Check The DroneMax Before Buying A Used Drone

Posted in Uncategorized - Written by fuvucyhogufy on April 22, 2014

In the future if you happen to go shopping at a used UAVs For Sale Lot, be sure to ask for the DroneMax. Just kidding. At least I don’t think there is a DroneMax. If you Google “UAVs for sale” you’ll get some results that refer to military drones that have been in the news lately. Not all unmanned aerial vehicles are designed to kill terrorists. Most are used for reconnaissance and the Navy is now working on a drone that can help with search at sea rescue operations. I know a little about drones because my brother has been a test engineer for both the Global Hawk and the Navy’s new MQ-4C Triton. However, that’s not what this article is about.

Personal drones come in all sizes, shapes and types. They are so affordable now that you could be the first one on your block to own an unmanned aerial vehicle. The most common type you see today has four rotors and is called a quadrotor or a quadrocopter. It’s basically a mini drone with four blades. A good example is the Dji Phantom which is only about a foot in diameter. The Phantom requires just a little assembly and battery charging and then it’s ready to fly. This RC drone has a special feature: A built-in compass that allows you to program a “home” site that enables it to return to home if your transmitter gets broken or runs out of power. After taking a little time to calibrate the compass the UAV locks on to six satellites or more to establish a home site that it can return to in emergencies. Now that’s pretty cool. Nothing bums you out like losing your drone.

The basic Phantom model includes a camera mount where you can attach your own GoPro camera or you could upgrade to the Vision which has its own camera. As your drone climbs hundreds of feet you get to see a bird’s-eye view of your immediate surroundings. I can image how this could be very useful for police work or fighting forest fires. For both the professional and amateur photographer it can really open your eyes to new worlds. You can get views of architectural or natural wonders that were previously unobtainable. The possibilities are endless.

Here’s a word of warning. One photographer said he crashed his rc drone into trees a lot before he became a competent pilot. Don’t do that. Drones do crash, for all sorts of reasons, but mostly from pilot error. That’s why it’s a good idea to practice with your uav before trying anything bold. Be sure you feel comfortable handling your drone and it will last longer. Still, it might be a good investment to get a repair kit just in case. One thing to beware of is high winds. I remember reading one owner’s advice concerning operation of mini drones in regard to wind speed:

0-5 MPH: Good conditions

5-10 MPH: Difficult, but possible

10-15 MPH: Dangerous

15-20+MPH: Suicidal

I know it’s frustrating when you’ve got your mind set on flying your drone and it’s too windy, but don’t risk it. Let your UAV live to fly another day. I have yet to see a sign close to any airport that reads: “Used UAVs For Sale.” However, the way these babies are selling it might not be long before we see the first used drones parking lot.

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