Talent Spotted: Katsu FPV micro drone excellence

Here’s a little inspiration for your Saturday night. This week, a group of Japanese drone enthusiasts posted an impressively long—Hitchcockian, even—single-take video of students in a high school, as well as an alternate take. The videos are well-scripted, and anyone who’s flown a drone will get a nice adrenalin boost watching the pilot navigate some extremely narrow pathways.

Here’s the version for the artiste, subtle and voyeuristic.

And here’s the version that lets you see how much fun they’re having!

Based on commentary attached to the video, these were probably made using a RunCam Split Mini (a 1/2 oz HD camera for RC systems) and a home-made (or at least customized) flying frame. The Mavic Air may not be quite as small, but it sure is easier to fly than something like this! Kudos to you all, Katsu FPV.

2 comments

  1. Mike, on FStoppers I found the following discussion of the drone used in the movie:

    “Nano-drones are usually designed as indoor toys but this short video shows how they can be used to create some very unique shots.Thanks to their small sizes, they can fly in very tight spaces and create “impossible” sequences like flying through windows and below chairs. Katsu FPV, the creator of this video is part of the “Tiny Whoop Japan” team. The Tiny Whoop is the flagship model of the nano-quadcopter family.”

    Amazon seems to sell this Tiny Whoop drone. So perhaps it was not homemade, but I’m just trying to track down the facts for a piece to be published at http://www.mobilemoviemaking.com. I would appreciate any further thoughts you might have, Of course, if we quote you we will credit you and link to your blog. Best wishes, Murray Suid, editor

    1. Hi, Murray! I, too, saw that article, but based on my own research via discussion on the YouTube thread, my understanding was that it was filmed with a RunCam Split Mini mounted on a custom (or at least customized) frame. I have not contacted Katsu FPV nor can I speak Japanese, unfortunately, so I would welcome any correction if my research was not correct.

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