WARNING: THIS BLOG POST CONTAINS SOME KICK-ASS VIDEO CONTENT
It may come as no surprise that drone racing has become popular – give two men a 80 mph flying robot and their natural instinct will be to see who can fly the fastest. But the fact that drone racing has already evolved into, dare we say it, an organised sport with $1,000,000 prizes, comes as quite a surprise – it seems like only yesterday that we were flying our first drone, wondering how to get it off neighbour Betty’s roof after the battery ran out…
So will it become mainstream? Perhaps scooping up some of Formula 1’s disenchanted fans?
Well it’s far too early to tell. But 2016 has seen a definite evolution – with host Dubai throwing their considerable wealth behind the first World Drone Grand Prix and the Drone Racing League announcing a global race series – ensuring it’s certainly got some momentum behind it.
The accessibility of drones may also help with increasing its popularity. From teens to former race car drivers, drone pilots come in all shapes and sizes. Starting out is also fairly easy – you can buy a beginner’s drone for around £30 and it doesn’t take physical fitness, just quick reactions and insane piloting skills.
So how does it work?
Well, the race itself is relayed via real-time video through a pair of goggles to the pilot. The pilot then controls the drone via a hand control (much like the sort you’d find attached to a ps4).
Pilots race their drones around a pre-defined course and the audience can track the action as each drone is kitted out with high visibility LED lights.
World Drone Prix
Last month Dubai hosted the first World Drone Prix.
Over 100 teams from around the world competed for glory – the winning pilot incidentally was 15-year-old underdog Luke Bannister from the UK, who pipped Dubai’s homegrown team to the post to scoop the $250,000 prize. Perhaps a slight local upset, but the Crown Prince is reportedly still committed to hosting more drone racing in the ‘World Future Sports Games’ next year!
The event itself drew a crowd of over 2,000 people and had a similar atmosphere to the sort you’d find at a Formula 1 race – lots of glamour, testosterone and all-in-one race suits.
Pilots had to manoeuvre their drones around the custom outdoor course through a series of illuminated loops. One pit-stop was taken per team, where the drone’s battery was changed by the craft’s team.
“Normally drone races are flat-out sprints, but here it comes down to those with the best tactics,” pilot Chad Nowak told Ars Technica. “This event has so many variables to consider: battery power, pit changes, track routes and setups,” adds winner Luke Bannister.
Crashes and collisions were common as pilots juggled to cut corners and achieve the fastest time. But the overall event was hailed a success.
Watch a video showcasing the World Drone Prix Final below:
The Drone Racing League
The Drone Racing League (DRL) has a slightly edgier feel to it. They generally host their races in old abandoned buildings or stadiums, without too much razzle dazzle but it’s still a pretty slick event.
In 2016 they will be broadening their appeal beyond the USA by hosting a series of races around the world, culminating in a World Championship.
DRL’s races look and feel like a video game or sci-fi movie – racing through neon squares, navigating narrow corridors and occasionally, well okay, quite often, smashing into walls and different parts of the building.
DRL’s drones are custom designed and built by DRL engineers – each drone is identical, ensuring an even playing field where the pilots’ skills decide who wins the race.
The pilots themselves are top-notch, scouted by the league from YouTube, Instagram and local flying groups. This truly is a sport of the 21st century.
Watch a video showing the DRL’s preseason test event below:
