DJI Hive

A really fun project to showcase DJI Hive, an autonomous drone concept by Lucian Lu. I was responsible for the factory section of the video where the drone is assembled and launched.

I wanted to have a very clean aesthetic compared to my other videos. The clean environment help emphasize on the drone's colorful paint schemes. I paid extra attention in the animation of the conveyor belts and the movement of the drones themselves. I wanted to match the animation to the music in a very precise manner for this video, so I selected and edited the track very early on with rough storyboarding, and paid very close attention to match the animation to the audio.

The project was completed in a week, working on very tight deadlines allowed me to improve my workflow with this project and forces a much more efficient use of the assets I created.

The client provided the base model and the robotic arms.

Full project is available at lucianludesign

Type

Motion graphics

Development period

August 2024

Client

Lucian Lu

Project Scope

Texturing

Environment design

Lighting

Animation

Audio editing

Rendering

Final editing

Design process
The proportion is loosely based on a scaled down version of the AV in Cyberpunk 2077. I imagined it as a three seater with a cargo hold in the tail of the vehicle that is accessible from both the back as well as the interior.
To emphasize on the strength of the chassis, the design theme uses two encapsulating hard surface to envelop the interior component, while a smooth surface connects them gives it more flare.
Detail design
Video feature
Visualization

DJI Hive

A really fun project to showcase DJI Hive, an autonomous drone concept by Lucian Lu. I was responsible for the factory section of the video where the drone is assembled and launched.

I wanted to have a very clean aesthetic compared to my other videos. The clean environment help emphasize on the drone's colorful paint schemes. I paid extra attention in the animation of the conveyor belts and the movement of the drones themselves. I wanted to match the animation to the music in a very precise manner for this video, so I selected and edited the track very early on with rough storyboarding, and paid very close attention to match the animation to the audio.

The project was completed in a week, working on very tight deadlines allowed me to improve my workflow with this project and forces a much more efficient use of the assets I created.

The client provided the base model and the robotic arms.

Full project is available at lucianludesign

Type

Motion graphics

Development period

August 2024

Client

Lucian Lu

Project Scope

Texturing

Environment design

Lighting

Animation

Audio editing

Rendering

Final editing

Materials and environment
Homely, minimal and premium is the objective for the environment. Low saturation warm hues that are contrasted with small textures allows for visual interest without clutter. The gentle smooth surfacing that connects the arch to the walls brings an upscale ambience.
Using custom PBR and procedural materials, the presentation aims to be photorealistic while maintaining the material diversity of the modules.
Animation
In the intro the client wanted to show off the fabric that wraps around UNU, so I've created various motions to help them visualize the effect.
The client requested four tagline animations to highlight key components of their product, each is then paired with footage of cats playing in similar fashion.
Several version of the module animation was tested to showcase the different attachments.

DJI Hive

A really fun project to showcase DJI Hive, an autonomous drone concept by Lucian Lu. I was responsible for the factory section of the video where the drone is assembled and launched.

I wanted to have a very clean aesthetic compared to my other videos. The clean environment help emphasize on the drone's colorful paint schemes. I paid extra attention in the animation of the conveyor belts and the movement of the drones themselves. I wanted to match the animation to the music in a very precise manner for this video, so I selected and edited the track very early on with rough storyboarding, and paid very close attention to match the animation to the audio.

The project was completed in a week, working on very tight deadlines allowed me to improve my workflow with this project and forces a much more efficient use of the assets I created.

The client provided the base model and the robotic arms.

Full project is available at lucianludesign

Type

Motion graphics

Development period

August 2024

Client

Lucian Lu

Project Scope

Texturing

Environment design

Lighting

Animation

Audio editing

Rendering

Final editing

Environment & asset design
Set 1: Office
Inspired by Alien-esque aesthetics, I wanted a clash of 1970's technology and futuristic concept to run concurrent in the design of the sets.  
The original color scheme was made to be cold and to contrast the warm tone of the 2nd set.
The hardware is based on old computers, namely the 186 tape drive computer from IBM as well as their classic spring keyboard.
Using after effects I made several retro interface animations to help create the ambience and date the technology.
One of the earliest piece built was the disc player, although chronologically it is quite out of place with the 70's computers, I wanted to further play up the contrast between aged technology and the titlecard "future".

