Senior Design Team sdmay19-42 • Synchronized Quadcopter Cameraman
Problem Statement - The problem that we are trying to solve is that the Descarga Latin Dance Club on campus is having difficulties recording themselves and other members during performances. The main issue is that a camera man can be obtrusive on a dance floor and get in the way of the dancers themselves or other dancers that may or may not be on the floor at the same time. We also wanted to provide a more dynamic approach to recording dancers. Most dances involve moving across the dance floor and will make a stationary tripod less optimal and result in a poorer quality video. To solve this issue our client has hired us to design, build, and program an autonomous quadcopter. This quadcopter will be able to identify the target dancers and follow them around at a preset distance.
Scope - The objective is to build a camera drone capable of maneuvering and keeping multiple people within the frame. To minimize externalities, we have set the project in the context of a dance performance. Target tracking and following are our primary goals. Performance and stamina come secondary. The drone should be able to follow the lead dancer at all times. The second dancer should be in frame whenever possible. As for performance, the drone should react quickly enough to create a seamless and effective recording of the dance. In terms of endurance, the drone should be able to maintain flight for the extent of the dance, a maximum of 5 minutes. The types of dances include swing, west coast, salsa, and bachata.