Efforts to Reduce Camera Vibrations

[Hazel1994]

I want to look at all the different solutions to smooth aerial photography and will post my findings here. 

First off I am going to use the same camera mount as that used in the link below:

CRIUS AIO PRO FC CM102 2 Axis Carbon Gimbal 20121104

And I can say, although it is OK, I am not loving the jiggling. Not as smooth as it could be.

So what is your guyzes experience in this field? Any tips or trick you have found improve your quality?

[Cupid Stunt]

Oh good God
That's a bad example to use, it's over post stabilised

There is no magic formula to get rid of vibrations in the video, it's always different for every set up, far too many variables for any two multi's to be the same even if they do use all the same components

Basics are (as stated before)

1. Good quality bearings in the motors with good quality shafts and smooth running
2. Good quality balanced props (you have to balance them yoyrself, they don't come that way)
3. A well built/assembled airframe (no loose parts to vibrate)

When it comes to damping on the camera/gimbal it's going to be trial and error, starting with no damping at all for tiny light weight cameras (HoryzonHD or Keychain) to thick rubber suspension for and SLR
It's no good trying to use dampening to compensate for crap motors or out of balance props

[Hazel1994]

This video aint lookin' too hot either...

Cinestar 8 and GoPro demo flight at Pierre Elliot Trudeau Park in C.S.L

And it's on the very expensive Cinestar 8. This leads me to suspect that it is largely down to the camera you use, a cheap gopro can't compete with a red epic.

[Dusty]

cameras such as the ones we FPVers tend to use have fixed lenses and sensors, as in fixed to the inner components, which are in turn fixed to the inner skeleton of the camera, which in turn is fixed to the outer housing. We then attempt to dampen the vibrations/oscillations that are transmitted through the camera body.

more expensive cameras can have "floating" working parts. mostly used in high end SLRs for image stabilisation.... when zoomed in to the extreme, the tiny movements by the hand holding the camera are extremely exaggerated.

this would be the ideal kind of hardware to have within a HD FPV camera. I'm sure there are HD camcorders already out there with this kind of feature but the price would be prohibiting for most casual FPVers / multirotor hobbyists.

[Hazel1994]

I wonder if there is some sort of formula one can use when designing a vibration dampener...

[Hazel1994]

What do you all think of these? http://store.jdrones.com/Anti_Vibration_MultiMount_for_Multicopters_p/mmset02.htm

[Cupid Stunt]

There is no magic formula to get rid of vibrations in the video, it's always different for every set up, far too many variables for any two multi's to be the same even if they do use all the same components

[Hazel1994]

Hehe, your right. If there was a 'magic' formula, it would no doubt involve differential equations, not my favorite  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibration

[brodjackella]

cam vibes can depend on motor speeds also,ie,just hovering-no vibes, FF-vibes
lots of experimentation needed..

[Dusty]

I like the vibration dampening that David from RCExplorer used on this tricopter: http://rcexplorer.se/projects/2011/09/the-tricopter-v2-5/

tie-wrap some silicone tubing to the surface you're mounting the camera to


then tie-wrap the same tubes to the thing you're flying, thereby connecting the two surfaces via the "spongy" tubes:

[Hazel1994]

How do you get zoom and shutter on the camera?

[Balders]

I'm not aware of anyone who uses zoom on a UAV camera, shutter can be operated by a servo on a spare channel, but most doing stills are probably doing a "time lapse" type mode where it takes photos every few seconds.

[Hazel1994]

Thanks for the help!

Here is an example that I found.

 Mikrokopter with zoom MikroKopter - Zoom

[Hazel1994]

How is rpm/V gonna affect the jello effect or any camera vibrations do you think?

This video uses 620kv motors and is remarkably stable even without a camera mount!

FPV - super cool

[Dusty]

the kv of the motors have nothing to do with the jello effect. You need well balanced motors and props to cut down on vibrations. that's why some motors are more expensive than others.

the el-cheapo motors will more than likely be unbalanced, people use either tape or zip ties to balance them out. the high end motors are balanced during manufactur process.