T3 India

Drones

Leica M11-P hits markets

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The Leica M11-P is a special version of the company’s flagship M11 rangefinder. The highlight is the “P” a unique and special chip that can add ‘Content Credentials’ metadata to each photo, which can be verified by Adobe’s Content Authenticity Initiative. Basically, it can prove if the photo has been edited or altered in any way.

Leica claims that this is the world’s first camera with Content Credentials. Expanding the frontiers of authentic storytelling. The Leica M11-P is the first camera to seamlessly integrate content authentication according to the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) and the C2PA standard. A ground-breaking opportunity to verify moments in time, taking responsibility for the provenance of a moment – ensuring that every photo you take stands as a hallmark of credibility, integrity, and innovation in the ever-evolving world of photography

Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet hit markets

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Dyson unveils its latest air purification technology, designed to purify the air in spaces as large as 1000 sq.ft. Controlling the air we breathe is crucial to our health and well-being. Outdoor pollutants can enter our indoor spaces and react with indoor pollutants, creating a complex mixture of dirty air – at times, causing indoor air to be more polluted than outdoor air.

The Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet uses Cone Aerodynamics to deliver 10-meter projection. Alongside powerful projection, the Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet is also engineered to operate quietly, producing just 56 decibels of noise – making it Dyson’s quietest yet most powerful purifier.

“Poor Indoor air quality is a much-ignored, growing issue. Our home environments can be filled with particle and gas pollution, be it pollen, pet dander, NO2, CO2, VOCs from cleaning products and more. Each of these particles can contribute to an unhealthy environment, causing potential health concerns. The Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet is our first purifier specifically engineered to purify properly in spaces up to 1076 sq.ft. It blends highly effective filtration and powerful projection, to automatically respond to imperceptible pollution events. With new Cone Aerodynamics to project purified air over 10 meters, the Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet can reach every corner of your living space.” – Matt Jennings, Dyson Engineering Director – Environmental Care

New Cone Aerodynamics: 10-metre powerful projection

The Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet represents a step-change in air purification, as Dyson engineers address the problems with weak airflow projection in large rooms. Conventional large-format purifiers typically diffuse air upwards or have weak projection which reduces their ability to achieve a thorough large-room clean. To achieve better, they developed a new energy-efficient, low-pressure air delivery system: Cone Aerodynamics.

Cone Aerodynamics uses the Coanda effect to merge two streams of air over a smooth surface, resulting in a powerful and condensed jet of air that can be projected of more than 10 meters, with minimal noise. It delivers more than double the airflow of the previous generation Dyson Purifiers. Powerful projection is critical to ensure that the machine effectively delivers clean air to every corner and displaces dirty air back towards the filter. The Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet projects purified air at angles of 0o, 25 o or 50 o depending on user preference.  

Fully sealed filtration

The Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet is engineered to clean the air continuously, even in large spaces. Some common sources of indoor air pollution include tobacco smoke, household cleaning products, building materials, and outdoor air pollution that enters the home. These sources can emit pollutants such as VOCs, NO2 and ozone. The machine has improved filtration to capture these harmful pollutants – featuring a fully sealed filtration system to HEPA H-13, ensuring purified air is projected back into the room and the pollutants stays in the filter.

  1. The HEPA H13-grade particle filter is made of 21 meters of borosilicate microfibres pleated 459 times (making it 3.8x larger than predecessors and the equivalent area of 2 king-size beds or 127 pieces of A4 paper). It captures 99.95% of particle pollutants, including dust and allergens as small as 0.1 microns, and lasts up to two years.
  2. The Carbon filter combats NO2 specifically, which can be emitted from activities like cooking or entering the home from outdoor sources, like nearby road traffic. It also captures benzene and household odours.

Sensing and monitoring

The Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet comes with a suite of integrated sensors monitoring particle and gas levels, allowing owners to monitor indoor air quality through the live results on the LCD screen and in the MyDysonTM app. The sensors are also embedded with a unique Dyson algorithm which cross-checks data every second, analysing the air and automatically reacting to environmental changes to purify. The MyDysonTM app also acts as a remote control, even when you’re not at home, or can be used to schedule and monitor purification.

Availability

Priced at INR 68,900, the Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet is available at Dyson.in and Dyson Demo stores in White + Satin Silver colourway.

The rise and rise of the ‘Cinewhoops’

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Breaking the barriers of aerial cinematography with tiny drones

A tiny drone flies through a neighbourhood in Los Angeles, zips through precarious gaps of an archway, over houses, in between palm trees, through a small gymnastic ring to eventually reveal a glorious sunset over a California beach – all in one fluid aerial shot. This award-winning video ‘Muscle Up’ was shot by American drone pilot and video effects specialist Robert McIntosh back in 2017, not a fancy stabilised drone, but a tiny ‘whoop drone’ mounted with a zip-tied de-cased GoPro Hero 4 and a LiPo battery. The best part? It weighed just 120g and Robert built this drone himself. 

This marked the beginning of the trend of the Cinewhoops, allowing drone pilots and cinematographers to capture stunning visuals that are otherwise impossible with the likes of a stabilised drone like the DJI Mavic Mini or Spark.

In the last eighteen months globally, Cinewhoops have been gaining immense popularity among drone enthusiasts. These tiny drones, especially those weighing less than 250g, are stretching the creative possibilities of aerial videography, content creation, and professional aerial cinematography. 

We caught up with some of the biggest names in the international FPV circuit and budding professional Indian FPV cinematographers who emphasised how Cinewhoop use is growing exponentially and punching way above its weight.

So, what’s a Cinewhoop and why it’s taking off?

A Cinewhoop traditionally is a type of a First Person View (FPV) drone used for capturing stable cinematic video footage in locations otherwise difficult to shoot and nimble enough to manoeuvre closer to the subject at slow and high speeds. They are much smaller, around 2-3 inches in size, and come equipped with propeller ducts, an HD or a 4K camera, and can be custom built by a user. Some can weigh up to 500g depending on the type of camera mounted atop. It gets its name from ‘whoop’ aka ‘Tiny whoop’ drones.

The concept of a Cinewhoop was pioneered and made popular by Robert McIntosh, whose video ‘Muscle up’ won him awards at GoPro and the New York City drone film festival back in 2017.

Cinewhoop vs Stabilised drone

Stabilised drones from established manufacturers like DJI, Autel or Parrot are built to be autonomous, which means these drones can hover in the same place without requiring any command from the radio controller. They come with several sensors and have capabilities such as GPS, high-resolution gimbal cameras and you can connect your mobile device to view the live feed from the camera. In a larger perspective, they have their own use case to shoot pictures and videos but the shooting flexibility is very limited with standard types of shots. Moreover, it is not advisable to fly these drones indoors. In the event of a crash, repairing these drones is expensive and they’re not designed to be repaired by the user. 

Cinewhoops, on the other hand, offer creative freedom from an aerial perspective that stabilised drones cannot. You have an FPV view through your drone’s camera via FPV goggles giving you the feeling of sitting inside the cockpit of the drone. Unlike stabilised drones, with Cinewhoops you can fly freely in the air, dive, roll, flip or even rip down mountains, buildings and tracks, pass-through windows, fly under tables, and through the tightest of gaps. The agility of the Cinewhoop and fluidity of the movement is unmatched. They are made to fly indoors and outdoors and are perfectly safe to fly at home and around people.

Andrea Zega

Andrea Zega aka Rimzler, a 23-year-old Italian Cinewhoop enthusiast and a notable aerial cinematographer tinkering with drones since 2013 says that Cinewhoops are perfect to create fluid shots. He along with his friend Bruno Sisti part of the Insta360 team has worked on the first custom sub-250g drone capable of shooting full 360 unobstructed video footage. “Cinewhoops just like the bigger FPV brothers have a very distinct way of flying, creating a smooth rollercoaster-like point of view, they are perfect for creating long takes and movements are fluid, compared to commercial drones (DJI) that move in a more linear kind of way, another advantage of Micro Cinewhoops is that they are super agile and safe, you can fly indoors and hit all the gaps, something that is impossible with standard solutions,” he says. 

