Red Bull recently introduced the world’s fastest video capture drone, which was able to keep up with the pace of an F1 car. Will you be able to follow the start of the Tesla Model S Plaid?
In an exceptional feat of engineering, the Drone Gods of the Netherlands created a cutting-edge FPV drone that managed to capture uninterrupted first-person (FPV) footage of Max Verstappen’s complete lap of the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. This groundbreaking feat, created in collaboration with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, marks a significant milestone in drone technology and its potential application in motorsport broadcasting.
Red Bull challenged the company to create a drone capable of following an F1 car. The project was developed over ten months. According to Ralph Hogenbirk, the pilot who controlled the drone, in its pursuit of the F1 car, the “propulsion system differs from normal drones, such as DJI’s cinematic drones, in that they are significantly more powerful and reactive. The technology is quite similar to what we normally use in FPV (First-Person View) racing drones, which are also known for their high power and responsiveness. However, we have taken a step forward by incorporating a more powerful engine, a very specific combination of RPM setting [rotações por minuto], the size and shape of the propeller and the battery. This allowed us to strike a perfect balance between getting a good top speed and still being efficient, without overloading the electronics or battery. Furthermore, the prototype maintained the aerodynamic efficiency necessary to reach the speed we needed and last the full lap.
The most limiting aspect, in technological terms, continues to be the batteries. With this drone specifically, we place significant demands on the batteries. They have to be quite large, heavy and of high quality to provide the necessary power, such as during full-speed sections where the drone reaches speeds in excess of 300 kilometers per hour for several seconds on straights, then quickly decelerates and recovers to provide power again on the next straight.”
CarWow took advantage and launched the challenge. Who will be the fastest on a Drag Race? The Tesla Model S Plaid, an F1 car or the Drone? The result is in the video.
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