How it Works
Drone pilots need to have control of multiple systems in order to get the perfect shot; the flying machine itself and the camera/gimbal combination. With the assistance of GPS and a camera stabilizer the drone and camera are controlled with a remote control and tablet. GPS connectivity allows our drone to do a couple things drones without it could not. For example, position hold is the ability of a drone to hold itself in one location in space. This allows the pilot to pause and adjust the camera while the drone holds altitude and location and compensates for any external factors such as wind. GPS also helps with object avoidance so you don’t fly anywhere you don’t want to or in places you shouldn’t be flying such as restricted airspace.
When it comes to flying, drones use many sensors to stay up and stay straight other than the GPS. A barometer measures the pressure in the air to help the drone know its altitude above ground. Sonar sensors and a bottom facing camera combine to help drones to know where the ground or flood is when it is within 9 feet. The accelerometers inside the drone sense whether it it moving through the air and a gyroscope helps keep the drone body level during a flight. Finally, a compass keeps basic track of which direction the drone is pointing. It is the combination of all of these sensors and inputs that results in a flight system that is robust and reliable.
The stabilizer, or gimbal, which keeps the camera steady and vibration-free is a wonder of engineering in itself. Using a 3 axis stabilization, it adjusts the position of the camera in all directions; up/down, left/right and forward/backward. The gimbal uses many of he same technologies as your smart phone and video game controllers. The simplest way to think of it is as a bubble level.
The last piece of the puzzle involves the communication between your camera drone and your ground station (tablet/remote controller). This is a similar system to what is used for a local wireless network. The drone and the remote both contain antennas which constantly beam information back and forth, allowing you to view what the drone sees, control the camera and monitor certain onboard systems such as the battery level.
What can you expect from us? Our drone team always comes equipped with multiple micro SD cards that are replaced at every landing to preserve the footage. And two drones will always be on location in case of a technical problem or crash so any complication can be quickly solved. New technology combined with our pilot’s experience will leave you with breathtaking video and a final product like no other.