I transcribed a simpler version of the song to piano and warped it onto the disc, so that in the intro of the song, the correct notes would "play".
Set 2: Hanger
Most of the runtime takes place in the hanger, as a maintenance and launch platform, I wanted the space to reflect a sense of strength in the heavy industrial aesthetic.
Elevator shaft
Referencing mining elevator shafts, the exposed panels and mesh help with setting the gritty mechanical feeling of the interior.
Maintenance platform
To support and launch the ship, I wanted the platform to be visually strong while maintaining intricate details.
I was inspired by the bezel on the VC overseas series watches for its sense of strength and refinement.
The structure is based on rail cannons that uses a series of electromagnets to accelerate a projectile to great speed in a short platform.
In order to support the heavy launch platform, the structure to reflect a feeling of strength, so I took inspiration from the traditional Chinese architecture principle of Mortise and tenon, a form of interlocking joint work.
To match the key shift in the music, I paid attention in the lighting of the opening of the hanger bay doors. Contrasting between the gloomy green hue and the much brighter and warmer sunlight. I animated several interfaces here and used the interaction on the displays to sell the illusion of a greenscreen.
Sparks and flames
In the process of making this video I experimented with sparks and flame effects to create visual interest by contrast. Furthermore, I added in details like the tip of the exhaust gradually glowing brighter as the afterburner kicks on, and the electromagnetic modules swaying as the ship accelerates through the rail to enhance the sense of tactility in the motion.

DJI Hive

A really fun project to showcase DJI Hive, an autonomous drone concept by Lucian Lu. I was responsible for the factory section of the video where the drone is assembled and launched.

I wanted to have a very clean aesthetic compared to my other videos. The clean environment help emphasize on the drone's colorful paint schemes. I paid extra attention in the animation of the conveyor belts and the movement of the drones themselves. I wanted to match the animation to the music in a very precise manner for this video, so I selected and edited the track very early on with rough storyboarding, and paid very close attention to match the animation to the audio.

The project was completed in a week, working on very tight deadlines allowed me to improve my workflow with this project and forces a much more efficient use of the assets I created.

The client provided the base model and the robotic arms.

Full project is available at lucianludesign

Type

Motion graphics

Development period

August 2024

Client

Lucian Lu

Project Scope

Texturing

Environment design

Lighting

Animation

Audio editing

Rendering

Final editing

Visualization

DJI Hive

A really fun project to showcase DJI Hive, an autonomous drone concept by Lucian Lu. I was responsible for the factory section of the video where the drone is assembled and launched.

I wanted to have a very clean aesthetic compared to my other videos. The clean environment help emphasize on the drone's colorful paint schemes. I paid extra attention in the animation of the conveyor belts and the movement of the drones themselves. I wanted to match the animation to the music in a very precise manner for this video, so I selected and edited the track very early on with rough storyboarding, and paid very close attention to match the animation to the audio.

The project was completed in a week, working on very tight deadlines allowed me to improve my workflow with this project and forces a much more efficient use of the assets I created.

The client provided the base model and the robotic arms.

Full project is available at lucianludesign

Type

Motion graphics

Development Period

October 22, 2023

Client

Lucian Lu

Project Scope

Texturing

Environment design

Lighting

Animation

Audio editing

Rendering

Final editing

Visualization

DJI Hive

A really fun project to showcase DJI Hive, an autonomous drone concept by Lucian Lu. I was responsible for the factory section of the video where the drone is assembled and launched.

I wanted to have a very clean aesthetic compared to my other videos. The clean environment help emphasize on the drone's colorful paint schemes. I paid extra attention in the animation of the conveyor belts and the movement of the drones themselves. I wanted to match the animation to the music in a very precise manner for this video, so I selected and edited the track very early on with rough storyboarding, and paid very close attention to match the animation to the audio.

The project was completed in a week, working on very tight deadlines allowed me to improve my workflow with this project and forces a much more efficient use of the assets I created.

The client provided the base model and the robotic arms.

Full project is available at lucianludesign

Type

Motion graphics

Date

October 22, 2023

Client

Lucian Lu

A 3D motion showcase for DJI Hive by Lucian Lu

Project Scope

Texturing

Environment design

Lighting

Animation

Audio editing

Rendering

Final editing