Drones that are flown with glasses and can move freely, as if they were stunt planes, have increased the interest, because of the unique images they achieve and also because consumers have lost their fear of them.

The revolution of commercial drones, devices that until 10 years ago did not exist for mass consumption but were limited to the military world, has different faces. The best known and most developed is that of video and photography-oriented drones, whether for amateurs or professionals. It is what allows today, for the same price of a good smartphone, anyone to have a drone and fly it remotely for several km, obtaining stable and quality images. And all in a relatively safe way, thanks to how much they have developed in terms of sensors and the same “intelligence” of the device.

They began closely associated with the drone racing circuit (people who compete in distance, speed or skill tests) and also with mechanics, to assemble it yourself at will, in parts, sometimes from scratch: drone, motor, camera, wings. , glasses, and decide the component that one wants according to need and budget.

Also to repair them, something that is daily bread because, being drones without sensors or anything that limits them too much or prevents them from flying freely and recklessly, they often fall or crash.

One is simply the increased demand for more dramatic and spectacular video that only these drones can achieve: first-person perspective video that floats and moves freely, like a bird or a sophisticated stunt plane (albeit at a fraction of the cost and associated risks).

For example, many of the videos that went viral this year of Iceland’s famous volcano erupting were recorded with FPV drones. That level of vertigo and drama in the images simply cannot be achieved with a conventional drone.

Says that there is more and more demand from audiovisual production companies for these vertiginous shots that only these drones can achieve. . Sometimes they can be free fall shots in some outdoor setting; others, intrepid images in the aisle of a supermarket.

His story is testimony to how this market has grown. Until a year ago he was an engineering professor at an institute, but his expertise in FPV drones, of more than seven years flying constantly, led him to quit his job and now dedicate himself fully to videos, setting up a company with a partner.

And having the confidence you can start flying anywhere”, he adds.

The usual thing is to mount a GoPro camera on FPV drones, but the demand from production companies is such that, says Rojas, he and his partner are entering the category of FPV drones known as “cinelifter”, drones that are robust enough to holding a movie camera.

Now, although these drones require dedication and carry risks, not everything is as complex as in the professional world. There are FPV drones that come already armed or semi-armed that are good to start with, such as those of the Emax brand, which are ordered or brought by some stores. Or there are even those who start with simulators before arming themselves and flying an FPV. They buy a special controller, similar to that of a video game, connect it to a computer and practice with software such as Velocidrone or The Drone Racing League.

Rojas recommends stores like Helifilms Store, FPVZone, MadFPV and TomateFPV, the latter being the store of one of the most successful local pilots, who is barely 15 years old.

A giant enters the race

Today the most direct and reliable way for many to enter this topic is simply to buy the DJI FPV drone, a product launched in March and one of the great technological innovations of this year.

The Chinese company (virtually synonymous with drones) launched the DJI FPV in March, marking its entry into this field. It is a first person drone that comes ready to go and use, without the need to assemble or add anything. And it complies with the FPV spirit of images with vertigo, and also maintains many of the security protocols that the company’s drones usually have, to prevent someone not experienced from destroying the device for not knowing how to handle it well (which would not be any fun , since the simplest pack costs about one million two hundred thousand).

For the most purists, this is considered a hybrid FPV, halfway and recommended for someone who wants to start and gain confidence. But it has been one of the most commented products this year by photographers or videographers who had a traditional drone, but it was never in their plans to enter the FPV world, because it was something too complex and laborious.

The first from DJI that, in the style of FPV culture, is flown using glasses instead of a screen, similar to the that are used in virtual reality devices— “initially people who wanted to feel themselves flying, who wanted to climb a step, people who already had a Mavic Mini 2 or an Air 2, and who wanted to live another kind of experience.”

They like it because you don’t have to arrive and handle it in the freest format of all, but rather you can fly a little assisted and it even has a built-in simulator,” he summarizes.