Fifty Plus (50+) - Biking video from a servo controlled plane

Cool video of a kid tracking his dad on a mountain bike through a servo controlled camera on a remote controlled model plane:

http://vimeo.com/28556591

Here is another approach: a camera equipped Hexacopter in "follow-me" mode, automatically tracking a cyclist and then a jogger. I won't be surprised if we start seeing coverage of pro races using Hexacopters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pLuZzNYdRg

Here is another approach: a camera equipped Hexacopter in "follow-me" mode, automatically tracking a cyclist and then a jogger. I won't be surprised if we start seeing coverage of pro races using Hexacopters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pLuZzNYdRg

It's a heck of a lot safer then some idiot in a car or on a motorcycle running down the riders, because he thought the shot was more important then the actual race.

For commercial use though, I see a few issues:

1) the cameras are a lot bigger and heavier, so the aircraft would need to be as well, but then they probably have a lot longer zoom range, so it may not be a big issue....
2) You need an aircraft operator and a camera operator and they both need to be remote and you need to be able to get "live" video, which needs a lot of bandwidth.
3) With heavier cameras and cameras that suck a lot of power, you need a lot of battery power and batteries add weight.

Here is another approach: a camera equipped Hexacopter in "follow-me" mode, automatically tracking a cyclist and then a jogger. I won't be surprised if we start seeing coverage of pro races using Hexacopters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pLuZzNYdRg

I may be wrong, but I'm sure I saw remote size choppers in view during parts of last years Euro races. I remember my wife thinking the same thing at the time. Can't say for sure which races I saw them in. The Giro comes to mind for some reason.

Other than the TDF I've yet to watch this year's stuff. I save them for winter trainer rides.