Moderator Comment by Ruwan on December 22, 2012 at 8:06am

@Hai, Thanks. Definitely I will try to watch it. You are right, it would be awesome to see a match from a different perspective. The closest I have seen was a camera driven by cables in IPL (IIRC). 

Is it being used for pitch report or even while the game is on? Any close calls when batsmen hit sixes :-)?

Comment by quadrocopter on December 22, 2012 at 2:39pm

Surely as a UAV Operator you know that you should never fly over a person or persons, especially at large gatherings. The fact that CASA gave you approval just says it all to me....

Good luck, let's just hope the machine that you built stays in the air.

So that people know CASA are handing out UAV licenses to PPL owners. So if you can fly a plane you can fly a UAV.

There are almost 30 UAV operators now in Australia, all pilots, like yourself.

I know 3 licensed UAV operators who cannot fly UAV's!!  As long as you can fly a Cessna though and have 5 hours of flying, which can be part simulator they will give you a license. Oh and hand over 8 grand so they can review your operations manual.

We have been learning about ice on wing tips, stalling angles, carburettor freezing... i might as well be learning how to knit, it has nothing to do with operating a UAV. 

My honest opinion; You're going to destroy this for everyone.

Simon, 

Comment by Darrell Burkey on December 22, 2012 at 4:27pm

A disaster in the making IMHO. I started using quads specifically to use for video and photography. A constant issue is that I can't shoot in public areas simply because it is not safe to have these machines flying over people in public spaces. I don't see how being licensed changes that fact. So instead I'm going to focus on scenics and carefully planned shoots. I find it hard to believe that any insurance company would cover you for such activities.

Comment by Greg on December 22, 2012 at 5:15pm

Darrell thats my plan too. I try to operate in the country side away from people The technology gives the freedom to fly in isolated places and capture truely remarkable footage. The camera technology is so good at sporting events already especially in tennis and cricket these days. I would think the noise factor along and added distraction of UAV copters at the cricket is not in keeping with the history of the sport and the risks do not justify this anyway.

From a technology stand point I am am interested in the camera mounts, stabilisation and cameras people are using. The photo in this artical looks to be a Cinestar frame with their triple camera setup. I am trying to decide on what is best to attach to my Driodworx octocopter. Photohigher in NZ have some nice technology but not sure what else people are using in the professional space. Anyway wil probably start my own post on this as it would not be fair to use this particulalr forum.

Mke be good if we can keep media focus on UAVs down to a minimum at the moment. There are so many people now conerned about privacy and safety. The events Chris and 3DR team have run each year are great giving right educaiton and showing very reasponsible activities when the public are concerned.

Comment by Marty Cunningham on December 22, 2012 at 6:41pm

A member posts the high profile (in Australia), non military, use of a UAV's, with the APPROVAL of the country' regulator and he is criticised? 

CASA (unlike the FAA) is not chartered to promote aviation but to keep it safe. From CASA's historical performance their outlook is that the safest aircraft is one that is not allowed to fly.  To overcome this, to be authorised to fly in proximity to a stadium full of people is one hell of an achievement.

 

Comment by quadrocopter on December 22, 2012 at 7:12pm

Thats a good way to look at it, however Marty here is something to ponder.

CASA's moto is "safe skies for all". Which is nice but its far from the truth. Here is why.

I can buy whatever i want, maybe a petrol RC Helicopter from a hobby store (if you can find one now days)

Go to a park and fly it, you can fly whatever you want, but as soon as you make money from taking a couple of photos your in trouble.. In other words, CASA only care about commercial businesses and not hobbiests.

You can buy a KK board from ebay, grab some bath towel railings and some cheap motors, people do this and they go and fly, only a few months ago someone crashed an Octocopter into Sydney airport. 

I have been training customers for almost 5 years, thats a long time. In that time i have seen it all. Amazing how some older guys with no experience pick this up... Incredible actually. It's unfortunate that the SOME pilots i train are just no good. Yet CASA are giving out UAV licences to people who hold PPL's, SOME of these holders are short of hopeless. In fact they are not even that good :-( I could could on, but i won't as i could jeopardise myself.

I would normally think something like this is great, but it's not, its dangerous. The machine above weighs almost 7 KG, imagine for a second...... Have you ever seen the bumper sticker?  SH&T HAPPENS  ??

A rumour is that early next year CASA will put these things into weight categories. Something like this?

50grams to 1kg, 1kg to 5kg. etc....

Here on earth we have something called Gravity and i am not being a smart arse :-)

Simon

Comment by Greg on December 22, 2012 at 10:52pm

Marty I appreciate your view and I don't want to be critical of anyones achievements either.   Having built a few multi-rotors in recent years I have to say the photo of the octocopter from coptercam is one nice machine.

 I think Simon sums it up nicely in the area of coverage i.e commercial versus the hobbyist and the potential risk.  Australia's does have a good aviation record and CASA plays a very important role.   Its just there are more factors beyond their realm of involvement / juristriction which.  should be taken into consideration and this might apply in specific situations and events.   For example, environment, security / policing agencies.  It is certainly an achievement to get CASA to sanction this particular operation. I am just scared at what could happen when the laws of physics on a very powerful and heavy octocopter work against you in the "Unexpected" category Simon talks about.   For example you get an electronics failure or radio interference. Notwithstanding, crowds are not always well behaved and lets say the octocopter gets hit by a flying object while operating near a crowded area.  Then we have both non-sbrouded blades and the old mass x acceleration element.

Simon,

Sounds like your in Australia so maybe your nearby me.  I would certainly appreciate some training?

Comment by Alan Burke on December 22, 2012 at 11:59pm

@Simon, you sound jealous.  If you're saying that you should "never fly over a person", then why did you fly repeatedly over these people in your video.

http://vimeo.com/15867732

Comment by Sam Short on December 23, 2012 at 12:10am

Well done Coptercam team.

@Greg, I doubt that Cricket Australia would allows a UAV to operate at such a public event without public liability insurance.  

Comment by Sam Short on December 23, 2012 at 12:10am

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/foxkopter-takes-to-the-sk...

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