Het is bijna zover de world drone prix gaat over een week van start en sommige piloten zijn al in Dubai aangekomen!
Technische problemen
Toch is het niet allemaal koek en ei, zo heeft de organisatie op het laatste moment de technische specificaties vrij gegeven van het te gebruiken HD Camera systeem tijdens de reis. Dit systeem weegt bijna 200 gram (wat erg veel is op een copter die normaal rond de 400 gram weegt) en omdat de meeste piloten een video zender gebruiken welke gefilterde 5v output heeft en het te gebruiken systeem heeft dit niet. Dit levert veel problemen op voor de deelnemende piloten. Zo zullen ze moeten gaan schuiven met bijv. lipos om de balans en gewicht goed te houden. Dit kan problemen geven in de pitstop technieken die men heeft geoefend. Ook moeten ze last minute aan een gefilterde 5volt bec zien te komen.
Hierdoor zijn er piloten, zoals Chad Nowak, die het misschien niet gaan redden, veel piloten hebben gewoon een dagelijkse baan en hebben niet de tijd over om dit soort dingen 1 week voor de start van een wedstrijd aan te passen.
Charpu mist waarschijnlijk de wedstrijd
De welbekende drone race piloot Charpu mist waarschijnlijk de wedstrijd door problemen met zijn werk visa en de benodigde stempel om naar het buitenland en terug te reizen. Deze kan hij waarschijnlijk niet op tijd krijgen. Zonde want dit is een van de beste ter wereld van dit moment!
Drone Racetrack
De WDR pakt wel goed uit met hun racetrack een compleet nieuwe insteek dan wat we voorheen hebben gezien bij andere drone race wedstrijden. Het wordt een zeer lange, hoog gelegen, track van ongeveer 7km en met een vliegduur van +- 5 minuten. Dit betekend dat er sowieso pitstops gehouden moeten worden om de batterij te wisselen. Niet makkelijk aangezien piloten hun cams vaak in een hoek van 35 graden monteren en bij het lamden dus alleen de mooie lucht van Dubai kunnen aanschouwen.
De track heeft een ‘shortcut lane’ waar piloten 1 maal per race gebruik van kunnen maken, ook is er een kronkelige ‘joker lane’ die de piloten minstens 1 maal moeten volgen. Dit maakt deze track tot de meest bijzondere die we tot nu toe hebben gezien.
Spectaculaire intro video
Zoals het de mensen uit Dubai betaamd wordt er kosten nog moeite gespaard wat betreft de marketing om het event heen, waar je in de volgende een goed voorbeeld van ziet:
Nederlandse teams
De twee Nederlandse teams teams hebben bevestigd dat ze ons op de hoogte gaan houden van hun belevenissen in Dubai, dus je leest hier binnenkort meer over!
WDP FAQ met de regels van de wedstrijd
Op de facebook pagina van de World drone prixe heeft de wedstrijdleiding de volgende regels zojuist vrij gegeven:
FAQ Technical Questions
Q: Can we fly around Dubai?
A: No. It is illegal. You could be arrested, possibly imprisoned, and of course disqualified from the race.
Q: But we’ve seen footage of people flying up the Burj Khalifa?!
A: If you are not caught by police, and we catch you flying illegally, we will disqualify you immediately. Please don’t do it. It’s not worth it.
Q: Please explain the Freestyle contest?
A: There is Indoor qualifying, You will be given equal amounts of time. You must have an HD camera like a go-pro 4 or session 4 and record in 1080p 60fps or one will be provided to you.
Those that make it past the Qualifiers, will compete during the finals. There will be a section of time allotted for all the final freestyle competitors.
Q: I pre-Qualified as a pilot for the race, Can I enter the freestyle competition?
A: Unfortunately Not, only the people who signed up as a freestyle pilot online may compete in the freestyle competition.
Q: What type of gear is required for the freestyle Competition?
A: You are only required to have an HD camera that can record 1080p 60fps.
Q: How will freestyle be judged?
A: By judges and crowd based on the criteria listed in the original online application (no longer online) which is 1. Level of flight control, 2. Level of Entertainment, 3. Agility and Maneuverability, 4. Variety of Tricks performed, 5. Difficulty of Tricks performed.
Q: Do we have to use the same drone for racing and for freestyle?
A: No
Q: Do we have to use the same drone for Qualifiers and the Race?
A: No, but they must both be able to carry the HD Box.
Q: If I make it to the final 32, Do I have to use the same drone for each elimination round?
