Storyline: A clear day on October 2013, out to test a completely new quadcopter we built, along with a fantastic combination of new gears. The first scene starts off with the Taranis and build-in Gimbal test, as that was new and a highlight to this flight (everything is new except the video camera). The gimbal was managed by Ardupilot (a flight controller, basically a computer) that kept the camera level at all times during accelerations and dives. We have never used the gimbal function (A10) before, so that was exciting to see how it handles video. Entering Pirate’s Cove (0:18), that was filmed at 60 frames per second with a Sony DSC-HX30V camera, and frame rate was reduced by 50% (30 fps) giving a smooth slow motion effect. A signature shot of the aircraft added to a moving car scene and then back to the sequence showing a couple taking photos of the big shark. At 0:45, we began the flight in first person view, another classic signature shot with the props spinning and the motors running (got to have that sound of the motors spinning up). The flight scenes were shot with a keychain camera #16 Lens D as that was the lightest and easiest way to video anything.

The control over this new quadcopter was excellent, maybe it was the Taranis or maybe the Opto ESC and DJI motors, or maybe just a combination of everything and the design…

There was very little interference to the compass, as the compass/GPS was positioned on the right sidewinder bay of this DM-Apache model and the power distribution is 1.5 inches below the flight controller, at the lowest deck underneath the battery bay. We kept most of the original footage 30 frames at 720p in this edit, except on the last run (3:23), the sequence was reduced to 24 frames as a test. This flight video was synchronized with the soundtrack, with the song ending just before landing, in that way we hear the spinning props again.  The radio system and the entire aircraft was new, out of the boxes, no tuning or prop balancing.. enjoy..

Technical Specification:
FrSky Taranis X9D, Receiver X8R, APM 2.6, Arducopter firmware, 3DR GPS uBlox LEA-6, 3DR power module, APM camera gimbal, keychain camera, Diagonal Wheelbase DM-Apache 450mm/17.7in, DJI Motors 2212 22×12mm kv920. DJI 8045 Props, Opto 30A ESC. Lipo: 3S 4000mAh ~ 10 minutes.

Details:
Mission Exercise: SAR Equipment Test (recreation studio edit for Epic Music Videos)
Film Location:  Orlando, USA
Credits: Drone Mission Squadron 1, noeL Film studios Epic Music Videos (EMV)
Soundtrack: Gr

Did You Know ? Trivia & Goofs
1). Passing the roof top prior to landing is lunch, Sweet Tomatoes
2). This quad was built to be shipped away to Georgia, including the Taranis.
3). You can see the propellers move up and down within the frame, showing the gimbals at work keeping the camera at the same angle regardless ofandtheft (see youtube video ABOUT for details) the tilt.