of the rest of the world when it comes to integrating unmanned aircraft into the national airspace system.

States cannot fill this vacuum. Some states are passing very limited laws over the areas they can control, but state authority is weak. For example, although a state may authorize a certain amount of funding to go to unmanned research, states are also required to follow the FAA’s requirements of obtaining a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) to conduct that research. Local police departments may be authorized by their state to use

unmanned aircraft to collect evidence at crime scenes, but may not be able to actually do that because of FAA limitations.

This is true even when it comes to potentially lifesaving uses. Washington State’s Department of Transportation (WDOT) conducted research in 2008—after obtaining the appropriate COA— on using unmanned aircraft to assist its snow avalanche control program. The WDOT quickly realized that the biggest barrier to effective use of the technology was the FAA’s tight control over who can fly unmanned aircraft. Similarly, even though Henry County, Indiana’s Office of Emergency Management applied for a COA in early 2014—recognizing that using manned aircraft for search and rescue applications was cost prohibitive and would not be included in the budget—it took the FAA over six months to give its approval.

ConclusionState legislation is no substitute for a strong set of national rules. As I have advocated many times, federal regulation and a clear national policy is necessary to end the current state of limbo the United States commercial drone industry is in. K

Disclaimer: None of this article constitutes legal advice. Please consult an attorney if you have legal questions. Antonelli Law’s associate attorney Amelia Niemi assisted Jeffrey Antonelli with this article.For a discussion on the history of the laws surrounding manned aviation in the United States, take a look at Who Owns the Sky by Stuart Banner, published by the Harvard University Press in 2008.

“ New York City is considering a ban on civilian drone use within the city,

due to safety concerns for uninvolved individuals if the drone should fall.

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� is handy guide will help you with everything from fl ight modes to how to program your speed controls and tips on setting up your video camera. You’ll also fi nd expert setup and fl ight tips as well as information you need to know about brushless motors, battery use and care, and the most used tools and equipment. � is 32-page book is the ultimate reference for getting the most out of your multirotor system. It has a spiral binding so it will stay open for easy reference, and its heavy high-gloss pages are easy to clean. RotorDrone Essentials is the ideal resource for both new and experienced multirotor pilots.

ROTORDRONEESSENTIALSItem# 2048 $17.95

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Live ArtLocation: Tulip fields near Sassenheim, The Netherlands

Photographer: Anders Andersson

Equipment: HAB Paparazzo V2

Camera: Sony Alpha 7 w/ Zeiss 35 2.8 lens

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rotor drone - july - august 2015

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