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3/19/2015 9:03am
You may have seen the sneak peeks of Fox Sports 1 doing some drone testing in Lucas Oil stadium last week (see below).
They brought out a bunch of high-end octo-copters to put to work.
Now there's also some impressive finished footage from the shoot, which you can see in the press release below.
FOX SPORTS AGGRESSIVELY PURSUES DRONE CAMERA USAGE AT LIVE EVENTS
HeliVideo Productions Shows Off Capabilities Prior to Feld Motor Sports-Produced Monster Energy Supercross Race
FOX Sports, Feld Motor Sports® and HeliVideo Productions, a company providing FAA-approved cinematography for television and film, came together at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Friday to get a serious look at some of the possibilities surrounding rapidly developing drone camera technology.
Testing the use of multiple live-event drone cameras for more than an hour, with top-level Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, riders on the closed indoor dirt course, everyone involved got an impressive sneak peek at the potential future of sports television.
“There is no question we are looking into ways to incorporate this next-level technology into a wide variety of our sports properties,” said Eric Shanks, FOX Sports President, COO & Executive Producer. “We chose to run this live-event simulation with our friends at Feld Motor Sports because both companies share a passion for being on the cutting edge … always looking for what’s next.
“While certainly not limited to use in motor sports, capturing the speed and on-track aggressive competition of Monster Energy Supercross from new and unique angles with multiple drones in operation at the same time was a great place to start,’ Shanks added. “We’re thrilled with what we learned from this live-event simulation, and we are excited to see where it takes us next.”
Company owner, Eric Austin, and his team from HeliVideo Productions operated three drones simultaneously, tracking up to five motorcycles as they maneuvered the supercross track inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Footage collected during the simulation aired Saturday as part of Monster Energy Supercross live coverage broadcast on multiple FOX Sports platforms.
“We proved today that drones are not only going to be an enhancement in our production toolkit but they are poised and ready to move into the spotlight of total event production,” said Brad Cheney, Director of Technical Operations for FOX Sports. “The capabilities we saw today will open up new and more compelling images of the event with little to no impact on the in-stadium experience. The control of movement of these devices was faster and more agile than we expected to see in such a dynamic environment as supercross, with bikes running around at high speeds, reaching incredible heights. We look forward to continuing our quest to place drones into all our producers’ hands.”
It marked the second collaboration between FOX Sports and Feld Motor Sports this year, as Feld added the award-winning SPIDERCAM to an already robust lineup of cameras covering the fast-moving, high-flying racing series. With 14 manned cameras, including two high-speed X-MO cameras, two robotic cameras, a jib, two point-of-view cameras and select “blimp-view” cameras already in place, the flexible control of SPIDERCAM, flying at speeds of up to eight meters-per-second, enables spectacular images, giving the audience a never-before-seen perspective and a feeling of being part of the race.
“Drone camera technology is an outstanding option for the enhanced Monster Energy Supercross television production,” said Ken Hudgens, COO, Feld Motor Sports. “We will continue to work with Eric Shanks and the entire FOX Sports team to push the limit on cutting-edge television technology and testing the drone cameras is another big step for the sport.”
FOX Sports has a long history of incorporating production innovations in live event broadcasts, including the FOX Box, First and 10 Line, FOX Diamond Cams, Sounds of the Game, FOXTrax, the Hot Spot thermal camera and the Glowing Puck.
They brought out a bunch of high-end octo-copters to put to work.
Now there's also some impressive finished footage from the shoot, which you can see in the press release below.
FOX SPORTS AGGRESSIVELY PURSUES DRONE CAMERA USAGE AT LIVE EVENTS
HeliVideo Productions Shows Off Capabilities Prior to Feld Motor Sports-Produced Monster Energy Supercross Race
FOX Sports, Feld Motor Sports® and HeliVideo Productions, a company providing FAA-approved cinematography for television and film, came together at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Friday to get a serious look at some of the possibilities surrounding rapidly developing drone camera technology.
Testing the use of multiple live-event drone cameras for more than an hour, with top-level Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, riders on the closed indoor dirt course, everyone involved got an impressive sneak peek at the potential future of sports television.
“There is no question we are looking into ways to incorporate this next-level technology into a wide variety of our sports properties,” said Eric Shanks, FOX Sports President, COO & Executive Producer. “We chose to run this live-event simulation with our friends at Feld Motor Sports because both companies share a passion for being on the cutting edge … always looking for what’s next.
“While certainly not limited to use in motor sports, capturing the speed and on-track aggressive competition of Monster Energy Supercross from new and unique angles with multiple drones in operation at the same time was a great place to start,’ Shanks added. “We’re thrilled with what we learned from this live-event simulation, and we are excited to see where it takes us next.”
