Aerial Photography with multirotor RC helicopter from Alaska

A

Adidas4275

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About a year ago I took my interest in technology and put it to use with remote controlled helicopters.

I built a multirotor helicopter with live first person view video that is able to carry a DSLR camera.

I built the rig from parts from all over the country and world in order to do some aerial photography and just have fun

here is my first ever "production level" video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGT6ui92GXY&feature=plcp

here is my rig
a4883483-134-Photo%20May%2022%2C%208%2001%2040%20PM%20%28HDR%29.jpg

a4883484-57-Photo%20May%2022%2C%208%2014%2022%20PM%20%28HDR%29.jpg

a4878573-182-DSC04857.jpg



I carry a Sony Nex-5n camera

This was from a trip I took up to Alaska this summer!

Please let me know what you think!


The same skills needed to build a PC, overclock, solder make custom cases and fan bus's are what helped me get into RC.
 
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Neat. The video what cool, but truth be told, I was expecting a lot more aerial shots, and a little less fishes :D Still awesome!
 
I like that one better :D It also makes Wyoming look a lot less boring ;)

btw. what's the range on that thing?
 
depends on your setup, but the normal setup I fly is around a mile - a mile and a half.

Video gear can go up to 10 miles depending on interference and such.

I have a UHF based controller that can get around 10 miles as well, but with multirotors battery life isnt that good.

I have flown over a mile away with the gear I have in the picture.

With airplanes you can go a lot farther and faster. there are many in the FPV niche who fly airplanes on 20mile round trip flights!

with goggles on it is amazing!
 
I think your setup is awesome. I can only imagine that the first person view is amazing.

In 2008 I spent many a night planning out a purchase list for making my own FPV multirotor helicopter, but never did end up ordering anything. Cameras like the Sony Nex and even M4/3rds were not out yet. I have never done any serious RC work, so I was thinking a little too big for my first go at it. I would still like to make one.
 
yeah, tech continues to get better, smaller and lighter....

Multirotors have become easier to fly as well with newer flight controllers and better sensors thanks to smart phones.

the DJI Naza flight controller is fairly cheap and is a solid flight controller that has auto level, altitude lock and you can add GPS for position hold and return to home

micro 4/3s and larger mirrorless sensor cameras are great! they kill the GoPro for image quality.

also in camera optical image stabilization (like the new Sony BOSS on their camcorders cx760) make footage even better!

You should take a look at what the DJI s800 + Zen15 gimbal can do as well as the CineStar 8 + 360 gimbal.
things are progressing faster and faster!
 
rampantandroid said:
Any info on how one could replicate this? This rocks!
Click to expand...

Sounds like you will need these parts and some skillz:

Rc-Carbon Y-6 Folding Frame
HoverFly Pro Flight Controller
SunnySky 2814 motors
Hobbywing 30A ESC
APC 12x6 E Props bottom
GemFan CF reinforced props bottom
PhotoShip One MKTR Gimbal
2 Roll Servos
Gear tilt drive upgrade
Castle Creations BEC @ 6v
Spektrum DX8 AR8000 + TM1000

Sony Nex-5n 18-55mm OIS Lens with CP filter
 
This seems so awesome, I'd just be nervous about attaching an expensive camera to it. My D5100 would most likely be too heavy anyway.
 
thanks guys for the compliments.

the controller was a Wookong M but I sold it since they released an updated version. I have yet to replace it but will probably do so with the Naza as I have used one in another rig and the Naza + GPS = most of what I need out of a flight controller


this stuff is really fun and a good mix between tech and RC! much more than flying just a RC foam airplane! :D
 
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