REMOTE CONTROLLED KITE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Aerial photography is implemented via an r/c kite - suspended pan tilt rig ,and an rf video link. Kite aerial photography is completely  different  from  traditional r/c model photography. It has some serious advantages as :

• Low cost
• Low risk for environment, operator and subject
• Completely portable. (whole set fits in a 40 lt backpack)
• Easy maintenance.
• Quiet and low profile.
• One person operation , remote operation possible. 

Main drawbacks are :

• Wind must have a speed  over 12 knots (>4 beaufort scale) - not a problem at  the Aegean islands.
• Kite line must be clear of electric lines, trees and other obstacles.

The kite can be a fully foldable one (no spars) of the flowform type but virtually any type with a 2-3m2 area can be used..
The spool (reel) is the most critical part of the system , because it must take 150-400m of line, it must have a kind of brake ( and that is very important!) and a handle that can wind and release the line fast . Mine is hand  made of 10mm plywood.
The rig is suspended on a picavet style cross from the line below the kite (as a safety measure) ,it weights approx 500grams  and it consists of:

• a 2mm  aluminum frame with 4mm ball bearings (from old floppy disk readers) 
• 2 standard servos for pan and tilt (the pan servo must rotate 360deg )
• A micro servo for the shutter button 
• an rf video/audio link at 1.2GHZ  connected to tv out of the camera
• a standard 3 channel r/c transmitter at 35 MHZ 
• A high resolution digital camera (>9mpix) in wide angle mode, low weight
• Batteries for all the above

kite, profile

kite and spool

kite and rig

Ancient stone heaps , Χουβέλες στο Αίπος

Ancient stone heaps , Χουβέλες στο Αίπος

Aquaduct over Koufos stream, Το υδραγωγείο στο ρέμα του  Κουφού

Chios landscape ,  Ανοιξιάτικο τοπίο

Δότια Χίου , Dotia Chios

Byzantine tower at Dotia ,Chios . Βυζαντινός πύργος στα Δότια

Anavatos - Chios  Ανάβατος Χίου

 Here is a low-resolution video from the aerial camera.