Rimzlers Instagram handle (@rimzler) brims with footage shooting in narrow and precarious places such as churches, shops, towns, gyms, factories, offices, and around people.

Benoit Finck aka Fincky, one of the biggest names in aerial cinematography, has shot for brands like Oakley, Adidas, covered the Drift Masters European Championship and has even shot music videos. Having toured the world capturing breathtaking and immersive aerial experiences on his Cinewhoop, Fincky is betting big on the Cinewhoop trend, which he says is here to stay. 

Benoit Finck

“I use a Cinewhoop when I have to fly pretty fast around people on foot, skateboarding, or even biking, or when I need to go through extremely small gaps. The Cinewhoop trend is definitely here to stay as it brings a really different perspective to the table. You can fly them in places you can’t fly bigger drones, the experience is unique. For sub-250g Cinewhoops to record 1080p or 4K footage, you’d require a very small camera like the Insta360 Go, or a de-cased GoPro. The brands I have worked with have been initially sceptical and prefer cinema-grade cameras, but are immediately convinced once they see the footage I’ve shot with the Cinewhoop,” he says.

One major reason why Cinewhoops have become so popular is that they are smaller, extremely agile and a majority of them weigh below 250g offering you the flexibility to record HD to UHD seamless video footage. Until last year, users didn’t have too many custom drone options to record cinematic or 4K footage while staying under the threshold of 250g. 

Since May 2019, many famous custom drone companies like Eachine, BetaFPV, iFlight, Flywoo are offering RTF Cinewhoops (Ready-to-Fly) where the entire kit to get you started which includes the drone, FPV gear, a radio controller and LiPo battery, and BNF Cinewhoops (Bind-N-Fly) where only the drone is on offer and you can use a receiver of your choice and bind it to your existing radio controller.

Kim Tang

In fact, Kim Tang, a professional drone builder (sub-250g) and cinematographer based in Hong Kong has been building and selling BNF/RTF sub-250g Cinewhoops with de-cased GoPros Hero 6, 7 & 8 since June 2020. Kim has sold over 160 units of Cinewhoops priced between $550-$750 with buyers mostly in the USA and is confident that the nature of this trend will only increase. “Who knows, in 2021 we may see de-cased Blackmagic (industry-grade video cameras) designs on whoops.” quips Kim jokingly.

Worth the weight

Since the weight of the Cinewhoops ideally is categorised under the Nano class of drones (under 250 grams), In India, they are exempted from registering the drone with the aviation regulator DGCA, and you wouldn’t require an Unmanned Aerial Operator Permit (UAOP) to fly it either. However, you will require necessary local permissions and inform the authorities if you fly over public property or sensitive locations.

India and the case of Cinewhoops

The trend has feverishly latched on, albeit late amongst hobbyists and professional cinematographers in India. Commercially, a few brands and OTT platforms have ventured hesitantly to explore the opportunity, but are yet to fully understand the full potential of utilising FPV to drive their marketing and advertising collateral as against global counterparts. The reason behind this is the idea of Cinewhoops and FPV is still fairly new and raw to production and advertising firms to inculcate over the existing aerial solutions. Also, there is not enough of a skilled pool of FPV pilots in India just yet. 

Piyush Parmar, an Aerial Cinematographer & FPV Pilot at Orbiter Films says that the popularity of Cinewhoops has been growing in India with more and more people getting into the hobby of FPV. He credits the surge in interest to the video reels of JohnnyFPV, NurkFPV, and others on YouTube that have made the prospect of FPV cinematic flying exhilarating and fun.

Piyush Parmar

“I can safely say I’ve been the first to introduce the usage of FPV drones in the Indian Film Industry. I’ve used Cinewhoops to shoot professional ads for brands such as Skechers, along with a few Bollywood projects in the pipeline. 

