Table of contents for Drones The Complete Manual First Edition in Drones The Complete Manual

The DJI Phantom 3 is the first drone in the successful Phantom series to feature a built-in camera. Historically, they have been considered high-end or ‘prosumer’ drones that required a separate camera to be mounted onto the body. Its predecessor, the Vision+ brought silky smooth and professionallooking aerial video to the mainstream market, and the Phantom 3 expands these capabilities further. Two versions of the Phantom 3 are available; the Advanced model features a 12 megapixel camera capable of recording video at 60 frames per second in Full HD resolution. The more expensive Professional model can record video up to 4K at 30 frames per second. Paired with a three-axis gimbal, both offer exceptional stability for a consumer drone and empower you to capture professional-grade video and imagery. Similar in…

It’s vital to be able to edit your hard earned footage, or at least have a friend who can. Being organised is a major help in managing and editing your material. Start by downloading your clips into a separate project folder. Don’t just download everything into your computer’s default photo or video folder. Create a separate folder for the project and name everything there. After this, your editing software will have everything to hand. Once you’re finished, your project can easily be archived to an external hard drive, but if you decide to change something in your edit, everything is still in place and your video editing software will be able to access your clips. It’s all in the edit Once you return home with your footage, the work really…

“The technology in modern UAVs means that radio-controlled flying is easier and more accessible than ever before” Many people see modern drones as something mainly used by filmmakers and hard-core technology geeks. UAVs can be seen as elitist, hard to fly and needing considerable technical skills as well as exceptional hand-eye coordination. In fact, the technology in modern UAVs means that radio-controlled flying is easier and more accessible than ever before. If you’re thinking of investing in a quadcopter of your own, but worry that it may be just a fad and will soon be forgotten at the back of the spare room, here are a few ideas on fun things to do with a drone that anyone can try, which will stop you becoming bored with your UAV. All…

Since the invention of photography, many people have been absolutely fascinated by capturing a bird’s-eye view of the world in photographic form. This desire to take aerial photographs was a driving force for many professionals to start using drones and to realise their potential in this market, including Stef Williams of Aerialworx: “I always wanted to take a camera to the sky. I was flying my remote-controlled aeroplanes and trying to strap mobile phones onto them, and then small cameras, which didn’t work very well. Then, about four years ago when the quadcopter technology came onto the market, because I was already flying remote-control aeroplanes, it was a natural progression to move onto these drones.” In the early days of multicopter technology, you couldn’t just buy a craft and fly…

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…

As technology advances and prices fall, the demand for consumer drones continues to grow. Drones are available in all shapes and sizes from the tiny, entry-level Blade Nano QX to the highend, professional Turbo Ace Matrix. It can all be a bit confusing, as these remote control or autonomous aircraft go by a variety of names, including UAVs, drones and quadcopters. These are largely interchangeable, although the term quadcopter refers to the number of rotors. From as little as £40/$60, you can experience the fun and excitement of owning a drone without breaking the bank. Explore, perform stunts, and even play multiplayer games. You can choose from a range of drones to suit your budget and experience level. With so many drones on the market, it can be hard to…

Direction The colour-coded propellers help you see the drone’s orientation Colours The Bebop is also available in red Fast blades It can reach speeds of up to 37mph HD camera The wide-angle “fisheye” lens captures a 180° field of view The Parrot Bebop 2 builds on the success of the original consumer camera drone by featuring a more durable body, higher quality camera and longer flight time. The Bebop 2 is one of the most advanced drones you can buy, and is absolutely packed with gadgets and technology. The ultrasound and pressure sensors measure its altitude while the three-axis gyroscope and accelerometer keep the drone stable in flight. Keeping all this tech safe is the new and improved glass reinforced chassis and shockproof feet. Weighing just 500 grams, the lightweight…

First-person view, or FPV, means you see what your drone sees through its camera or attached GoPro. Instead of just squinting up at your quadcopter from the ground, you can see the live view through the on-board camera, using special goggles or a portable monitor, or in some cases an Android or iOS mobile device. This lets you fly further, higher and faster without getting too disorientated or confused. Watching from the ground, it’s all too easy to lose track of which way your drone is facing and whether you need to reverse the stick inputs to make it turn the right way. When you’re flying FPV, left and right never get reversed, because your perspective is the same as your drone’s. Flying FPV is also a lot more immersive.…

Take any invention or method of conveyancing and transportation from across the ages, and you will find that somewhere, humans have been racing it. From Roman chariots and horses to the first aircraft and internal combustion engines, it wasn’t long before we were creating racing circuits as we continued hunting our new fix for adrenaline. It’s a long-held belief that warfare and competition are the two elements that advance developments in any area, and drone technology is no different. Welcome to the world of drone racing. Drone racing is a 21st Century motorsport. A unique and intoxicating combination of PC gaming, gladiatorial motorsport, Hollywood movie effects and, of course, adrenaline. As with any form of competition, the origins of drone racing are unclear. In all probability, it started with a…

Thanks to a drop in manufacturing costs, and rapid advances in technology, drones have flown into many professional and recreational areas in the last few years. In the next few chapters you will discover how drones are being used to help keep firefighters safe, assist rangers in spotting potential poachers, enable news gatherers to report from disaster zones, and keep maps up to date. There are also film makers who are using drones to replace traditional film-making equipment, enabling them to get shots that would be too dangerous and expensive to capture using a helicopter. There’s even an insight from a military drone pilot on how drones are being used in intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance. We’ll also discover how drones are being embraced by the nonprofessionals, with the…

