Introduction The last couple of years have brought an explosion in news reports regarding drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles. Although some of these reports focus on the military models (Predator, Skyhawk, etc.), the bigger news is the progress in smaller drones which can do a number of tasks – from photography and video to […]
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Pg 3 – Basics of Operation
Basics of Operation It’s Electric! Why are the new vehicles so different from toy helicopters and planes? In a nutshell, it comes down to vast improvements in batteries, motors and in flight control hardware and software. The new breed of LiPo batteries (lithium polymer) have a higher power to weight ratio, meaning they can power […]
Pg 4 – A Short History of Unmanned Flight
A Short History of Unmanned & Hobbyist Flight The first demo of a Radio Controlled vehicle was in 1898, when N. Tesla showed a working R/C boat at an electrical expo at Madison Square Garden. He claimed the boat had a “borrowed mind” and obtained U.S. patent number 613,809 for various R/C schemes. Tesla’s R/C […]
Pg 1 – Author Page
Getting Started with Hobby Quadcopters and Drones By Craig S. Issod © 2013-2016 (Updated October, 2016) The Author Trying to Take Off in Various Ways About the Author By any method necessary, Craig has been attempting to leave the confines of Mother Earth since childhood. In his adult life, he first tried CB Radio with […]
Pg 5 – Buying a Quadcopter
Buying a Quadcopter Start Small and Learn Whatever your goal, most newbies should start at the same place – with the purchase of micro or mini sized quadcopter (and possibly a good simulator) and hours of initial practice. The toy drones you will learn to fly on are largely disposable – they work great and […]
Pg 7 – DIY Drone Repair and Upkeep
Section 7 -DIY Drone Repair and Upkeep Even if you are all thumbs, there are some simple repairs that will help you get the most from your quadcopters. Here are some of the more common repairs and the basics needed to perform them. Propeller Replacement – Propellers for small drones are very inexpensive, so you […]
Pg 9 – Your Next Quadcopter
Section 9 – Your Next Quadcopter The drone market is rapidly changing and advancing. Many of the newer models come complete and Ready-to-Fly (RTF) so you will not have to concern yourself with learning about separate transmitters and receivers. However, if you decide to enter the DIY (build or customize your own) end of the […]
Pg 8 – A Primer on Aerial Photography and Video
Section 8 – A Primer on Aerial Photography and Video The idea of taking pictures and videos aloft is enticing many to join this hobby. It can be tempting to pull out your credit card and buy that top-notch aerial photography platform early in your drone career, but I would caution against it. As mentioned […]
Pg 7 – More Tips for Beginners
Section 7 – More Tips for Beginners Some of these tips are mentioned in the text, but here they are in one place so you can print them out and paste them above your hobby bench or desk! 1.Charge your batteries correctly – Do not overcharge or over-drain your batteries and they will last much […]
