A drone is a vehicle that flies without the need for an on-board pilot. Usually, a drone is remotely controlled from a ground station. The operator uses radio signals to control the drone.
In this sense, the drone is unmanned.
A drone can be as small as an insect or as large as a passenger plane. What it does behind the scenes makes all the difference to the word “drone”. The main feature that distinguishes drones from other aircraft is their unmanned nature.
Most of us think of drones as strictly military weapons. They are correct to think so. The modern military drone is a product of the recent evolution of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Most use GPS and satellite navigation, and all can be controlled from a pilot on the ground or autonomously following a programmed flight plan.
Some drones come with an autopilot system that performs certain maneuvers without human input, but this isn’t the same as unmanned flight.
Modern drones fall into many categories, some small enough to carry in your hand, while others are huge aircraft that can fly across oceans. They come equipped with all kinds of technology and different sizes of camera lenses.
But how do long range drones work? If you’re interested to find out more, then we suggest you continue reading as we’re going to tackle this topic in today’s article.
The Basic Idea Of How A Drone Flies From Its Controller
When a drone is controlled by a controller, the controller will operate the drone as if it is on board. This means that the operator can see what the drone sees and steer it as they please. Controlling a drone from afar has many benefits. One of which is that you are able to save money because you are not required to have an individual fly the drone.
Controlling a drone remotely can also contribute to better safety because you are not required to be up in the air yourself. With drones, comes new challenges for filmmakers. For example, filmmakers must now take into account weather conditions and other environmental factors like sunlight when shooting their films. There’s also the challenge of having the pilot keep the drone on track. This is why drones are sometimes fitted with a camera that records the whole flight. This way, pilots can watch their flight play out later, to make sure everything went according to plan.
Aside from that, the drone also has an autopilot mode which means it will do predetermined maneuvers without human input. So even when there isn’t anyone on board controlling the drone, the camera will still do everything it’s supposed to.
Aerial footage of a location that would be dangerous for a piloted aircraft is another application. For example, if you want to film from inside or up close on an active volcano, a helicopter probably wouldn’t be able to get in there and film what you wanted to capture. With a drone, it is possible and safe!
A tight shot that can’t be achieved with a helicopter is another example of when drones are used. The camera on the drone is usually much closer to the subject than is possible for a helicopter.
When a drone is used to capture aerial footage, there are always challenges involved. One of the biggest ones is that you must take into account weather conditions and other environmental factors like sunlight when filming. It’s also challenging for pilots to keep the drone on track. Another challenge is having the pilot keep the drone in one place while also aiming the camera accordingly. This is why some drones come with cameras that record their flights so pilots can watch their flight play out later, making sure everything went according to plan.
UAVs like the long range drones from AirborneDrones.co are also used to capture outdoor scenes where you need to get up close and personal, but wouldn’t be able to get in there safely if you were in a piloted aircraft. The close-up shots captured with drones also benefit movies, just like other types of footage.
Furthermore, as you learn how do long range drones work, you must also know that drones can also be beneficial for sports events. If you want to film a sporting event from a place where manned aircraft would either be too expensive or impossible, drones could make it possible.
Recommended Long Range Drones
Here is the list of drones with the longest ranges:
- DJI Phantom 4 Pro – 5.2 miles/8.4 km
- DJI Phantom 3 Standard – 2.9 miles/4.7 km
- DJI Mavic Pro – 4.3 miles/6.9 km
- Yuneec Typhoon Q500 – 8 miles/13 km (but it’s only a UAV, not a drone)
- DJI Inspire 1 – 3.1 miles/5 km
- DJI M600 Pro – 6.2miles/10km
The Phantom 4 Pro has a range of 5.2 miles, which is equal to 8.4 kilometers. The Phantom 3 Standard has a range of 2.9 miles, which is the same as 4.7 kilometers. The Mavic Pro has a range of 4.3 miles, which is 6.9 kilometers long. The Typhoon Q500 isn’t technically a drone because it’s only considered an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). It does have a limited range though! Its maximum distance is 8 miles, but that’s not much in comparison to other drones. The Inspire 1 has a range of 3.1 miles, which is the same as 5 kilometers long. The M600 Pro has a 6.2-mile maximum distance, which is 10 kilometers long.
The Phantom 4 Pro has an average flight time of 30 minutes while the Phantom 3 Standard’s average flight time is 23 minutes which isn’t bad, considering the fact that it’s one of the cheapest drones! The Mavic Pro has an average flight time of 27 minutes, but if you buy a combo pack you can have longer times. The Typhoon Q500 averages 25-45 minutes, so not great compared to other drones on the list. The Inspire 1 averages 25 minutes. The M600 Pro has an average flight time of 30 minutes, which is the longest on the list.
There are some drones that come with cameras already attached to them, but there are also many others where you have to attach your own camera. Some drones can even hold two cameras at once.
Laws And Regulations On The Use Of Long Range Drones
Drones are a controversial topic because there is not a clear-cut regulation about what they can and cannot do. The legal system has yet to catch up with the technological advancements of drones. It is hard for lawmakers to keep up with new terminologies, technology, and laws that were not used before.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not adopted any specific regulations for drones, but it did notice that there are problems with safety. There have been reports of drone sightings near airports and aircraft. Pilots have reported cases where drones were within close proximity to their flight paths, so they had to alter their altitude in order to avoid a collision.
In addition, the FAA does have a small set of guidelines that they recommend to drone owners, but not all drones automatically abide by these suggestions. For example, the FAA suggests that you don’t fly above 400 feet and recommends flying during daylight hours. There is no specific regulation on how fast you can fly your drone or any other limitations. However, the FAA has proposed a registration system.
Flying drones can be risky because many accidents have happened where people accidentally crashed their drone into objects and other people/vehicles. These crashes could cause injuries to unsuspecting victims and they can also damage property. The FAA is recommending that all drone owners take a test in order to get their FAA Remote Pilot Certificate (FACP).
Many commercial drone operators need to follow federal, state, and local laws. They also need to follow their company’s policies. The FAA does not have specific rules for commercial drones yet, but they are in the process of writing them.
In the United States, there is currently no federal law that restricts the use of drones. Though, few states have passed their own laws about drone usage or proposed bills that would limit people from using unmanned aircrafts. For example, some states have banned weaponized drones while others have created specific ordinances on drone flying.
Though it is still federally legal to fly drones, but there are some things you cannot do. Drones cannot be flown at night unless the drone has specific lights that can help you see it while flying. You also cannot fly the drone above 400 feet, which means that you need to avoid photographing buildings and landmarks because they tend to be higher than 400 feet.
Another federal law is the Privacy Act of 1974, which protects people from being filmed by a drone without their consent. This applies to both commercial and non-commercial drones because many people have been victims of surveillance or invasion of privacy. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also proposed a regulation that requires you to get permission from people before you film them. This is not legally binding but it is a suggestion of how people would like to be filmed.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that you register your drone if it weighs more than 0.55 pounds. The registration costs $5, but if you are using your drone for commercial use then the cost is $5 per aircraft because there are separate licenses, insurance, and user fees associated with commercial drones.