Draganflyer X8: The Dreamboat UAV at DVinfo.net

Nicholas de Kock · August 24th, 2010, 02:15 AM

This is pretty cool!

Quote:

What is the Draganflyer X8?

Rendering of Draganflyer X8 The Draganflyer X8 helicopter is a miniature aircraft for commercial/industrial aerial video and photography. The unique design utilizes eight main horizontal rotor blades and allows the Draganflyer X8 helicopter to hover efficiently and maneuver rapidly using differential thrust. Eight efficient, electric motors allow the Draganflyer X8 to carry heavier and more advanced payloads while providing more safety features than ever before.

Draganflyer X8 Eight Rotor UAV Helicopter Aerial Video Platform

Bruce Watson · August 24th, 2010, 07:16 AM

It is pretty cool. It also costs more than my car. Sigh...

Zach Love · August 24th, 2010, 09:30 AM

Do they have one to carry an iPhone too? If not, they should hop on that bandwagon.

While cool, I think the whole craze behind DSLRs that shoot video is the shallow DOF. Yet most of these cameras don't have good auto-focus, which makes for a lot of fuzzy photos when un-manned. (I don't see anything about follow focus.)

These V-DSLRs can also be pretty bad when it comes to the CMOS skew / jello. Though I still have a bitter taste in my mouth after owning a HD10U, JVC's GY-HM100U is probably one of the ideal cameras to put onto a little craft like this.

CCD, 35Mbps, record-until the card is full record time & easy focusing would be the selling points that I think would make for a better choice to put the HM100 on a UAV than a DSLR.

(Now if you're shooting stills, it is an entirely different story.)

Nathanael Iversen · August 24th, 2010, 01:33 PM

Pretty cool? It is fantastic! How much fun would that be? It's like a crane on steroids - that is some big huge dollar looking shots..... I'm sure it is still better to hire a helicopter and take up your Arri Alexa, but wow! What a great thing!

Nigel Barker · August 25th, 2010, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Watson

It is pretty cool. It also costs more than my car. Sigh...

If you are not the military or a law enforcement agency so your budget is more modest then the Mikrokopter is worth a look. It uses the same principle of multiple rotors & clever software (Open Source in this case) to keep the machine flying level & stable. It comes in various configurations & can lift over 1kg (2.2lbs) so can carry a decent size camera. MikroKopter - Wiki: MikroKopter.de

You can get everything from a kit of parts where you solder the 'brain' yourself right up to a fully assembled system for the equivalent of about $2300 to which you just need to add a R/C transmitter & batteries

August 24th, 2010, 09:30 AM	#3
Zach Love Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 944	Do they have one to carry an iPhone too? If not, they should hop on that bandwagon. While cool, I think the whole craze behind DSLRs that shoot video is the shallow DOF. Yet most of these cameras don't have good auto-focus, which makes for a lot of fuzzy photos when un-manned. (I don't see anything about follow focus.) These V-DSLRs can also be pretty bad when it comes to the CMOS skew / jello. Though I still have a bitter taste in my mouth after owning a HD10U, JVC's GY-HM100U is probably one of the ideal cameras to put onto a little craft like this. CCD, 35Mbps, record-until the card is full record time & easy focusing would be the selling points that I think would make for a better choice to put the HM100 on a UAV than a DSLR. (Now if you're shooting stills, it is an entirely different story.) __________________ Nothing says you're a serious video maker like S-VHS

August 24th, 2010, 07:16 AM	#2
Bruce Watson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC, USA Posts: 710	It is pretty cool. It also costs more than my car. Sigh...

August 24th, 2010, 01:33 PM	#4
Nathanael Iversen Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 34	Pretty cool? It is fantastic! How much fun would that be? It's like a crane on steroids - that is some big huge dollar looking shots..... I'm sure it is still better to hire a helicopter and take up your Arri Alexa, but wow! What a great thing!