You probably already know what a drone is and what it is for, along with its main uses and characteristics. But do you know what an FPV drone is, and how it differs from a conventional one?
This article clears up the usual questions about FPV drones and how they compare with conventional aircraft. And if you are after something to watch rather than fly, take a look at the drone light shows we put on.
FPV is flown by hand, not by the assistant
An FPV aircraft flies without the automation that quietly corrects your mistakes: let go of the sticks and it falls. Which is why immersive flying is learned on a simulator first.
What does FPV mean in drones?
FPV stands for First Person View. In drones it means the pilot sees the scene from the aircraft’s perspective in flight, as though they were up there moving through the air with it.
The FPV that pays is the cinematic kind
Production companies want shots nothing else can get: linked interiors, car chases, entries through a window. That is the work, and it comes sooner with a professional flying base behind you.
What is a First Person View drone?
With the acronym out of the way, the aircraft itself is easier to explain. It is a UAV that transmits what the camera is capturing in real time to a set of goggles worn by the pilot, which is what makes the experience immersive.
FPV goggles are not optional in this kind of flying: the aircraft carries a video transmitter so the pilot can see the camera feed live. That widens what is possible compared with the basic categories in the usual classification of drone types.
If you are not sure how far a drone can fly, the ceiling AESA sets is 120 metres of height and 500 metres of distance. With FPV those margins can be extended, because BVLOS flights — beyond visual line of sight — become possible, though they generally need an official authorisation and, in some cases, specific accreditation.
FPV drones can also feed an external monitor at the control station, which is a good way in for pilots getting used to first person flying. Either way, the sensible starting point is the simulator, which is how our FPV drone pilot course at UMILES University begins.
What is an FPV drone used for?
Being light and fast, FPV drones lend themselves to fast, high-adrenaline work. The most common uses are:
- Drone racing.
- Freestyle flying.
- High-end cinematography.
FPV drone racing
Unlike conventional aircraft, FPV drones can be flown at far higher speeds, reaching up to 110 km/h. That is what makes them suited to racing.
They are much lighter and more compact, and they carry only the components needed for better aerodynamics. They have no obstacle sensors or positioning systems, because everything is subordinated to the parts of the drone that affect speed and movement, such as the accelerometers.
Freestyle flying
FPV drones are not bound by the same limitations as conventional ones: they can roll through 360° and pull off aerobatics that a camera drone simply cannot. That freedom opens up striking aerial stills and mixed indoor and outdoor footage — as long as you know where drones may be flown under local rules so you stay inside the regulations in force.
Cinematography
Drones have become central to filmmaking because they deliver striking footage for a fraction of the resources a crane or a helicopter would take. First person view made that work more dynamic still.
The technology has widened what is possible on a shoot: free-fall shots and vertiginous rolls that give the viewer something they have not seen before.
From watching FPV videos to flying it yourself
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