Author Archives: Dronerator

= SINTRA =

Good morning everybody. Here’s another video. Another weekend of family adventure.

We went to visit the coastal area of ​​Sintra, more specifically Praia Grande. A very pleasant area with a huge beach. We climbed the stairs next to the cliff and then went to the geodesic landmark area. Beautiful landscapes for those who like to spend a good few hours listening to the sound of the sea and being one with nature.

I leave here a video in which I share some details of this same adventure. A good week everyone

 

Here is the Video

 

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[NEW VIDEO PRODUCTION] FOR ECOLEX AT THE GPMM – MARSEILLE

Drone vide shot for ECOLEX at the Grand-Port Maritime de Marseille, in March 2024, during the removal of asbestos from the Silo à Sucre. The Sugar Silo will be converted into a Data Center by Digital Realty in 2026. Demolition and reconstruction work is underway, and is clearly visible from the A55 freeway.
Only the Mavic 3 Pro was used for the occasion, this at all focal lengths 24, 70 and 160mm, which enabled the operators to be filmed safely without taking any risks, while recording close-ups.

 

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Doodle Labs Named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024

Doodle Labs has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024. This year’s list shines a spotlight on businesses that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations. These organizations are setting new standards and achieving remarkable milestones in all sectors of the economy. Alongside the World’s 50 […]

How to photograph the solar eclipse with a drone (because you’ll want to on April 8!)

The solar eclipse is coming soon, and budding photographers are waiting to document it. But even better than just a standard camera is if you photograph the solar eclipse with a drone. After all, witnessing the sun momentarily veiled by the moon offers a dramatic celestial display.

On April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will grace North America, offering drone photographers in the U.S. a prime opportunity to take their eclip se photography to new heights. Here’s everything you need to know about photographing an eclipse (and more specifically, how to photograph the solar eclipse with a drone), as well as the best places in the U.S. to view the eclipse, and when to watch.

With the right plan, settings and gear, you could create an aerial timelapse, like this epic video from the 2019 solar eclipse.

How to photograph a solar eclipse

Before diving into the aerial realm, let’s establish some foundational eclipse photography practices. Regardless of camera choice, safety is paramount.

Never look directly at the sun

If there’s one takeaway from this article, it’s purchasing eclipse glasses.

Don’t look at the sun unprotected, even during a partial eclipse. This will result in damage to your eyesight, including high potential for permanent damage and even blindness.

To protect your own eyeballs, wear eclipse glasses. These are super cheap — you can typically find a 6-pack of eclipse glasses for less than $10 on big retailer sites like Amazon or B&H Photo. Ensure the pair you buy is ISO-certified to the 12312-2 standard. That means it blocks 100% of harmful ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) radiation while filtering out greater than 99.99% of intense visible light, making it safe for direct solar viewing.

Get the right gear

Beyond those glasses for you, you’ll need filters for your camera. And while all photographers will need special filters, drone photographers are up to an especial challenge. Here’s what you’ll need:

Invest in a solar filter

Now that you’ve protected your eyes, you’ll need to invest in a proper solar filter specifically designed for your camera lens. These filters dramatically reduce the sun’s intensity and protecting your camera sensor. If you are looking through the rangefinder (though you likely wouldn’t with a drone), this would also be critical in protecting your eyesight. Even still, don’t look through an unfiltered digital camera using its live view, as you’re still focusing concentrated, unfiltered sunlight through your camera’s sensor.

Depending on your camera, solar filters usually cost between $50 and $100, though you can even find cheaper (aka lower quality) models, which might not be terrible if you intend to use it just once anyway.

The DJI Mavic 3 Pro with Freewell ND2000 Filter.

Some solar filters are designed for specific lens sizes. However, other cheaper filters are a bit of a one-size-fits-all situation. With most drones, you’ll likely need to rely on one of those one-size-fits all filters, though there are a few custom filters that DO work for certain drones.

For example, Freewell’s ND2000 filter is designed specifically for the DJI Mavic 3 Pro and Pro Cine drones. It costs just $30, and can reduce light by 11 stops.

DJI Mini 4 Pro filters

What about typical ND filters?

Neutral density (ND) filters are a commonplace tool used on all sorts of cameras, but especially drone cameras, when shooting in bright situations like direct sunlight. They essentially act like sunglasses for your drone, reducing the light that enters the camera. The right ND filter can dramatically improve your photo quality.

