DRONE TOOLS Safely using autonomous flight modes
RotorDrone|February/ March 2021
In the early days of aviation, as aircraft range and endurance increased, so did the fatigue experienced by pilots. Autopilots were invented in 1912, guiding aircraft to fly straight and level on a compass course and greatly reducing a pilot’s workload. For more than a century, autopilots have improved many aspects of aviation safety, but they have also created new problems.
Gus Calderon
DRONE TOOLS Safely using autonomous flight modes

Autopilots, formally known as “flightcontrol systems” and casually called “George,” greatly increase the complexity of aircraft operations. Autopilot designs can differ by manufacturer, and pilots must become familiar with the specific details of each system. A correctly programmed autopilot on a drone reduces the pilot’s workload, allowing the pilot to monitor the flight path and operate the camera. Autopilots have many limitations, however, and the pilot must understand those limitations before flying on auto. Pilots who fly their drones using autonomous modes must understand how the programming works before giving up control to “George.” They must also be ready to immediately regain manual flight control in case of a programming failure. Autopilots on drones, combined with obstacle-avoidance technology, are so advanced that pilots may become complacent. The overuse of an autopilot can lead to the loss of manual flying skills. The result may be a pilot’s inability to regain control once an autopilot is disconnected or its limits are exceeded.

WARNINGS AND LIMITATIONS

Denne historien er fra February/ March 2021-utgaven av RotorDrone.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra February/ March 2021-utgaven av RotorDrone.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA ROTORDRONESe alt
Windracers Mail Delivery
RotorDrone

Windracers Mail Delivery

With its partner Windracers Ltd., Royal Mail has become the first UK parcel carrier to deliver mail to a UK island in a 70-mile, beyond-line-of-sight, autonomous flight to the Scilly Isles. Tasked to better connect the islands’ remote communities, a consortium including Royal Mail, Windracers Ltd., DronePrep, University of Southampton, Excalibur Healthcare Services, and Consortiq Limited is funded by UK Research and Innovation.

time-read
1 min  |
August/ September 2021
Counting Penguins
RotorDrone

Counting Penguins

Counting penguins is harder than it sounds. With freezing rain, snow, and chilling winds that limit the flight windows for the surveys, it takes scientists using three full days to map the location of 300,000 nesting pairs of Adélie penguins on Antarctica’s Cape Crozier.

time-read
2 mins  |
August/ September 2021
A Drone Double Play
RotorDrone

A Drone Double Play

Beach cleanup and a historic bridge

time-read
10+ mins  |
August/ September 2021
Understanding Aviation Sectional Charts
RotorDrone

Understanding Aviation Sectional Charts

Signs and symbols every remote pilot needs to know

time-read
10 mins  |
August/ September 2021
10 TOP JOBS
RotorDrone

10 TOP JOBS

Fields where drones are taking off!

time-read
10+ mins  |
August/ September 2021
AUTONOMOUS RESUPPLY IN A CONGESTED BATTLESPACE
RotorDrone

AUTONOMOUS RESUPPLY IN A CONGESTED BATTLESPACE

Can autonomous drones deliver supplies to troops in an active firefight? DroneUp recently partnered with a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allied Command Transformation (ACT) Joint Force Development (JFD) exercise to find out.

time-read
3 mins  |
February/ March 2021
IMPROVE YOUR DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY
RotorDrone

IMPROVE YOUR DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY

10 must-know Lightroom tips

time-read
10+ mins  |
February/ March 2021
RotorDrone

UAS TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT The Key to the Future of Drones

In 2012, Congress passed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act, which established a deadline for the agency: achieve full integration of drones into the airspace by 2015. As the calendar rolls over into 2021, this begs an obvious question: “Are we there yet?”

time-read
10+ mins  |
February/ March 2021
RotorDrone

FLYING FOR A LIVING

A professional UAS operator on what it takes to be successful

time-read
6 mins  |
February/ March 2021
RotorDrone

ON THE WING

This bird-like drone is incredibly agile and efficient

time-read
2 mins  |
February/ March 2021