With all the buzz in the skies over the personal drone industry the past couple of years, there is a heightened awareness of just what these small UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems), which are little more than automated/assisted remote flying cameras. The technology is evolving so quickly that what was shown at last year’s NAB is almost a factor of “5 dog years”! Here’s an idea of what to expect at this year’s NAB Show 2016!
NAB Show 2016 Aerial Robotics & Drone Pavilion
I’ve been lucky enough to be part of the original group of people to bring drone imaging and technology to NAB over the past few years, through conference sessions with Post Production World and remote off-site Field Workshops out in the Nelson Nevada Ghost Town (which is returning again this year – read below). Last year, with my partner Mannie Frances with Drone Media Group launched the first Aerial Robotics & Drone Pavilion in the upper South Hall at the NAB Show 2015 Expo. We had a 60×60′ flying demo cage and approximate 100 seat presentation area and in many sessions there were another 100 people standing all around the cage and seating areas. The curiosity and interest are huge. And now with so much more visibility in the video production industry, these flying camera drones are attracting serious buyers, and interested dealers/resellers, so the manufacturers are all competing for attention.
We have created a lot of special demo and educational content for this year’s Drone Cage schedule with nonstop action every day of the Expo. We’ll have presentations from industry professionals on topics from FAA regulations for commercial UAS to heavy lifter demos used in large TV and cine production to corporate aerial video and live broadcast TV journalism. We’ll also have some live battle drone demonstrations and flight demos from some of the drone racing leagues. Be sure to check out the Drone Cage schedule each day as some programming changes may occur.
Innovations in Aerial Videography panel
As part of the Post Production World conference, we’ve put together a great lineup of drone videography and imaging professionals who are actively working in the industry. In the Innovations in Aerial Videography panel on Wed. April 20, we’ll see some examples of some of their best productions and the technology used in commercial and industrial aerial video and imaging. Check out the schedule to register.
Aerial Videography Field Workshops
Learn to fly a drone or enhance your videography skills at the 3rd annual NAB 2016 Aerial Videography Field Workshops in the Nelson Nevada Ghost Town. It’s a great way to get hands-on instruction, improve your flying/shooting skills and get your questions answered in person by some of the top flight trainers in the country. You can even bring your own drone and get some help in understanding it better or how to improve on its performance. Whether you’re a beginner who has never touched the controls of a quadcopter or an experienced pilot who wants help getting better photos or video shots, or to learn more about flying commercially, then these live hands-on workshops are the perfect way to kick off your NAB Show 2016 experience!
For the 3rd straight year, Drone Media Group along with Future Media Concepts has been bringing these hands-on field trip workshops to the NAB Show as part of thePost|Production World Conference and are returning again to the Nelson Nevada Ghost Town, about an hour outside of Las Vegas. And I’m proud to have been part of managing this event and being a lead instructor each year.
Along with our sponsors for both days,Multicopter Warehouse (Beginner) andQuadrocopter.com (Advanced), we have an impressive group of instructors across the community:
- Andrew Baker – Drone Media Group
- Mannie Frances – Drone Media Group
- Jeff Foster – Sound Visions Media
- Ryan McMaster – Volant Productions
- Colin Smith – PhotoshopCAFE
- Brian Dodds – SkyJetty
- Chris Knight – SparkNet
- Daniel Herbert – SkyGear Solutions
- Terrence Williams – 3DR
- Mike Fortin – CineDrones
- Ross Robinson – 3DR
- Scott Strimple – CinemaAerial Visuals
Here are the two workshops, broken up into two days of “fun in the sun” – both a Beginner Flyers and Advanced Pilots workshop, anybody and everybody will have something to gain from attending these!
Aerial Videography Field Workshop – Beginner Flyers
Join us for a hands-on experience with an Aerial Videography Field Workshop to the picturesque desert landscapes surrounding the old mining town of Nelson, NV. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to fly a drone for the first time under the guidance of some of the top aerial videography instructors and seasoned drone pilots in the U.S. Our instructors can help you take to the skies with confidence, get those fabulous shots you’ve been trying to master, or give you one-on-one advice on how to get the most out of your hobby or commercial aerial production experience.
