LONDON: Red Bull has posted a video of what it claims is the world's fastest camera drone.
Developed by Dutch company Dutch Drone Gods, which specialises in aerial video production, it offers a new perspective on filming extreme sports.
For example, it can fly over and follow an F1 car, in this case, the fastest of them all -- Max Verstappen's new Red Bull RB20 -- on the Silverstone racetrack, with a demonstration to prove it.
The FPV drone is equipped with an on-board camera and can be manually controlled in immersive view mode via dedicated goggles. It has been specially designed to follow the car at speeds in excess of 300kph.
It took almost a year of work to develop the drone, and the result is impressive. In particular, it can reach 300kph in just four seconds, and even 350kph if necessary. The downside of this technology is that it can only operate for three minutes, which means it can only film one lap of the track for the time being.
For the drone pilot, the challenge is immense. Not only do they have to make sure they stay as close as possible to the F1 car, but they also have to negotiate various obstacles such as the bridges around the circuit.
But the result is well worth the effort: unlike wide shots, which don't necessarily capture the speed of the car, these shots really immerse the viewer in the action. This type of device, capable of delivering such spectacular footage, could one day revolutionise television broadcasting of races, whether in F1 or other sports.
The 2024 Formula 1 season officially kicks off today, with the Bahrain Grand Prix. Red Bull are the defending champions, and their star driver, Max Verstappen, will once again be the competitor to beat this year.
