Pixotope Fly Creates Augmented Reality With Drones

Pixotope, a software platform for end-to-end realtime virtual production solutions, has announced Pixotope Tracking - Fly Edition (Pixotope Fly), a new camera tracking software solution that dramatically simplifies creating and tracking augmented reality elements with drones and cable cameras.

The unique markerless technology eliminates the complex set up and creative constraints imposed by tracking markers, enabling productions and live events to engage audiences with dynamic realtime aerial graphics.

Pixotope Fly has already been put to the test on major national live broadcast coverage of American stock car racing by Pixotope creative partner, Silver Spoon Animation. In one instance, as the Pixotope Fly-calibrated drone pulled away into a wide shot, an animated graphic of the winning driver next to their car surrounded by stunning real-time particle effects was shown to viewers to celebrate the victory. 

Pixotope Fly ushers in a new era for virtual production with key benefits such as:

  • Streamlined set up and operation: Marker-based tracking systems require a huge lift in terms of resources and preparation of the filming environment; someone must physically and strategically place markers on the ground. With Pixotope Fly, this process is removed completely thanks to its software-based markerless TTL technology, which reduces time and resource cost needed to get up and running.
  • Untethered creativity: Pixotope Fly enables producers to freely roam through the sky without worrying about losing sight of markers, a common occurrence in live environments thanks to changing light, weather, and other unplanned interferences. Anywhere a drone can be flown, AR can be added. The software does all the work, no sensor camera required.
  • Reduced risk for live productions: Marker-based systems require producers to keep drones within a very precise area. If something obscures the markers on the ground during a live broadcast, the whole illusion falls apart and the tracking capabilities of the drone are gone. With Pixotope Fly, the software is updating its point of reference continually so users aren’t at the mercy of the markers in a hard-to-control environment.  

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