Drone Racing and the Professional Drone Racing League
Image Credit: Drone Racing League
First, what is Drone Racing?
Drone racing is unlike any other speed competition, and it's probably more than what you would expect it to be. Rather than simply flying a quadcopter from point A to point B, drone racing is an FPV sport that challenges its pilots to fly at high speeds through obstacle courses. FPV means that the pilots have a first-person view of their drone camera footage through FPV goggles. Thus, the racers are immersed in a high-flying competition of speed and strategy.
About the Drone Racing League
The inklings of drone racing popularity can be traced back to Australia. There, amateur underground circuits were starting to boom in popularity. In the United States, the professional Drone Racing League was founded in 2015 by Nick Horbaczewski and launched its first season in 2016. As of 2018, the DRL is on its 3rd season which will start airing September 6th on ESPN.
Each season consists of races in many iconic locations around the world including Atlanta, Munich, and London, and the League engineers custom built drones specifically for racing for their pilots to use. Currently, the DRL’s roster consists of 18 pilots from 6 different countries: Canada, The United States, Germany, The Netherlands, England, and France.
Image Credit: Drone Racing League
How to Stay in the Know
Races are now available for viewing on iTunes, and you can find clips and announcements on the DRL’s official YouTube channel. They also have a Facebook page, twitter, and Instagram. For more information on The Drone Racing League and their events, check out their official website. There, you can create an account and sign up for their newsletter or apply to become a pilot. If you want to experience what it feels like to be a DRL pilot, there is an FPV simulator on their website.
I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron
