A New Perspective — FPV Drone Flying
Have you ever wished you could soar amongst the birds, up high in the sky? With first person view drone flying, these dreams can become realities or rather, virtual realities (sort of). With new innovations and technological advancements progressing rapidly in our modern society, we are given new tools that allow us to see our developing world, through different lenses. Drones have been around for several years already however, this is a continuously developing technology and narrative. When used in combination with FPV headsets, drones allow us to feel as if we are flying through the use of the technology; exploring new heights, all while capturing video footage.
Drones have become a huge phenomenon in modern day filmmaking, as they can provide these types of experiences and shots that could have never been captured before. However, FPV drone flying is different in the sense that it takes a more playful perspective on the subject; allowing freedom to express one’s emotions via means of flight. The user is the pilot, determining what his/her next move will be.
FPV drone flying has become a popular matter of discussion across social media platforms, especially YouTube. Users record their flights and upload them for thousands to see. A good example of this is MrSteele, a YouTuber who solely focuses his channel around FPV drone piloting, building and racing.
FPV drone flying is made possible through the use of a: “Quad” (the drone itself), FPV headset and a RC transmitter (the controller). The quad connects to the headset via VTX connection and then connects to the RC transmitter through radio signals. The quad’s direction and speed is then governed by the control inputs of the RC transmitter.
The FPV drone community mainly consists of electronics enthusiasts and experienced RC pilots however, more and more people are joining the following. Just a couple years ago, it was rather difficult to find FPV drone parts and if you could, they would be very overpriced and take weeks to receive. Now, FPV drone parts can be easily sourced and are found at reasonably affordable prices. Building the drone consists of wire management, extensive soldering, programming and lots of patience. The entire process can take up to 8 hours however, if you know what you’re doing you can finish in just a couple hours.
There are two types of drone pilots, those that indulge in competitive FPV racing and those that fly freestyle, recording and editing their footage of them shredding their local parks or anywhere they feel is a good location to fly. FPV racing has grown exponentially over the past several years and it’s only growing faster with racing teams and competitions popping up all over the world. The now expansive FPV drone community, is extremely inclusive and helpful when it comes to any questions or assistance one may require; whether you’re just getting into the motorsport or are a longtime drone enthusiast. So what are you waiting for? Grab some drone parts and get flying!
