Sony reveals new information about its upcoming ‘Airpeak’ drone

Silence is futile. When the FAA's remote ID requirement becomes law, any drone over 500 grams will tell every Karen or Ken vigilante with a WiFi phone ap where it is, the ID, and the location of the operator. Fancy lens specs will conflict with that weight limit. Wide angle is most useful. Navigate the drone to narrow or expand the frame of a shot.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

toomix

woow, it looks like it can deliver kids to school as well

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Spectro

waiting for the amazon drone to deliver

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Beckler8

Seems like ideal use for smallest/lightest a7c - or did they too forget it exists? 🤣

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Perhaps it’s wisest to use the A7sIII. Given the target audience.

Jan 19, 2021permalink

thx1138

Spin-off company called Drony is being licensed I believe.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

TheBestCameraIsTheOneYouActuallyShoot

Shots like that exhibited at 0.33 in the second video are very difficult to achieve with most drones. How can the Airpeak fly just inches above a car traveling at 30 mph or more. It is situated right where gusts of air would be thrusting up from the windshield. Does this require the dual efforts of a skilled VLOS pilot and another person operating the camera (pointed towards the front of the car)? Or is there advanced AI (Skydio 2 type) that enables the drone to track the car and cancel turbulence? Some <$500 360° cameras on sticks can simulate tight drone shots without such difficulties or risks.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

I can’t wait to hear the detailed specs. It looks pretty amazing especially in the concept car promo video. I’m sure Sony will make some really nice integration happen between the tech at play.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Reactive

I'm getting really bored with all the drone shots in every outdoor TV show. The photographers have become plain lazy, and instead of scouting good locations and framing nice scenes to show you what it's like to be there, it's just "launch the drone again" to fill 20 minutes of the hour - all without having to setup/carry the camera, tripod, and lenses or walk anywhere.

Jan 12, 2021*permalink

JScherer75

You made me realize a little bit what was annoying me with drones. Another thought I had is that it sort of made me think, can I get the pro-level shots I want without a drone, specifically thinking landscapes. The reality I’m coming to realize is yes, the opposite may be true that the drones are overused!

Jan 12, 2021permalink

AdaptedLenses

I don’t think drones are necessarily overused, they’re just poorly used. People get enamored with taking off 200 feet and look at the view which I agree it gets pretty old pretty quick. Drones don’t break the rules of photography, you still need to composition, an interesting subject and good lighting for stills or video.

Jan 12, 2021*permalink

So far as real estate goes, I'd put more trust in a "lazy" drone shot than a picture based on some clever set-up and framing. Humans have craved a "bird's eye view" for ages. Do bird's overuse their wings? Even penguins "fly" in the water. Why insist that we must forever waddle about and nothing more?

Jan 12, 2021permalink

peterwr

'Twas ever thus. I remember the early days of DVEs, when every TV show had at least a dozen transitions that involved the picture rolling itself up and being posted into some kind of orifice, just to make insecure producers think they hadn't wasted their money.

Eventually the novelty will wear off and people will just use the appropriate kit for the job, whatever the job is. And by that time there'll be some other new toy that gets used in every alternate shot whether it's appropriate or not. ;-)

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Beckler8

@John " Do bird's overuse their wings?" There must be what 100's of millions of birds out there so yes, surely some do, and are tired the next day.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

AdaptedLenses

Real Estate is a lot about emotion. I agree a birds eye is more trust worthy, but if your job as photographer is to deliver compelling images to a client (salesman & seller) then you’re failing.

Aside from that I never advocated against drones. But just because they can go high doesn’t mean they should (for a good shot).

Jan 13, 2021permalink

SafariBob

How much will it cost? 3k?

Jan 12, 2021permalink

sure, sony drone that lift whole ff camera rig will cost 3k.
we can always dream, but better to add one zero to that..

Jan 12, 2021permalink

dr.noise

something closer to 6K I think

Jan 13, 2021permalink

SafariBob

Rumors I have seen suggest around 3k. Say 3-5k

Jan 13, 2021permalink

what rumours would that be?

Jan 14, 2021permalink

forceofnature

Sony had a decent presentation. I Was hoping to see more from Canon and Nikon at CES but really nothing. Canon's message was they are open to innovation and wait until next time to see what they have done.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

japs/muricans copying chinese. how world have turn..

Jan 12, 2021*permalink

Jan 12, 2021*permalink

Franz Weber

Where can I attach the tripod for night or timelapse videos?

