Autonomous UAV Cinematography: A Tutorial and a Formalized Shot-Type Taxonomy

The emerging field of autonomous UAV cinematography is examined through a tutorial for non-experts, which also presents the required underlying technologies and connections with different UAV application domains. Current industry practices are formalized by presenting a UAV shot-type taxonomy composed of framing shot types, single-UAV camera motion types, and multiple-UAV camera motion types. Visually pleasing combinations of framing shot types and camera motion types are identified, while the presented camera motion types are modeled geometrically and graded into distinct energy consumption classes and required technology complexity levels for autonomous capture. Two specific strategies are prescribed, namely focal length compensation and multidrone compensation, for partially overcoming a number of issues arising in UAV live outdoor event coverage, deemed as the most complex UAV cinematography scenario. Finally, the shot types compatible with each compensation strategy are explicitly identified. Overall, this tutorial both familiarizes readers coming from different backgrounds with the topic in a structured manner and lays necessary groundwork for future advancements.