Welcome to the wonderful world of drones. If you've just gotten your first drone, you’re in for a real treat, so get ready to enjoy the experience.

Perform Pre-Flight Procedures

Like any pilot, you’re responsible for completing a thorough, pre-flight inspection. A comprehensive checklist is an efficient way to ensure you don’t forget something important. You need to check everything that could affect the drone including the weather, obstructions like power lines, required permissions, firmware updates, planned flight route, etc. If you encounter any problems, make sure they're completely resolved before takeoff. You should always be refining your checklist as you encounter and solve problems with each flight.

The Weather Challenge

The weather affects your drone’s performance and longevity. The weather is extremely unpredictable, so you should have a reliable, current source of developing weather conditions.

Excessive temperatures can cause immediate and long-term problems. Cold and heat can damage the drone and impact battery performance. Fog can make it hard to see your drone and navigate it safely around hazards. Monitor your battery in case you need to cut a flight short. If it’s absolutely necessary to go up in inclement weather, try to plan a shorter trip and stay close to the drone.

Humidity can be a problem regardless of the type or amount. If there is any type of humidity present during a flight, be sure to thoroughly clean and dry the drone, or the unexpected humidity will be free to cause damage. The wind has the power to exert its influence. The best way to avoid potential damage caused by wind is to avoid flying when it’s windy.

Treat Your Drone With Respect

A drone blurs the line between a toy and a tool, but don’t let that fool you. As an electronic tool, it requires attention. If you don’t take proper care of your drone, it will become a very expensive, broken toy. For example, if you don’t manage or take care of your battery, it could cause severe problems down the line.  Many drone manufacturers will offer a maintenance schedule that will deal with everything from mechanical components to software upgrades. Following this advice and checking for updates to maintenance suggestions can help you to keep it running long-term.

Store Your Drone Safely

Storing your drone is an important part of drone maintenance. Like other electronics, drones need to be stored in climate-controlled spaces because extreme heat and cold can cause electronics to expand and contract which can lead to cracking and short-circuiting. The drone should be thoroughly cleaned before storage and wrapped in something that will offer some protection. It’s critical the batteries be removed because they can deteriorate and harm the drone.

With proper care, your drone will give you many years of service and enjoyment. Let your imagination be your guide!

Drone protection is essential for those who do not want their investment in this expensive technology to go to waste. Therefore, there are a few critical areas in which drone owners can make sure their drones will last as long as the owner expects and be an enjoyable experience.

Safely transporting the drone by choosing the right equipment to prevent drone damage and purchasing a case and drone supplies are both critical for ensuring the proper protection of a drone.

Safe Battery Use

To prepare a drone for safe transportation, especially on an aircraft, the battery level should be about 35-50 percent due to the increased fire risk and their susceptibility to damage. The terminals of the batteries should also be protected from short circuit by using adhesive strips or films.

Since lithium batteries are at risk of spontaneous combustion, packing the batteries in a LiPo safe bag means it will be fireproof during transportation, and there will also be not as many problems while at the security checkpoint. Additionally, it is essential to make sure the lithium batteries can be put in a carry-on bag, and since these batteries are quite large, using a carry-on bag that is large enough to fit backup batteries.

Using a Carrying Case

A quality carrying case is essential for drone protection. A hard-shell case will not only protect the drone from damage, but it will also make it easier to carry around with no worry. Many people who choose to use a garment bag that is carried over the shoulder put their drones at risk since there is no hard protection.

A hard-shell case also provides the drone owner with slots that fit the drone perfectly into a secure place in which it cannot move. Drone users will find that an investment in a hard-shell carrying case is worth the investment as it will provide extra drone protection.

Overall, using a drone comes with the responsibilities of ensuring that it will be protected while the owner wishes to transport it. Investing in equipment, such as a fireproof battery case and a hard-shell carrying case will eliminate much of the risks associated with potential damage to the drone and its batteries. It is also a matter of convenience for the user to transport the drone and equipment in cases that are specially designed for it. For anyone wanting to use their drone in travel photography, taking the proper precautions is a must.

For more tips on traveling with drones or more learning tips and usage, check out our blog!

References:

Improve Photography

SKB Store by Allcases

The World Is a Playground

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Using a drone, whether as a hobby or business project, seems harmless to most people. The reality is that the risks of midair collisions are high. Drone operators cannot see oncoming aircraft and do not have special tools to detect them. Also, the risks increase when the person is intoxicated. It's illegal to drink and drive, but is it illegal to drink and drone? Drone operators should learn more about the official regulations before they step outdoors.