Jan 12, 2021permalink

DarnGoodPhotos

I don't think the drone is powerful enough to lift a tripod. :D

Just remove the camera from the cradle and attach it to a tripod.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

peterwr

Who needs a tripod? It's got feet - just stand it on a box. If you can afford a box after you've bought the drone... :-P

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Imager of

Yeah. Ok. I’m going to put my £4000 camera plus £2000 lens on a new un-tried Sony drone system! NOT!!

Jan 12, 2021permalink

well, you can try it first loaded with a rock :))

Jan 12, 2021permalink

DarnGoodPhotos

Why isn't your £6000 camera and lens insured?

Jan 12, 2021permalink

You can put expensive gear on your new DJI tried drone and crash it on your first flight just the same. It would be foolish to load expensive gear on any drone before you’ve become comfortable flying it.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

6k is probably third of the cost of the drone, probably even less..

Jan 12, 2021*permalink

BrentSchumer

Sony typically has terrible software chops in its camera division. I'm curious about how they handle a drone, where the software link is the primary interface instead of a secondary concern.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

the indecisive moment

Class leading AF isn’t exactly bad software chops. Bad interface design yes, but under the hood is pretty impressive across all models.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

@ User3871298095: With complex cameras you get many menu items. Just set the camera up properly. Use programs, programmable buttons, and arrange the Fn menu like you want it, and you can work blistering fast with Sony cameras. There is even a My Menu where you can put selected items.

Going trough the menus when using the camera? Old fashion.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

IamJF

With the current market and regulation situation for drones ... I would drop any product with "drone" in the name like a hot coal. I can't imagine that the market is big enough to ever earn some money out of it.

But maybe they see it as extension to their cinema market to complete the system ... which is actually a good idea ;-)

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Exactly, the class targeted is pro cinema/video/photo, where the people do pay and respect the whatever policies, and even pay for getting authorizations to film in restricted areas. I guess the price will be around 10k+ anyway :)

Jan 12, 2021permalink

real342

The thing about a drone is that you should never buy one. Just rent when needed.

-- yours truly, drone owner.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Biowizard

One obvious worry is that this only has 4 props: surely any serious pro drone, carrying a heavy (metal!) camera worth thousands of dollars, should have redundancy in its configuration (minimum 6 props)?

Brian

Jan 12, 2021permalink

And your calculations that show this? How many rotors do a full scale helicopter that carry heavy loads have?

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Ivan-san

Full-size helis rely primarily on # of engines and not # of rotors for staying aloft (higher carrying capacity is a different matter altogether). Biowizard's concern re: loss of stability when the # of working props drops from 4 to 3 is valid.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Magnar there is a reason why serious drones like the DJI Matrice 600 has 6 rotors. They won't fall out of the sky when one of the rotors quit. With just 4 rotos and when one fails they become unsteerable and will crash. A Matrice 600 can fly on 5 rotors.

Then there is the fact that when the main rotor of a helicopter fails it will be able to make an emergency landig. It will not fall out of the sky. Though it will come to an emergency landing. Only when tail rotor of a helicoptor fails it is hard to control as it will then start to spin.

But a drone works on a different principle:

1 - 2
3 - 4

1 - 4 spin one direction while 2 - 3 spin the other direction.

If any of these 4 motors fail there is no compensation to the other motor and so it spins and is out of control.

For the true professional market a 6 rotor drone is preferred.
That's why you see these drones used in the film industry. A crash is a considerable loss in equipment.

Jan 12, 2021*permalink

Definitely a valid point. If one rotor dies then effectively the quad has to fly on. 2 only and that’s not enough.

If a hex-copter loses a motor then it flies on 4. Still enough to maintain control. If two motors die on a hex copter then it depends which two die.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Two engines are enough for the commercial jets that cross oceans with 300 passengers or more.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Sure. But it seems you don’t know what actually keeps a quadcopter flying in control and how it’s different from airplanes and helicopters.

Jan 12, 2021*permalink

Ken Seals

@ Knock Knock - I suggest you re-read your post for technical correctness:

1. If the "rotor" of a helicopter fails, the aircraft will crash. You may have meant to say if the "engine fails". In that case an auto-rotation trading altitude for airspeed to keep the rotor turning will usually be successful.

