CLASSIFICATION FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF DRONES

Classification of the drones may sound impossible, due to the fact there are a lot of different models, with different features, sizes, and price. The only way we can classify them is by size.

NANO AND MINI DRONES

The smallest drones on the planet are members of these categories. They can be divided into two groups: Nano and Mini drones.

Nano drones are the smallest and they usually have the same dimensions as insects. On the other side, mini drones can reach up to 50 cm in length and they have more powerful electric motors and better features than Nano drones.

In general, models from both categories are used by the military, in spying and smaller tasks, due to the fact they can be easily maneuvered and they can reach remote locations. On the other side, there are several models on the market that are available to ordinary consumers,They have a very small radius, between 1 and 3 km and they cannot fly more than 10-20 minutes.

DRONE WITH SMALL SIZES

Drones from this group have dimensions between 50 cm and 2 m. They don’t have powerful motors so they must be thrown into the air, in order to start flying.

These products are also very popular on the market because they have great features and they are more affordable than bigger drones.

These drones are also the most common type of drones available to average customers. Simply said, most drones that you can see on the market are members of this group. All of them have a radius of 5 km and they can fly between 20 and 40 minutes.

DRONES WITH MEDIUM SIZES

Every drone that has a wingspan between 5 and 10 m falls into the medium category. These drones can carry up to 200 kg of weight and they have powerful motors.

In addition, a single person cannot carry a drone from this group, so they are not a common choice of ordinary people.

These drones are usually used for transporting goods, to remote locations and by the military. Keep in mind that these drones are still smaller and lighter than other light aircraft. They can fly up to 50 km and their flying time can be long as 6 hours.

BIG DRONES

A drone with a wingspan bigger than 10m is a member of this group. In general, these drones have the same dimensions as smaller aircraft and they are used by the army. A civilian cannot buy this drone, due to the fact it is treated as an aircraft.

Most drones are equipped with weapons and missiles, so they are used in tactical attacks or when sending human pilots is a high risk. It is believed that big drones will completely replace the aircraft that require a pilot in the near future.

Due to the fact that there are a lot of different drones from this group, they can be classified in these smaller, groups:

1. Short range models. They can fly upto 150 km and more than 11 hours.
2. Drones with medium range. These drones can have a range of 650 km and they are commonly used in weather forecasting.
3. Drones with the longest radius. Drones from this group can fly upto 30.000 ft. above the sea level and they can stay in the air more than 36 hours. The main goal of these drones is to reach remote distances.

WHAT IS A DRONE ? MAIN FEATURES AND APPLICATIONS OF DRONES

When talking about a drone as an electric device, we thinking of missile or a remote-controlled pilotless aircraft.So, what is the definition of drone for this unmanned aerial vehicle? One of the most used definitions for drone is: “Drone is any unmanned aircraft or ship that is guided remotely”.  Another frequently used definition is: “An unmanned aircraft or ship that can navigate autonomously, without human control or beyond the line of sight”. 

The word “drone” has several different meanings and it origins from old English word drān, drǣn, which means ‘male bee’.No doubt, drones are among the most advanced devices in today’s aeronautics, electronics and robotics alike. In the following text, you can find out more about the drones, how they work, what are their main features, their applications in a variety of fields, types of drones, and the future of drones.

Drones have been around for years, and they are used for different purposes and can be of help in numerous occasions. However, these devices have become more popular in recent times and their application increases rapidly in various fields.

DISCUSS ABOUT WORKING AND MAIN FEATURES OF DRONES?

In order to understand better how drones fly and work, we need to know something basic about the construction of a typical drone.

A drone is made from different light composite materials in order to increase maneuverability while flying and reduce weight. It can be equipped with a variety of additional equipment, including  GPS guided missiles, cameras, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), navigation systems, sensors, and so on.

Drones come in a broad range of shapes, sizes, and with various functions. The vast majority of today’s models can be launched by hand, and they can be controlled by remotes or from special ground cockpits. The commercial models come in small sizes and have simplified construction, so these drones are suitable even for kids because they are very easy to control

There are different variations in the frame and construction of drones, but the essential components that every drone must have is a waterproof motor frame, flight and motor controllers, motors, transmitter and receiver, propellers, and batteries or any other source of energy.Yes, these small aerial acrobats are able to pack a lot of accessories into their metal or plastic frames. Most drones are ready-to-use, however, some people like building a drone themselves using kits.

What makes these unmanned aircraft remarkable is their great flight capability. Drones have ultra-stable flight, and they can hover and perform different acrobatics in the air. How far you can fly your drone depends on the space you are flying it, as well as the line of sight.

You can certainly fly a drone beyond the line of your sight, but it increases the risk of hurting someone, crashing your drone, or damaging someone’s property.

When it comes to commercial drones for entertainment, they have a short control distance and can fly just a few minutes. On the contrary, the advanced drones which are used in the military or mapping are able to hover for hours in the air and be controlled from a great distance.

DRONE APPLICATIONS

Drones are used in many areas and what’s more, there is no end when it comes to their possibilities. Therefore, the areas of applications are numerous today and there is the growing use of drones all around the world.Especially, the micro drones have become widely used lately due to their small size.

Main areas of applications

Unmanned cargo system-Drones also serve in delivering of light weight packages  and bundles of all sorts. This way, you can have a safe, environmentally friendly and fast transport of goods by air.

Surveying and gis (mapping)-Using multi-spectral cameras and laser scanners, drones are able to create high-quality 3-D maps. Therefore, they found applications in various areas, including remote sensing, surveying & mapping, photogrammetry, precision agriculture, etc.

Aerial photography and video-With a drone that is equipped with an HD camera, you can take the fascinating photos and shot footage of great quality from the sky.

Science and research-hey help scientists a lot in research works to observe different occurrences in nature or a particular environment from the sky. For example, drones are used to document the archaeological excavations, in nuclear accidents (measuring contamination), in glacier surveillance, to observe a volcanic eruption, etc.

Surveillance-A drone allows recording and monitoring from the sky, and therefore, they are suitable to monitor public events, protests, or any suspicious happening without being heard and seen. A great tool for the police!

Inspections-Many systems such as power lines, wind turbines, and pipelines can be checked by drones.

Security- Many authorities use drones to protect people during various emergencies. For instance, they are able to help coordinate a variety of security operations and can preserve evidence alike.

Search and rescue-Drones are very useful in searching and rescuing operations. For example, they are used in firefighting to determine the amount of the certain gasses in air (CO, CO2, and the like) using the special measuring equipment.

In addition these main areas of application, drones are also used in engineering, construction and pre-construction work, aviation, maritime, marketing, real estate (both residential and commercial), insurance, utilities, mining, meteorology, education, and more. Today, many government agencies, private companies, and other institutions have their private drones.

Besides these “serious” works, mini and micro-drones (especially, small micro quadcopters) are widely used for the entertainment purposes. Nowadays, the civil use of drones is a completely normal thing, and you can legally buy them over the Internet at an affordable price.They are quite easy to control, and you don’t have to possess any driver’s or RC pilot’s license to fly them. This is a great source of fun, and people throughout the world enjoy flying drones.