A solar filter is effectively a type of ND filter, albeit much, much darker. If you don’t have a solar filter (it doesn’t fit your drone’s camera lens, you can’t get your hands on one in time, or it’s just too expensive), your next best bet is filming with the darkest ND filter you have (which means picking one with a higher stop). An 8-stop is good. A 10-stop is better.

For example, DJI’s standard Mini 4 Pro filter set includes three filters: ND16, ND64 and ND256. With that, an ND16 would reduce light by four stops (or 1/16). Meanwhile, the ND256 filter is a neutral density filter that reduces exposure by 8 stops.

A solar filter is better, but a ND filter might at least be your best alternative. It’s far more ideal to have a real solar filter (so order one if you can). That said, a 16-stop or higher filter might at least be sufficient (but again, use these at your own risk).

Pay attention to your camera settings

A filter alone is not enough to make your photos work. Not only must you pay attention to your camera settings, but you need to get them right in tandem with your filter. When photographing an eclipse, plan to switch your camera to manual mode. And, be prepared to adjust exposure settings based on the phase of the eclipse. 

When it comes to exposure, bracketing is your friend. The rapid change in light levels during the eclipse demands a flexible approach.

Take multiple shots at varying exposures to ensure you capture the perfect balance between the darkened sun and the surrounding landscape.

What about a hyperlapse?

For an even more mesmerizing effect, consider creating a hyperlapse of the eclipse. A hyperlapse condenses time, allowing you to compress the entire eclipse into a captivating video sequence, perfect for capturing the sun’s dramatic unveiling. Here’s how to tailor a drone hyperlapse specifically for the eclipse:

  • Capture the progression: The key to an eclipse hyperlapse is capturing frames throughout the entire event, from the first sliver of the moon covering the sun to the peak of the eclipse and back.
  • Adjust intervals: During totality, when the sun is completely obscured (within the path of totality), you can extend the capture interval to capture the dramatic change in light on the landscape. Conversely, during the partial phases, shorten the capture interval to capture the moon’s steady progression across the sun’s face. This will create a smooth transition effect in the final video.
  • Consider your flight path: You have a few flight path options. For example, you could program a course lock hyperlapse that tracks the sun’s movement across the sky. That would result in a hyperlapse showcasing the sun seemingly shrinking as the moon covers it.

You might also ditch shooting the actual sun. Focusing your hyperlapse on the land below could allow you to show the moon’s shadow arriving. Everyone else will have their cameras pointed at the sun anyway, so let your drone get a view that no one else could possibly get. Plus, this angle also enables you to avoid having to shoot your drone straight into the sun!

solar eclipse photograph with a drone

Plan your flight

Now, let’s address the unique challenges and opportunities presented by drone photography during an eclipse. Here’s what you need to consider:

  • Get a spotter to maintain line of sight: Unlike a grounded camera, maintaining a visual on your drone while looking up at the eclipse can be tricky. Consider using a spotter to help you keep track of the drone’s position, especially during critical moments like totality. And, make sure your spotter has those eclipse glasses, too.
  • Have sufficient battery power: Be mindful of battery life, especially during longer eclipses. Factor in pre-flight checks, positioning, and the actual capture time when calculating your flight duration. Remember, you’ll need enough battery power for a safe return landing.
  • Know where it’s legal to fly: Know it’s legal to fly your drone in your planned destination. For example, you’ll need permits if flying within a National Park or other restricted airspace. Not sure if you can legally fly in a specific area? Check out my guide to where you can fly drones legally.
  • Map your flight path: Plan your flight path beforehand, taking into account wind direction and potential obstacles. Aim for a position that offers a clear view of the eclipse and the surrounding landscape you wish to capture.
  • Practice: With a solar eclipse, you get one shot. Before the big day, practice flying your drone in similar conditions, particularly focusing on maintaining control while looking upwards.
  • Consider multiple drones: If you’re looking for an excuse to buy a new drone, this might be it. If you want to have the drone in the air for the full eclipse, you’d need that solar filter. However, a filter is not needed when the sun is completely obscured by the moon during the totality portion of a total solar eclipse. Given that, it might also make sense to have a drone without the filter in the air, too.

And of course, plan for totality. Depending on where you are, totality might not last for very long (perhaps not even more than a minute or two). Factor this limited window into your overall flight time and — if relevant — your hyperlapse settings.

The best place to fly drones during the April 2024 solar eclipse

This specific eclipse on April 8 will be a partial solar eclipse, visible across most of North America. The path of totality, where the moon completely covers the sun, will stretch diagonally from Texas to Maine. Those positioned within this path will witness the most dramatic light changes.