2. If the tail rotor fails, not every helicopter will spin and crash. A number of more sophisticated helicopters have a vertical stabilizer in the tail near the tail rotator that will stabilize the rotation of the helicopter down to some minimum control speed. In those helicopters the procedure in case of a tail rotor failure is to maintain at least that minimum control speed and make what is called a "run on" landing on the landing gear, wheels or skids. Of course this works best on a long smooth surface.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Well if we are talking about that level of control it MAY be possible to have very limited control of a quad with only three working rotors. Of course half the upward thrust capability would be gone as the control system would basically almost shut down the rotor opposite the failed one. (If it’s smart enough.). Two rotors is enough to maintain altitude if there’s enough thrust. The third rotor could possibly help with directional control. Again this would likely not end well. Like an autorotation or skidding of a helicopter trying to maintain enough forward speed while landing won’t end well. These things save lives but the vehicle rarely comes away unscathed.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

@MikeRan: > “it MAY be possible to have very limited control of a quad with only three working rotors.”

I think you are confusing a human-piloted chopper and a program-piloted one. If the tail rotor fails on a program-piloted chopper, it would spin violently indeed. On the other hand, ALL THE OTHER DEGREES OF FREEDOM can still be perfectly controlled — provided the control system has a full knowledge of the spin and can change the controlling actuators quick enough (in the rate of spin).

Likewise for a quad-copter with one failed motor. 2 opposing motors would control the lift — and one component of rotational momentum. To stabilize the second component, the 3rd working rotor would need to work (not on full power, and possibly in opposing directions!). The 3rd motor would cause some spin — which cannot be controlled, but since the 3rd motor is just for fine-tuning, the spin should not be violent.

So the ONLY bad part is that it is “a controlled landing when spinning”.

(Cntnd)

Jan 13, 2021*permalink

(Continued…)

I do not know how disastrous is a spin when landing. So cannot comment on this.

(Moreover, I never tried to write a control system for an aircraft. So I’m just discussing what is THEORETICALLY possible. But it seems that the rest of the discussion is in the same vane anyway!)

Jan 13, 2021permalink

@ ilza: If you don't know and are guessing, it is not about theoretical possibilities.

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Do not know what? Laws of mechanics?!

Jan 13, 2021permalink

Biowizard

Variously some good points made here, and also some ill-informed thoughts.

TWO key things are need to keep a drone aloft: (1) Lift in a 2-dimensional space around the centre of mass, and (2) Cancellation of rotational torque.

For (1), consider a square table with one leg chopped off: it's not going to be stable. A circular, six-legged table will stand safely with any one (or depending on which ones, two or even three) legs missing. Think of the legs as the "lift".

For (2), just realise that each clockwise rotor causes an anti-clockwise rotational torque on the drone; each anticlockwise rotor causes corresponding clockwise torque. To prevent the drone spinning out of control, there must be a balance of these two opposing torques, which will only happen if enough of the clockwise and anticlockwise rotors remain functional and within their rotational performance limits.

Talk of planes and helicopters is not relevant here.

Jan 18, 2021permalink

@Biowizard: “… a square table with one leg chopped off … not … stable.”

To the contrary: if the legs stick to the floor (so the “weight force” can be both positive and negative — as with a rotor), it is perfectly stable.

(2) I addressed above: with a flexible enough control system, spin would not effect being able to control the other degrees of freedom. And since the third rotor is going to be used only for fine tuning (the lift is almost fully controlled by two rotors), the spin is going to be minor.

And as I said: such an uncontrollable (but minor) spin MAY BE not a big deal.

(Moreover, I’m almost sure that by keeping the copter slightly tilted, one can compensate the spin as well by fine-tuning of this tilt. So until the last ¼ second before landing, the copter can be fully controlled. In the remaining ¼ of the second, when being completely level is important, the spin would not accumulate much)

Jan 19, 2021*permalink

The main flaw in your argument is that you assume the individual rotor speeds can be instantly changed and the reality is they cannot. If the spin is very slow this may still work. But at some point the spin becomes enough that the rotor speed cannot be changed fast enough to maintain control.

Jan 19, 2021*permalink

How do you think this is different for 3-rotors mode vs 4-rotors mode?

Or are you addressing “controllability during spin”? If the latter — then this may be true. But it may be also false: with quick enough spin there may be a possibility to control even with SMALL variations of the speed.

This may be due to the “Kapitsa’s pendulum” effects: averaging over the orbit can still have large response on the dynamics.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapitza%27s_pendulum

As I said: I do not qualify to address such finer points of sausage dogs!

Jan 19, 2021permalink

With three rotors one rotor is barely spinning. Just enough up or down to change the angle. The two opposing rotors are spinning at full speed in opposite directions. The third rotor only spins when it needs to change the flatness of the quad to guide it in one direction vs another. So it barely contributes.

Jan 19, 2021permalink

Sure! But are you replying to something?

