I predict that within a fairly short while, there will be a variety of different camera “feel” programs.
It’s going to take a year, maybe two, but pretty soon even entry-level drones will have this sort of capability. Perhaps this will usher in the era of Star Wars-like “trench run” footage instead of “floating high above it all” footage.
There’s some AI magic being thrown around, but it appears to me that the main thing that’s pushed the envelope is differential vision – being able to infer depth using triangulation like we do with our eyes. The AI magic claims are interesting – the drone predicts human motion for several seconds ahead, and navigates to where it can get a camera eye view of the target’s predicted location. That’s sort of what a camera-person does, too; it looks like probabalistic models all the way down, to me.
It’s impressive – but then, we should expect impressive from a $3,000 drone. In a year, they’ll all be doing it; the next generation will include multiple cameras and then it’s just a matter of software.
I expect there will be some interesting mishaps, too; though I was listening to Adam Savage’s blog where they were talking about running around with one and how “we couldn’t crash it.”
Sounds like a big plus, not having to worry about someone flying a drone into the back of your head, while trying to get a cool shot.
I hope they build a “ground following” mode – I want to see a rabbit’s eye-level view of mountain-biking.
Yep. I’ve been watching one manufacturer that is producing drones with “variable flight profiles” (it takes off like a helocopter, but can fly with wing like an aircraft), that is supposed to capable of 60 mph in level flight.
I want one for my motorcycle races (they can’t keep up on the track, but because it can cut corners, it should be able to track me pretty well). Even here in AZ, it would need better AI than it currently has, though, because there are a lot of obstacles (light poles) in the infield that the current generation wouldn’t be able to dodge.
Crimson Clupeidae@#1:
Yep. I’ve been watching one manufacturer that is producing drones with “variable flight profiles” (it takes off like a helocopter, but can fly with wing like an aircraft), that is supposed to capable of 60 mph in level flight.
I am also looking forward to the two-camera models that give stereoscopic views.
Even here in AZ, it would need better AI than it currently has, though, because there are a lot of obstacles (light poles) in the infield that the current generation wouldn’t be able to dodge.
I would also expect they’d have trouble keeping up; the drones appear to top out around 50-60mph and I believe the problem is camera vibration unless the drone has stabilizing wings like the Parrot Disco.
Sounds like drones are improving faster than human reflexes and many sports, so pretty soon it’s going to be just a few applications (like yours!) that are out of reach.
There was a kickstarter a few years ago for small GoPro-like drones that you could toss in the air, would immediately stabilise, and pursue and film you while you. The example they gave then was for mountain sports.
It fell through when they were defeated by the technical challenge. Looks like that’s being beaten by SkyRadio.
Callinectes@#3:
There was a kickstarter a few years ago for small GoPro-like drones that you could toss in the air
I have backed a couple of mini drone/propeller plane drone projects.
It turns out they’re pretty challenging; aviation is the land of power/weight/complexity trade-offs and, at its edge, it is rocket science. Who’d’a thunk? “We’re smart and energetic, we write software” doesn’t cut it.*
(* there is an exception, which is when your power to weight ratio is largely positive, in which case you have a rocket, and now your problem is how to make it go in the right direction during the brief time it’s under your control.)