Expect totality to begin in Texas at 1:27 p.m. local time (CT) and to end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. local time (ET). Outside of the U.S., expect great views on Mexico’s Pacific Coast at about 11:07 a.m. local time (PT). Here are some major cities, and the time of partial eclipse to totality, according to NASA:

Location Partial Begins Totality Begins Maximum Totality Ends Partial Ends
Dallas, Texas 12:23 p.m. CDT 1:40 p.m. CDT 1:42 p.m. CDT 1:44 p.m. CDT 3:02 p.m. CDT
Idabel, Oklahoma 12:28 p.m. CDT 1:45 p.m. CDT 1:47 p.m. CDT 1:49 p.m. CDT 3:06 p.m. CDT
Little Rock, Arkansas 12:33 p.m. CDT 1:51 p.m. CDT 1:52 p.m. CDT 1:54 p.m. CDT 3:11 p.m. CDT
Poplar Bluff, Missouri 12:39 p.m. CDT 1:56 p.m. CDT 1:56 p.m. CDT 2:00 p.m. CDT 3:15 p.m. CDT
Paducah, Kentucky 12:42 p.m. CDT 2:00 p.m. CDT 2:01 p.m. CDT 2:02 p.m. CDT 3:18 p.m. CDT
Carbondale, Illinois 12:42 p.m. CDT 1:59 p.m. CDT 2:01 p.m. CDT 2:03 p.m. CDT 3:18 p.m. CDT
Evansville, Indiana 12:45 p.m. CDT 2:02 p.m. CDT 2:04 p.m. CDT 2:05 p.m. CDT 3:20 p.m. CDT
Cleveland, Ohio 1:59 p.m. EDT 3:13 p.m. EDT 3:15 p.m. EDT 3:17 p.m. EDT 4:29 p.m. EDT
Erie, Pennsylvania 2:02 p.m. EDT 3:16 p.m. EDT 3:18 p.m. EDT 3:20 p.m. EDT 4:30 p.m. EDT
Buffalo, New York 2:04 p.m. EDT 3:18 p.m. EDT 3:20 p.m. EDT 3:22 p.m. EDT 4:32 p.m. EDT
Burlington, Vermont 2:14 p.m. EDT 3:26 p.m. EDT 3:27 p.m. EDT 3:29 p.m. EDT 4:37 p.m. EDT
Lancaster, New Hampshire 2:16 p.m. EDT 3:27 p.m. EDT 3:29 p.m. EDT 3:30 p.m. EDT 4:38 p.m. EDT
Caribou, Maine 2:22 p.m. EDT 3:32 p.m. EDT 3:33 p.m. EDT 3:34 p.m. EDT 4:40 p.m. EDT

Just know that if you haven’t planned your travels to those major areas yet, don’t wait. Hotels are filling up. For example, Chase Travel data shows that Dallas is experiencing a 9.8x year-over-year increase in hotel travel during the solar eclipse. Meanwhile, there’s a 7.3x year-over-year increase in hotel bookings to San Antonio during the solar eclipse.

Of course, while Texas is a huge spot to watch the eclipse, consider other destinations, such as upstate New York. The Adirondacks sit in the path of totality of the eclipse, creating the perfect setting to view the eclipse.

The 2012 annular eclipse with west of Lubbock, Texas.

You might also watch it aboard a cruise (check with your cruise operator to ensure drones are okay to bring aboard). Major cruise ship operators including Princess Cruises and Holland America Line are running cruises with routes specifically around the path of totality. For example, on Holland America’s sailing that departs March 30 from San Diego, cruisers will watch it from the sea outside of Mazatlán, Mexico.

According to travel-booking company Navan, the most popular eclipse-watching locations on the path include:

  1. Austin, TX
  2. Dallas TX 
  3. Columbus, OH 
  4. Montreal, QB
  5.  Indianapolis

When are the next big eclipse events?

If you’re not able to film the April 8 eclipse with a drone, there are other big events coming up.

Expect another solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026 in the Arctic, which could be a compelling place to fly (yes, I’ve flown drones in the Arctic, too). Expedition cruises in the Arctic are setting their schedules and routes early to align in the path of totality for that August 2026 solar eclipse. For example, AdventureSmith Explorations is running a 14-day Arctic trip featuring astrophysicist Paul Sutter as a special guest. Meanwhile, you could head from Spitsbergen to Northeast Greenland on another 14-day offering from the same company.

