I’ve been watching the Winter Olympics, and my consideration has been drawn to the drones used for chasing proper behind the skiers as they shoot down the mountains. They’re capturing extremely immersive footage of occasions like downhill snowboarding, snowboarding, luge, and skeleton — giving viewers visuals that really feel like they’re proper alongside the opponents as they pace down the course. Whereas many spectators complain concerning the buzzing noise, these watching at house are admiring the superb digicam work delivered by the drones and pilots. Let’s check out what sort of FPV drones they’re utilizing and why.
New to FPV? This information explains what this pastime is about and the way a lot it’s to construct a drone: https://oscarliang.com/fpv-drone-guide/
Advantages and Downsides of Utilizing FPV Drones
Not like conventional digicam drones, which largely hover or cruise slowly, FPV drones are tremendous quick, and extremely agile and maneuverable. They’re flown utilizing FPV goggles, so pilots see precisely what the drone sees in actual time. This permits for very exact flying. Pilots can chase athletes down slopes and tracks, capturing close-up, dynamic angles that conventional broadcast cameras merely can’t obtain — usually flying simply meters behind the athlete.
Advantages:
- Provides pace and immersion to broadcasts
- Creates a “video game-like” perspective
- Captures angles unattainable with cable cams or helicopters
Downsides:
- Will be very noisy, annoying to viewers, and making stay audio more durable to seize
- The buzzing could distract athletes?
- FPV drone cameras are mounted to the body and sometimes haven’t any mechanical stabilization, which may trigger shaky footage
- The footage is probably not comfy for viewers liable to movement illness
FPV Drones Used within the Olympics
Apparently, round 25 drones had been used through the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina.
From the pictures I may discover, there seem like 3 most important forms of FPV drones. After trying extra carefully, they’re fairly typical custom-built drones, nothing significantly particular about them actually — most parts can be found on-line, any hobbyists may construct one thing related.
If you wish to learn to construct a drone, try this information: https://oscarliang.com/how-to-build-fpv-drone/
Digital camera & FPV System
The FPV programs used seem like solely DJI. You’ll be able to inform from the cameras mounted on the drones and the goggles worn by the pilots throughout interviews.
Additional studying: why I like to recommend DJI FPV system – https://oscarliang.com/fpv-system/
The DJI system is used for piloting the drone, nevertheless, the footage broadcast on TV comes from a very separate skilled video transmission system. That’s why some drones carry two cameras — one for the pilot (DJI Air Unit) and one other devoted broadcast digicam, together with a cumbersome stay transmission gadget mounted on the rear.
Sub-250g Micro FPV Drone
I used to be most within the small sub-250g drone used to comply with luge and skeleton athletes down the icy observe partitions.
These drones aren’t as quick as bigger 5-inch builds, however they’re smaller and might squeeze by tighter areas. In response to the pilot, they’ll attain speeds as much as 140 km/h — which sounds about proper for a high-performance micro construct in my expertise.
This explicit drone reportedly weighs solely 243 grams, which is impressively mild for a 4S setup. I’m undecided whether or not that weight contains the published digicam mounted on high. If it does, that’s an unbelievable feat of weight optimization.
I don’t have the precise specs or components listing, however based mostly on out there pictures, right here’s my finest guess on the parts:
- FPV system: DJI O4 Air Unit (Lite)
- Motors: RCINPOWER GTS V2 1207 6000KV Titanium Crimson
- Props: 2.5-inch tri-blade
- Battery: 4S LiPo
- Radio hyperlink: 900MHz (both Crossfire or ExpressLRS). They didn’t use 2.4GHz, which is sensible, as a result of the decrease frequency offers higher sign penetration and vary, which is sensible in mountainous terrain. Possibly to unlock the two.4ghz band for the broadcasting unit as nicely?
- Broadcast setup: Proton Digital camera + Domo PicoTXR COFDM transmitter for real-time TV transmission
The body seems to be flipped the wrong way up, operating the motors inverted (pusher config). That may sound unconventional, and makes takeoff and touchdown more difficult, nevertheless it gives two large benefits:
- Frees up house on high for mounting the published tools
- Retains propellers out of the digicam’s area of view
The drone itself most likely prices beneath $400 in components, however the skilled broadcast tools probably prices many instances that.
5-Inch FPV Drones
5-inch FPV drones had been used for chasing snowboarders and skiers outside. These sometimes weigh round 600–800g together with battery and might simply exceed 180 km/h. Folks use these drone to chase race vehicles, so skiers are piece of cake.
Pilots had been seen sporting DJI Goggles 3, so they’re utilizing DJI FPV programs. Additionally you may see the pilot is holding the Radiomaster Boxer radio (Max version in Gold colour). There are two antennas protruding from the again of the radio, probably an ExpressLRS Gemini-X module just like the Nomad.
These are extraordinarily highly effective builds able to maintaining with world-class athletes.
Cinewhoops
Picture credit score: © Olympic Broadcasting Providers (OBS)
Cinewhoops had been additionally used, on this image it’s carrying the Blackmagic Micro Studio Digital camera G2 digicam. Cinewhoops are FPV drones with prop safety, making it safer to fly close to individuals and indoor. The pilot flying this cinewhoop seems to be utilizing first-generation DJI FPV programs (Goggles V1 or V2).
Conclusion
FPV drones on the Winter Olympics characterize a brand new chapter in sports activities broadcasting — mixing cutting-edge drone know-how with artistic digicam work to deliver viewers nearer to the motion than ever earlier than. It’s additionally an incredible alternative to reveal most people to FPV drones and present that not all drones are intrusive or unfavorable. In some ways, that is implausible promotion for the FPV pastime.