SVG Sit-Down: Ross Video's Jim Doyle Details New Drones-as-a-Service' Offering By SVG Staff
Thursday, September 19, 2024 - 11:54 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
Ross Video's creative services team, Rocket Surgery, has introduced a new offering that it's dubbing Drones-as-a-Service . SVG sat down with Jim Doyle, VP of Creative Services, Ross Video, to explore how this service was developed and its potential impact on the industry.
Can you provide an overview of the Drones-as-a-Service offering and what inspired its development?
Jim Doyle, VP of Creative Services, Ross Video
Doyle: Rocket Surgery has been managing Thursday Night Football for the past two seasons, during which we integrated virtual reality content into live drone video feeds. Initially, we relied on a third-party drone operator for these feeds. To effectively blend tracking data and graphics into the video, we used the Pixotope Fly tracking system, which worked well for our needs.
This success led us to consider providing drone services ourselves instead of depending on third parties. Two of our team members, already drone enthusiasts, obtained their official pilot licenses. Now, we have drone operators in both the United States and Canada, equipped with DJI Mavic drones. This enables us to capture video and seamlessly integrate virtual reality elements, whether live or prerecorded. We've proven our capabilities and are now offering this service to our clients.
What kinds of customers are you targeting with this service?
Doyle: It's well-suited for productions beyond just news and sports broadcasts. For instance, we've created drone footage with integrated graphics for Intel and Ross Video's NAB 2024 keynote, so corporate events have proven to also be a good fit.
What are the benefits of using drones for these productions?
Doyle: Drones offer several advantages over other methods such as Spidercam. They are not tethered, allowing for greater mobility inside and outside facilities, and can get close to the action due to their compact size. This makes them safer as well-our Mavic drones are small enough to minimize risk in case of an accidental collision.
Moreover, drones are quieter than expected, avoiding audio interference during recordings. They provide dynamic shots and enable creative integration of virtual reality elements into broadcasts.
Are there any upcoming projects where you'll be utilizing this service?
Doyle: Yes, we're gearing up for a project involving augmented reality (AR) for election coverage this November. Although it's confidential for now, we plan to release a case study once the project concludes.
And how will drones be used in the election coverage?
Doyle: In this context, drones will incorporate virtual reality within news broadcasts. They enable us to navigate physical space in innovative ways, revealing virtual content dynamically. This capability surpasses what can be achieved with traditional jibs, offering flexible camera movements for both close-ups and wide shots. It's especially useful for capturing location shots in election coverage.
What challenges come with using drones, particularly regarding regulations and restrictions?
Doyle: Commercial drone flights require approvals and adherence to regulations such as height restrictions, flight paths, and no-fly zones. In the U.S., this involves coordination with the FAA and similar agencies abroad. For instance, in Las Vegas, we were restricted from flying in national parks like Red Rock Canyon. While some areas have restrictions, managing these regulations is straightforward if you stay diligent with paperwork and request processes which we have mastered.
And do you handle all these regulatory aspects for your customers?
Doyle: Yes, we manage the entire process. As a managed service, we handle everything from drone operation to virtual content integration. This is all part of Rocket Surgery's Virtual Productions (RSVP) business unit. We've even conducted drone shoots without virtual reality, such as capturing footage of Ross Video's factory to highlight its solar and EV green initiatives.
How has drone technology changed the landscape compared to traditional methods like helicopters?
Doyle: The difference is significant. Previously, capturing aerial footage required hanging cameras from helicopters, which was costly. Today, drones offer superior results at a fraction of the price. Our drones feature built-in 4K and 8K cameras with gimbals, providing high-quality footage at a much lower cost than helicopters.
Where do you see this service heading in the future?
Doyle: I anticipate advancements in tracking technology will simplify the integration of virtual elements. Drones will continue to become smaller and more advanced. AI could also play a role, potentially allowing for autonomous drone operation. Currently, we use a spotter to ensure safety during flights, but AI could enhance safety further, especially in complex environments
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
13/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
YES Network and The Gotham Sports App will air seven Athletes Unlimited Softball...
12/06/2026
The United Football League will host its FAST Innovation Suite at the 2026 United Bowl presented by Credit One Bank on Saturday, June 13 at 3:00 p.m. ET at Audi...
12/06/2026
PTZOptics and LayerJot will present live demonstrations at InfoComm 2026 showing how natural-language AI prompting, robotic camera control, and on-device comput...
12/06/2026
MultiDyne Video and Fiber Optic Systems will exhibit at InfoComm 2026, featuring...