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AIM Defence to Supply ADF with Australia’s First Laser-Based Counter-Drone System

AIM Defence, creators of Australia’s first laser-based counter-drone system, have been contracted by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to build a world-first, deployable Directed Energy (DE) System for ongoing counter-drone testing and evaluation. The $4.9 million contract represents the first time the ADF has acquired a directed energy prototype for ongoing field-based counter-drone trials. AIM […]

DJI Trying to Bypass the US Ban of Chinese Drones

So, there is something very strange happening with “DJI” currently. They seem to have been registering US-based companies to sell their drones in the US under another brand. Recently I spotted the Specta Air drone, which looks exactly like a DJI Air 3, just with the DJI branding removed and replaced with SPECTA. The remote […]

Construction Starts on Boeing’s MQ-28 Facility in Queensland, Australia

Construction will begin on Boeing’s new production facility in Toowoomba, Queensland, to support the manufacture of Australia’s first military combat aircraft designed and developed in over 50 years – the MQ-28 Ghost Bat. The 9,000 square-metre facility at the Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precinct is expected to be operational in the next three years. The […]

DroneUp Unveils Revolutionary Autonomous Ecosystem for Efficient Last-Mile Delivery

Revolutionizing Logistics with Scalable, Secure, and Speedy Drone Deliveries In a significant leap forward for last-mile delivery logistics, DroneUp has unveiled its innovative autonomous drone ecosystem. This new technology, designed to streamline the delivery process, was announced in a DroneUp press release and further elaborated upon during a live press conference. DroneUp says the new […]

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New DroneUp Ecosystem marks major shift for drone delivery operations

Drone delivery in 2024 is hardly anything like the vision Jeff Bezos gave the world when he promised drone delivery on national TV back in 2013. A big reason? Lack of scalability. But a slew of major changes by drone delivery companies marks a clear sign in addressing how to improve the scalability of drone delivery operations. Among the latest? The new autonomous Ecosystem technology, created by DroneUp.

DroneUp Ecosystem drone delivery Virginia American company landing in DBX net with package
Photo courtesy of DroneUp

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, DroneUp has been one of the smaller players in the American drone delivery space — albeit still a mighty player. Among its biggest clients? Walmart, which invested in DroneUp back in 2021.

And today, DroneUp revealed its new Ecosystem platform, which marks a huge shift in the way the company deliveries packages from retailers and restaurants. The focus of Ecosystem is scalability and affordability.

In short, Ecosystem is a series of centralized operations stations spread throughout an area. Each of those operations stations is autonomous in itself, so the only task at hands for humans is having the client drop off the actual package at the station — and customers subsequently picking up their package at another station once the drone has flown between the two.

It’s a huge departure from models at competitors like Wing or Zipline that emphasize drones flying directly to suburban, single-family residences.

DroneUp says the delivery model should bring down the costs of drone delivery.

“Retailers and quick service restaurants want us to have a clear glide path that brings the cost of drone delivery lower than currently being offered by human-based delivery while maintaining high safety and dependability levels,” said Tom Walker, CEO of DroneUp. “With our autonomous ecosystem, we are able to meet those customer demands and provide a solution capable of doing millions of deliveries every day.”

Here’s a deeper dive into how the new DroneUp Ecosystem works:

Inside the DroneUp Ecosystem

The most obvious departure from traditional drone delivery systems that you’ll see in the DroneUp Ecosystem? That huge ground station unit. Consider it a sort of airport for drone deliveries.

DroneUp calls it a Destination Box (DBX). These temperature-controlled units can stand on their own, and function as one of the centralized loading points that could be placed throughout a community. The units are large enough to hold up to 30 packages at a time, depending on their size.

DroneUp Ecosystem DBX featuring net
Photo courtesy of DroneUp

A net sits on top of the box unit, where the drone lands.

The DBXs are vendor-agnostic. So in theory, Walmart could load a package of consumer goods in the same DBX that a local hospital loads medical products into. And it seems as though they’d be placed in relatively communal areas, just as mailboxes are. In a courtesy photo provided by DroneUp, the DBX sits in a large parking lot over two parking spaces.

DroneUp Ecosystem drone delivery Virginia American company DBX
Photo courtesy of DroneUp

Of course, the DBX machines go two ways, meaning that consumers could also head to one to pickup a package, similar to the Amazon Locker model. Amazon Lockers are useful for people who can’t receive packages at home. That includes someone in a multi-unit building with low security, or someone in a home who just doesn’t want packages stolen off their porch. With Amazon Lockers, people can retrieve packages at the Locker locations, (like some Whole Foods stores) through a self-service model. This is a similar system.

