# Optimizing for Aesthetically Pleasing Quadrotor Camera Motion

## TL;DR

This paper investigates aesthetic preferences in aerial videography, then develops a novel optimization method that balances smoothness and user control, resulting in improved video quality and usability.

## Contribution

It introduces a large-scale study on aerial video aesthetics and proposes a joint optimization method for smooth and user-controlled quadrotor camera trajectories.

## Key findings

- Optimized trajectories are perceived as more aesthetically pleasing.
- The method outperforms state-of-the-art in usability and preference.
- Novices and experts both benefit from the proposed approach.

## Abstract

In this paper we first contribute a large scale online study (N=400) to better understand aesthetic perception of aerial video. The results indicate that it is paramount to optimize smoothness of trajectories across all keyframes. However, for experts timing control remains an essential tool. Satisfying this dual goal is technically challenging because it requires giving up desirable properties in the optimization formulation. Second, informed by this study we propose a method that optimizes positional and temporal reference fit jointly. This allows to generate globally smooth trajectories, while retaining user control over reference timings. The formulation is posed as a variable, infinite horizon, contour-following algorithm. Finally, a comparative lab study indicates that our optimization scheme outperforms the state-of-the-art in terms of perceived usability and preference of resulting videos. For novices our method produces smoother and better looking results and also experts benefit from generated timings.