savage_w

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    HistoryEdited May 23, 2017 11:04 PM by savage_w…

    Year-End Summary

    Original Proposal:

    Aerial Drone Project

    Background:

    I first heard about the HPA Drone Project through Jack Solomon, who graduated in 2015. Jack recognized my passion for photography and asked me to at some point in my time here at HPA to take part in the drone project. He worked with his classmate Nicky Palleschi and 2016 graduate Juan Miche Rosales to make videos of the HPA campus along with student life here. In addition to this, they also used the Pix4D digital mapping software with the drones to create digital 3D maps of places around the island just by flying over them. This and the photography/videography aspect of this project really sparked my interest in doing this as an independent science research course. I will be working with my classmate Chris Whitfield and Senior Zack Gooding on the drone project this year and hope to add to what Jack, Juan and Nicky were creating in years past.


    Purpose:

    I will be working with fellow student Chris Whitfield to continue the HPA drone project. We will use the school's two DJI Inspire drones to create unique aerial video footage at different places around the island, and of course on the HPA campus. In addition to this, we hope to learn the drone's digital mapping software to create digital maps of these places as well. With the school ordering a new FLIR infrared camera system for one of the drones, we also hope to put this feature to use.

    Tools/Resources Required:

    -DJI Inspire Drone

    -UHD Camera (ex. Panasonic UH4, GoPro Hero 4)

    -FLIR Infrared Camera

    -GPS Receiver

    -3 axis gimbal

    Impact:

    We hope to have an impact on the HPA community by capturing footage of students and aspects of the school that make life here so special. In addition to just the HPA community, we hope to make an impact on a local and possibly global scale by sharing our videos online for anyone, including prospective students and parents to see. Having professional quality video on the HPA website can leave a lasting impression for anyone who might view it.

    Legacy:

    We will strive to leave a legacy similar to that of Nicky Palleschi, Jack Solomon, and Juan Rosales, while also adding to the work that they have created. As is with any other type of photography or videography, we will create our own distinct style of videos that will hopefully be recognizable as our work. We also hope to bring other students into this project in hopes of keeping it going even after we graduate. Students new to the project could add to the content we have created and come up with new ideas for usage of the drones.


    Collaboration:

    The functionality of this entire project is based around collaboration. I have worked for the entirety of this year with Chris Whitfield on the Drone Project in D period ISR. Chris and I have found that working in a team really helps the both of us out when it comes to flying, since we always have tips for each other. There is also an energy that exists when working in a team that just allows us to feed off of each other's energy and get the best shots possible.

    Legacy:

    Though we will be working on it through our senior year, Chris and I will have to start thinking about underclassmen who could take over the project once we graduate. This is a process that will probably start when the second semester of next year comes around, but I am already certain that we will find some great creative minds to the project on to, just as it was passed on to us. This project has become somewhat of a tradition here at HPA, and I want nothing more than to keep it alive for at least the next couple of years after I graduate.

    Next Year:

    Going into next year, Chris and I will have gained an intermediate to advanced skill set in drone flying. Though there is definitely more for us both to learn, I'd like to take our project more in the direction of video. I have been steadily taking pictures with the drones for the greater part of a year already, and I'd love to continue that, but would also like to start shooting more video and putting together more edits on top of that. I don't really know proficiently how to use Adobe Premiere Pro, other than putting together a simple edit with some music, but Chris has already begun to delve into that and will undoubtedly be on top of his editing by the time summer ends.

    2017-2018 ISR Proposal:

    Project Abstract:

    For the 2017-2018 academic year, I would like to continue the Aerial Drone Project with my partner, Chris Whitfield. The purpose of this project, which was started by 2014 graduate Bo Bleckel, is to use drone photography and videography for a variety of applications that haven’t necessarily been implemented yet. On top of just general videography and photography, there is a whole new realm of possibility in 3D mapping.

