JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 103
so the sport could come out in the
open. The Defence Force also came
on board, offering what Brown said
is invaluable development support
for the sport. He and association past
president Mark Cocquio produced
a video of the Army’s quads that has
been viewed by many online.
The Australian Army team
participated in national events Brown
organised in 2016 and 2017 on the
Gold Coast. In the first year 57 pilots
competed and in 2017 there were
around 70.
There are other Australian events
such as the six-race series established
in 2015.
By its nature, drone racing, like
motor-racing, is a male dominated
sport though Brown says there are
two or three women in the world who
are active on the racing circuits. But
overwhelmingly it appeals mostly to
young men who are tech-savvy.
An entry level cost for a ready-to-fly
quad and goggles is less than $500.
At the top end prices can range
from $1,000 to $1,500 for a quad and
$700 for high-quality goggles.
An Israeli company is leading the
charge on digital, high definition
goggles with downlinks that cost
between $700-$1,000. But there are
still some hoops to jump through,
Brown said.
That’s because goggles are still
largely operated through analogue
transmitters. Quality will break up and
there is static and ghosting around
trees, but when an analogue link
breaks up it will still leave an image
whereas when digital drops the screen
goes completely black.With quads flying through gates at
between 60-120km/h and courses set
on average for travel at 80km an hour,
a blackout can spell the end or severe
damage to a machine, though with
their carbon fibre bodies and flexible
propellers they are becoming more
durable.
Signals are sent to the goggles via
a 5.8-gigahertz frequency with zero
latency as there is no room for delays
in video transmission.
“Even if you hit the ground you
would have to replace propellers (there
are four on each corner of the drone)
but they cost only $5 each to replace,”
said Brown.
“You would have to slam into a tree
trunk or concrete floor to break the
carbon fibre body.”
Some have been known to reach
200km/h on straight stretches so
buffer zones between spectators, pilots
and the craft are imperative.
“Crashing is part of the learning,”
said Brown.
“Even after several years of crashing
you are not learning if you don’t push
yourself to the next level.
“It’s much like racing a car in a
computer game or simulator. You
push left or right on the stick through
learned behaviour and memory.”
But in this case any viewer can tune
in and watch using their own goggles
or on a big screen.
There is talk of drone racing
advancing by the end of the decade to
a level where the racers will actually
feel like they are flying in the drones,
but with virtual effects superimposed
over real terrain adding to the
craziness of it all. It’s already got the
addicts salivating.The Army has been an
enthusiastic support of the
Australian Drone Nationals.
DARREN MOOREChad Nowak winning the
2016 US champs.All smiles at the end of
the 2017 Australian Drone
Nationals.DARREN MOORE