More recently, we could see quadrocopters (although it would be more correct to call them multicopters) only in feature films. At the beginning of the 21st century, private military companies took up the production of unmanned aerial propeller drones, but such devices were prohibitively expensive.
A little later, enthusiasts announced a fundraiser on a crowdfunding platform to develop an affordable quadrocopter model, and then universal hysteria and a general desire to take possession of such a toy began.
A quadrocopter is like a toy helicopter on the control panel, only there are more functions in it, respectively, and joy, and it will bring more benefits. Since this thing is quite new and highly technological for our market, there may be some problems with its choice, given the abundance of models on sale.
In this article, aeroflydrones.com will talk more about these devices, about what they can, and also help you choose the best option.
Types and classes of drones
- Engine: collector or brushless
- Multirotor control, sensors
- Multicopter Cameras
- Flight time
More recently, we could see quadrocopters (although it would be more correct to call them multicopters) only in feature films. At the beginning of the 21st century, private military companies took up the production of unmanned aerial propeller drones, but such devices were prohibitively expensive.
A little later, enthusiasts announced a fundraiser on a crowdfunding platform to develop an affordable quadrocopter model, and then universal hysteria and a general desire to take possession of such a toy began.
A quadrocopter is like a toy helicopter on the control panel, only there are more functions in it, respectively, and joy, and it will bring more benefits. Since this thing is quite new and highly technological for our market, there may be some problems with its choice, given the abundance of models on sale. In this article, we will talk more about these devices, about what they can, and also help you choose the best option.
What Are Screw Drones
A modern multicopter is not only a toy, but also a working tool for many professions. If cheap models can scare superstitious neighbors in the country and park them on someone on the beach, then with the help of more expensive devices with built-in video cameras you can take beautiful panoramic shots with beautiful spans, take your friends on a trip for better photo and video reports and family.
The most expensive quadrocopters are stuffed with electronics to the eyeballs: they have installed a whole system of gyroscopes, increased flight range and battery life, and they can shoot cameras in ultra-high resolution. Such models are now used even for filming movies. And remember, in many countries, the launch of unmanned drones requires permission from government officials.
By trial and error, British scientists have deduced the required minimum number of propellers in the minidron. Depending on the number of screws (propellers), multicopters are:
- Tricopter – devices with three screws. Not the most stable models, because due to the small number of propellers you have to increase engine power. Such devices will come down, perhaps, as toys, although there are very expensive examples of tricopter for shooting on GoPro cameras;
- Quadrocopters are one of the most stable and reliable schemes for drones, so it has gained such popularity among amateurs and professionals. The quadcopter has enough lifting power for most tasks, everything depends only on the cost of the model and your needs;
- Hexacopters. Logically, there should also be pentacopters (with five screws), but physics is a heartless thing, so the symmetry in building such an aircraft is very important. Hexacopters have 6 propellers, which allow the transfer of a significant mass. These are the most advanced and heavy devices that professionals often use to shoot using expensive equipment, and it can weigh pretty decently. Octocopters, which have 8 propellers, can be recorded in the same category.
Drone Classes
- The division of multicopter into classes is very arbitrary, and the boundaries between them are blurred. As we already mentioned, drones can be divided into those that are suitable for games, and those that can be used for more serious purposes.
- Micro and minicopters are very small (often the frame span does not exceed 16 cm), which makes them great toys for children. The functionality of such devices is minimal, they are easy to manage, but if you decide to go out with such a thing, then you should not do this in windy weather: the copter will blow down with air currents and it will not work. You can run right in the apartments, without fear that they will cripple expensive crystal vases or household appliances.
- Racing multicopter. Theoretically, no one forbids you to lay steep turns on any drone, but we decided to put these devices in a separate category for convenience. Such drones have small dimensions (130–250 mm), light weight and a special propeller design that allows you to accelerate the car to high speeds, sharply change direction and perform different aerobatics. They often have cameras installed that allow not only shooting, but also monitoring the flight from the first person directly from the screen of your smartphone or tablet, which can be included.
