Use Of Indoor Camera Equipped Drone To Provide Footage Of Games.

**Tonx** · 02-06-2016 16:49

Just woken bolt upright in bed with an idea which could potentially revolutionize the way in which we are able to look at the game. Especially large ones. A method of collecting in-game footage which afterwards would then be postable as AAR Videos of CON events like Doncaster 2016 and with permission from the organiser Hammerhead 2016 or Derby World Wargames 2016 ...

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It's probably the number of mentions my new (well, re-formed) Flight Training Organisation Chopper Squad has received as well as all this talk of Ninja Star devices associated with how to bring down a Zeppelin Staaken.

The proposal is that the drone can be used to film gatherings from near-ceiling height and a safe distance away from everyone. Then as games get under way the drone can hover quite unobtrusively overhead filming what goes on atop of the table below. Then if required and again when safe to do so the drone can descend gently and vertically down to the game action-spots to film these clearly before vertical ascent away again. At all times the drone would be operated from a safe take-off area and will be landed safely as well. These are I would like to emphasise six-dimentional and fully controllable vehicles. Rotor blades are guarded as illustrated if not fully enclosed and based more on a fan-concept. There must definitely be no fears of this piece of kit just blundering around aimlessly with lawn-mower blades attached to it ... OR everybody coming away from Doncaster 2016 with bizarre and funny hair cuts because some ginga-headed looney tune has gone bezerk with a drone there!

Marie Clare at Chopper Squad may have current experience of flying Sikorsky S-76s but is also an expert drone pilot in her spare time. Has covered family events and so forth from the air using a much more powerful outdoor drone (she has one that costs in the region of £1,600!) Now failing to get me trained sufficiently enough with an indoor machine for this idea I was thinking of asking her for a massive favour & to operate the drone ... ONLY if this idea does not go down like a lead balloon! Would also be handy for me if I'm actually playing as well as assigned to drone operations - even with my sometimes marketable multi-tasking skills!

On paper I think this idea is the next XH560 for the Aerodrome as well as a logical step in terms of what Members are wanting to see in AARs and gameshow / CON reports.

Now I'd like to open this thread up for discussions and questions ... Whose first?

**Warhawk** · 02-06-2016 19:29

Interesting idea. Definitely not one I have given thought to. I think you are onto something here though. With the right editor and pilot/control person this could go quite well. Or quite wrong

.

**David Manley** · 02-06-2016 19:55

Some form of tripod or camera bracket and a gopro might produce similar results in a safer manner

**Naharaht** · 02-07-2016 04:52

If you are flying the drone, Tonx, you will not be able to play the game and I think players would worry about a power failure or mechanical failure leading to the drone crashing on top of their models and breaking them. It is an innovative idea but I think that David's suggestion is safer.

**Tonx** · 02-07-2016 05:14

Thank you for the responses so far: I think the one person who would be worried the most concerning power failure and potentially damaging other peoples' pride and joy would be myself as the operator.

However I'm not just going to throw a cheap and nasty made in china at this idea - I would invest bearing the above in mind and of course conduct plenty of trials using my OO gauge railway layout upstairs to place value underneath these trials and tests.

I still need training on this equipment but I gather that is no problem. Chopper Squad has stepped in thinking that this is innovation at work too. In terms of using the done at Doncaster SYAM I am only one hour's drive from this location and we spend enough in the shop each year for them probably to permit some trial-flying around the rooms which will be in use prior to the 2016 event to size up convection effects / wind currents from persons entering or exiting and moving around etc.

David's solution to achieve the same effects and results is effectively used by the media a lot for group interviews

and unless someone's already able to oblige would involve Members having a whip-round and appointing a keeper like what happens with the Aerodrome banners I am aware of travelling between events. Whose next?

**flash** · 02-07-2016 10:24

Interesting idea, very innovative but I'm not sure the hosts or venues would be too keen on the idea from the health & safety, or, the insurance standpoints. I suppose a lot depends on the venue & the size of your chopper...

**David Manley** · 02-07-2016 11:13

Just doing some reading for a work-related drone application and it would appear that flying indoors would also contravene the CAA's code of practice for safe drone operation (>50m separation between the drone and buildings, personnel)

**Tonx** · 02-07-2016 11:24

Originally Posted by flash

I'm not sure the hosts or venues would be too keen on the idea from the health & safety, or, the insurance standpoints.

