Most drone house owners have skilled no less than a type of scary moments when one thing goes terribly flawed and also you anticipate the drone to return crashing to the bottom.
Learn a number of the scariest moments photographers have skilled whereas flying a digital camera drone on this Shutterstock weblog put up.
This issues might be brought on by a misplaced connection, low battery, unhealthy climate or only a technical malfunction.
Whereas they’re typically unavoidable, more often than not they’re the results of easy issues the drone house owners forgot to double examine earlier than flying the drone.
For instance, one photographer on the weblog put up narrates how he up to date his drone software program however forgot to replace the distant controller. He misplaced connection to the drone whereas flying the following day and nearly crashed it.
You most likely already know the usual pre-flight security examine: checking the propellers, digital camera and gimbal and different parts.
However there are different issues that almost all drone house owners overlook to examine to their very own peril. I’ve listed them beneath. Add them to your pre-flight guidelines.
1. Updating Software program (Drone, Distant Controller and App)
Make sure that your software program is all the time updated earlier than you fly your drone. This contains the drone software program, the distant controller software program in addition to the telephone or pill app.
And don’t make the error of updating one and forgetting the opposite. This may end up in incompatibility between your distant controller or telephone and the drone and trigger your drone to crash.
2. Set your RTH Level
Setting RTH level in DJI Go appIf the worst occurs and also you lose management of your drone, the RTH command is your final resort. It directs the drone to fly again to a pre-programmed level.
This is not going to solely make sure you don’t lose your costly drone, it additionally prevents the drone from crushing into individuals or a constructing and inflicting injury or accidents.
To set your drone’s RTH, it’s important to use the DJI Go app (I’m assuming you’ve a DJI digital camera drone). You’ll have to allow varied settings comparable to touchdown safety, precision touchdown and imaginative and prescient positioning to verify the drone lands safely.
Examine your drone’s guide for particular directions on the best way to arrange an RTH level. Ensure you do it accurately as a result of it is perhaps the one possibility you’ve in case something goes flawed.
three. Battery Temperature
Your drone is not going to fly if the batteries are too chilly. That is one thing drone house owners uncover too late when they’re already on-location.
If the climate is chilly or you might be planning to go fly someplace chilly, preserve the batteries heat. It will guarantee they’re able to go whenever you begin flying.
The simplest approach to preserve batteries heat is to hold them in your pocket. Your physique heat is sufficient. When you’ve got spare batteries that you’re planning to make use of later, additionally preserve them near your physique.
Alternatively, put the batteries in a LiPo battery hotter bag.
four. Telephone Battery
Don’t simply examine your drone batteries. Additionally be sure that your telephone is juiced up. Even if you’re not utilizing it as a controller, you’ll nonetheless most likely want to make use of the app for varied issues like setting RTH and viewing pictures.
In case you are planning a full day of flying, take into account carrying an influence financial institution to recharge it.
5. Reminiscence Card
That is one thing else that’s simple to overlook.
Double examine that you simply’ve inserted a reminiscence card into the drone and that it has sufficient house to file all of the pictures or footage you might be planning to take.
Bonus Reminder: Research Your Location
The worst factor you are able to do is simply present up at a spot and begin flying.
Research the place you’re going to fly earlier than you get there. A few of the issues to examine embrace:
The climate. Make sure that the climate forecast is obvious with out rain, snow or robust winds.
Legality. Examine that it’s authorized to fly a drone in that space. Examine if there are close by airports, navy amenities or populated areas which are no-go zones for drones.
The geography. Keep away from locations with very tough terrain or no less than be higher ready to fly over them. It may be tough to manage your drone in such areas and much more tough to get well it if it crushes. Be extra-careful if there’s a water function like a lake or dam.
Interference. Examine that the world doesn’t have any masts or high-power strains that might disrupt alerts between the controller and the drone.
Lastly, be sure you aren’t flying too near the border of one other nation. That would have worse penalties (of a authorized type) than merely dropping your drone abroad.