Drones have become a part of our modern tech wonders of the world due to the long list of tasks they can help perform. From simple delivery or photography tasks to the toughest military actions, these drones will leave you in awe of their efficiency any day. Let’s help you learn more about the drone technology and all you need to know about drones.
What is a drone?
Drone is the general term used for all unpiloted aircraft. They are sometimes called UAVs, which is the acronym for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Drones can be used to perform a wide range of tasks such as package deliveries, military operations, and a wide range of other tasks. These drones also vary in sizes and you can find some models as small as the palm of a teenager and some models as big as a sizeable aircraft.
Originally crafted to be used during military operations, these drones now enjoy a broader range of uses owing to the low risk levels linked to their usage and their amazing efficiency. These highly-efficient unmanned aerial vehicles can either be controlled using remote controls or the use of detectors and sensors. These detectors and sensors help calculate the movements of these drones and ensure they do not collide with any obstacles.
Drones can travel over a wide range of heights and distances depending on their models and capacities. Hobbyists are attracted more to close-range drones that can cover about 30 miles in one flight while intelligence and security experts warm up to short-range drone that can travel for about 90 miles. Meteorologists and scientific researchers prefer the mid-range drones which have the ability to travel a distance of about 400 miles. These mid-range drones can also scale a height of up to 3,000 ft.
Drones have been deployed in the search for survivors after natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding and the likes. Drones have also been used during times of war and terror attacks as ‘the military’s eyes’ from above. They also come in handy as great family entertainment tools and photography equipment.
Major Types of Drones
There are different types of drones, and their features sometimes play a role in the choice of what tasks they can handle.
Single Rotor Helicopters
Just as the name suggests, single rotor helicopters have the looks and appearances of a small helicopter. These single rotor helicopters can be electric or gas powered. This type of drone can fly over a longer distance, a feat that has been attributed to its use of gas and the presence of a lone blade. They are often used by land surveyors and researchers to survey large portions of lands, research on impending storms, and to detect erosion sites as a result of global warming.
Multi-Rotor drones
These types of drones are arguably the smallest drones you can find anywhere in the tech world today. Though they can only fly over shorter distances at a slower pace, they however make the ideal drone for photographers and hobbyists. These multi-rotor drones can only fly for about 20-30 minutes and can only carry light weight substances such as a camera.
Fixed wing drones
The fixed wing drones have the appearance of the conventional airplane and rely on their wings for flight in place of rotors. The fixed wing drones make use of fuel and can remain airborne for about 16 hours. The fixed wing drones are always larger than other types of drones and have sleek designs which enable them take off and touch down on runways same way normal airplanes do. These fixed wing drones are used during military strikes. Nonprofit organizations also use these drones to send foods and other relief materials to remote and inaccessible areas after hurricanes or during war times.
Drones have been in use and continue to be useful in different aspects of life such as emergency rescue, medicine, photography, wildlife conservation, delivery, outer space, and during military operations. With the high level of efficiency these drones have exhibited on the different tasks they are used for, it is obvious they will find some other great uses in the future.