Team Members & Role:

Lorelei Hetzler: Team Lead

Chris Campbell: Analysis Lead

Nora Paydarfar: Design/ Evaluation Lead

Robert Canavan – Gosselin: Fabrication/ Evaluation Lead

Abstract: Capturing smooth, professional-grade footage while filming from a moving car is a significant challenge, often forcing amateur videographers into unsafe practices like filming from vehicle trunks. Existing stabilization systems are prohibitively expensive and out of reach for most creators. Team 1409 is solving this by designing, fabricating, and evaluating a simple and cost-effective car camera stabilizer. This system will assist with stabilizing camera footage from a car by absorbing large bumps and vibrations from vehicular motion while keeping the camera steady. The simplicity of the linear spring-mass-damper system ensures affordability and ease of use, making cinematic-quality automotive media accessible to all. Existing high end stabilization systems are professional cinematic systems costing thousands of dollars. Lower-cost options are systems that mimic high-end systems but are made at home and not reliable enough to integrate with expensive camera equipment. By prioritizing simplicity and affordability, Team 1409 has created a solution that is lightweight, easy to install, and specifically engineered for the unique demands of automotive filming. Constructed to be robust yet compact, the car camera stabilizer ensures smooth footage on all types of terrain, making high-quality video footage accessible for amateur videographers to capture professional-quality media safely and effectively.

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