I’ve been watching the Winter Olympics, and my consideration has been drawn to the drones used for chasing proper behind the skiers as they shoot down the mountains. They’re capturing extremely immersive footage of occasions like downhill snowboarding, snowboarding, luge, and skeleton — giving viewers visuals that really feel like they’re proper alongside the rivals as they pace down the course. Whereas many spectators complain in regards to the buzzing noise, these watching at house are admiring the wonderful digicam work delivered by the drones and pilots. Let’s check out what sort of FPV drones they’re utilizing and why.
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Advantages and Downsides of Utilizing FPV Drones
Not like conventional digicam drones, which principally hover or cruise slowly, FPV drones are tremendous quick, and extremely agile and maneuverable. They’re flown utilizing FPV goggles, so pilots see precisely what the drone sees in actual time. This enables for terribly exact flying. Pilots can chase athletes down slopes and tracks, capturing close-up, dynamic angles that conventional broadcast cameras merely can’t obtain — usually flying simply meters behind the athlete.
Advantages:
- Provides pace and immersion to broadcasts
- Creates a “video game-like” perspective
- Captures angles not possible with cable cams or helicopters
Downsides:
- Could be very noisy, annoying to viewers, and making reside audio more durable to seize
- The buzzing might distract athletes?
- FPV drone cameras are mounted to the body and sometimes haven’t any mechanical stabilization, which might trigger shaky footage
- The footage might not be comfy for viewers vulnerable to movement illness
FPV Drones Used within the Olympics
Apparently, round 25 drones have been used through the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina.
From the pictures I might discover, there seem like 3 foremost varieties of FPV drones. After wanting extra carefully, they’re fairly typical custom-built drones, nothing notably particular about them actually — most parts can be found on-line, any hobbyists might construct one thing related.
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Digicam & FPV System
The FPV methods used seem like completely DJI. You possibly can inform from the cameras mounted on the drones and the goggles worn by the pilots throughout interviews.
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The DJI system is used for piloting the drone, nonetheless, the footage broadcast on TV comes from a very separate skilled video transmission system. That’s why some drones carry two cameras — one for the pilot (DJI Air Unit) and one other devoted broadcast digicam, together with a cumbersome reside transmission machine mounted on the rear.
Sub-250g Micro FPV Drone
I used to be most within the small sub-250g drone used to comply with luge and skeleton athletes down the icy observe partitions.
These drones aren’t as quick as bigger 5-inch builds, however they’re smaller and may squeeze by means of tighter areas. In line with the pilot, they will attain speeds as much as 140 km/h — which sounds about proper for a high-performance micro construct in my expertise.
This specific drone reportedly weighs solely 243 grams, which is impressively gentle for a 4S setup. I’m undecided whether or not that weight contains the published digicam mounted on high. If it does, that’s an unimaginable feat of weight optimization.
I don’t have the precise specs or elements checklist, however primarily based on out there photographs, right here’s my finest guess on the parts:
- FPV system: DJI O4 Air Unit (Lite)
- Motors: RCINPOWER GTS V2 1207 6000KV Titanium Purple
- Props: 2.5-inch tri-blade
- Battery: 4S LiPo
- Radio hyperlink: 900MHz (both Crossfire or ExpressLRS). They didn’t use 2.4GHz, which is sensible, as a result of the decrease frequency offers higher sign penetration and vary, which is sensible in mountainous terrain. Perhaps to unencumber the two.4ghz band for the broadcasting unit as properly?
- Broadcast setup: Proton Digicam + Domo PicoTXR COFDM transmitter for real-time TV transmission
The body seems to be flipped the wrong way up, working the motors inverted (pusher config). That may sound unconventional, and makes takeoff and touchdown tougher, however it provides two huge benefits:
- Frees up house on high for mounting the published gear
- Retains propellers out of the digicam’s discipline of view
The drone itself in all probability prices underneath $400 in elements, however the skilled broadcast gear doubtless prices many instances that.
5-Inch FPV Drones
5-inch FPV drones have been used for chasing snowboarders and skiers out of doors. These sometimes weigh round 600–800g together with battery and may simply exceed 180 km/h. Folks use these drone to chase race automobiles, so skiers are piece of cake.
Pilots have been seen sporting DJI Goggles 3, so they’re utilizing DJI FPV methods. Additionally you’ll be able to see the pilot is holding the Radiomaster Boxer radio (Max version in Gold shade). There are two antennas protruding from the again of the radio, presumably an ExpressLRS Gemini-X module just like the Nomad.
These are extraordinarily highly effective builds able to maintaining with world-class athletes.
Cinewhoops
Picture credit score: © Olympic Broadcasting Providers (OBS)
Cinewhoops have been additionally used, on this image it’s carrying the Blackmagic Micro Studio Digicam G2 digicam. Cinewhoops are FPV drones with prop safety, making it safer to fly close to individuals and indoor. The pilot flying this cinewhoop seems to be utilizing first-generation DJI FPV methods (Goggles V1 or V2).
Conclusion
FPV drones on the Winter Olympics symbolize a brand new chapter in sports activities broadcasting — mixing cutting-edge drone know-how with artistic digicam work to deliver viewers nearer to the motion than ever earlier than. It’s additionally an amazing alternative to reveal most people to FPV drones and present that not all drones are intrusive or damaging. In some ways, that is implausible promotion for the FPV passion.