Flying Remote Camera Granted Patent
Read about a mini helicopter camera that can rotate 360 degrees for wide panoramic landscape photography.
Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.
July 2, 2007 – SkyPan International, an aerial imaging provider, was recently awarded a U.S. Patent for its remote-controlled helicopter camera technology. The mini helicopter, called the Remote Piloted Vehicle (RPV), can take 360-degree panoramic images up to 400 feet in the air and is targeted to real estate developers.
SkyPan creates wide landscape photography for planners, developers, and realtors for sales or community presentations, allowing their clients to see the view from a building before it’s been built. Headquartered in Chicago, SkyPan has seen most major U.S. cities to give bird’s-eye-view in photographs.
"It’s the value of the visual," explained SkyPan International President Mark Segal in an interview with DigitalCameraInfo.com.


The RPV helicopter does have some limits. The FAA restricts SkyPan to altitudes of under 400 feet. The helicopter is also restricted to private property only.
A patent-protected pivoting gyro platform stabilizes the equipment. It spins two full rotations per second, while remaining perpendicular to the earth for sharpness and accuracy, according to Segal.
"[Image stabilization] was the difficult part to figure out," Segal said.
Theoretically, the patented technology could work with other types of platforms aside from mini-helicopters, with potential to operate on full-sized helicopters, balloons, or cranes.
"Producing a [building] is like making a movie. There’s lots of planning," said Segal. "We move the project forward. That’s what we’re all about."