So you finally did it. All that time saving up the money and you finally went out and bought a drone. So what can it do? Does it have an inbuilt camera? Switchable hulls? Plastic or metal rotors? Does it auto navigate?
So you finally did it. All that time saving up the money and you finally went out and bought a drone. So what can it do? Does it have an inbuilt camera? Switchable hulls? Plastic or metal rotors? Does it auto navigate?
I might sound like I’m about to start a “my horse is bigger than your horse” argument, but I’m trying to point out something a little more relevant. You need to know everything about your drone before you even think of flying it. Does that sound like a drag? Well tough luck pal, because I’m about to school you on a few things you absolutely positively have to cover before you can get to showcasing your awesome piloting skills.
Read the manual and website instructions
This might seem obvious but it’s really one you shouldn’t skip. Most drones will have you assemble the piece yourself, not unlike a certain notorious Swedish furniture store. And that assembly will involve very very tiny parts. Make sure you know what goes where, and keep all those spare parts safe. Odds are, you’re going to need them a heck of a lot sooner than you planned.
Watch piloting videos
Check the company’s website, check YouTube, just make sure you watch as many tutorial videos for flying the drone as you can. It might seem straightforward enough, but it’s a lot harder than you think. And, if you’re a gamer, a little time with a flight simulator will help you figure out how the drone is supposed to be controlled.
Turn on drone and wait for diagnostics
Every time you turn on the drone, let it run it’s diagnostic test. You’ll know it’s happening when each of the drone’s propellers does a fractional rotate. Trying to fly the drone without letting this happen can result in a completely unnecessary crash; and all because you didn’t let the thing calibrate itself. You don’t want to feel stupid do you?
Update firmware and turn on flight mode
If you’re drone uses your smartphone as a controller, make sure you regularly check the controller app for firmware updates at least once in two weeks. These updates can be anything from fixing bugs with the app to adding a cool new feature. Trust me, this is something you don’t to miss out on,
Fly it on indoor mode first
Here’s a tip from experience; fly the drone indoors first. Most drones have indoor and outdoor modes, or at least allow you to change the drone’s maximum speed manually, Take advantage of that feature to test out your “pro skills” before you take that baby outside. Knock it into a wall indoors, and you’ll just get a warped propeller. Fly the drone into an irritable neighbour, however, and there’ll be hell to pay.
And here’s a last pro tip for you: Always have the drone take off facing away from you. This puts both of you in the same orientation, making it easier to fly. so what about when you need it to turn? Preferably turn with your drone. If you’re making it do a 180 degree spin, you can spin as well and peek over your shoulder instead. While this might be a little uncomfortable (not to mention will earn you a few strange looks) retaining your orientation can make flying the speedy little sucker that much easier.
This list make you any more confident? Let us know in the comments below or @dna on Twitter.
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