It may be a post-lockdown wish for freedom as a bird, but FPV (First Person View) drones are having their moment. In the past two years, we've seen several FPV videos go viral, from bowling alley flyovers (opens in a new tab) to Angel Falls dives (opens in a new tab) been this week's amazing tour of the Tesla Gigafactory in Berlin.
FPV drones are known for their agility, but what sets Tesla Video apart from other recent hits is its genuine sense of danger. During the three-minute video (below), you pass through the "Giga Press" machines and experience a true sensation of flight in a living, breathing factory.
So how exactly do you create a video like this? We caught up with its creator, Ferdinand Wolf, to find out what went into creating this falcon-shaped tour of Tesla's sci-fi facility, Giga Berlin.
Naturally, you need FPV and black belt editing skills to pull off some of these moves, something Ferdinand Wolf has gained in his roles in aerial filmmakers Skynamic and DJI drone king. But we also asked him how he got his FPV badges and how you can start your own FPV journey.
Return to factory settings
The complexity of the Tesla Giga Factory video gave us glimpses of elaborately constructed model replicas, like Dr. Emmett Brown's plywood town square in Back to the Future, and towers of risk assessment forms. But the reality was actually much simpler.
"We had a day of reconnaissance, we checked the various locations and we already did some test flights," explains Ferdinand Wolf.
"On location, we then planned the shots instead of running and gunning, which was only possible because of the amazing support from everyone at Tesla Gigafactory. Everyone was very supportive and tried to help us as much as possible to get our shots." he adds.
Naturally, extensive research was needed before any shots were attempted on the Terminator-style hydraulic presses.
"Because some of these shots had never been done before, like flying through the Giga press and stamping machine, we had to figure out how the machines work and where we can fly without risking the machines and drones," he explains.
So which drones have put their lives on the line in the name of amazing FPV footage? Ferdinand Wolf used two types of drones; one for videos of the interior and another for shots of the exterior of the installation.
Inside the Giga Factory, a small and nimble setup was needed, so it was filmed using a drone called the "Cinewhoop" with 2,5-inch propellers. Cinewhoop drones are a subset of FPV drones that are small, stable, and ideal for shooting cinematic footage around people and slightly scary machines, thanks to their shielded propellers.
Piloting the drone often feels like playing a Super Mario game where you have to time your jumps and dashes to avoid obstacles.
Fernando Wolf, SkynamicBut unlike the DJI FPV, these types of drones are custom setups rather than out-of-the-box. In this case, the drone was paired with a DJI/Caddx Vista digital FPV system, ExpressLRS Link for radio control, Radiomaster TX16s remote, BetaFPV flight controller (running Betaflight 4.2 software), and most importantly, DJI goggles. FPV V2.
It is this headset, which gives the pilot a view on the plane, that sets FPV drones apart from traditional drones and allows for maneuvers like the ones you can see in Tesla's video.
Another crucial part of most FPV drones is the so-called "naked" GoPro. This means that it has been deprecated and reduced to its most basic features.
With the screen, battery, and other parts removed, it sits in a custom case to keep it as light as possible. As Ferdinand Wolf told us, "the entire drone weighs less than 250g."
high stakes mario
That's the setup, but what was the hardest part of the actual filming? "The biggest challenge with shots like this is mainly finding the right moment," says Ferdinand Wolf. "Especially when you're working on longer shots that involve people or machines doing different things that end up being choreographed."
“At the Gigafactory, we often had no control over the machines and had to wait and watch how they worked so we could time the flight accordingly, which in this case were the robot arms and various machines,” he adds. -El.
That meant the flight experience felt like a particularly tall platformer. "Flying the drone often feels like playing a Super Mario game where you have to time your jumps and runs to avoid obstacles, which in this case were the robot's arms and various machines," he explains. .
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Is there a particular part of the video that you are proud of? “I think flying through the stamping machine from the beginning was very special because it had never been done before,” he says. “Timing was absolutely crucial because there was no room for error and even a small pilot error could have damaged the (very expensive) machine and stopped production,” he says.
Despite the dangers, no drones or Teslas were harmed in the making of this video. “The stakes were high and I was able to fly through the machines twice without making contact with the machine or making any mistakes,” says Ferdinand Wolf.
Because FPV drones lack the obstacle avoidance sensors found on consumer drones we've seen like DJI, Autel, and Skydio, extra care should also be taken when shifting into reverse.
“The Giga Press part was difficult as it involved flying backwards, which you have to do blindly, because you don't have cameras or sensors on the back of your FPV drone,” he explains. .
fly strong
Naturally, it takes some practice to get to a point where Elon Musk is happy for you to fly your drone around his €5 billion Tesla factory, so how did Ferdinand Wolf get into FPV drones?
"I started flying remote-controlled planes and helicopters when I was 12, so I've been doing it for almost 30 years," he says.
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"When drones first came out I was instantly hooked and also bought the first DJI Phantom. Later I moved on to larger drone setups carrying movie cameras and also FPV drones to make commercial movies with my company, Skynamic." adds.
The setup (interior shots)
Cinewhoop drone (2,5 inches)
GoPro "naked" camera
DJI/Caddx Vista Digital FPV System
DJI FPV Goggles V2
ExpressLRS link (for radio control)
Radiomaster TX16s Controller
BetaFPV Flight Controller
Videos like these are likely to spark some interest among novice filmmakers. How should beginners dive into the slightly intimidating world of FPV? "You have to train hard and practice flying almost every day to get the routine and the confidence to fly in environments like this," he says.
Fortunately, there are ways to do this without spending a fortune. “FPV simulators are a good place to start,” he says. "Also, you should be completely familiar with your equipment and know everything you can about cameras, photography, and filming," he adds.
If there is one universal rule for the visual arts, be it traditional photography or cutting-edge FPV video, it is the latter. Knowing his kit means you won't get in the way of his creative ideas, and as this Tesla video shows, not even the sky's the limit when it comes to aerial filming these days.