People with the need for speed can find a new thrill in what some believe as the first new sport of the 21st century: drone racing. Flying drones have come a long way from being a geeky hobby to its own cultural phenomenon. Out of the realms of science fiction and into the wild popularity that it is experiencing today, we’re diving into the rush of this new breed of sports.
What is Drone Racing?
FPV drone racing, as it is more properly known, is a new kind of sport where participants (often called pilots) control drones and complete a set course in the fastest possible time. FPV stands for first person view, which means that the pilots controlling the drones see what the drones see. This is possible through the cameras attached to the drones, with the images transmitted through radio waves. The pilots get this FPV through the goggles that they wear. Radio waves are also used to control the drones as they fly through different courses. The technology used for both the drones and the goggles are constantly being improved, as more and more fans and players are attracted to the sport.
The Starting Line of Something New
Drone racing in the Philippines is an extreme sport that has slowly but steadily been gaining traction. There are several videos online where viewers can experience the thrill of the game firsthand. Step-by-step tutorial videos on how to build your own drones are also available.
What started as small groups of enthusiasts playing in their own communities have evolved into professional leagues. The Drone Racing League has also signed a deal with ESPN, a major sports broadcasting network, to bring this extreme sport into mainstream attention. The sport has also been getting partnerships from both commercial and blue-chip companies, with events that pay out prizes with hefty digits.
The Present of A Virtual Future
Drone racing has achieved a marriage of technology and reality that was only once possible in the dimension of science fiction. It occupies a position where it is a physical form of a video game. Both the players and spectators get to experience the race courses in the realm of augmented reality (AR) via the goggles that feed real time images of the quadcopter’s course as it zips through various obstacles. At the same time, the pilots are remote-controlling an actual physical machine that even people without the fancy goggles can see. Viral videos have shown drone racers simulate the famous speeder-bike chase scene from Star Wars: Episode VI – The Return of the Jedi, luring in loyal fans of the enterprise. It is translating science fiction into real life, with the screen making reality more fantastic and powerfully appealing. Once the drones are airborne, the pilot is born, and the open air is their own kingdom to conquer.
Drone racing delivers an adrenaline rush like no other, and people are starting to realize its charms. While the Philippines has yet to create its own league, it is catching up to stand on the platform with the rest of the world. Events like The Game of Drones have been held, to great success. Drone racing enthusiasts from around the country gathered to face off in the country’s biggest drone competition, battling over three categories. It was held in The Bike Playground, located within Circulo Verde at Industria. A 10-hectare mixed-use community envisioned by Ortigas & Company, drone racing enthusiasts and professional players alike have found a new home in Industria’s open grounds.
Industria is part of Ortigas & Company, one of the pioneers in the Philippine real estate landscape. To learn more about drone racing and other attractions that Industria has to offer, feel free to read more at the Ortigas Malls website.
Sources:
https://qz.com/755092/the-sport-of-the-future/
https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/food-and-leisure/2018/06/20/1824588/circulo-verde-takes-drone-racing-higher-level
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/05/the-trippy-high-speed-world-of-drone-racing
