Dirk Schooner

After experimenting with various setups and camera sollutions over the past 2 months I have settled with this one as it provides much highter quality video with sound (for what it's worth) and does not suffer from the terrible interference, poor colour saturation and image wobble that is so common with the SAVS clips posted in this forum.

Download and install Quicktime to view or try this (from draganfly inv):

Here's a program that will install comprehensive codec support (including h.264 and xvid, the two best video codecs available right now) and a very good video player:
http://i1.edskes.com/k/klcodec272f.exe

The following clips are all QuickTime H.264 320x240 400kbps, 4-5 MB, compressed from original footage:

http://www.digithull.com/humber_bridge.mov
(cloudy day but you can just see bridge in distance, nearly dropped it in the drink 'landing' after this)

http://www.digithull.com/old_docks.mov
(same day as above, not good vis but no wind so had to fly)

http://www.digithull.com/kc_stadium.mov
(nice sunny day, frame a bit loose, some vibration, did not realise just how high the West stand was. Note the real draganflies just visible on landing, got asked to take it out of the park shortly after this)

I just need to get more flying hours under my belt, my heart is constantly pounding when flying up high, especially beside a river! The weather is also a real problem where I live.

Fixed vibration problems by making sure the frame was all secure and tight, obvious but things vibrate loose over time and it's easy not to bother to do a full check before flying.

If anybody has a commercial interest in this setup please contact me by email: [email protected]

MoBiggz

So what camera are you using here? I am guessing that it is not the DF one since yours has sound.

Dirk Schooner

Not the DF one no, that's why I call it a DF beating setup, nothing I have seen comes close to this.

There has been some interest in this setup, so I have posted this video to give an idea of what I am using!

http://www.digithull.com/df_shadow.mov

MoBiggz

That is a 5 second clip of your DF landing. What is your camera setup?

scottslc

Hey Dirk, doesn't give much of an idea...
Scott

Sky High

Well, I don't know where you've been looking but there's plenty of video in this forum that is clear, stable and with very little, if any, dropout and/or RF hits. All of my video is clear since I got the SAVS with the diversity receiver and so is other pilots' video using the same system. There maybe only occassional RF hits but that's inherent with a wireless downlink. [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3675858/tm.htm]Here[/link] is the link to most of my flights. Everything from the Staples lot and later has been shot with the new system. Everything prior to that was done with the cheaper CMOS camera and low end receiver which has expected low resolution, hits and dropout. Unfortunately, if used, the stabilizing software slightly softens the image because it actually has to blow it up to perform its processing. See [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4094795/tm.htm]this thread[/link] for details and demo video.

It looks as though you are using onboard recording with a digital still camera that has the ability to record video to a memory card. These types of cameras are in heavy use in the AP forum [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/forumid_81/tt.htm]here[/link] and even more [link=http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=128]here[/link]. The only thing that's unique about what you have done is to successfully mount it on the DF without transmitting vibration to the image and being able to fly the thing with stability with that camera mounted. Do you use Ti? If so, you also impressed me how well you flew it with the overcast skies. The quality was very good and with no detectable vibration. Now that IS impressive. Onboard recording is the best way to go with a downlink only as a frame reference. You ought to be able to get some good stills from that camera too. I don't know if you're aware, but DFI has been very clear that the DF is not designed to tote that kind of weight for extended periods. So, expect shorter motor life and flight times.

I guess you're not going to show us an image of the setup since you want to market it. But, if/when you sell one unit it will more than likely be posted anyway. It looks like you have a great setup so at least please post more flight video and espcially some lateral movement like a plane. There's not been much of that with the DF. Here's my DF [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4191489]flyaround[/link].

Dirk Schooner

Sky High, you are the daddy!

I was using TI, in a light wind on a cloudy day, it seemed to work fine. I am very conscious of the weight issue, I try to fly up, shoot what I can and land ASAP, should be OK for about 5 minutes, no noticable heat on the motors. DFI do state that anything upto 4oz can be carried with ease. Manouverability becomes an issue, as there is some added momentum.

I was not knocking anybody elses video, I have been very impressed with the variety and quality of the many clips on here, including (especially) yours.

As for my flying, it still needs a lot of work, only 2 months and no previous experience aside from many hours on sims. As for 'selling' the setup, some money would be good as I don't have much, but for now it's good to keep people on their toes and have some fun at the same time.

Sky High

Hahaha! Naaah! I've just probably run my mouth the most!

What? Here it is again to refresh your memory. "terrible interference, poor colour saturation and image wobble that is so common with the SAVS clips posted in this forum."

It's too late. You've offended every DF pilot that has posted video. It's okay though, I think we meant what you knew. My video is nothing really special, just climbing out and trying to maintain a hover but I do like to fly real high. Although hanging over 4 lanes of traffic two times now did make me a bit nervous. [X(]

That was some very stable video with no processing and only to be flying for two months, especially with that camera mounted and then flying in the wind. Just because they say it can't be done doesn't mean you can't push it. Like yvesOttawa said, fly it like you stole it!

Dirk Schooner

Well, I'll be doing a lot more , I am totally addicted to flying, looking out of my window every morning hoping for good weather......

No offence chaps! [sm=72_72.gif] It was a purely a comment on the technology, not the effort of the pilots, for whom I have the greatest respect and admiration and without whos advice and information posted on this forum I would have not have got to the stage I am now.

To anybody who had problems with the mov format here are some wmv that might work:

http://www.digithull.com/car.wmv

http://www.digithull.com/bridge.wmv

http://www.digithull.com/kc_stadium.wmv

Sorry again if I offended anyone, unless they are involved in producing/distributing poor standard technology

I purchased a DF because I wanted stable aerial video I could use that was of roughly DVD quality, I was never happy with the clips I had seen on RCToys, although OK, I would have to make more excuses for the quality, make more flights, spend more and have a lot more kit to carry about and set-up. My prototype sollution works well and is good quality quick and simple to use. In the hands of an experienced pilot it would be even better.

If anybody wants to buy me one of these: http://www.airscooter.com/pages/airscooter_main.htm I will happily post as many images, details and plans as you want!

scottslc

Dirk I'm With you. The flyer is easy to get addicted to. Whatever camera system you use, It's fun to see your flying videos. Also shows the progress the technology has made in the past year. Tons of fun to see where we go from here.

On video formats, it sounds like your hitting the same roadblock I hit on my videos. I like the H.264 codec but if you use quicktime, some people can't view your vids. If you use windows media files, others can't either. It's why I finally settled on flash. It's more universal and plays well on both mac and windows.

In the interest of smaller video files for faster load times, I also generally drop my frame rate down to 15 fps. The videos not as smooth, but I serve my videos off my own server out of a dsl line so band width is important to me.

Good flying!
Scott

Sky High

I was just aggravating you.