Review Federal Regulations

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets nationwide rules as to how aircraft are operated in the U.S. airspace. This is necessary to prevent collisions in areas where airplanes fly overhead regularly. These rules include the design, operation and maintenance of aircraft, which includes rockets, kites and balloons. Drones, also known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), are the most recent additions to FAA regulations.

There are many rules that affect how drones are flown. Operators cannot fly their machines higher than 500 feet. Those who want to fly drones for business purposes must obtain a certificate. Flying a UAS for fun requires that you register with the agency and adhere to general safety guidelines.

The Alcohol Restriction

The general rule is that drinking while droning is not recommended. People are expected to use common sense when operating a potentially dangerous machine. Alcohol is known to slow a person's reflexes and impair the ability to make sound judgments. If the flyer is intoxicated, the drone becomes a danger to any aircraft who enters the U.S. airspace.

Under Title 14, sections 91.17 and 91.19 of the FAA regulations, commercial drone operators are not allowed to operate under the influence of drugs or alcohol. They cannot fly within eight hours of consuming alcohol or exceed a blood alcohol level of 0.04 or greater. A police officer is allowed to administer a test and send the results to the FAA. If a violation is found, the FAA can terminate or block a person's ability to receive a UAS certificate. There is also the possibility of fines or imprisonment. If you are caught drinking and flying a drone, according to Summit Defense, pilots can be charged with “flying under the influence” or “FUI” and face up to six months in county jail and a $1,000 maximum fine.

The restriction of alcohol while flying a drone means that it is illegal to drink and drone. Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) are regulated and enforced by the law, so police officers and judges could get involved in an investigation. For all UAS operators, the main goal is to avoid controversy, which means that they should not drink and drone.

Looking like a device straight out of science-fiction, drones have taken the world by storm. Also called Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, drones are being used by private industry and government. Whether being used to provide aerial views of an archaeological dig or to provide stunning shots for a blockbuster motion picture, there's no doubt drones are here to stay. As a result, they are changing the tech industry in ways no one ever imagined just a few years ago. 

A Multi-Billion Dollar Market

According to the Teal Group Corporation, which specializes in defense and aerospace research, almost $90 billion will be spent on drones over the next 10 years. A staggering figure, it demonstrates the almost unlimited potential of these devices. In fact, the tech industry is in fast-forward mode, with various prototypes being developed and tested not only in the United States, but also Australia, Switzerland, and many other nations.

Open-Source Technology

Along with the various shapes and sizes drones can come in today, the tech industry is rapidly developing new types of hardware and software that are being used for numerous applications. Known as open-source technology, these simplifications to the equipment and IT processes that help pilot the drones have led to great reductions in cost, enabling hobbyists as well as researchers to use drones for more and more applications.

Replacing the Mail Truck

If you've got an IT degree and want to work on something that will impact society, then drones are your ticket. For example, Amazon.com is currently partnering with many Silicon Valley companies to develop drones that will deliver packages to a person's front door. Current prototypes, which can carry packages of five pounds or less, could one day deliver to as many as 86 percent of Amazon's customers. 

The Hacking Threat

 As with most of today's technology, the threat of being hacked is always looming. This is especially true with drones, and as a result tech industry companies are investing millions of dollars to design software that will be virtually hack-proof. However, hackers have already released design and software specs that allow drones to be taken over by other individuals, creating what are known as "zombie drones." Because of this, tech companies are making cyber-security a top priority. 

With drones continuing to grow in popularity, there appears to be no end in sight for their uses. Therefore, people possessing IT degrees will be in high demand to meet the constant challenges of this ever-changing technology.

There is no question that we are living in the midst of a drone revolution. Consumers around the world are being captivated by the prospect of controlling these high-tech flying machines, and questions about their safety are beginning to emerge. An early 2017 report published by The New York Times indicates that drones are literally flying off store shelves: 1.2 million were sold as holiday gifts for a grand total of 2.8 million drone purchases in 2016.

It can be safely said that drones can only be as safe as the people who interact with them, but here are five things to keep in mind in this regard:

Sharp Blades

In 2015, pop singer and heartthrob Enrique Iglesias suffered a gruesome injury during a live performance in Mexico as he reached out to touch a drone that had been filming him onstage. His fingers were deeply cut and lacerated by the rapidly spinning blades of the drone; although Iglesias finished the concert for the benefit of his fans, he suffered permanent nerve damage.

Aircraft Interference

One of the scariest incidents involving a drone and a passenger airplane occurred at London's Heathrow Airport in April 2016. A drone collided against a British Airways flight on its final approach; thankfully, this incident unfolded without injury, but it calls into question the safe operation of these devices.