Being the home of South Yorks Helicopter Preservation Society SYAM may not have too much of a hard time permitting the usage of a 50 cm x 50 cm flying device of this nature especially if they were aware of us conducting practice-flights in the rooms whilst they are empty too ... The average of £500 I spend in the shop there each year may also help as they know me to be a responsible individual from a decent background from that. Not some immature hot-shot.

However at your Hammerhead ... Derby World Wargames ... Type events this I can see being cited as a public hazard or nuisance. However they would probably complain about David's solution too involving wires and live electricity excellent that it is!

What adds insult to injury there is the coverage of events from both locations by helicopter or now increasingly by full-size drone like the £1,600 beaut that Marie Clare owns. This has a 2,000 foot operating radius and it's not the biggest size of drone which is available. Also she has a warning when the drone is approaching a distance of 2,000 feet away from her available via the control console. Mind you Derby World Wargames doesn't even allow guide dogs (see-eye dogs) into events so if they are that fussy GOK what they would say to us with a drone aloft during play. Hammerhead 2016: M-C says there isn't sufficient time to get me trained up to what she would deem acceptable standards to operate one there anyway. So if they said yes by any chance she would have to tag along with Myself & Marion as the operator.

**flash** · 02-07-2016 14:15

Saw one of those super pro jobs on TV recently... as it impacted just behind a skier in some slalom competition !

I'm sure that pilot was competent too. Accidents happen but someone is always liable and a lot of places may not be willing, or able, to take that risk on is all I'm saying. Same thing with wires across walkways !

Austrian skier Marcel Hirscher reigning World Cup champion on his second run of the slalom event at Madonna di Campiglio in Italy December 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/201...lls-out-of-sky

**Lt. S.Kafloc** · 02-07-2016 14:37

Just a word on the banners we use. There are two banners used to promote events and they are both owned by individuals.

**csadn** · 02-07-2016 14:48

<- loads shotgun; takes aim; chalks up another drone kill >:)

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 02-08-2016 01:45

Having read the pros and cons of this innovative idea Barney. From my knowledge of Con organization and their committees and backers over the years, I can only add this, I don't think that the time invested by yourself and others would pay divedends.
Rob.

**Nightbomber** · 02-08-2016 02:30

Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte

Having read the pros and cons of this innovative idea Barney. From my knowledge of Con organization and their committees and backers over the years, I can only add this, I don't think that the time invested by yourself and others would pay divedends.
Rob.

Exactly my opinion as well.

**Setarius** · 02-08-2016 10:20

One thing about your drone idea Barney, which by the way sounds interesting, here in the States they are passing laws now that require any operating any piece of aerial equipment over .55 pounds must now register it with the FAA. This has a lot of people upset, including the RC airplane crowd. I'm not sure if this law will go the way of the CB radio law, register with the FCC, or not.

**clipper1801** · 02-08-2016 10:29

Yeah, not happy about the new rules either, according to the gov I have over 200 weapons of war in my garage alone! Licensing and registering them will be a mess and very expensive. I plan on being in a nursing home bombing the care takers with my zeppelins of minor distraction . . .

**Tonx** · 02-08-2016 17:48

Originally Posted by flash

Saw one of those super pro jobs on TV recently... as it impacted just behind a skier in some slalom competition !

I'm sure that pilot was competent too. Accidents happen but someone is always liable and a lot of places may not be willing, or able, to take that risk on is all I'm saying. Same thing with wires across walkways !

Austrian skier Marcel Hirscher reigning World Cup champion on his second run of the slalom event at Madonna di Campiglio in Italy December 2015
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/201...lls-out-of-sky

Marie Clare saw this and reckons that this was probably flown buy a bloke! MEOW!!!

Neil I never knew the banners belonged to Members I always thought they were communal. Thank you for that and as I contemplate buying my first polo shirt from the WingCo this makes me wonder what would be required in order for me to own a WGS-Based Wings of Glory / Aerodrome Banner. If one could possibly be created that is and I intend it for CON or communal use based on the fact that I'm hoping to attend a greater number of events this year. Especially as I am now no longer at the beckon-call of easyJet or flyBE and similar when what I should have been doing was Derby World Wargames at Castle Donington!

Returning to Topic the flying and operating of any drone in connection with our games would never be carried out by an immature hotshot or anyone with under a certain number of hours operating experience. There would also preferably be a reccy of the site prior to usage and it just so happens that I could be returning to Doncaster (SYAM) the weekend before Hammerhead 2016. HOWEVER with the Derby World Wargames clash we are already going to have our hands full at Doncaster 2016 anyway with our proposed live-link between the events ...