Amateur drones are an intermediate link between toys and serious professional copters. They are relatively inexpensive, the battery life is small, and the distance to which such a machine can be sent does not differ in large numbers. If you are planning to buy a drone you can try it for one/two days before you buy it. You can rent it from a trusted rental site like FriendWithA.
Cameras in amateur multi copters do not provide for shooting in “wide angle” and high resolution, but this is not necessary for relaxation, because the mother-in-law with a crop of zucchini in her hands from a bird’s-eye view will look good at 720p.
Amateur copters are also equipped with various functions that simplify management. For example, you can return such a drone to the owner with just one button.
Professional multicopters are models that allow you to perform special functions, such as panoramic surveys in ultra-high resolution, topographic scanning. Recently, such devices began to be used for the delivery of goods. In general, if you are not a postman or James Cameron, then this model should be chosen only if you are not constrained by the means and intend to use all the cool features of the device.
- Types and classes of drones
- Engine: collector or brushless
- Multirotor control, sensors
- Multicopter Cameras
- Flight time
More recently, we could see quadrocopters (although it would be more correct to call them multicopters) only in feature films. At the beginning of the 21st century, private military companies took up the production of unmanned aerial propeller drones, but such devices were prohibitively expensive. A little later, enthusiasts announced a fundraiser on a crowdfunding platform to develop an affordable quadrocopter model, and then universal hysteria and a general desire to take possession of such a toy began.
A quadrocopter is like a toy helicopter on the control panel, only there are more functions in it, respectively, and joy, and it will bring more benefits. Since this thing is quite new and highly technological for our market, there may be some problems with its choice, given the abundance of models on sale. In this article, we will talk more about these devices, about what they can, and also help you choose the best option.
What Are Screw Drones
A modern multicopter is not only a toy, but also a working tool for many professions. If cheap models can scare superstitious neighbors in the country and park them on someone on the beach, then with the help of more expensive devices with built-in video cameras you can take beautiful panoramic shots with beautiful spans, take your friends on a trip for better photo and video reports and family.
The most expensive quadrocopters are stuffed with electronics to the eyeballs: they have installed a whole system of gyroscopes, increased flight range and battery life, and they can shoot cameras in ultra-high resolution. Such models are now used even for filming movies. And remember, in many countries, the launch of unmanned drones requires permission from government officials.
By trial and error, British scientists have deduced the required minimum number of propellers in the minidron. Depending on the number of screws (propellers), multicopters are:
- Tricopter – devices with three screws. Not the most stable models, because due to the small number of propellers you have to increase engine power. Such devices will come down, perhaps, as toys, although there are very expensive examples of tricopter for shooting on GoPro cameras;
- Quadrocopters are one of the most stable and reliable schemes for drones, so it has gained such popularity among amateurs and professionals. The quadcopter has enough lifting power for most tasks, everything depends only on the cost of the model and your needs;
- Hexacopters. Logically, there should also be pentacopters (with five screws), but physics is a heartless thing, so the symmetry in building such an aircraft is very important. Hexacopters have 6 propellers, which allow the transfer of a significant mass. These are the most advanced and heavy devices that professionals often use to shoot using expensive equipment, and it can weigh pretty decently. Octocopters, which have 8 propellers, can be recorded in the same category.
Look for a balance between the cost of the drone and its power and determine in advance what you expect from your new toy. It is important to remember a simple truth: the more propellers, the more moving parts, and therefore the likelihood of something to damage in the device or disable it from falling much higher.
Drone classes
- The division of multicopter into classes is very arbitrary, and the boundaries between them are blurred. As we already mentioned, drones can be divided into those that are suitable for games, and those that can be used for more serious purposes.
- Micro and minicopters are very small (often the frame span does not exceed 16 cm), which makes them great toys for children. The functionality of such devices is minimal, they are easy to manage, but if you decide to go out with such a thing, then you should not do this in windy weather: the copter will blow down with air currents and it will not work. You can run right in the apartments, without fear that they will cripple expensive crystal vases or household appliances.