One of the biggest challenges faced by conservationists and those working with wild animals is how to cover the huge areas of terrain occupied by the creatures that they are trying to protect. Certain habitats, such as dense jungles, are also difficult to traverse. Serge Wich is a Professor in Primate Biology at Liverpool John Moores University and his research often takes him into the wild. He is also the co-founder of ConservationDrones. Serge explains how the organisation came to be. “We had been doing survey work in South East Asia and figured that it would be good if there was a more efficient way of doing surveys than just going in on the ground,” he told us. “Ground data is great, but it is often very costly and very…

With the development of drones, filmmakers are discovering exciting new ways to capture distinctive footage for a wide range of film, TV and corporate productions. While planning a TV commercial, energy company EDF wanted to show the journey of various energy assets in the UK in a single shot. They tasked UK-based SkyVue Media with the job of capturing drone-sourced aerial footage that would blend seamlessly with handheld steadicam footage on the ground, as SkyVue’s Managing Director Dan Shiells explains: “That was quite tricky because the shot starts over the back of a house pointing down, and then we tilt up to reveal the horizon. We then pull back over the house, come down the front of it, and zoom right in on an EDF energy van. From there, the…

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 stunning drone videos are of 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. 5 Essential safety tips Pick your spot The UAV must remain within your sight at…

Groups are brilliant for offering information on the different types of drones and the best ways to use them. You’ll find that there are groups of people online who are interested in very specific machines or uses, such as owners of Phantom products or people who are into shooting location video, or more general groups. It’s definitely worth joining a group, and a good place to try is the Facebook group My First Drone Beginners Group. It’s a private-interest group, so it’s closed, but you just need to request to join it. You can also use the online groups to find out where there are local flying groups. If there is anything better than hearing from someone about exactly how they use their quadcopter and what problems they’ve solved, it’s…

Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, the X4 is one of the most compact drones on the market. This not only makes the X4 safer to use indoors and more suitable for less experienced users, but it also means it’s fast and agile enough to perform a range of tricks and stunts. With four motors and a six-axis flight control system, the X4 quadcopter is stable and easy to operate. A remote control transmitter allows you to fly the X4 remotely from a distance of up to 100 metres. The rechargeable 240mAh battery provides around ten minutes of flight time. Hubsan offer two models of the X4 in the forms of the H107L and H107C. The main difference between them is the addition of a 2…

Now in its second generation, the AR.Drone 2.0 is smaller, lighter and more agile than its predecessor and available in a range of colours. Compared with the more expensive Parrot Bebop, the AR.Drone 2 is considered an entry-level drone. It offers a built-in HD camera optimised for video recording and can be piloted in realtime from the AR. Free Flight app. The app is available to download for free on iOS or Android devices and allows you to fly, record videos and much more. Included with the drone are indoor and outdoor hulls. They are designed to protect it in different environments, for example the indoor hull adds propeller guards. Weighing just 380g with the outdoor hull attached, four motors drive the drone up to speeds of nearly 25mph. The…

Drone filming is big news on television right now. Almost every time you sit down to watch the news, there will be some great sequences showing buildings and places in a way we’ve never seen before, from angles that show us exactly what we need to see, but would be impossible to shoot without the help of a stable drone. Many of us would love to try our hand at drone photography and filming, whether it’s just for entertainment or for business and professional purposes, but don’t know where to begin. So here’s our guide to getting started, along with some tips on what to watch for and how to avoid the pitfalls. While you may have mastered flying your drone, this takes everything one step further, and requires a…

• The frame What would be called the chassis or fuselage were it a car or an aircraft, drone-racing frames are typically all carbon. Two of the most popular are the Blackout Mini H and the Lumenier QAV250. Both retail online at around $150. • Flight controller Most popular, by far, are the Naze32 Acro and the OpenPilot CC3D. Expect to pay less than $100 for either. • Motors and props It’s true that you get what you pay for with motors and props, just like fullsized engines. Cobra engines with HQ Props are the premium brands. If you’re on a budget, try Sunny Sky motors with GenFan props. Whichever combination you choose, order spare props and make sure you have them to hand. They’re always the first casualties in…

The accessibility of drones has exploded in recent years. Once solely a military venture, drones, UAVs, quadcopters, or whatever you want to call them, are becoming commonplace. Whether it’s to help with the shopping or delivering post, a quick breeze through the internet and you can buy (almost) whichever one you like. Crucially, various sets of rules and regulations have been put in place in the wake of this public drone explosion. These guidelines vary from region to region, with some countries more strict than others. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) controls everything drone in the USA, while the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) performs the same role in the UK. Both have devised a series of standards that will allow for close regulation but also the flexibility to accommodate future…

The commercial and hobbyist unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are in other chapters of this book can trace their ancestors back to a military source. It was the military who were motivated to research and develop UAV technology, and who had the resources to do so. Some might trace UAVs back to the German-built V1 and V2 flying bombs of World War II, but these ‘doodlebugs’ were more akin to single-use missiles than today’s remotely piloted UAVs. The term ‘drone’ has traditionally been used to describe military UAVs. This military connotation has been a concern for some civilian UAV users who we interviewed. Craig Jump from Sky View Video explains: “One of the reasons I don’t like to use the word ‘drone’ is because people think of military aircraft with…