Video goggles are the pilot’s virtual cockpit
Pilots’ video goggles provide them with the drone’s vision, so they can manoeuvre accurately at high speeds. This can be overwhelming for beginners.
The drones of the Drone Racing League (DRL) use a camera that films the area in front of the drone. The video signal is transmitted to the pilot’s video goggles, which provide him with the best vision, as the drone flies through the course at a speed of 130 km/h. The pilot’s video goggles receive the video from the drone camera with a delay of only 20 milliseconds. It is necessary to be able to react fast to obstacles and competing drones close by. The company behind the DRL has developed its own radio technology, ensuring communication with the drone, even as it flies through a tunnel.
As the video goggles surround the pilot’s entire field of vision, he feels it as if he is flying through the air, though he is sitting in a chair with a remote in his hand. This may cause dizziness and nausea to inexperienced pilots.