[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh5L8HyK1ec[/youtube]
BEEP, beep, beep! And we鈥檙e off. I鈥檓 lifted into the air, vertically at first, then levelling off as a huge forward thrust kicks in. My stomach lurches as we hit 70 kilometres per hour on the approach to the first bend. Taking a tight line through the curve, we鈥檙e thrown into a hard left, turning on the spot. Then we鈥檙e into the next straight, accelerating again. But at 80 km/h, disaster strikes. Banking into another turn I鈥檓 suddenly spinning so fast I鈥檓 nauseous. The ground hurtles towards me. Everything goes black.
I take off the goggles. But this out-of-body experience was no virtual reality game. I鈥檓 in a damp field near Grantham, UK, riding shotgun with 32 pilots taking part in the first . They are flying radio-controlled multicopters 鈥� small drones with four, six or even eight rotors 鈥� fitted with cameras that beam video from the drone鈥檚 perspective directly to pilots鈥� and spectators鈥� headsets. The first-person view (FPV) creates the sensation of hurtling around the course in mid-air yourself.
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Until recently, FPV drone racing was little more than a niche hobby. But more and more people around the globe are getting involved 鈥� soon you鈥檒l even be seeing it on TV. Welcome to one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.
In Grantham, the pilots twist, jerk and grimace as their drones perform acrobatics. Their faces contort as they will their craft to go faster and squeeze through the smallest gap. They wince when they fail. 鈥淟eonardo da Vinci had a dream of flying,鈥� says Derek Callander, a racer from Scotland. 鈥淗e鈥檇 have been an FPV-er without a doubt.鈥�
It is hard to say exactly when FPV drone racing began, but I meet few pilots who have been flying for more than a year. Among the racers at the UK championship are engineers, product designers, software developers and a gravedigger. Only two are professional drone pilots. One flies drones for Cyberhawk, a company that carries out inspections of oil rigs. The other works for ImiTec, a University of Bristol spin-off that specialises in the detection of radiation in the environment.
What is clear is how quickly the sport has grown. Since the first organised event took place in the US last year, FPV drone racing has become a fully fledged sport, complete with sponsorship, leagues and international competition.
At the US championships in Sacramento, California, this summer, thousands of spectators watched 120 pilots compete in a stadium for a $25,000 prize. Many more watched the event live online and it was covered by TV stations such as CBS and Fox News.
The UK is feeling the buzz too. The country now has more racers and hosts more events than any other country in Europe, says Nigel Tomlinson, organiser of the UK championship. So far, this buzz has been spread by social media. Videos giving a drone鈥檚-eye view get a lot of attention. 鈥淚 saw it on YouTube and just wanted to do it,鈥� says 16-year-old UK competitor Luke Bannister.
Still, there are hurdles to overcome before drone racing really takes off on TV. For a start the feed from the drones can be poor quality. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like watching an old VHS video,鈥� says Daniel Rose, another UK racer. And with the drones about the size of a lunch box, filming them as they whizz around a course presents another challenge. But Scot Refsland, who organised the US championships is undeterred: 鈥淢ajor US broadcasters are interested in this and we are in discussions to look at the technical issues of filming a drone.鈥�
Back in Grantham, a crowd has gathered. Some wear goggles, others are glued to a large screen that shows feeds from each of the four drones racing side by side. 鈥淚 was curious to see what all the fuss was about,鈥� says one. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 half go fast.鈥�
After a day of racing, the top four pilots meet in the final. Not only is the UK championship title up for grabs, but the best three will qualify for the world finals in Hawaii next year.
Only one completes the course. The favourite, Bannister, crashes on the first lap and two others tumble out of the air soon after. James Bowles becomes the first UK champion. 鈥淲ho鈥檇 have thought 鈥� from your back garden to the world, and in such a short time,鈥� his friend cries. The same could be said of the sport. 鈥淚f this can happen in just eight months, imagine what can happen in five years,鈥� says Tomlinson.
(Images: Dave Stock)
Drone DIY
First-person view drone racing appeals to many people because it鈥檚 inexpensive, says UK champion James Bowles. 鈥淔PV is the first real high-performance competitive sport that is affordable enough for anyone to enter and win with a small budget.鈥�
You can buy a racing drone that鈥檚 ready to fly for around 拢150. But many prefer to put one together from scratch. This is more expensive, but lets you pick and choose the best components for your budget. As crashes are common, knowing a motor from a rotor will also help when it comes to making between-race repairs.
Racers also constantly tweak their craft to squeeze out every last drop of performance. For example, fitting stronger and lighter components, installing more powerful motors and upgrading to lithium polymer batteries will make your drone faster. A more rigid frame and stronger propellers will give better control. But racers will just as often have laptops open beside their toolbox. Tinkering with the settings in the drone鈥檚 flight control software to match its set-up and that day鈥檚 race conditions can put you on the podium.
At most events there are people around to help you fix or tune up your aircraft. The community of FPV enthusiasts is eager to share its technical know-how and you can often watch the fervent activity between sessions 鈥� with every inch of space turned into a workshop 鈥� to pick up tips.
If you want to get involved, it is best to join a local club. There are hundreds popping up around the world 鈥� check online for one near you.
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淔ast and furious鈥�
