Hasta La Ideas

RoboKopter footage of Warsaw riots from last week

Last year we wrote about the disruptive technology of flying cameras as developed by Eric Austin, a videographer, RC pilot and founder of Heli Video Productions. To refresh your memory, Austin combines sick flying skills, cutting-edge remote-control technology and high-end Canons to pioneer an entirely new type of cinematography. Since last year he’s been busy with both a forthcoming ABC show and commercial projects. Check out the following footage, where you get to see both his rig and a demonstration of serious skillz—he’s flying the thing in and out of a jungle canopy in Puerto Rico:

(Warning: If in an office, turn your sound down, extremely loud soundtrack.)

It’s not surprising that technology this cool is seeing parallel development overseas. A Poland-based YouTube user known only as latajacakamera (“flying camera”) has built his own “RoboKopter” heli-based shooting rig, which enabled him to capture footage of the Warsaw riots four days ago. It’s stunning, particularly when seen full-screen:

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