I do not want to guess “on top of another guess” — which you never confirmed or denied.

Jan 20, 2021permalink

Nikolai Vassiliev

Pity, they did not future develop QX cameras. QX1 successor could be a nice drone camera - if it get proper motorized lens and API to control it.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

4sofnature

The Force is strong with Sony.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Sylverphoto

great news to the professional user. There is certainly a gap in the market

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Jer81

DJI has multiple drones that can take a dSLR/MILC camera.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Nicolas Det

Wishing a pro and "affordable" m43 bajonet drone..

Jan 12, 2021permalink

zakk9

... and smaller than the Inspire? Yes, please!

Jan 12, 2021permalink

aris14

A clearly professional proposal, I am sure that Sony has done the appropriate homework. The only issue that may occur is Sony's attitude in whatever has to do with support.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

David Cartagena

I never had anyproblem with support for Sony products and my Sony products have seldom needed support. But the world is large so I reckon it can be different from country to country.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

ShaiKhulud

This is actually pretty hefty solution.

As much as drones are popular, there are very few consumer-like heavy drones for FF-cameras. It will be interesting to see integration between AirPeak and Alpha, because the drone will be clearly Alpha-branded.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

By looking at the battery pack and the cameras they want to support this is going to be a class C3 drone (Europe). Which means. It is going to require training, pass theoretical and written NAA exam, plus practical exam. Approximate cost to pass the required training and exam sits close to €4500 to €5000 Euro, add that on top of the drone itself (± 3000 - 5000 Euro) add the camerasystem and we are talking a €10K+ system...

In all a nice drone, but it will sit pretty far into the professional segment.
This drone won't be operated by many amateur drone pilots.

Jan 12, 2021*permalink

I don't think this was ever aimed at amateur drone pilots...

And the idea of amateurs that can't even fly a DJI, flying a drone with a camera that big is quite scary...

Jan 12, 2021permalink

I agree - But many people here thought Sony would. You can also read it in the comments that some people have unrealistic expectations.

Now the new rules have been implemented in Europe the only drones interesting to consumers are those below 250 grams. As this only requires registration and do not need an exam and pilot license.

I do think the 250 - 900 gram drones market is going to be highly impacted by the new rules and regulations. I truly wonder how many people are willing to pay for the required licenses knowing the registration is a yearly cost and the exam and training needs to be redone and paid for every 4 years.

Jan 12, 2021*permalink

I 100% agree with you on the sub 250g drones for amateurs. So much so that I’m receiving mine today.

But I’m not sure the next class of drones will be that bad. The test is free and I’ve done the UK version, that should be quite similar to the EU. If you can’t pass that, you shouldn’t be flying a drone. And the payment is for any non toy drone. So even a DJI mini will need it.

And the A2 limits are similar to what we have today.

Now, with sub 250g having 4k video, raw photos, flight time of about 30min and great connection with the remote, the need for a heavier drone is smaller than ever.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

David Cartagena

It's 3500€ in Denmark which is one of the most expensive countries to live in in EU.
You can get licens to fly with up to 25 Kg drones outside cities for 1800€. It's called Open A2. Then you are allowed to fly with a C2 drone outside cities.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

@knock - the Freefly's drone that is compared to by DPR, starts at $8000, so i would expect the Sony's launch price to be north of $10000

Jan 12, 2021permalink

rectification: the Freefly Astro starts at 10k (with controller, battery and charger)
https://freeflysystems.com/astro

Jan 12, 2021permalink

whtchocla7e

That's good. I don't want people who don't know what they're doing flying 5-10kg machines over my head.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

David Cartagena, is that with the new rules or the old ones? I was reading that in the UK, the licence for legacy drones to fly closer is around 100€. It used to be expensive and take a few days, but now can be done on-line much cheaper.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

catlyn

I belive this won't be cheaper than $3000, at the best.

Hope it also includes some crash insurance... as it's one thing to crash your $500-$1000+ DJI drone, and it's another one to crash this + an A7S III with a $2000 lens on it. :D

Jan 12, 2021permalink

That's why you buy insurance - pay for what fit your needs.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

CaPi

At some point it will probably make sense to make a map and document where you can still use a drone legally.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Hasa

You can search online for maps. I did. And to my surprise, the regulation for most of the department, I live in in France, is this: any drone use is strictly prohibited. A couple of times a month we have low flying jets or helicopters. The jets appear so quickly and low, that you would not have time to ground a drone. Hence the ban on drones. You have to check the maps each time before flying a drone.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

EXkurogane

Now that the land of freedom banned DJI over "security" i guess Sony is gonna cash in the drones

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Patlezinc

With all Dji crashes I saw, I think I would never have the courage to attach my FF camera on this, despite the image quality gain it may give.

