Carbon Fiber Frame

The Game of Drones quadrotor was the reward of backers of the Game of Drones Kickstarter project. Now that the project is over, the alternative is to get a carbon fiber drone. Those are the ones used in FPV (First Person View) drone racing. They exist in different sizes. The small ones, called mini-drones, are smaller and cheaper (without the accessories for FPV) compared to the Parrot AR Drone or the DJI Phantom, the number one drone for hobbyists.

FPV Drone Racing: How to Ensure the Best Experience?

One of the most exciting application of drones is FPV racing. To get a glimpse of what pilots see, watch video 5 below. It feels like riding a speeder bike in the chase scene of the Star Wars Episode VI (Return of the Jedi). To race a drone in FPV, beside the drone and its remote, you need FPV goggles or a monitor that will display the video stream from the camera of the flying robot.

The quality of the experience, depends of course on the quality of video. Obviously, the resolution of the goggles and the camera is critical. Going HD is the best option. The video should be at at least 25 frames per second. Another critical component is the wireless link. You need a video transmitter onboard and a receiver on the goggle side. They should provide enough bandwidth to transmit the video at maximum resolution and frame rate. The video wireless link should also operate at a wide range, compatible with the range of the remote control of the drone. Last, don’t forget to take some spare parts. At least some extra propellers, and one battery. The props are not protected by the frame and are likely to break often. The extra battery allows an extended flight time, and having fun for a longer period. A cool option is to have a drone with white LEDs at the front an colored ones at the back. It allows for brighter videos and cool visual effects to spectators, if you plan to fly by night or simply in a shady place.