Tabla de contenidos para Issue 6, 2018 en Drone

DJI MAVIC PRO DJI are the kings of camera drones, and the DJI Mavic Pro is your best option in this category. If you have the cash we guarantee you will not be disappointed. Due to its small size, being able to fold up and fit in a shoulder bag, its pure speed, incredible stability, industry-leading safety features, intuitive controls, spot-on subject tracking and exceptional video and still photography, this is by far our favourite all-rounder. FEATURES WE LIKED • Compact, folds to fit in a shoulder bag • Safe and easy to fly even for beginners • Can literally fly itself • Collision avoidance • Industry-leading motion tracking • Long flight times • Fast and agile, heaps of fun • Top speed of 65kph • Use DJI Goggles…

“It’s a good idea to get a small knockabout drone first and rack up some experience” #1 NOT ALL DRONES ARE EASY TO FLY Most drone manufacturers will tell you their drones are easy to fly. However, it is all relative. Essentially, the more you spend, the better the tech inside and the more stable the drone will be. If you buy a $20 nano-quad off eBay then you bet it’s going to take some effort to keep it in the air. You are going to be bouncing off the walls and breaking props before achieving stable flight. Better off spending a few more bucks to make your learning experience less painful. Flying Inside: Small Indoor-safe drones are by far the cheapest way to get airborne and a great way to…

FLYING a drone should be an enjoyable experience. Recreational drone flyers can have fun exploring being a pilot – albeit one firmly on the ground – while professional drone operators are doing an important job for a client. However, doing the wrong thing while flying a drone can take all the fun out of the experience and leave a sizeable hole in your wallet. By now everyone with a drone should know there are safety rules and that it is vital to follow those safety rules at all times. The rules are contained in the official Federal Government regulations – the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, Part 101. This sets out operational rules for remotely piloted aircraft, requirements for certificates and licences and the requirements for operating very small remotely…

YES, there is money to be made from flying drones! But you need to develop your skills and knowledge, and get properly qualified. You may also need to be a bit of a tech head and capable when dealing with data. And like any successful job you need to be passionate about it and work hard. AGRICULTURE Of all the multitude applications that drones are used for, agriculture is perhaps the industry that has the most to gain. We talk to Falcon UAV’s Phil Lyons about the opportunities for drone pilots. Typically, what kind of jobs are drone operators hired for? In agriculture, drones are commonly used for imaging roles such as NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) or Crop Health maps. These are based on the technology that all plant…

BECAUSE drone batteries have been known to cause fires on aircraft, all airlines have strict regulations about the way they can be transported. First, no airline will allow you to carry batteries in your check-in baggage. The reason for this is pretty simple. If there is a fire, it’s unlikely to be detected in the baggage hold until it’s too late. Generally speaking you can carry drone batteries in your carry-on baggage, where any problems are likely to be quickly noticed and rectified, though there are some limitations. To understand those limitations, you first need to work out the Watt-hour (Wh) rating of the batteries you want to transport. To do this you need to multiply the battery’s voltage (V) by its amp hour (Ah) rating. For example, the Watt-hour…

A SOUTH Australian company has patented a way of incorporating solar cells into the surface structure of battery-powered drones, enabling flight times to be extended by as much as six hours. The company, Praxis Aeronautics, has developed the laminating process based on one it used in the shipbuilding industry to encapsulate timber. That process gives boats the glossy look of a classic timber boat, but with the durability of fibreglass. For drones, the process encapsulates standard (cheap, lightweight) solar cells in composite material without losing efficiency, thus addressing key problems that have been holding back solar-powered aircraft – the weight and cost of accommodating solar cells. There is no substantial weight increase using the product on drones, according to Praxis’s managing director Cameron Donaldson. As for cost, existing methods of…

IMPULSERC HELIX ZX5 ImpulseRC have been at the forefront of FPV quadcopter design for a while now, and the Helix ZX series capitalises on a refined bloodline of no-compromise frame design. The featured electronics stack makes for one of the cleanest and most comprehensively featured builds around, and most certainly one of the sexiest. Trusted by top tier pilots the world over, including world beaters like Thomas Bitmatta, the Helix ZX5 is the go-to choice for anyone wanting to be as competitive as can be. Different retailers combine the Helix ZX series frame with their own selection of electronics and options, so purchasing from trusted sources with racing pedigree such as Birdman (nextfpv. com.au) can pay real dividends on the track. FEATURES WE LIKED • Seriously competitive package •…