And that’s not all the DBX can do. They also incorporate drone charging capabilities to extend the reach of each delivery and eliminate the need for battery swaps.

Other fresh DroneUp product launches

Photo courtesy of DroneUp

The new DBX is the most notable launch, but DroneUp has been working on some other products.

For starters, DroneUp gave its actual drones an overhaul. That includes new delivery mechanisms and interfaces to operate with the ground infrastructure. The delivery mechanism at hand is a claw-like package grasper that can perform aerial drops or winch up to 120 ft. 

The drone also has a neat, internal package storage system to protect goods from rain, snow and even too-much sun. Engineers also worked to reduce the drone’s noise, while allowing the drones to carry larger, heavier boxes than before.

DroneUp’s drones can fly up to 60 mph over a range of 30-miles, meaning a drone in theory could fly as far out as 15 miles from the nearest DBX. That’s a surprisingly wide range, considering San Francisco is roughly 7 miles wide and 7 miles long. In theory, a drone with that sort of range and distance capabilities woud be able to do laps around a city like San Francisco in size.

Then, there’s the software. DroneUp launched a new operation system that incorporates flight control, navigation, airspace management, logistics management and safety-enhancing tools. That includes ‘detect-and-avoid’ technology. The system is automated enough that a single person can monitor many drones.

Together, those products comprise a patented, proprietary technology platform.

Is this the Drone Delivery 2.0 era?

Wing’s Autoloader

The drone delivery landscape has experienced a growth spurt over the past year. This time last year, Wing (the sister company of Google) launched a system called the Wing Delivery Network. The decentralized, automated system better supports high-volume drone delivery, largely thanks to a new piece of harder called Autoloader.

Similarly to DroneUp’s DBX, Autoloader sits outside in a parking space. The person delivering the package loads it into the Autoloader. From there, the Wing Delivery Network ‘talks’ to a drone, telling it to fly over and retrieve a package, and from there the drone delivers it to a customer (typically their own home).

Part of Zipline’s new P2 system

Shortly after, Zipline launched its P2 system, which is a two-part drone: the primary aircraft for long-distance travel and a detachable “delivery droid.”

Here’s how it works: The primary drone carries the droid to a designated landing zone near the delivery location. The droid then detaches, lowers itself via a tether, and gently deposits the package at the customer’s doorstep.

Whether the Zipline P2, Wing Autoloader or the new DroneUp Ecosystem, all represent a significant sign of growth for the drone delivery industry. In a sign of maturity, these drone delivery companies are tailoring solutions to address specific needs.

But will these new solutions be enough to make drone delivery truly succeed?

The DroneUp Ecosystem: will it work?

DroneUp Ecosystem drone delivery Virginia American company flying aircraft with package
Photo courtesy of DroneUp

The world’s biggest drone delivery company, Zipline, and its number two competitor, Wing, seem to be all about direct home delivery. And while direct home delivery may offer the ultimate convenience and speed, safety concerns, payload limitations and the sheer matter of finding a suitable drop point can make it a complex challenge. Centralized stations like the DroneUp Ecosystem might provide a more feasible near-term solution, with lower infrastructure costs.

Here are a few reasons why a centralized station delivery model is great:

  • Feasibility: Delivering to designated zones reduces the complexity of individual rooftop/porch/backyard landings.
  • Efficiency: Centralized stations that serve as launch and recovery points may improve maintenance efficiency.
  • Lower infrastructure costs: There’s no need to equip every home with a landing zone. Companies would focus investment on stations strategically placed throughout neighborhoods.
  • Fewer privacy concerns: The constant buzz of drones overhead could be unsettling for some. Additionally, ensuring secure drop-off locations within customer yards might require creative solutions. A centralized delivery point could be positioned away from anti-drone neighbors.

But, it could bring some fresh challenges, including:

  • Slower delivery: The “last mile” delivery from the station would require additional vehicles or personnel, adding time compared to direct home delivery via drone.
  • Increased complexity: Managing a network of stations and coordinating deliveries adds logistical complexity if providers need to now add a human driver, biker or walker to go the final mile, especially compared to a purely drone-based system.
DroneUp delivery drone with snacks from Walmart
Photo courtesy of DroneUp

The DroneUp Ecosystem is set to launch sometime later in 2024. At launch, it’ll only be available to elected partners as part of its Early Partners Program.

Though, DroneUp does seem open to adding new partnerships and potentially even offering live demos. The company told The Drone Girl that you can call 877-601-1860 for partnership inquiries.

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