    Background:

    This project peaked my interest towards the end of my sophomore year. I had spoken to former project members Jack Solomon, Juan Miche-Rosales, and Bo Bleckel about the project, and found myself very drawn in by the creative possibilities that come with the use of drones. Being a photographer, I saw this project as a way to expand my own work, as well as a means to advance our school. Initially, I saw a huge possibility to find new and unique angles of the HPA campus. However, it wasn’t until I started working on this project in Independent Science Research that I realized the additional possibilities that 3D mapping with drones brings. I have been working on the HPA Drone Project since the beginning of this academic year with my classmate, Chris Whitfield. In that time, we have gone through the lengthy process of learning how to fly a drone, learning how to capture cinematic angles with drones, and finally, creating digital content with the drones that we have at our disposal.

    Purpose and Overview:

    The sole purpose of this project is creation. Drones have proven to be a very useful tool in many ways, and we strive to take advantage of their usefulness in as many ways possible. The majority of what we create through this project is photography and videography. When people think of drone photography, they think of a picture taken from directly above the subject. The way that I use drones for photography expands greatly on this basic concept. I have found that, though the straight-overhead angle can produce some amazing photos, there are many more possibilities in closer angles. Getting a drone just above eye level allows me to capture an angle that is the perfect median between handheld photography and high-altitude drone photography. The video aspect of this project extends from videos of HPA to videos that showcase our island’s natural beauty from a never before seen angle. On top of photography and videography, this project has entire other realm: 3D mapping. By taking hundreds of high-quality still photos with a drone from all different angles, we are now able to put together a seamless, interactive map similar to Google Earth. A software program called Pix4D raw pictures taken with a drone and stitches them together to create a map. The possibilities of all of these implementations are what drive me to continue this project into my senior year, and then pass it on to someone who is hopefully as passionate about it as I am.

    Tools/Resources:

    The tools that we have here at the Energy Lab already are the tools that we need to continue this project. Already at our disposal are two DJI Inspire 1 drones, one DJI Mavic drone, four Inspire batteries, and four Mavic batteries. We also have helpful accessories like a controller hood for the Mavic’s controller, and three neutral density filters for the Mavic.

    Outcome & Impact:

    My inspiration and my driving factor behind this project is my love of nature and the ability to capture a single moment in nature for eternity. I have had a burning passion for photography for four years and this project is an incredible way to expand my passion into a new direction of creativity. Though I have become very experienced with drones and am comfortable flying in any environment that isn’t too windy, I feel that there is unlimited room for growth. With a backdrop like HPA and the beautiful island that we call home, I see lots of ways in which we can continue this project and still create content that we are proud of.

    Legacy:

    I began this project as a continuation of the drone project started here at HPA by Bo Bleckel in 2014. Chris and I both know that there is a legacy that comes with this project and want nothing more than to pass it on to younger students once we graduate. After five years of getting to know the HPA community, I know that there is no shortage of photographic talent and creativity. I believe that finding people to continue this project will be very easy, and I have confidence that it will be left in capable hands.

    Questions: I have no pressing questions for Dr. Wiecking at this point.


    ISR to a Stranger:

    If I were to describe ISR, and my experience in it, to a stranger, I'd start off by giving them a good idea of what ISR is. Since so many school just offer the core science classes, many people haven't seen anything like ISR in other schools. From there, I would give a quick description of what Chris and I do with the two Inspire drones and the Mavic, ranging from still photography, to videography, and even scratching the surface of 3D mapping with Pix4D. The biggest struggle we faced this year was probably the first semester, since Zack wasn't the greatest teacher, and neither of us got much flying time. On top of that, we have faced the problem all year long of Waimea's erratic weather and wind patterns, especially at a place as exposed as the Energy Lab. What I am most proud of from this year is the fact that Chris and I have completed the year with a full body of work behind us. Even though we got a late start, we were able to make up for it and get tons of shots over the second semester.

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