Falling Objects

Ed Leon Klinger, a risk analyst whose work in the unmanned aerial vehicle industry is widely respected, has stated that one of the major concerns involving drones is their potential for becoming falling objects in congested urban environments such as busy downtown districts. This concern comes about at a time when online retail giant Amazon is planning on using drones to deliver products. 

Security Incidents

In January 2015, a government worker operating a drone in the District of Columbia lost control of the device, which crashed onto the White House lawn and sent Secret Service scrambling to protect former President Barack Obama because they believed it was an attack. A few months later, French security analysts released a report on the numerous drone sightings near nuclear reactors and weapons stations. 

Privacy Concerns

A few years ago, officers from the London Metropolitan Police Service arrested a drone pilot who was used to taking aerial shots of the city's landmarks. Although the pilot was eventually released without prosecution, lawmakers in England have been working on new measures to regulate drones so that they do not infringe upon privacy.

In the end, drones may only appear to be dangerous at this time because they are relatively new consumer items that awaiting regulation and familiarization by society as a whole.

References:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/08/business/drone-safety-risk-popular.html

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jun/03/drone-injury-grounds-enrique-iglesias-for-longer-than-expected

https://www.dolmanlaw.com/legal-services/personal-injury-attorneys/pip/

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36067591

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/drone-flying-london-police-alert-landmarks-illegal-london-eye-tower-bridge-9959511.html

The FAA predicts there will be 7 million drones registered in the US by 2020. While over half of the drones flying today belong to hobbyists, the rest are owned by private enterprise and various government agencies.

However, despite their popularity, drones are a controversial tech. Opponents argue they're unsafe and cite a litany of unethical uses. They can, for example, cause plane crashes, go rogue and attack pedestrians, become hijacked and used for unsavory purposes like illegal drugs and of course, the personal privacy concerns. The good news is that some enterprising consumers and hobbyists are finding new, innovative ways to use drones. Here are the top six surprising uses.

1. Drones for the Delivery of Food and Aid

Parts of the world are cut off from air drops due to fighting and other dangerous situations which are stopping people from getting the food aid putting entire populations at risk. As well, there are other places that aircraft simply cannot reach. Currently, a team of volunteers from the US is working to develop drones to deliver food and air to areas where humans and airlifts can't.

One project in the works is a single-use drone that is, itself, the food. Once the drone arrives, recipients can easily break apart the lightweight wooden frame and use it to fuel a fire for warming the remainder of the drone. The wings will be packed with prepackaged food. The surface of each wing will be covered in a "salad bowl" material says Nigel Gifford of Windhorse Aerospace, the company that is designing the crafts.

2. Drones for Search, Rescue, and Recovery Missions

Drones are aiding in the search, rescue, and recovery efforts. An international group, Search With Aerial Rc Multirotor or SWARM, responds to the needs of the families of missing persons. Another group, Texas Equusearch, a mounted search, and rescue group has also been using drones to locate missing persons or their remains. Alpine rescue groups have used drones across the world to search for lost hikers and avalanche victims and survivors.

3. Drones for the Delivery of Organs for Transplant

Are drones able to deliver organs and body parts? Recently, the United Arab Emirates launched a competition called "Drones for Good" with a $1 million prize for the proposal utilizing drones in the most helpful ways imaginable, the betterment of society. Last year, 20 finalists were chosen with ideas that ranged from food and aid delivery, search and rescue, to health-related applications like using drones to deliver organs to people requiring transplants. Spoiler alert: The organ distribution proposal did not win the cash prize. But it piqued the interest of a Chinese company, which recognized the commercial potential and quickly drew plans to manufacture a fleet of medical transport drones.

4. Drones for the Delivery of Medicine and Supplies

In the US, the first government-approved drone delivery of medication and supplies occurred in 2015, at a rural Appalachian clinic. Matthew Sweeny, the CEO of Flirtey, the company involved in the landmark delivery says that drone delivery does provide the fastest, most reliable method to deliver emergency supplies.

5. Drones for Your Personal Safety and Security

Sure you can mount cameras around the periphery of your home, but there will always be blind spots that burglars will use to rob you blind. You can protect your family, prevent home invasions and garage break-ins with these tips:

• · Mobilize a drone, remotely to monitor your home while on vacation or even while at work
• · Use a drone's camera and motion sensor to record infrared and night vision footage while you are sleeping.
• · Have your drone connected via the IoT to security lights, if it detects movement outside the lights sensors.

6. Drones for Mail Delivery

With government cutbacks hitting the postal service in recent years, the idea of using drones for mail delivery has received increased attention. Other developed nations, including France, are already using drones to deliver mail and lightweight packages

The drone is certainly one of the more misunderstood and unfairly maligned technologies of the last several years. But this list proves that drones are a powerful, useful, and helpful technology.