Building multicopter video drones : build and fly multicopter drones to gather breathtaking video footage / Ty Audronis ; cover image by Aashish Variava.

Online resource; title from PDF title page (ebrary, viewed September 4, 2014).

Cover; Copyright; Credits; About the Author; About the Reviewers; www.PacktPub.com; Table of Contents; Preface; Chapter 1: What is a Multicopter?; How do multicopters fly?; A multicopter''s yaw control; The principles of multicopter lift; How a multicopter moves; What''s in a multicopter?; The airframe; Motors and propellers; The electronic speed control; The guidance system (the brain); Camera gimbals and transmitters; Radio systems; Summary; Chapter 2: Buying a Turnkey System; Why choose a turnkey system?; If someone is selling it, it probably works ... right?

Where to look for reviews and advice you can trustOnline communities -- the new consumer reports; RCgroups.com -- the largest of the communities; YouTube.com -- your source for user reviews, warnings, and tests; Other sites that can be used; What to expect for your budget ... ; Setting realistic expectations; Brands you can trust; For GoPro shooting; Bigger cameras; Summary; Chapter 3: Choosing Your Components; What kind of drone should I build?; How many rotors should it have?; Redundancy versus stability; The calculations you''ll need; Choosing your airframe; Carbon fiber versus aluminum.

Choosing your propellersSelecting your motor; Selecting the ESCs; Powering your multicopter -- the battery; Tweaking your specifications for better results; Delving into camera gimbals; The multicopter brain -- the guidance system; Multicopter guidance system sensor types; Global Positioning System; The compass; Measuring your altitude; Keep your attitude in check; The CPU of your brain; The final choice for guidance; X-Aircraft; ArduPilot (APM:chopper); DJI; The human interface; The final component list and cost; Summary; Chapter 4: Assembling Your Drone; Building the airframe.

Connecting componentsConnecting a brushless motor; What''s a CAN bus?; Placing the sensors; Programming your guidance system and remote; Update!; Exploring the WooKong software; Setting your motor configuration; Mounting; RC calibration; Motor settings; Setting up your batteries; Summary; Chapter 5: Flying Your Multicopter; Get a simulator!; Thinking in three dimensions; Safety; Where to fly; When to fly; How you should fly; The preflight checklist; Your multicopter''s maiden flight; Battery calibration; Arming and flying your multicopter; What is ground effect?; Watch out for prop wash.

Take it slowSummary; Chapter 6: First Person View (FPV) Gear; Components of an FPV system; The Camera; CCD versus CMOS; Onscreen display (OSD); The transmitter and receiver; Video monitors; Some general guidelines; Rules for flying; Priority 1 -- safety for the public; Priority 2 -- follow the law; Priority 3 -- safety for your aircraft and camera; Priority 4 -- get the shot; Summary; Chapter 7: Camera Flying Techniques; Executing camera moves; Crane shots; Dolly shots; Fly-through shots; Orbit-by shots; The 360 orbit; Indoor flying considerations; Experiencing an autonomous flight; Summary.

This book is for a wide range of individuals who are looking to shoot aerial footage with a multicopter. No previous flying experience is assumed, but even the most expert flyers will find unexpected and interesting information.

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