Look up into the sky. Higher. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it Superman? No! What you’re seeing is USAO’s newest camera drone, the Inspire 1.

This drone has an incredible 4K camera, which is a higher quality than high definition. The groundbreaking technology allows USAO’s Video Specialist David Duncan and his work studies to take breathtaking videos and still images used for promoting the school.

“Before, we would have to lease out a helicopter to get any aerial shots of the campus, which ended up being extremely expensive,” Duncan said. “But now with this drone, we can take videos and still images of the campus whenever we want.”

Duncan also said that the drone can be used not only outside but inside as well. Sports events are going to be the main focus: soccer, baseball, softball, and other outdoor events. Basketball games and practices are also going to be filmed as well, with all-new angles and overhead views.

“With the drone, we can stage some shots, especially if they’re inside. We can get a high shot of the basketball team practicing or of a play being performed in Te Ata [Auditorium].” Duncan said.

The Inspire 1 has an all-new feature called GPS Lock. Duncan said this means that the drone connects to GPS satellites to center its location. In the case of filming USAO, he said, the drone usually locks on to 16 satellites. The lock helps position the drone and uses a “Return to Home” feature, which automatically flies the drone to its “home” position, the place from which it originally took off. The lock also means that when the Inspire 1 is hovering in the air, it can be physically moved – whether by human or air or other outside sources – and return to its original position.

USAO isn’t the first school to get one of these drones. “I can think of one school that has a class that teaches how to fly these drones,” Katey Chambers, interim director of Communications and Marketing, said. “By obtaining such an advanced drone of our own, USAO is taking a step forward towards being able to compete with other schools,” she said.

Jessica McClasky, senior communication major and one of Duncan’s work-studies, said she is excited about flying the new eye-in-the-sky. “This is definitely a dream come true for me,” she said. “More and more professionals are learning how to use these [drones] and it will absolutely look amazing on my resume for grad school and future employers.”

The next time you find yourself outside, look to the skies, smile, and wave. You may just be on camera!