We were recently contacted by a company from outside of the United States to do a 360 Virtual Reality (VR) experience using a drone for a shoot of a citrus grove. The client contacted us because they were looking for a company local to the Los Angeles area, FAA Section 333 Exemption, Insured, with the ability to fabricate mounts and plates to fit their 360 VR GoPro rig on our aircraft. It was a multiple day shoot, so I wanted to come over prepared.
We decided that the best aircraft for the job would be the DJI S900 for carrying the VR head. I was already aware of how sensitive GoPros were to vibration so I went through the two drones and verified that all the motors and props were perfectly balanced. After conversing via email we had successfully fabricated a plate that would adapt to their current VR rig. When we met for camera prep the day before and assembled the VR rig everything went together as anticipated. When it came time to flight test their VR rig, it was experiencing a lot of vibration due to the weak attachment pieces that they provided. The VR team got nervous. Fail to prepare and you prepare to fail. I had brought with me carbon plates, tubes, aluminum and tools. I was able to rework their existing mounts within an hour and fabricate a mount that did not suffer from vibration. We then proceeded over the next few days to finish the job without another hitch.
The virtual reality head was hard mounted to the aircraft therefore aircraft movements had to be smooth and deliberate. I have become fascinated with using a stabilized gimbal setup in order to deliver a superior end product to the viewer. I have witnessed some VR drone shots that made me nauseas due to all the excess movement and poor piloting. Couple that with rolling shutter jello from the vibration and it really can do the experience a disservice.
Virtual Reality is becoming a fast growing sector in media production and does not appear to be going away. It offers users an immersive environment allowing them to be the directors of their experience. As always it will come down to the people you work with that will ultimately allow you to smoothly complete your project on time. Drone Tech Aerial Cinematography looks forward to the opportunity to be able to provide our services and help you through the process in the Los Angeles area and beyond. Feel free to reach out to us and ask us questions, we are a resource for the community.
Drone Tech Aerial Cinematography is a Section 333 FAA Exempt company based in Los Angeles, California. We frequently work with permitting offices and know how to navigate the system to keep production in compliance while still facilitating your vision. Drone Tech Aerial has multiple pilots on staff with sport and private FAA pilot ratings. Drone Tech Aerial is able to operate at the highest level and has approval for Motion Picture and Television. Just recently we have become Part 107 compliant, offering customers a less restrictive opportunity to capture their vision.
