Thoughts on videography at an AutoX?

JamesShort · **Posted:** Mon Mar 03, 2014 10:59 pm

So the program director of my project at work is really into photography/videography. Him and his buddy have a 8 prop helicopter (costs more than many cars that autox with us) with a gimbal mounted gopro(s).

Anyone have a problem with the potential of them coming and doing some video recording of cars at NCCAR following the car 20-30ft behind and maybe 12-15 feet above the ground? NCCAR seems to be the obvious site given how flat it is for radio control signals etc.

My thoughts of what would be awesome given this weekends course is them flying behind the car on course through the fast decreasing offset fast slalom and then slowing down and then flying in front of the cars (but backwards) the rest of the way through the zig zags to the finish. The helicopter itself is self leveling with PID control coupled with the fact that a gimbal keeps the camera consistently aimed and they have independent control of the helicopter direction and the gopro aiming.

Steven Spampinato · **Posted:** Mon Mar 03, 2014 11:04 pm

I have no problem with a "RC" chopper doing some awesome footage.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

My thoughts are that we need rights to some of that video for promotional purposes. . .

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Mon Mar 03, 2014 11:52 pm

Can I drive the chase car?

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Tue Mar 04, 2014 1:30 am

No problem with the concept, especially since I won't be in the "no roof" if $#!t happens photogenic formula car. :lol:

Any issues with NCCAR rules or NC "drone" laws, if any?

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Tue Mar 04, 2014 8:31 am

JamesShort wrote:

The helicopter itself is self leveling with PID control

Well, OK since it has a proportional-integral-derivative controller. :lol:

shawnwhipple · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 6:28 pm **Posts:** 603

I can only approve the use of this equipment if I get to fly it for awhile

I'd love to see the video it would capture.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Tue Mar 04, 2014 9:10 am

DickRasmussen wrote:

No problem with the concept, especially since I won't be in the "no roof" if $#!t happens photogenic formula car. :lol:

Any issues with NCCAR rules or NC "drone" laws, if any?

If you can see it, it's not a drone. Its radio have ~1mile range which is more than we'd need for NCCAR.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Mar 04, 2014 9:14 am

go for it! They used one of these during the chase seen this past summer when I was helping out w/ the Pembroke film class.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

They had one at Cameron the other night for the game, got some great footage, until they accidentally ran it into the backboard. . .

:banghead:

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue Mar 04, 2014 9:34 am

A guy had one at the Lemons race last month at Barber, but it was a 4-rotor. He was getting footage of the grid, but I don't think they would let him fly it over the actual track during the race, which is a pity because it would have been really cool IMO.

I'd love to see one at our AX or RX events!

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Tue Mar 04, 2014 9:39 am

Vincent Keene wrote:

A guy had one at the Lemons race last month at Barber, but it was a 4-rotor. He was getting footage of the grid, but I don't think they would let him fly it over the actual track during the race, which is a pity because it would have been really cool IMO.

I'd love to see one at our AX or RX events!

You would have to come to an AX event to actually see it there

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

Yeah, this would be great.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Tue Mar 04, 2014 11:22 am

BriceJohnson wrote:

...until they accidentally ran it into the backboard. . .

:banghead:

They didn't call 'glass'??? :lol:

I'd love to see footage of something like this at NCCAR and it would be pretty easy to find a good spot to navigate it such that you can see the whole track.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Tue Mar 04, 2014 12:56 pm

absolutely. Then we can superimpose the FTD driver as a ghost image on top of other drivers to see where they gain/lose time and deviate from the driving line.

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