The drone technology is constantly evolving as a new innovation. More advanced drones hit the market every few months. One of the most common drones in the market is the DJI Phantom 3. Most professional cinematographers use this type. The device uses plenty of advanced technology present in the newer generation of drones.
The word drone simply means an aerial unmanned vehicle. The fact that the pilot does not sit or stand inside it is what makes it a drone. The earliest drone came about in 1839. Austrian soldiers attacked Venice with flying balloons that had explosives. However, the invention of winged aircraft has improved the technology itself.
The pioneers
In 1900, American aviation pioneers, the Wright Brothers founded the Kitty Hawk. Then, 16 years later, Great Britain developed the first pilotless winged aircraft. Known as the Ruston Proctor Aerial Target, they controlled it with radio control like modern drones but more basic.
Most newer drones have the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology incorporated in them. The technology covers everything from the aerodynamics of the drone, circuit boards, chipset, software and other internal materials in the manufacture of the physical UAV.
A typical UAV composes of light materials to reduce weight and increase movement. The material allows military drones to cruise at extremely high altitudes. They feature state of the art technology like infrared cameras, GPS and laser.
Drones are controlled by remote ground control systems (GSC) called a ground cockpit. They come in a range of sizes. The largest ones are mostly used for military purposes such as the Predator drone.
The next in size is UAVs. They have fixed wings and require short runways. Generally, they can cover large areas and documentaries.
A lot of drones are now equipped with collision avoidance systems. Its vision systems use obstacle detection sensors to scan the surroundings. It also uses Software algorithms and SLAM technology to produce 3D maps images that will allow the flight controller to sense and avoid the object.
In the future, drones should be cheaper and more accessible. The technology has come a long way from the early days of flying balloons. Chinese company EHANG wants to turn drones into a taxi service. They have also built a quadcopter capable of carrying passengers. An American company, Altair Aerial is creating affordable easy-to-fly drones with low-cost beginner-friendly UAV technology.