DRONE CAMERA TESTING

Make sure you adjust the video resolution to a minimum of 4K using the ‘gear icon’ on the lower right side of the video. Another option is the ‘AUTO’ setting. It is also normal for the image to initially start out blurry (lo-res) until it buffers.

SpeedLot - Flight 02 - Experimental Flight / No Audio

Just flying around the property. Even flew through the Rock Crawler area. Hovering over the center of the 1/8 track may be best to watch a race.

SpeedLot - Flight 03 - Stationary Drone Camera Position

Here I positioned the camera on the backside of the track and held it in a stationary position. Minimal finger movement to watch, but cars are viewed smaller in front of the stand. This may work on the 1/10th scale track, but the 1/8 scale track is too big. Dynamic camera movement may be best.

SpeedLot - Flight 04 - 1/8 Scale Track Shots

Here I positioned the camera on the backside of the track and held it in a stationary position. Minimal finger movement to watch, but cars are viewed smaller in front of the stand. This may work on the 1/10th scale track, but the 1/8 scale track is too big. Dynamic camera movement may be best.

 SpeedLot - Flight 05 - Dynamic Camera Movement

Rather than a stationary camera position, the camera position moves during the race creating a number of vantage points. But the user needs to re-orient the image a little more with their finger or mouse.

SpeedLot - Flight 06 - Stationary & Dynamic Camera Movement Mix

Here I hover the camera in various areas. Not as effective on one side of the track due to the far distance from the cars, but works somewhat in the center of the track. Tougher to see cars passing directly below the camera. I also fly in a figure 8 vs a circular pattern.

Take-Aways

The drone is best to record a race or heat. Maybe a little lower too. Moving the camera dynamically is subjective. Whatever you like?

Since the drone does not record audio, I used a digital audio recorder mounted to the racer’s stand. It could be relocated to the center of the track, but it may pick up more ‘drone sound’ out there if the drone is dynamically moving.

The pole-mounted 360º cameras didn’t produce what I had hoped. Cars were moving to fast for A.I. to track and they are too far from the camera. Even a little zoom made resolution quality poor.

Solution: I purchased a new $$$ camera yesterday specifically made to zoom in and record 4K at 120 frames per second. Placing it in a corner or jump will get crystal clear ultra-high resolution at 25% speed. This will show shock spring rate, wheel turn, tread, and slow flying dirt. I think we’ll need to set up a day and get some cooperation from the racers so we can get jumps with 4-5 cars coming off the jump, or going through a turn. We’ll work various corners and jumps on the track, positioning the cars to start for a jump all at once. Again.. and again. Then.. next corner. Maybe their fee is waived for start/stop coordination, but their car might make the website promo wheel?