Mihir Bhatt, a DOP and aerial cinematographer in the Indian film industry, recently incorporated FPV in a real estate shoot and for a web series for ALTBalaji using a Cinewhoop he built in early 2020. 

Mihir Bhatt

“The FPV market is lucrative and is clearly pegged to grow but maintenance and reparability of these whoops can be daunting for a lot of new FPV fliers. What makes it more interesting is that you can start from the widest frame and go into the smallest of gaps in the same shot. That is something the current commercial drones available in the market cannot do,” Mihir says.

Delayed take off

Despite looking like a promising market, the cost, maintenance and repairability of these whoops can be daunting for a lot of new FPV fliers. A common underlying challenge for FPV fliers in India is the availability and sourcing of parts/hardware at retail cost. 

“While education remains the biggest challenge in India with respect to the growth of the market for Cinewhoops, availability and pricing of spare parts to build and repair is also a pain point that can deter new users in this hobby,” Piyush says. 

From a commercial standpoint, Mihir says that the Cinewhoop market will evolve when there is awareness about the strengths and limitations of the equipment. “People who want to pursue this hobby commercially need to be patient and hone their skill set,” he adds.

Currently, there are only a handful of vendors and P2P sellers in India that are selling FPV/drone related supplies. But they do not provide adequate after-sale service, which can be a deal-breaker for many. Ordering the same products from international websites may attract heavy customs duty, sometimes even resulting in confiscation. It is more like a hit and miss with a wait time of 15-50 days dampening your progress of building a drone along with your enthusiasm till you receive the parts.

Kim Tang too sees India as a huge market and has even sold a few units to customers in the country. However, he says that owing to the cost of the Cinewhoops, and high customs duties levied in India, Indian buyers are not confident of ordering FPV equipment from overseas.

On the bright side, the situation could get better in the near future as the government formalises norms and the law around operating drones in the country. 

Cost and Where to Buy

A Cinewhoop built on an analogue system will cost you approximately ₹11,000-₹15,000, while a Cinewhoop on a digital system like DJI will put you back by about ₹25,000-₹30,000.

In addition, with a complete FPV kit, for people getting into the hobby, the analogue will cost approximately ₹30,000-₹40,000 and for a digital FPV system like DJI would be ₹70,000 and upwards.

Currently in India, you can buy Cinewhoops or parts to build one on websites like rcmumbai.com, tujorc.com, and quadkopters.com.

This article was originally published in the December edition of T3 India. Subscribe here.

Special Feature: Quad Up!

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Here at T3, we know you’re as savvy as us but despite an exciting space, drones are often restricted to few products and companies. This month’s special feature focuses on how consumer drones came to be as well as things to note if you’re looking to pick one up as a hobby or a profession.

CONCEPT OF DRONES
Drones, which often paint the picture of a flying object capable of capturing images and videos, have been in existence since the early 1900s. Since their inception, they were used by the military for surveillance and to keep a check on the enemy across international borders. With its evolution over the course of the century, these aerial vehicles have formed a critical part of every country’s military alliance.

BIRTH OF CONSUMER DRONE TECHNOLOGY
However, it was not until the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2010 that this winged technology tilted towards the consumer space. Drones also commonly known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or Quadcopters were about to hit that springboard of consumer’s imagination. Parrot, a French company first showcased its ‘AR Drone’ that had a camera on the front and back and could be controlled by an iOS device.

Fast forward to 2013, Dà-Jiāng Innovations Science and Technology Co. Ltd (DJI) introduced the Phantom, a drone that could capture images and fly to and fro with the touch of a button. A well-programmed piece of technology etched DJI’s name in every person’s mind who could fathom remote-controlled aerial technology.

DRONE AS AN EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY
From filmmaking, real estate, mining, photography, agriculture, property management, thermal mapping to critical missions like search and rescue operations, drones are becoming an integral part of the operation of various sectors. Why drones though? Because navigating for these purposes each time using planes or copters is not only expensive, it’s dangerous as well in comparison to using drones.