THE first thing you notice when you set eyes on the M200 is that it’s built tough, and it’s built to adapt. It is designed to work in extreme conditions with all the safety and redundancy features DJI is known for, plus much more. The Matrice also supports some unique camera configurations, a virtual Swiss army knife of drone accessories. However, this drone isn’t designed just for taking pretty pictures, and it aint for the amateur or even the semi-pro. It’s for serious commercial use. It comes in three versions depending on what you want it to do – the base Matrice 200, the 210 and the 210 RTK. The Matrice 200 base version comes in at around $9,000 while the full-featured Matrice 210 RTK starts at around 25-large. By…

DJI’S SKYPIXEL is quickly becoming the destination for stunning drone images. And the website has just launched a new photo comp with the grand prize winner set to walk away with more than US$15,000 worth of gear including a DJI Inspire 2 with Zenmuse X7 16mm camera-lens, iPhone X, Nikon D850, Lowepro camera bag, Manfrotto carbon fibre tripod. The competition closes on 29 December 2017. If you want to enter, head to skypixel.com for all the details. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy this selection of awesome shots from the site.…

SO, you’ve read ‘Career Options for Drone Pilots’ in issue 5 and asked yourself, ‘How do I learn to be a Drone Pilot? What is the next step?’ Budding pilots who just love the thought of taking to the skies, and are keen to venture into the industry ask these questions and more. Pilots can start at a very basic training level, and then add to those basics as their knowledge and skills develop. The industry of drone flight and its applications are growing and merging with the high-tech robotic industry. Career opportunities are exploding; and are not just limited to those listed in the Issue 5 article – that’s just the beginning. Further afield, entrepreneurs are exploring the use of drones for general transport, medivac, rescue, local, domestic and…

SPORTING what appears to be the perfect combination of intelligence, tenacity, skill and discipline, Thomas Bitmatta has managed to rise through the entire field of Australian pilots to take out the MAAA Drone Nationals and FPVR Aussie Open before heading over to the United States and delivering a dominating victory at the MultiGP International Open. One week away from sitting down with his fellow students to the battery of tests for his Victorian Certificate of Education, Bitmatta turned down free airfares, accommodation and expenses to compete at the International Drone Sports Competition in South Korea – along with a chance to compete for a sizable $50,000 prize pool. While some might think him mad for choosing not to attend, Bitmatta has his head screwed on tight and knows exactly what…

1 Put your batteries into storage charge mode before you fly so there is less stress on the cells. Check with manufacturer but general recommendation is around 30-60% capacity. 2 Cover the terminals with electrical tape (required by airports). It is also recommended to use a LiPo Safe Battery Pouch for worst case scenarios. 3 Clearly label each battery with its Watt-hour (Wh) rating. 4 Carry a physical copy of the airline’s dangerous goods documentation. 5 Remember, airlines have carry-on weight limits and batteries are heavy. Weigh your carry-on luggage before you get to the airport to make sure you’re within limits. 6 Check the Civil Aviation Safety Authority website – www.casa.gov.au/standard-page/travelling-safely-batteries – for more information about carrying batteries on aircraft.…

TWO years ago Ascent Aerosystems launched the Sprite drone via Kickstarter. Now they’ve followed up with the Spirit, a drone that looks decidedly like a flying water bottle with two counter-rotating rotors at the top. With its futuristic design and support for various cameras, this may very well be the world’s most unique UAV, according to Thomas Luna of wetalkuav.com. The new Spirit drone is made with a modular design, so payloads of up to 1kg can be carried. With a 500g payload, it can fly for an estimated 30 minutes. In test footage it carried a DJI X3 camera but other cameras like a DJI X5, 360, or thermal camera can also be attached. Check out the video at youtu.be/-WPqWjwD1sM Located on the bottom of the drone is a…

UK drone manufacturer Propel has released a range of three Star Wars Battle Quad drones that you can use for dogfights with your friends. Looking pretty much like the movie vehicles there’s the T-65 X-Wing Star Fighter, the 74-Z Speeder Bike complete with Imperial Scout Trooper, and Darth Vader’s ship, the Imperial TIE Advanced X1. A Millennium Falcon model is expected to land when the Han Solo movie launches on the big screen next year. The initial batch of drones is a series of collector’s editions – hand painted and individually numbered in special display cases. The excitement starts when you open the box. Lift the lid and the box lights up and plays the Star Wars fanfare. Different Star Wars music plays the next time you open the box.…

BLADE INDUCTRIX FPV+ Want to get into First-Person-View (FPV) flying indoors? We love the Blade Inductrix with its ducted rotors to avoid damage, stable indoor flight and now with an included FPV camera. The video signal is excellent for such a tiny little thing. Featuring altitude hold, intuitive flight modes and coloured in racing red, you will be buzzing around the house getting into all sorts of trouble. FEATURES WE LIKED • Miniature FPV fun • Included 4.3 inch monitor • RTF with video monitor on controller • Robust, damage resistant design HUBSAN X4 SERIES The Hubsan X4s have been around for a while and are still top sellers for their reliability and durability. There are different versions at different price points now, but they remain a truly affordable…

