In recent times, you can hear about new multi-copters everywhere even online stores sell hundreds of different models of them.
There are many factors why the popularity of multi-copters increased so much, but there are two most important. Firstly, it's their increase in performance and capabilities. Secondly, with this improvement of multi-copters the prices became less compared to the previous models.
It is not easy to choose a good vehicle, so, in today's article, I will tell you how to make the right choice and avoid some mistakes.
Let’s begin with the fields in which drones can be used. They can be divided into two types:
Entertainment
Photo and video shooting
Drones racing
Professional activity
ISP Services
Delivery of goods to customers
The most popular models of multi-copters for entertainment
DJI Spreading Wings S900
DJI Spreading Wings S900 - is one of the most popular large multi-copters, which has six blades, weight 3.3 kilograms and can lift objects which weight is 8.2 kg, this diagonal of multi-copter from the rotor to rotor is 90 centimeters, battery with 10000-15000 mAh capacity allows the drone to fly for 30 minutes.
DJI Spreading Wings S900 can cost from 1654 to 4594 dollars, depending on the configuration.
DJI Phantom 2 Vision +
DJI Phantom 2 Vision + is equipped with built-in camera performance, which allows you to take pictures with a resolution of 14 megapixels, its weight is 1 kilogram, the diagonal - 35 centimeters, the maximum flight range - 1 km, also a flight path can be programmed, the maximum flight time is 25 minutes.
The price of DJI Phantom 2 Vision + is 1369 dollars.
Parrot AR.Drone 2.0
Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 - is a simple and inexpensive quadcopter, which is controlled through Wi-Fi via smartphone or tablet, so it can fly only for 50 meters from you, built-in battery with a capacity of 1000 mAh allows the vehicle to fly for 8-12 minutes, it has got a 2 MP camera.
The cost of Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 can is $ 300.
And now let's look at the main characteristics of multi-copters.
1) Size
Multi-copter can be divided into three main classes according to size:
Large drones can lift rather advanced load and can fly for a distance of several kilometers.
Average multi-copters are most popular among users. It is a rather small vehicle, which can be carried in a backpack.
Small and ultrasmall multi-copters - are for beginners. These devices can be carried in a briefcase or even in your pocket. Due to the small size - these drones have problems with flight stability.
2) Number of blades
The most popular multi-copters on the market are quadcopters are vehicles with four blades, but you can also find drones with two, three, six and eight blades.
The power of the vehicle, as well as the stability of its flight, depends on the number of blades.
3) The principle and convenience of control
WI-FI
Most of the models of quadcopters can be controlled using a smartphone or tablet by connecting them via a wireless Wi-Fi communication. It's incredibly convenient because the control of the vehicle is carried out via a simple and intuitive interface and allows you to take photos with one touch.
But such control has a significant drawback - the device can fly from you only for a few dozens of meters.
Special control panels
They can increase the range up to several kilometers.
But the control process becomes much more complicated - panels have many additional features and
capabilities that are not available on mobile devices.
BUT
Mobile devices can be combined with the "professional" management consoles of multi-copter.
4) Camera presence
In large multi-copters, as standard in 90% of cases, there will be no cameras.
Average multi-copters are the best option, as they are sold with the built-in camera with a good resolution (megapixels 10-14).
Small multi-copters often have an inbuilt camera. But this is a fairly simple device with - 0.3 to 2 megapixels.
5) Batteries
Another important moment in choosing multi-copter. The average period of drone work is 8-15 minutes.
However, the problem of low capacity batteries in multi-copters can be partially solved by the use of replacement batteries.
If you want to buy a multi-copter then choose the size you need, then decide how many blades do you want and compare prices for different models in a few shops in order to find the best offer (I recommend you to buy only vehicles with a remote controller)!
In addition, I want to say that this industry still grow really fast as the popularity of multi-copters and I get you all the instructions about them, so it is you turn to decide whether you want to be a part of this movement or not.
weight limitations, and by that I mean batteries, is what's holding it back. I expect that will improve.
batteries capacity and its weight is a big problem not only in the area of drone development but also in cars and planes manufacturing and many others
Multicopters are great, but this time almost forbidden in my country.
pew-pew-pew drone :)Also I wait a time when drones don't be make a so big noise.
oh, really?
Where are you from? In Russia, drones are officially forbidden as well but nobody takes care about these restrictions
Great post, thx for interesting article, @phenom!
Thanks, dedi. Follow me to learn more about modern technologies