12/06/2026
Ateme has announced that Eurovision Services is using Ateme's software-based frame-rate conversion technology for international live event workflows. The de...
12/06/2026
Bitmovin and Simplestream have announced a partnership with Xperi to simplify the launch of OTT streaming services on TiVo OS smart TVs and devices. The collabo...
12/06/2026
Net Insight has announced that a multinational technology company is deploying a...
12/06/2026
MLB Players Inc., the business arm of the MLB Players Association, has announced a partnership with Athletes First to develop and sell brand partnerships across...
12/06/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D) and VuWall have announced the CommandKeyboard-Advanc...
12/06/2026
Comcast Smart Solutions announces a new smart technology deployment with Major L...
12/06/2026
Elevation Worship completed the initial leg of its Elevation Nights 2026 tour ...
12/06/2026
AJA Video Systems has announced KONA IP25 support for Colorfront Transkoder and ...
12/06/2026
Audinate Group Limited (ASX: AD8) will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth C7321, Ce...
12/06/2026
Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould has announced the appointment of Scott Adametz as Chief Technology Officer. The Pac-12 describes the hire as the first CTO appo...
12/06/2026
Grass Valley has announced AMPP Edge Live, a production system combining Grass Valley hardware, NVIDIA Blackwell GPU acceleration, and AMPP OS in a single platf...
12/06/2026
At one time a trailblazer with the launch of the Longhorn Network, the Universit...
12/06/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press rel...
12/06/2026
Chyron has announced PAINT 10.4, an update to its illustrated replay and sports ...
12/06/2026
SVP, Production Mark Gross: With the new schedule, with not having every Sunday night, it's given us an opportunity to take a step back and reimagine what ...
12/06/2026
For Televisa Technical Engineering Manager Roberto N nez Ibarra and the small team of 12 technicians and two production personnel at the IBC things are already ...
12/06/2026
Simple Steps to Better Acoustics - Taming The Small Room
Most of us mix in spare rooms and small spaces, where the acoustics fight us at every turn. At Gear...
12/06/2026
Latest addition expands vintage-inspired effects palette
Meris' Ottobit pedal range draws its inspiration from vintage gaming consoles, and the latest a...
12/06/2026
Soundbox-based chamber strings series expanded
Sonora Cinematic have just announced the launch of the second instalment in their Soundbox-based chamber stri...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
AJA Announces KONA IP25 Integration with Colorfront Software
Brie Clayton June 12, 2026
0 Comments
Collaboration enables uncompressed SMPTE ST 2110 I/O ...
12/06/2026
URSA Cine 12K LF Used to Create Visuals for STUTS' K-Arena Concert
Brie Clayton June 12, 2026
0 Comments
Organic visuals projected on a giant scre...
12/06/2026
MTI FILM Acquires Mango New Edit, Expanding its Global Post-Production Services ...
12/06/2026
AI Point Tracking Speeds Up Complex VFX Tracks in Mocha Pro
Jessie Electa Petrov June 12, 2026
0 Comments
The 2026.5 release adds automatic point trac...
12/06/2026
Bitmovin, a provider of video streaming solutions, has partnered with Simplestream, a provider of OTT and broadcast solutions, and technology provider Xperi, to...
12/06/2026
Leostream Corporation, creator of the world-leading Leostream Remote Desktop Access Platform, today announced Jigsaw24, a leading B2B IT solutions provider wit...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
How Aussie indie games and screen are levelling up with IP 11 June 2026
Ari Harrison, Pro Jank Footy
Head of Games Joey Egger and Ari Harrison of Umbrella sha...
12/06/2026
AgentPerf from Artificial Analysis, the industry's first agentic AI benchmark, gives developers, enterprises and infrastructure providers a clear way to com...
12/06/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils First-Look Images from Villaflor, Santiago Mitre's New Film
Entertainment
12 June 2026
GlobalArgentina
Link copied to ...
12/06/2026
Back to All News
Cross the Boundaries of the Real World into the Spirit Realm i...
12/06/2026
With John Daro, DI Colourist at Warner Bros. Water Tower Color Tuesday 23 June, 10am-1pm or 3-6pm
Restar Corporation
Tokyo
Register here
John Daro is the ...
12/06/2026
Meet The Grumpy Onion Ireland's newest online sensation, all he wants is to ...
12/06/2026
RT stays Up All Night with brand new daily 2026 FIFA World Cup Vodcast
Adding to the fun around 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament, RT has launched a brand new d...
SVG Sit-Down: Ross Video's Jim Doyle Details New Drones-as-a-Service' Offering By SVG Staff 