BEING stuck in the world of commercial drone flying has its moments of enjoyment, but rarely do I get the opportunity to play with a small quad purely for fun. The Spark with its new gesture control certainly grabbed my attention so I was really looking forward to putting this little ‘smart’ drone through its paces. Drone tech has been moving forward at such a pace recently, it’s hard to keep up. The China-based drone company DJI have all but owned the prosumer and professional market for some time now, but only recently set their sights on the personal or ‘selfie’ drone market. The Spark has so many features and clever tech working behind the scenes it's baffling how they manage to make it all work so smoothly. 10 cool…

DJI Zenmuse X7 promises pro-level video and stills While the Zenmuse X5S that ships with the DJI Inspire 2 is a great camera, DJI's new Zenmuse X7 raises the bar for aerial cinematography and stills shooting. The new camera features a physically larger 24-megapixel sensor (measuring 23.5 x 15.7mm compared to the X5S's 17.3 x 13mm sensor) and promises better low-light performance, greater image detail and up to 14 stops of dynamic range – all in a lightweight body with full control supported through DJI’s ecosystem. You’re going to get 6K in CinemaDNG RAW or 5.2K in Apple ProRes at up to 30fps, as well as 3.9K CinemaDNG RAW or 2.7K ProRes at up to 59.94fps. Lens options are crucial for high-level production, and currently there are four focal length…

STRONGER and clearer safety rules governing the flying of drones have been introduced by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The new rules will better protect people and aircraft from drones. They focus on the operation of recreational drones. The drone safety rules have been tightened in response to community concerns about the safety of drones and the rapid growth in drone numbers. The new requirements are set out in an interim formal direction that will apply until a full review of the drone regulations is completed. Recreational drones weighing more than 100 grams must now never be flown within 5.5 kilometres of any controlled aerodrome – which are the major aerodromes in capital cities and some regional centres. In addition, recreational drones weighing more than 100 grams must not…

DRONE HOME Richard Terweeme Chief Pilot and Director, Helivision Solutions www.helivisionsolutions.com.au I have been fortunate to work in many varied locations and scenarios within the Television and Corporate world over the years, and I have found that when working from moving platforms and especially over water, things can get sketchy unless you follow proper procedures. In addition to the usual pre-flight tests I recommend it is of the highest priority to make sure the aircraft is initialised on a stable level surface so the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) can calibrate correctly. When on a boat you are going to need calm waters. If possible, set the home position to the controller, and not where it was initially turned on as this will no doubt change during flight! “When flying in…

BMSweb custom Helix prototype This is based on what I want most from a race configuration and provides a strong balance between theoretical performance, strength and durability – and therefore provides the best overall track performance. Foxeer HS1177 with a 2.5 or 2.1 lens This is a simple, reliable combo that performs well for both day and night races. The wide FOV also allows for more on-screen data for the pilot and therefore better situational awareness on track. ImpulseRC Helix built-in FC and VTX This combo is the best I have ever used. The gyro works perfectly and the noise filtering of the components is unmatched, meaning I get crystal clear video. Prototype T-Motor F40 pro II KV2600 The best motors I've tried so far. They possess more top-end performance…

HAWK VS DRONE No prizes for guessing why the drone plummeted to the ground moments after it took this shot of an angry hawk. When they’re not attacking drones, of course, hawks and eagles look for meatier prey such as birds or animals. This particular terror from the skies has been put to use in southern Japan where monkeys have been raiding farm crops. According to The Japan Times, the Oita Prefecture has been experimenting with a drone disguised as a hawk to scare the monkeys off. Complete with eyes and beak and carrying a small stuffed monkey, the drone also emits the sound of a screaming monkey when flying. Initially an expert was employed to release a real hawk in the area, but while this was partly successful it…

Thanks to DJI, this amazing prize includes the brand new Spark plus in the ‘Fly More Combo’ you also get Propeller Guards, an Extra Battery, Remote Controller, Extra Pair of Propellers, Battery Charger, and Battery Charging Hub. The Spark has collision avoidance, an amazing range of flight modes, and can shoot HD video and 12MP stills. And you can fly it simply with hand gestures. How cool is that? For more info about the Spark and all its features, see our test pilot review starting on page 20 this issue. DRONE MAGAZINE’S PICK ‘BEST NEW DRONE 2017’ ENTER THE COMPETITION NOW! To go into the draw, go to www.dronemagazine.com.au and click on COMPETITIONS. Entries close 30 April 2018.…