Drone racing
Drone racers wear special goggles that completely cover their eyes. The goggles allow them to watch live video from a camera on their drone. The onboard camera gives the pilot a First Person View (FPV) so the pilot feels as if they're flying in the drone. Some drone racers feel that this puts a racer into the action like nothing else. One racer exclaimed, "Anybody can go out, and all of a sudden, they're Superman."
Drone pilots must be aware of what's above and below their drones to avoid crashing. When they race their drones, they may crash into the ground or even crash into each other.
Drone pilots must be aware of what's above and below their drones to avoid crashing. When they race their drones, they may crash into the ground or even crash into each other.
British boy wins World Drone Prix 2016
A team led by a 15-year-old pilot from England won the World Drone Prix 2016 in Dubai. He is Luke Bannister from Somerset. He led Tornado X-Blades Banni UK to win a $250,000 purse. The money was part of $1 million in prizes. Luke started off flying remote control planes indoors. Later he found a local club where they taught him how to fly bigger planes and then he moved onto flying drones. He has been flying drones for over a year.
At the World Drone Prix in Dubai, pilots sat in racing-style seats, four at a time. The pilot flew the drones along a track with glowing fluorescent lights that guided their way. Racers had to take at least one pit stop in the race. Their crews leaned down to change out batteries. Pilots also had to decide whether to take more dangerous short cuts.
Government agencies across the larger United Arab Emirates are eager to be seen using new technology. Many use drones. Their activities are varied. Drones have inspected buildings and calmed a frantic window-washer. That was in 2014. The worker was caught 10 stories up. His scaffolding had got stuck.
The rise of hobbyist drone pilots has caused some problems, too. Dubai International Airport is the world's busiest for international travel. It has seen drones fly into its airspace. The airport has had to halt its flights.
At the World Drone Prix in Dubai, pilots sat in racing-style seats, four at a time. The pilot flew the drones along a track with glowing fluorescent lights that guided their way. Racers had to take at least one pit stop in the race. Their crews leaned down to change out batteries. Pilots also had to decide whether to take more dangerous short cuts.
Government agencies across the larger United Arab Emirates are eager to be seen using new technology. Many use drones. Their activities are varied. Drones have inspected buildings and calmed a frantic window-washer. That was in 2014. The worker was caught 10 stories up. His scaffolding had got stuck.
The rise of hobbyist drone pilots has caused some problems, too. Dubai International Airport is the world's busiest for international travel. It has seen drones fly into its airspace. The airport has had to halt its flights.
There have been drone races in different cities across the world. As well as Dubai, races have taken place in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas in America, and London.