Jan 12, 2021*permalink

There are pilots flying cinema cameras on the drones. For $5000 this would be a crash cam.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

MirkoK

if they support 3rd party cameras to be attached, and the drone can lift a few kilos, i might be interested

Jan 12, 2021permalink

If you do this for a living, you buy the combo that make you get the job done. Not the brand you fell in love with.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

MirkoK

i dont do this for a living, and i use a gfx system, if the airpeak loads my system, i buy it

Jan 13, 2021permalink

daqk

A crash landing on the way if the two side "legs" fail to close down to support (due to stuck or battery low ) ... they want you buy another ... Sony camera LoL

Jan 12, 2021*permalink

I suspect it won’t drop like a stone just because the legs are stuck. A pilot in control would wisely make a soft landing on a soft surface and the camera would be fine.

And any pro serious about their work enough to spend 10 grand on a heavier than air flying rig should really have equipment insurance in addition to the liability insurance.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

daqk

For those had experience flying any pro or non-pro drones, a low battery situation up in the sky is not rare ... to purchase another Sony ... might NOT be good for anyone, disregarding the insurance.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Curious why a Sony solution vs any other solution is better or worse from a battery perspective? Aren’t all drones subject to the same 9.81m/s^2 acceleration due to gravity when the rotors stop spinning?

Jan 12, 2021permalink

daqk

Opening/swing landing gears with extra motors ... if you watch the videos above.
It is not a Sony special but Sony went for it with their luxury gears on ...

Jan 12, 2021permalink

ldfrmc

Waiting to hear about planned accessories/attachments:

AirPeak Parachute
AirPeak Catching Net
AirPeak Deployable Life Raft
AirPeak Impact Air Bags

If it gets that 'fancy':

AirPeak Operator Side Car

Jan 14, 2021permalink

Aroart

Lets hope Sony doesn't do a GoPro Karma disaster.. DJI has been in the drone biz before they were called drones.. Before the 1'st Phantom hit the shelves.. They were called multi rotors and you had to build them yourself 10-15 years ago.. DJI had the NAZA flight controller (the brains).. I would not buy the first batch of Sony drones.. Even DJI had issues within the first few years.. But Sony is the co that can probably pull it off..

Jan 12, 2021permalink

SignumX

Not really that difficult to reverse engineer anything that DJI's done the last decade and adapt to the heavier payload. The drone itself is actually quite simple and it's more about the quality of the components and the software that runs it. Reverse engineering the software is also relatively easy.
Drones are a quite mature market at this stage. I'm more than certain that a company like Sony can pull this off without a hitch. All the necessary infrastructure from engineering, sw development to support and logistics are in place.
If it was a small startup I'd be more cautious.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Aroart

Um, What part of my last statement did you not understand.. Sony is the co that can prob pull it off ...

Jan 12, 2021*permalink

A Owens

Wow, that is a very smart way of expanding the Alpha ecosystem. Just when Canon and Nikon (kind of) catch up, Sony changes the game. Respect.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Patlezinc

I am not sure it changes anything given the probable price, the little % of poeple interested, and the even more little % of poeple ready to loose 10000$ in case of big crash

Jan 12, 2021permalink

ScapingFeet

I'm assuming this will be $5K

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Just Another Photog

I guess it weighs more than 249 grams

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Greg OH

The camera weighs more than that without lens.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

whtchocla7e

Sony has truly come a long way since the Minolta days. And yet, you can't help but feel a dash of that creative M dna in this.

Jan 12, 2021*permalink

10 FPS

As a Canon guy, I'd really like to see Sony come out with a mavic style drone (integrated camera and so forth). They seem to be the ideal company to compete with DJI.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Rustic Dale

There are a lot of drones now with cameras with all kinds of mounts or that support cameras with all kinds of mounts.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Sarge_

Airpeak? I guess that's better than 'Peeping Dong'. A little.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

I guess I’m clueless. I find nothing wrong with AirPeak.

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Bassman2003

"Airpeek" might have issues...

Jan 12, 2021permalink

ChelseaPhotographer

It is not a good name...

Jan 12, 2021permalink

Sarge_

Given drones have a reputation for being used to creep/snoop/spy on people, I would think you'd want to steer away from anything sounding like 'peek'. Unless maybe that's the market they're after, I guess.

Jan 13, 2021*permalink