OpenPilot: A Next-Gen Open Source Autopilot Approach to Aerial Videography

I recently learned about OpenPilot, an open-source project that promotes the development of economical unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs.  

According to information on the website, "OpenPilot is an ideal platform for researchers and hobbyists working on aerial robotics or other mobile vehicular platforms where stabilization and guidance are required. OpenPilot brings the cost down to reasonable prices so people can focus on developing and refining applications rather than paying the extremely high prices of most commercial offerings, or having to do ‘from the ground up’ hardware development."

A number of OpenPilot community members have used their UAVs to explore interesting landscapes and at the same time, create engaging video clips.  Wouldn't it be fantastic to figure out how to get a 3D or 360 camera in a UAV?  

Below is an assortment of videos I came across while visiting the OpenPilot website. (I've also included some videos that were created using YellowBird 360 technology, which to my knowledge, has not been attempted with a UAV.)

OpenPilot Revolution Trailer from OpenPilot on Vimeo.

I think that the UAV concept would be great for an after-school technology club. It similar to robotics, but it also would get the kids outdoors.   It would provide a great experience for students who are also interested in photography and videography. 

RELATED
OpenPilot Website
OpenPilot Wiki
YellowBird

Here are some examples of YellowBird 360 videos: 
Interactive YellowBird 360 Video for KIA ceed

Behind the Scenes - Mont Blanc 360º shoot from yellowBird on Vimeo.





YellowBird 360 Interaction with Kinect

yellowBird 360º video player - KINECT from yellowBird on Vimeo.

Interactive 360-degree video demo-reel from Yellowbird

A while ago I posted about the Yellowbird 6-lens 360 degree video camera, and promised I'd share some a Yellowbird video when I had a chance. As you watch the video, you can click and drag anywhere in the scene to get another view.

Enjoy!

Yellowbird Interactive 3D Showcase


RELATED
About Yellowbird
Yellowbird Newsletter
Yellowbird created a 360-degree interactive video tour for the Dutch Batavia Stad website, a fashion and style company. Some of the navigation is in "3-D", and at various points, the viewer can click on an icon to view a regular video-clip to obtain additional information.
Batavia Stad 360 Tour
Choose and Move Your Own POV (Point of View): Interactive 360-degree video of on-line performances from the MTV-U Woodie Awards

Yellowbird 6 lens 360 degree video camera creates web-based interactive 3-D videos

Update 6/4/10:   Take a look at the new Yellowbird 360 degree demo reel video on the following post: http://interactivemultimediatechnology.blogspot.com/2010/06/interactive-360-degree-video-demo-reel.html


Harry Brignull, who blogs at 90% of Everything, has an interesting video taken at what looks like an electronic music festival - "Ever wondered what it's like to be trapped in a crowd of 600,00 Dutch clubbers?"

THIS IS JUST THE PICTURE

You will need to visit Harry's blog to explore and pan around the video.

“By using a Google Streetview-like camera, a system with six lenses, not as a photo but as a video camera, an all-encompassing picture is captured. [...] From the point where the images were recorded, the viewer can look in any direction, let his eyes wander through the crowd, or stare at the ground or the air, which makes viewing a video an experience without boundaries.” - Yellow Bird press release

The Gear in Action

If I can find additional examples of Yellowbird videos, I will post them here. They are easy to work with a touch-screen. I bet these videos would be great on SmartBoards or other interactive displays.

By the way, Harry Brignull blogs about "Experience Design, User Research & Good Old Fashioned Usability"