Aerial photography is a ‘fad’ that is rapidly picking up amongst enthusiasts. There are several brands that manufacture drones such as GoPro, Autel robotics, Swellpro, Parrot, Yuneec and DJI. DJI has cemented its position as the industry leader with Yuneec competing closely. So if you are looking to buy a drone for aerial photography, there is no second guess that it has to be a DJI drone. While the prices of these drones in India shoot up with the type of drone you want to buy, these are affordable if purchased abroad. But the caveat of purchasing them from international countries are issues such as heavy import duty or even confiscation by the customs department.

WHAT TYPE OF DRONE SUITS YOU?
If you are someone who is intrigued by these flying objects and intends to take a crack at this for the first time, buying smaller quadcopters and mastering the art of flight is the right way to go. The fundamental learning here is the same as when purchasing a car or a bike.

The ‘Tello’ launched by DJI and a Shenzhen startup Ryze Tech costs $99 (approx. ₹6500) could be your starting point to hop on the bandwagon. There are much cheaper drones available online and offline starting from around ₹1,000.

DJI, in the last couple of years, has launched the Mavic Pro & Platinum, Spark and only but recently, the Mavic Air. These drones, except for the Spark, shoot at 4k 60fps and 30fps respectively, are ultra-portable and could fit in your bag and pack a hefty punch when compared to their Phantom siblings.

The Mavic series and Spark can really (and does) fulfill an enthusiast photographer’s needs. But if those don’t satiate your pixel hungry imagination, move over to the Prosumer drones, the DJI Phantom series. These drones are built for aerial photography. Big, white (most of them) and bulky. You would’ve sighted these at weddings recently or at outdoor events.

You have the Phantom 3 SE which is more of a beginner drone, the Phantom 4 and then the Phantom 4 Pro. The Phantom 4 Pro drone is one of the best Prosumer Drones in aerial photography by DJI so far. Boasting a 20MP, 1-inch CMOS camera sensor and 5-way obstacle avoidance make it impossible to crash unless you are really delinquent.

WHERE TO BUY?
For cheaper drones, you can look up Amazon.in, toy stores or places like Lamington Road in Mumbai. There are plenty of offline retailers as well who sell DJI and other branded drones.

DRONE REGULATIONS IN INDIA

Is it illegal to fly drones in India? Technically yes, until DGCA puts policies in place for consumer drones. However, based on the recent draft released by the DGCA on November 1, 2017, they are working on policies to legalise flying of drones in India.

Drones are divided into 5 categories depending on their weight. Nano (less than or equal to 250g), Micro (greater than 250g and less than or equal to 2kg), Mini (greater than 2kg and less than or equal to 25kg), Small (greater than 25kg and less than or equal to 150kg), Large (greater than 150 kg).

Is there a license to fly these things? Yes, it is called an ‘Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit’ (UAOP) with a validity of 5 years from the date of issue. To obtain one of these, you will first need to register your drone for a Unique Identification Number (UIN) which is the equivalent of vehicle number plates. Nano and Micro Drones won’t require a UIN or UAOP if you fly below 200ft but you need to obtain permission from the local police before flying.

Here’s a handy guide based on the current draft.

DO’s

– You must be at least 18 years old and a resident of India
– All drones must be equipped with a license plate identifying the operator, and how to contact them
– Drones should have valid and substantial insurance for the drone in case of accidents.

DONT’s
– Do not fly a drone within a 5km radius of airports or in areas where aircrafts operate
– Do not fly within 50 km from international border which includes Line of Control (LoC), Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL)
– Eco-sensitive zones around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries notified by Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change without prior permission
– Within 5 km radius from Vijay Chowk in Delhi.
– Within 500m from the perimeter of strategic locations notified by Ministry of Home Affairs
– Within 500m from the perimeter of military installations/ facilities

This special feature first appeared in the April issue of T3 India. To subscribe, click here.