Dual Operator Cine35

The pilot flies the quad using a standard forward-facing FPV camera view through goggles, focusing entirely on flight control and positioning.
A second operator handles the main camera work via a downward-hanging 3-axis gimbal (XF C-20T), viewing through a separate FPV feed in their own goggles. They control pan, tilt, and roll independently using a second radio transmitter.
This setup removes the limitations of a fixed FPV camera, enabling smooth, stabilized, and creatively framed footage even during aggressive maneuvers.

Video systems:
Pilot uses DJI O4 Lite (footage not recorded/used for final output, kept lightweight and simple).
Gimbal camera uses DJI O4 Pro for superior image quality and recording.

Control setup (single-receiver approach):

1. The second operator's radio sends its channels over ExpressLRS to the pilot's radio.
2. The pilot's radio has a built-in ELRS receiver connected to a UART and configured in trainer mode.
3. It mixes the trainer channels (from the gimbal operator) on top of its own stick inputs.
4. The combined signal transmits to the drone via a single ELRS receiver.
5. On the aircraft, the receiver's TX output connects to both the flight controller (for pilot controls) and the gimbal (which reads only the necessary channels).
6. This requires running ELRS in full 16-channel mode to ensure proper resolution on the higher channels.

Practical notes:
Landing is challenging with the hanging gimbal, and legs/landing gear would appear in the gimbal view, so they're omitted. The gimbal has survived a crash landing after video loss, but it's not recommended. Typically, the second operator catches the quad mid-air (exercise extreme caution).