Drones have become so normal that we’ve all but stopped thinking about what they are and how they work. They’re sort of science fiction features that’s burst into our lives and established normalcy.
If you’re not too familiar with drones, we’re going to give you a basic understanding in this article. We’ll look at questions like “what is a drone,” giving some insight into using a drone and drone regulations.
Hopefully, the information below will get you well acquainted with these interesting and useful pieces of technology. Let’s get started.
What Is a Drone?
To start, we should examine what a drone is. In general, a drone is a piece of technology that can fly around and be controlled by a controller. An individual has to stand, holding the drone and directing it with a few buttons from a handheld device.
In many cases, these devices have a body attached to four propellers that move like helicopter propellers. For many, using a drone is a fun recreational activity not unlike flying a model plane or using an RC car.
That said, drone technology is very advanced and can serve a number of purposes. For one, many drones have cameras attached to them. This allows cinematographers and normal people to get beautiful cinematic videos.
That feature extends out into military surveillance and the gathering of intelligence. Further, drones are able to contain guns and weaponry that provide a tactical advantage to warfare that doesn’t risk soldiers.
Drones are also excellent data collectors. Using a drone to traverse vast stretches of land allows geographers and other scientists to survey land at fractions of the cost of using real manpower.
You can click here to explore some ideas on which drones to buy for your personal use. Note that the advanced drones described above might require military clearance or other certifications that prevent people from access.
Recreational drones, on the other hand, tend to be available at local stores for anyone to buy.
Interesting Features
In recreational use, drones are capable of pretty incredible things. The aerial shots that used to be taken from helicopters are now possible on a casual afternoon hike.
Plus, the camera quality of those shots is exceptional in comparison to old videos. You can manage photos and videos in high-definition from your phone or the controller pad of a particular drone.
This allows you to get shots that would be otherwise impossible, adding to the quality of the memories and documentation you have in your life. Plus, if you know what you’re doing, it’s safe to fly a drone just about anywhere.
You have to ensure that it is charged and that you’re not going to lose connection while your drone is hovering in a dangerous spot, but the odds of it going down without human error are very low.
Plus, many drones come with obstacle avoidance features that make things a lot safer. They have sensors that prevent the device from flying into anything you can see on the camera.
There are also features that send your drone back home when you’re done using it for your purposes. You can set a specific “home-land” location, and the device will fly there on its own and be waiting for you to get home.
You can use that feature to send the device out while you stay at home as well, getting videos from the comfort of your couch.
Regulations to Note
The laws and regulations on drone use might vary depending on where you live. Note, however, that there are typically restrictions on flying drones at particular altitudes or in certain areas that experience a lot of air travel.
You must also register your drone. There are fines associated with unregistered drones, and those can be pretty costly depending on the situations that you find yourself in while you’re using the drone.
Methods of civilian surveillance and videography of other individuals are also illegal. It’s important that you know the bounds of the laws concerning drone use if you plan to buy and use one.
That said, you’ll be okay in most situations if you just use the drone in a respectful way and don’t infringe on the privacy of others. Some problem areas might include filming large groups of people, taking videos that include the dwellings of others, and flying the drone in an area that creates a risk for others.
For example, flying a drone over a highway might be dangerous to the drivers underneath. The device could fall, startle a driver, and lead to a collision.
Cinematic Features
Drones that are made primarily for filming often come with special features. For example, you can set the device to start filming on the ground as it shoots up into the sky and expands the landscape in the shot.
There are also features that might allow the device to follow you, engage with you in a particular way, or post videos to social media right after being shot.
All of these things make drones a filmmaker’s dream. Those features are also amazing additions to any family videos, accounts of a trip, or anything else that you might want to document in your life.
Think of the family photo options you could have if you were using a drone. The next time you go to the Grand Canyon, you could snap a shot of yourselves from the inside of the massive pit.
Do you know of any other families that have that kind of portrait on their wall? We didn’t think so.
Want to Know More About Drones?
So, what is a drone? There are a lot of answers to that question, but the unifying thread is that drones can do a lot of work and gather information for humans. They make life a little easier and more enjoyable for a lot of people.
There’s more to learn, though. We’re here to help. Explore our site for more ideas on drones, drone regulations, drone security, and much more.