Company owner, Eric Austin, and his team from HeliVideo Productions operated three drones simultaneously, tracking up to five motorcycles as they maneuvered the supercross track inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Footage collected during the simulation aired Saturday as part of Monster Energy Supercross live coverage broadcast on multiple FOX Sports platforms.
“We proved today that drones are not only going to be an enhancement in our production toolkit but they are poised and ready to move into the spotlight of total event production,” said Brad Cheney, Director of Technical Operations for FOX Sports. “The capabilities we saw today will open up new and more compelling images of the event with little to no impact on the in-stadium experience. The control of movement of these devices was faster and more agile than we expected to see in such a dynamic environment as supercross, with bikes running around at high speeds, reaching incredible heights. We look forward to continuing our quest to place drones into all our producers’ hands.”
It marked the second collaboration between FOX Sports and Feld Motor Sports this year, as Feld added the award-winning SPIDERCAM to an already robust lineup of cameras covering the fast-moving, high-flying racing series. With 14 manned cameras, including two high-speed X-MO cameras, two robotic cameras, a jib, two point-of-view cameras and select “blimp-view” cameras already in place, the flexible control of SPIDERCAM, flying at speeds of up to eight meters-per-second, enables spectacular images, giving the audience a never-before-seen perspective and a feeling of being part of the race.
“Drone camera technology is an outstanding option for the enhanced Monster Energy Supercross television production,” said Ken Hudgens, COO, Feld Motor Sports. “We will continue to work with Eric Shanks and the entire FOX Sports team to push the limit on cutting-edge television technology and testing the drone cameras is another big step for the sport.”
FOX Sports has a long history of incorporating production innovations in live event broadcasts, including the FOX Box, First and 10 Line, FOX Diamond Cams, Sounds of the Game, FOXTrax, the Hot Spot thermal camera and the Glowing Puck.
I wonder how many people operate one camera/drone?
The Shop
Just show me the racing , and stop with the gimmicks already... Spider Cam was useless because nobody can tell who anyone is , especially those in the booth, all the races i saw , Ralph and the guys only knew who took the holeshot from the live timing.
Like selfie sticks.. just because you can do something , doesnt mean you should.
Around riders or above a crowd during a race? I'd doubt it.
I get it now..
These things offer infinite camera placement options.
I'm all for it.
Using Drones for commercial operation requires FAA permitting...which is still a very grey area that's "under development". It's not a pilots license.
I was just flying a "nano-drone" at Chaney Ranch on Sunday.
As they are getting more popular they are developing new rules- taking comment on it right now.
The current rules have limits about operating them around people. It appears that the company here got an exemption from FAA to do this:
http://www.sfvbj.com/news/2015/feb/04/helinet-aviation-operate-film-dro…
They have only granted 40-some exemptions to the drone rules.
Pit Row
Go ask the NSA
You have a 20+ lb multirotor with 8 high velocity blades spinning simultaneous that could end up in someone's face. With bikes going as fast and jumping as high as they are, I don't think it's a good idea.
Sure it's revolutionary and you can capture some really cool footage with these things in different settings, but SX not so much. As it's said above, just because we can do it, doesn't mean we should.
On a side note - A local track PIR that has a big race every year and we race a series at just banned UAV's for commercial use. I shot with mine quite a bit there over the last year but just for personal stuff...............
So anybody shooting moto vid for profit with a drone is doing so illegally. They are monitoring youtube uploads to catch people, and sending them desist letters.
I agree with GuyB that it'll be best used with select shots. I think it would be bad ass to catch a moving shot down the start straight.
It was thin and oblong oval shaped with blinking lights just like a UFO. No propeller noise or whine. He was flying it around, upside down, aileron rolls you name it.
I should have walked over but the old lady was in a hurry to leave the store and head home.
It was probably about 18 inches long by maybe 12 wide.
Yet, I also agree a supercross stadium is too tight of a place for a drone. There's camera stations in the stadium seats that give us great perspectives, what we're really gaining here is the follow-on, panning dynamic of a drone. Remember the first time you saw the Daytona SX "Rhino" cam? Blew my mind....but i'd give it up for safety. I could be persuaded the other way though...im waffling.
A friend of mine wrote up a business plan to start our own drone company for real estate and event/wedding photography but the landscape legally, on drone use is a big shit storm waiting to erupt.
-Peeping toms
-Smuggling drugs over the CA/Mexico Border
-Amazon wanting to use drones to deliver packages
I think the FAA is going to completely lock it down to "closed course" flying only or similar only within wide open spaces as defined by them...just think riding a dirt bike in CA; either at a closed course track or so far away from everyone, you could wad-up and the coyotes will eat you before help arrives...
Doug
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