Voilà! And you have a Drone!
Those who people imagine can do nothing are the people who do things that no one can imagine.
Yes. We have indeed come a long way and seen in exquisite detail the extent of precision, tools, materials and technical systems and requirements that go into the construction of a quadcopter and the different physical, mathematical, and algorithmic as well as electronic constraints and mandates that are indispensable and vital in the assembly, fabrication, and the flight control aspects. That being said, we have arrived at the last blog in the series. In this, we’ll attempt to have a short overview and see a concise recapitulation of what we’ve learnt so far. We’ll see a synopsis of the potential applications and the wide-reaching significance of unmanned aerial systems, specifically copters, like the one we’ve made, in variegated domains ranging from surveillance, military, industrial, administrative and recreational sectors. We’ll look at long-term healthy flying practices and maintenance for your drone, and safety standards you should be aware of. We’ll also have a look at some of the ethical and legal ramifications of drone-flying and wrap it up succinctly for you.
Summing up, here’s a condensed wrap-up of what we’ve learnt
The reason from-scratch builds are more difficult is because they require a deeper knowledge of the intricacies of the quadcopter. Besides, all of the parts of a quadcopter must be compatible with each other. Many beginners will find this type of from-scratch construction to be overwhelming and difficult. Despite its difficulty level, however, from scratch quadcopters allow you to incorporate any features you wish into your drone, and generally allow you to build a more sophisticated and advanced piece of machinery than is possible with a kit.
If we were to do a succinct encapsulation of the steps we’ve seen so far, it would sequentially amount to the following:
- Make sure you have all the pieces.
- Select parts as per requirements after doing the requisite calculations.
- Collect the tools you will need to build the quadcopter.
- Mount the Motors
- Solder the ESCs to the power distribution board.
- Mount the flight control board to the quadcopter.
- Mount the receiver to the quadcopter.
- Add the battery.
- Balance the propellers.
- Prepare to mount the propellers to the quadcopter.
- Mount the propellers to the quadcopter.
- Configure the flight control board.
Once your drone build is almost complete, you can take the time to configure the flight control board. This term refers to the process of setting up the board to perform the functions you want to perform. It also means you must link the flight control board to the controller so they communicate with each other. The exact process of configuration will depend upon the flight controller and the board that you use.
Once you have completed these steps, you should be in a position to begin using your quadcopter. Enjoy the opportunity to learn how to use a quadcopter that you have built. And, over time, as your skill level increases, consider building more complex quadcopters or adding to the one you have already finished.
Looking after your drone (this is important!)
Ensure you routinely do the following! UAV systems are subject to the wear and tear of constant use, and thus require regular maintenance checks to ensure everything is in working order.
- Clean chassis of mud and dirt
- Inspect chassis for cracks
- Check for loose screws
- Check propellers for damage
- Check propellers are free-spinning
- Check motors for debris and obstructions
- Check state of wiring and solder joints
- Check unit camera is clean
- Check landing gear condition
- Inspect antennae
What can you do with your drone?
Applications of drone and UAV technology range as far and varied as aerial photography, shipping and delivery, geographic mapping, disaster management, precision agriculture, search and rescue, weather forecast wildlife monitoring, law enforcement and in the entertainment industry. However, since ours is a simple drone, we’ll use it for simple things like recreational flying, photography and leisure.
It is extremely important to be mindful and compliant of local laws and regulations related to drones if you’re owning and operating one.
In India,
- All drones except those in the Nano category must be registered and issued a Unique Identification Number (UIN).
- A permit is required for commercial drone operations (except for those in the Nano category flown below 50 feet and those in the Micro category flown below 200 feet).
- Drone pilots must maintain a direct visual line of sight at all times while flying.
- Drones cannot be flown more than 400 feet vertically.
- Drones cannot be flown in areas specified as “No Fly Zones”, which include areas near airports, international borders, Vijay Chowk in Delhi, State Secretariat Complex in State Capitals, strategic locations, and military installations.
You can refer the official site of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for detailed instructions and guidelines on test sites, security clearance, airspace rules, night operations and the like. Head over for understanding these specifics and advancing further!
Be mindful and comply with laws related to owning UAVs and flying them in the country or place of your residence. It is of utmost importance.
Also, fly safe. A quad-copter is a versatile instrument with rotating parts that operate at high-speeds from a height. Your drone must not and cannot collide, fall on or injure sensitive infrastructure, people, minors and animals. Fly in an open, safe area. Get licensed as you advance and stay vigilant and prioritize keeping safe and sound.
And here’s a small informal honour code we advise you to abide by.
Fly and use your drone ethically. There’s no better time to be a photographer than now with the advent of sophisticated camera systems that allow complex perspectives and large-as-life picture frames. However, never film anyone without their consent or knowledge. Respect intellectual property laws and do not photograph places of worship, government premises, and/or any site or event that relies on revenue and isn’t public. We don’t want you to get in trouble as we explore the wondrous and remarkable possibilities of copter recreation!
Goodbye, friend.
With this we come to the end of our Dronebasics series. We hope we have been able to simplify for you the basic steps involved in making your own done and presented it in an amicable and comprehensible manner. We hope to inspire a larger community of DIY individuals who are enthusiastic and enterprising in their innovative efforts, and with Drone Basics, we’ve furthered a sincere step towards that goal.
It is time to sit on your Drone Throne.
Happy flying!
