Drones: The Complete Manual

It’s not too long ago that we thought of drones as inaccessible technology, reserved only for the military and professionals, but that’s no longer the case. Commercial drones are taking the electronics market by storm, and they are increasingly being used in news broadcasting, filmmaking, emergency aid, animal conservation, art exhibitions and entertainment. If you’re hoping to get creative with a drone too, getting started might seem daunting. However, in this new edition of Drones the Complete Manual, we make it easier than ever before. You no longer need to be a certified pilot to fly, all you need is a drone and this book, and you’re ready for take-off!…

You might have heard of drones, but now suddenly you’re able to buy them! There are so many practical uses for drones, and in addition, they’re also fun devices to play with. With great fun comes a great range of choices to make. Quadcopters, multirotors and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are serious tools with specific uses and benefits. Every type has different advantages and disadvantages, but they all share the same issue of security. You also need to learn how to fly your drone, and understand what it is capable of. Once it is airborne, you could fly your drone up to check out storm damage on your chimney, for example, or check out those hard-to-reach ledges and gutters without spending money on scaffolding. You can set up the drone…

Drones are now common enough that there are stores that stock them and, of course, online shops that sell different types. The differences can be as obvious as cost and manufacturer, but more importantly affect how much work you have to do. You’re not likely to ever be able to fly a drone home straight from the shop. There are some that need assembling, and some that need their batteries charged first. RTF RTF means Ready To Fly. It means that you’ll be able to fly it more or less straight out of the box. You will need to charge up the drone’s batteries, perhaps put on the rotor blades and bind the drone with the controller. ‘Binding’ is the drone equivalent of pairing your phone with a Bluetooth device.…

You could go on Amazon right now and take your pick from around 10,000 different drones. However, you might encounter a problem when it comes to choosing which one to buy, as you will be swamped with jargon and reviews. Quadcopters cross lines between electronics, hobbyist products and, in some cases, even toys. So, high-street stores that sell any of these could also sell drones. The electronics store Currys PC World, for example, sell a number of UAVs, but not every store will necessarily have every product. Once you have an idea of the type of drone you want, and how much you can afford to spend on it, use online sites to narrow down your search. Many people buy the first drone they can afford, and don’t appreciate there…

Ensure it’s legal The laws surrounding drones are constantly changing. One of the most important things to do before you take your drone out is to research and understand the basic laws regarding flying a drone in your country. There are limits to where you can fly, especially near people, airports and military bases, so check before you head out. Know your boundaries There’s a reason so many drone videos are of wild landscapes: you cannot fly one within 150 metres of a congested area. Similarly, you cannot fly one within 50 metres of an individual. Also, if you are doing any flying for commercial reasons, you’ll need a licence from the Civil Aviation Authority. Pick your spot The UAV must remain within your sight at all times. If you…

Hover your drone When your drone is close to the ground, the downdraft from the rotors is reflected up, and makes it hard to keep the UAV steady. Raise it to 1.5m (5ft) and then practise holding it still. This is known as hovering and can be tricky to master. Take short hops Practice flying your drone short distances in your garden. You’ll be learning the core controls of turning left and right, moving up and down, forward and back. If you do them in short hops, the worst that can happen is that you have to walk over and pick your drone up. Beat the wind Gusts come from one direction at a time, so if you are buffeted from the right, then you should fly to the right.…