Jaguar recently published a video which featured their XJ model taking on, of all things, a drone. The car is driven by leading movie stunt and rally driver Mark Higgins while the drone is piloted by ace JaeHong Li. Apparently, one of the purpose of this ‘challenge’ is to showcase how future technology could influence car chase filming. Also, it highlights how technology is developing in both the automotive and unmanned aircraft sector.
Taking place at the Zhuhai International Circuit in China, we can see how Higgins try to shake off the drone through an industrialised zone containing shipping containers, wide tree-lined boulevards, pit garages and an underground car park.
Technology is making waves in both the car and drone industries – with the drone pilot using autonomous circling and 360-degree camera searching and Higgins in the XJ, benefitting from electric power assisted steering that improves responsiveness and feedback as well systems that use sensors and four on board cameras.
Drone pilot JaeHong Li said: “Flying against the car gave us some interesting insight into how this kind of technology can be used for filming cars – and I think we’ve shown there’s some big potential for future movie car-chase sequences!” : “The DJI Inspire 1 drone we used is more about precision and poise than outright pace. It has the best-in-class, stabilized Zenmuse X5 aerial camera aboard, as it is mainly used for filming, and was perfect for this challenge.”
But let’s face it, what really impresses us is the XJ itself; this is a full-size premium sedan designed to carry high society. Yet, it can hustle rather well!
