During the last decade when the word drone comes to mind, we find that the direct mind goes to its beginning associated with its use in the wars and tragedies for which it was developed, but during the recent period we find that this technology / industry has gone through great stages of development, For photographers and filmmakers.
With the development of this industry / technology many small and large models have emerged, and the choice of them is facing a lot of complexity and confusion, especially when looking for price and size. So, dear reader, whether you are professional or amateur this comprehensive guide to the formation of ammunition knowledge and adequate before thinking about the acquisition of your first aircraft
Industry / technique has a large market and loyal customers
When it comes to buying a UAV, the options here will not be as difficult as buying a smart phone. In fact, choosing an unmanned aerial vehicle depends largely on your use. Most enthusiasts of this type of technology, especially beginners and amateurs, Standard may meet their ambitions.
There are many types of UAVs, there are two main categories worth mentioning. The first category is the racing aircraft, which require a thorough knowledge and control, and are often owned by professionals who participate in this type of tournaments and races, Some improvements and additions can be made in such competitions.
It is worth mentioning that this type of racing has become a large audience and heroes become stars are referred to as boys with a huge prizes to monitor the winners of them, the second type are those aircraft that are used more professionally in the film, whether recreational or documentary, and this type of aircraft will be the cost And it costs thousands of dollars after being equipped with some equipment and accessories that allow it to fly for almost two hours non-stop.
Features You need to check before buying
To read a review or see a video is not enough to make a decision to buy a model, UAVs consist of several parts each complement the other and is not separated from them. So, you have to take a closer look or configure a lot of information before you buy an aircraft, this is a glimpse of what you should be looking for and reading about before you buy:
Battery Life: Like a smartphone, an unmanned aerial vehicle depends primarily on the battery you are running. Here you will find that the option to have an additional model-compatible drones battery seems a good choice. It is best to find offers that offer you a spare battery within the total price Of the drone.
Brushless motors: These types of engines may be more expensive but in return, they offer a quieter and longer-lived flight, which means you will not have to replace them often.
Camera: If you want the best quality footage possible, the camera specifications must be among your most important considerations. Therefore, when searching make sure that the aircraft you buy has the best compact cameras accompanying it.
Most professional, medium and relatively large aircraft models - with the exception of aircraft designed for gaming - now come with built-in cameras, with some exceptions in some models leaving you with the option of choosing the camera you want. Therefore, place this feature and add in the top items when making a purchase decision.
Follow-me mode: This option may be more suitable for professionals, but it is a great choice in UAVs. In addition to GPS, embedding your aircraft with this feature can provide you with some of the best shots as you practice your hobbies such as cycling. Any interference from you, including them in your unmanned aircraft is considered a more than wonderful option.
Many types of aircraft are the most famous ones
When you search or take a look at an airplane, you will find that there are many airplanes being displayed in e-shopping sites and local stores. Therefore, you should select the aircraft that is compatible with your uses and these are the most famous types:
Ready-to-fly (RTF): This type of UAV does not require much equipment and is ready to fly directly once the battery is charged and the wings are installed.
Almost-ready-to-fly (ARTF): These drones may require some small assemblies and additional equipment such as: the receiver (Rx), and a wireless controller (Tx).
Bind-n-fly (BNF): This type of drones is an RTF combination with a receiver but does not come with a wireless controller (you have to buy it separately) but you can then use it with other BNFs , Saving you some money if you decide to pick up your own UAV.
First-person view (FPV): To experience maximum use with this type of model, you need a virtual reality watch to watch the video directly from the camera in the UAV.
Return-to-home (RTH): A very important feature in some models allows unmanned aircrafts to manually adjust their settings by automatically returning to the pilot's location or starting point.
Gimbal: A mechanical camera stabilization system that enables you to get smooth video and sharp images even with fast movements or in high winds.
Headless mode: This means that UAVs will always fly forward, backward, left or right when you move the remote control stick in those directions.
Factors you should pay attention to before buying
Purpose of getting a UAV
In the last few years the UAV market has expanded dramatically, and this has led to the development of UAVs that aim for specific purposes. You can get a UAV for surveillance, surveillance and even acrobatics, with some specially assembled aircraft to perform More specific purposes. So, you have to determine the target for which you want to own a UAV.
Your budget
The drones intended for recreational use are usually affordable, you can get an excellent plane for less than $ 100, but it is advisable to avoid very cheap UAVs, especially if they are made of low quality plastic; because the cost of repair will increase your overall investment The long-term.
In addition, it is likely to be difficult to operate again if crashed, while commercial drones are usually too expensive, and also need to be registered with local authorities. So, make sure you find a UAV that will not exceed your total investment budget.
