BeetleCam was conceived; a DSLR camera mounted on top of a
four-wheel drive remote control buggy.
DSLRs used: Canon EOS 400D & Canon EOS 1D MK III
Set up: Remote Control Buggy & Split ETTL off-camera flash cord that allows the camera to control
the output of two flashes depending on the light conditions.
"We booked a trip to Tanzania and set about designing, building and
testing BeetleCam. The first step was to get up to speed on the
necessary robotics and electronics that would be required to build such a
vehicle from scratch. Having conducted some research, we sourced
components from around the world. Construction then began in earnest
with sawing, soldering, sewing and super gluing taking place around the
clock in Will’s garage.
BeetleCam’s primary challenge would be getting over the uneven
African terrain with a heavy payload of camera, lens and flashes. We
therefore ordered the most powerful motors we could find and large
off-road tires. BeetleCam had to be able to operate for long periods
without being charged, so we stuffed the vehicle with the biggest
batteries we could squeeze in.
We constructed a split ETTL off-camera flash cord that would allow
the camera to control the output of two flashes depending on the light
conditions (this would be important for filling in the shadows cast by
the bright African sun).
After much deliberation, we figured out how to get the camera (our
trusty Canon EOS 400D) to interface with the same controller used to
drive the buggy. The finishing touches were to camouflage BeetleCam and
seal the camera gear and internal mechanisms to protect them from the
dusty African environment.
The prototype was finished with a month to spare but proved to be
catastrophically unstable! An emergency redesign was undertaken to lower
the centre of gravity and, a few days before our departure, BeetleCam
was ready for to be let loose in the wild!"
| Get the Flash Video |
Via: Burrard-lucas.com
Trails Ventures, LLC.