- Racing multicopter. Theoretically, no one forbids you to lay steep turns on any drone, but we decided to put these devices in a separate category for convenience. Such drones have small dimensions (130–250 mm), light weight and a special propeller design that allows you to accelerate the car to high speeds, sharply change direction and perform different aerobatics. They often have cameras installed that allow not only shooting, but also monitoring the flight from the first person directly from the screen of your smartphone or tablet, which can be included.
Amateur drones are an intermediate link between toys and serious professional copters. They are relatively inexpensive, the battery life is small, and the distance to which such a machine can be sent does not differ in large numbers. Cameras in amateur multicopters do not provide for shooting in “wide angle” and high resolution, but this is not necessary for relaxation, because the mother-in-law with a crop of zucchini in her hands from a bird’s-eye view will look good at 720p.
Amateur copters are also equipped with various functions that simplify management. For example, you can return such a drone to the owner with just one button.
Professional multicopters are models that allow you to perform special functions, such as panoramic surveys in ultra-high resolution, topographic scanning. Recently, such devices began to be used for the delivery of goods. In general, if you are not a postman or James Cameron, then this model should be chosen only if you are not constrained by the means and intend to use all the cool features of the device.
Classification By Engine Type
To bring propeller propellers into motion, small electric motors that operate on battery power are used. Any equipment wears out over time, especially for moving parts. In modern multicopter, two types of engines are used: collector and brushless, we will talk about them in more detail.
Collector motors are simple in design and are installed in cheaper drones. Do not differ in high efficiency and durability. With their help, it is unlikely to be able to develop greater speed and create the necessary traction for lifting any kind of cargo. For example, if you decide to stick a heavier camera on your drone with collector engines, then the car may not take off.
The principle of operation of the engine is based on applying voltage to the rotor using a brush-collector assembly, and this technology is considered quite outdated. Such engines overheat, wear out quickly and do not like long-term loads.
Brushless motors are more complex in design, despite the fact that the brush-collector assembly was thrown out of them. They consist of a rotor with magnets and a stator, in which coils with windings are installed. Due to the almost complete absence of friction between these parts, not only the durability of the engine is growing, but also its efficiency, which can exceed the performance of collector engines by almost a third. They develop excellent speed, do not overheat, are friends with dust and random specks (however, this does not mean that the multicopter should be crawled on the ground).
For beginners who are just learning to drive such machines, cheaper models of drones with collector engines are better suited, from the collapse or loss of which there will be no nervous tick in the left eye. No matter how modern your drone is, you will always want to change it to a more advanced model.
If you already know how to control a quadrocopter and you have extra money, then choose models with brushless motors that will last faithfully for more than one year.
Managing a Quadcopter And Everything Related To It
Modern unmanned multicopters are controlled in two ways: from a special joystick remote control that comes with the kit, or from a regular smartphone. There are also control symbioses when the smartphone is inserted directly into the remote control and through it you can observe the drone flying through the installed camera.
Multicopters, which are controlled from a smartphone via Wi-Fi, are usually inexpensive and are useful only for entertainment. They will not fly away far – corny there will not be enough signal strength from the phone. Yes, and to manage such drones is very difficult because of the need to crawl your fingers across the screen, which is not obtained by everyone. Count on a flight range of about 50 meters, then you will have to amplify the signal using special equipment and antennas.
As for Bluetooth control, this type of communication is considered even less long-range and is suitable for toy drones, which can be controlled directly in the apartment.
The best way to control is the transmission of a signal through a radio channel. The control panel of such drones usually has a powerful antenna, and if budget models have a flight range of about 200 meters, then expensive quadrocopters can be launched for several kilometers.
Marziano is a seasoned tech expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and multiple certifications, including CompTIA A+, Network+, and Cisco’s CCNA, he has a well-rounded and robust understanding of various aspects of technology.