How high the UAV is
It is important to be aware of the aerial range that enables you to control the UAV. This is important for people who use UAVs to shoot and record videos from high altitudes. Most UAVs have a range not exceeding 30 meters, , So you may pay extra if you want a higher range.
Flight time
Some drones can only fly for 4 or 5 minutes, this probably will not give you enough time to get pleasure or even achieve your goals. Currently, the best drones can fly for between 15 and 25 minutes, and this is usually more expensive.
Some manufacturers offer additional batteries with their models for you to change between flights, this can make your flight time lengthen, along with flight time, you will be better off with a router that takes a little time to charge.
Materials used in manufacturing
Unless you want to throw the drone away after a few weeks of use, pay careful attention to the materials used in the manufacture of the model, the cheapest models are usually made of plain or reinforced plastic.
If you are working on a tight budget, it would be better for you to choose reinforced plastic, fiberglass or carbon models are much better in quality and durability, although they may cost you a lot of money and usually come at an expensive price, Made of aluminum they come in less in quality.
Availability of spare parts
With heavy and continuous use the UAV must be broken or damaged at some point, finding a plane with some parts is important and necessary, if you can not check whether the manufacturer or seller have spare parts on demand, or you can instead So, check and search the retailer or amazon there spare parts or not ?! The most important parts that can be replaced are fans, landing gear, controllers, engines, and batteries.
Live broadcast
Many people like watching live broadcasts of UAVs from the top, usually these cameras are placed at the bottom of the UAVs, the captured video is transferred in real time to the pilot screen, you can watch the video captured on your mobile phone or tablet directly.
Therefore, it is recommended for these purposes, to install an application on the mobile phone or tablet to be connected to the UAV camera, these applications provide greater convenience as you will not have to transfer videos to your phone, tablet, or computer later.
Your level of expertise
Cheap UAVs usually lack the features that make flying easy, which means they do not fit people who do not have air control experience in the air. If you are unsure of your ability to operate these UAVs you should find an unmanned aerial vehicle Which has automatic head-start, take-off and landing, these features for you as a beginner make the control of the UAV easier and safer at the same time.
Learn the rules to stay away from trouble
As a new pilot you must educate yourself on the rules and regulations that are related to this area, and the general rules for safe flying in your country, but for now, if you want to stay away from trouble and as an owner of an unmanned aerial vehicle, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Stay at least 5 miles from all airports.
- Do not fly over 400 feet above ground.
- Do not fly over the heads of people without permission.
- Do not fly over government facilities.
- Do not fly over private property.
- Do not fly over fires or crime scenes.
- And an important advice does not fly near police stations and law enforcement agencies.
It is easy to learn how to use a plane but it is easier to crash
With a little bit of experimentation you can quickly learn how to control the plane and make it fly over your head, but that does not mean that drones are flying it so easily, even the most advanced drones require some general knowledge if you want to avoid crashing or what is The worst loss is forever, and as long as you understand these basic concepts, you should be able to maintain your aircraft for as long as possible:
The first thing you need to know is that all drones are more than just engines, batteries and radios. There are many different sensors inside the plane that make it work.
One common sensor that is susceptible to interference is the GPS receiver, GPS is what tells the plane where it is, and without a good signal, bad things can happen, there are a few things that affect the GPS signals, but the main reason is the lack of With satellite communication, this happens when you fly into long cities, mountain ranges, and under large forest trees.
The other sensor that can sometimes hang on its own is the compass compass, this is one of the most important sensors; it tells the aircraft what direction it goes to connect with the GPS so as to navigate properly.
The steering compass is one of the biggest causes of unmanned aircraft accidents because it is only a router. What causes this interference? Anything made of metal, things like large metal structures, garden benches, power lines, and even metal in the ground can affect your own aircraft.
Where can I buy a UAV
The fact is that getting a UAV is very easy with the large number of local and electronic shops that offer various types of UAVs with their accessories and various accessories, as well as spare parts.
Here you can find out the most popular electronic shops specializing in the sale and purchase of UAVs on the Internet. Local stores are up to you to search for them:
dji.com The largest and most famous department stores in this area, all models have the strangest designs you will find in this store.
Amazon As we're talking about e-shopping, it's hard to ignore a Amazon-sized market where you can find many deals at affordable prices.
Drones Etc was founded in 2013 by two enthusiasts in this field, has a wide range of UAV models, specialize in selling UAVs, also with troubleshooting opportunities for financing if you do not own the price or want to pay later.
Banggood offers a wide range of unmanned aerial vehicles, their product pages are comfortably detailed, with a professional reviews from customers that allows you to form a good opinion before buying.
Ebay Store The months in the buying and selling of everything, and drones is no exception certainly, the new, user, expensive and cheap you will find in this store.