A: Yes. And you can have one exact replica to use only if approved by WORD.
Q: What will the indoor qualifying track be like?
A: The building is 50m x 30m, there will be 1 level change and 6-8 turns. Gates will have a minimum size of 2x2m.
Q: What type of gear is given to us for the Qualifiers?
A: We are providing 2 things, 1. A Go-Pro Box 2. RFID
1. We are providing a Go-Pro that will be the same size and weight as the HD box for the final race (has added dummy weight). You will only need to attach it somehow. (Velcro) Self powered.
2. Radio Frequency Identification Devise. It will be attached to bottom of craft by sticky tape. It weighs 17grams, and it’s 36x40x9mm. Self powered.
Q: What type of power will those require during the qualifier?
A. No power requirements from us on the indoor qualifier Race.
Q: What type of FPV camera is the WDP providing?
A. None. You must use your own FPV camera for the entire event.
Q: What type of VTX is the WDP providing?
A. 1.For the qualifier, you provide your own.
2.For the Final race we will provide you with the Team Black Sheep Unified Pro 5G8 http://team-blacksheep.com/products/prod:unify_pro
your technician will have to install before final race. Your FPV camera can be powered from it.
Q: What Radio control frequencies can I use?
A: For Qualifiers, you can use 2.4GHz, 900MHz, or 433MHz.
For Practice and Finals you may only use 900MHz or 433MHz.
********Please note we highly recommend installing the 900MHz and 433MHz system and updating all firmware before coming.****************
Q: What gear are you providing for the Race of 32 pilots?
A: You will be given 2 things an “HD Box”, and VTX.
1. HD Box, This system will only be used for the Race of 32 pilots. The box must be mounted flat on top of the drone with nothing above it. It cannot be on its side or vertical. It can be tilted. The camera is adjustable from 0-45° and must not have any obstructions. It will operating at 2.4 GHz and will be the following specs:
• <200 grams • 10W power consumption• XT-60 connector(Female) • 95X61X25mm
2.For the Final race we will provide you with the Team Black Sheep Unified Pro 5G8 http://team-blacksheep.com/products/prod:unify_pro
your technician will have to install before final race. Your FPV camera can be powered from it.
Q: What will our navigator use to see the race?
A: You will provide your own goggles or video screen.
Q: How will you prevent pilots from losing signal when other people are powering up?
A: During qualifiers, you are given build time then not allowed to touch drones while others are flying.
During the Race of 32 You are not able to power down during the race so you must do a “hot swap” and plug into the WDP House power base station in order to change the battery. This House power will be located in each pit stop.
The hot swap will be a harness which goes between the battery and the drone with an extra connector that will plug into house power to allow the drone to stay powered, after your team has qualified for the final race your technician will be provided a diagram and connectors necessary to build this harness.
Q: How much flying will we get to do?
A: Each pilot will get a chance to fly the qualifying track during the first 2 days March 7-8, then the final 32 teams will Practice on the 9th and 10th, Race of 32 on March 11th, Final 16 on March 12th.
Q: Will we have a chance to fly the track after the competition?
A: Unfortunately no, we must begin taking it down right away.
Q: Can we use HV batteries?
A: As long as the batteries comply by the regulation of 4s 75c Discharge lipo.
Q: Will props be provided?
A: No
Q: Will batteries be provided?
A: No
Q: Will there be soldering stations?
A: Yes, there will be a few stations and plenty of power supply but it’s best to bring your own.
Q: What is the schedule?
A: The detailed schedule will be distributed when the pilots arrive at 9am on March 7th. At SkyDive Dubai at the Marina. (They have a desert location so don’t go there by mistake)
Q: How do we get there?
A: How ever you like. Taxi’s and Uber are great but there are also busses and trains here.
Q: What should we wear?
A:Feel free to wear what you like, as long as it is not offensive you should be ok.
Q: In the event of a crash will we have another chance to go again?
A: No. Except for during the first qualifier you have 5 min. to get your best lap time so if you crash you can retrieve it and fix it and fly only with in that allotted 5 min.
Q: How many Batteries can I bring?
A: Most international airlines allow up to 20 Lipo Batteries that are under 100 MwH each. However, please check with your airline because not all airlines allow this i.e. Delta Airlines.
If you have more technical questions please direct them to tech@worlddroneprix.com.
If you have questions about airline tickets or hotels please direct them to Hospitality@worlddroneprix.com
Thank you!!!
-World Drone Prix Tech Team