Registration includes: round-trip transportation from Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) to Nelson, NV, catered lunch, drinks, snacks and all the hands-on instruction.
You will need to arrive at LVCC at 8:00am. The group will meet in room N260. Don’t be late-the bus will depart immediately after orientation.
NOTE: Don’t forget this is the desert and it will be hot – even in April! Bring sunscreen, hats and cover up to avoid burning or becoming dehydrated.
SCHEDULE:
• 8:00am – Meet in room N260. (Don’t be late!)
• 9:00am – Transition to Bus.
• 9:15am – Bus Departs.
• 10:15am – Arrival at the Ghost Town.
• 10:30am – Welcome, Instructor/Sponsor demos. Break into small groups.
• 11:15am – Location overview. Outline for the day. Safety (cont.). Basic flight controls. Equipment check. Craft orientation.
• 12:15pm – Lunch Break.
• 1:15pm – Basic Flying techniques. Learning to focus. Aerial video basics.
• 2:15pm – Getting All the shots. (or as many as we can)
• 3:30pm – Free Fly. Q&A. Revisit experiences.
• 4:45pm – Sponsor closing demo with group “dronie” shot under water tower.
• 5:00pm – Board bus and return to Las Vegas. (snacks and beverages provided)
• 6:00pm – Arrive at the LVCC. (additional drop off locations on the Strip)
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THIS BEGINNERS WORKSHOP
Here’s a video from last year’s workshop from our return sponsor, Multicopter Warehouse, who will be bringing a variety of DJI and Yuneec multirotors to demo:
Aerial Videography Field Workshop – Advanced Flyers
Join us for a hands-on experience with the Aerial Videography Field Workshop taking place in the picturesque desert landscapes surrounding the old mining town of Nelson, NV. Participants will have the opportunity to enhance their skills as advanced pilots under the guidance of some of the top aerial videography instructors and seasoned drone pilots in the U.S. Our instructors can help you master drone flying and give you one-on-one advice on how to get the most out of your hobby or commercial aerial production experience.
Registration includes: round-trip transportation from Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) to Nelson, NV, catered lunch, drinks, snacks and all the hands-on instruction.
You will need to arrive at LVCC at 8:00am on both days. The group will meet in room N260. Don’t be late-the bus will depart immediately after orientation.
NOTE: Don’t forget this is the desert and it will be hot – even in April! Bring sunscreen, hats and cover up to avoid burning or becoming dehydrated.
SCHEDULE:
• 8:00am – Meet in room N260. (Don’t be late!)
• 9:00am – Transition to Bus.
• 9:15am – Bus Departs.
• 10:15am – Arrival in Nelson, Welcome, Instructor and Sponsor Intros.
• 10:30am – Cinema Copter two-person Crew Demo.
• 11:15am – Small Groups: safety discussion, equipment check, location setup for shoot, test flights.
• 12:15pm – Lunch Break.
• 1:15pm – Getting all shots. Tracking, elevator, parallax, yaw, and more.
• 2:45pm – Monitors and FPV Solutions.
• 3:15pm – Two-person crew experience with a cinema copter. (demos with different setups, then optional hands-on with gimbal controllers ONLY on designated craft with owner/pilot of craft at pilot controls)
• 3:15pm – Free Fly in designated areas. Q&A, one-on-one time with instructors.
• 4:45pm – Sponsor closing demo with group “dronie” shot under water tower.
• 5:00pm – Board bus and return to Las Vegas. (snacks and beverages provided)
• 6:00pm – Arrive at the LVCC. (additional drop off locations on the Strip
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THIS ADVANCED WORKSHOP
The Advanced Flyers day sponsor is Quadrocopter.com, bring the FreeFly Alta to demonstrate.
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