Maybe one innovative solution at a time is enough in terms of auxiliary activities vs what we are all there for and that is to concentrate on the game?

Instead of a Death by Design experience for all who attended but didn't enjoy it after all due to too many hi-tech distractions ... Or thoughts towards me trying to dodge another Bullseye Award like the one I'm looking at on the wall at the moment because there just happened to be a gizmo to operate - carefully. With the emphasis being on the word carefully given how most of that Bullseye Award was earned colliding with CodEyes during Saturday morning's WGF game!

We at Chopper Squad are aware of what is happening over in the United States about drone legislation and can see strong schools of though in both sides of the FAA's current stance. However David's clever combination of a Zeppelin and an indoor drone may have history on it's side - being a Zep powered by four propeller-driven engines and therefore having received classification prior to when all of this drone business first erupted. Either that or it's Welcome to the Zeppedrone and a polite request to borrow the idea in the event of me ever finding myself in an OFH ... Mind you with no kids to put me in one my chances of spending my old age wishing that I would rather be at a Katy Perry gig aren't exactly plentiful!

I've noticed that David Manley's proposal of a tripod / boom combination in comparison has only received one major hit-point and that is the possibility of a trip-hazard being created by electric wiring. How do the media use these when broadcasting remotely? I reckon that even if not by drone and via use of a battery-pack powered static solution that we could be onto something re: improved coverage and footage

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 02-09-2016 00:44

Two points about long cables Barney.
WE have had power for games in the past. Often the halls have power points on stanchions or at way-points in the floor for the operation of cleaning equipment or extra lighting, computers operating machines at Industrial shows etc.
If the Organizers know in advance that you will need power they will often site your table next to one of these facilities.
Rob.

**Nightbomber** · 02-09-2016 00:52

There is another solution. For 5 Euro you can buy a remote small pilot for a smartphone made by Silvercrest company (requiring their dwonloadable free app on Android). Tried it, love it. Just place a smartphone over the table and then just click the button to take photos.

**Tonx** · 02-09-2016 03:28

Originally Posted by Nightbomber

There is another solution. For 5 Euro you can buy a remote small pilot for a smartphone made by Silvercrest company (requiring their dwonloadable free app on Android). Tried it, love it. Just place a smartphone over the table and then just click the button to take photos.

I'm terribly sorry: But for a slightly bigger sum you could buy a confused full-size former pilot for any ground school training and comes from England (my fault for being a stick and rudder kid who doesn't do I-Pods)

I think my phone may be Android so what do I need to do / where do I need to look please? Could I find Silvercrest in Google Apps for instance if it is free and also where do I buy this small pilot from. You see this I could try out on an important occasion which is taking place today involving a gaming environment which has a four foot radius (the dining room table) and Avro Vulcan B.2 XH560's return to business after she last flew on November 29th last year. So I cannot use a smaller gaming environment and will be taking pictures. Problem is at the moment I frequently have to lean out and over the table to take some pictures with my digital camera. Soon after all this starts is when my back starts to really hurt me ... Hence the reason I started this thread looking for a way of avoiding this particularly with regard to bigger tables with more players etc. Also the production of motion footage as opposed to stills all the time - which I will not be able to take anyway as I'm on my own playing Solitaire during this afternoon's important event. Anyway if I tried taking a video when the back pain starts it would not be very pleasant to listen to - all those aches and pains etc.

If I could set your idea up simply Andy we could give this a go / I could bring back results today for everyone to see - I know I may still have my stick and rudder tendencies about me but that doesn't mean I'm not prepared to learn this subject and even more so if it means that everyone then gets the chance to see what it's all about for themselves

SATNAVS is the other one not to get me started on ... Got a positively b****y DANGEROUS story to tell of a Bell 52 with a pilot looking for OL3 6HY (Saddleworth) during November 2008 and as he was flying eastwards instead of north-westbound from his start location he happened to recognise something massive and grey in front of him. So he phoned Pennine Helicopters in Diggle to ask them for directions over the phone. Required to stop enroute at Humberside to refuel he eventually made the journey flying VFR (visual flight rules) on the basis of what Pennine Helis had supplied him with via map over the phone. Had he continued flying thinking that Saddleworth was in the middle of the NORTH SEA he would have lasted barely 12 minutes after ditching at that time of year! Back D-> Topic anyway