Introduction

They go by several names - unmanned aerial vehicle, remotely piloted vehicle, and remote controlled aircraft - but the one you've probably heard the most is drone. Drones have become a household name first due to their use in warzones around the world, and then more so because of their use for domestic and international spying. Now drones are becoming deeply embedded into pop culture because advancements in technology have made it possible for the average Joe like you and me to buy or build a small unmanned aircraft, or drone.

In the early days of remote-controlled flight, you had only the option of one type of aircraft, the model airplane. This was due largely to the limitations of the technology of the day. Today, thanks to the advancements made in smartphones, the technology needed to make advanced aircraft like quadcopters exists. The computers and sensors that make smartphones detect orientation and motion are used in quadcopters, and other drones, to allow them to take-off vertically, hover in place, move side to side, and do all sorts of aerial maneuvers.

Although the technology has advanced quite a bit since the early days of remote flying, you still need to have a level of skill to enjoyably and successfully pilot a drone. This book gives you the background and information you need, in a somewhat lighthearted approach, to purchase your own drone and set off into the wild blue yonder.

About This Book

Like most of the For Dummies books, this book is not intended necessarily to be read beginning to end. Each chapter is written in a way that you could jump around from chapter to chapter without being confused. That said, it would be smart for you to at least start with the first few chapters so that you can get a feel for drones by first taking a glimpse at their history and how they are being used by governments around the world today. Jump from the evolution of model aircraft into modern day drones and how hobby flyers like yourself are using them for work and play today.

The goal for this book is to get you all the information you need to get airborne safely. Sample chapters in this book include:

• Getting familiar with drones
• Picking the drone that is right for you
• Picking the camera that best fits your needs
• Setting up your drone
• Staying safe with your drone
• Knowing the law
• Controlling your drone
• Flight basics
• Capturing beautiful stills and video

Treat this book as a reference piece. If you are writing a report for school on drones, this book will be wildly helpful. If you need a handy field guide when you go out to fly your drone, this books is for you. While I would like to think that my writing could make any subject matter as intriguing as the Harry Potter series, I am not one to kid myself. Read this book in chunks and refer to it often. This book is to help you get airborne with your drone, but the only way you will be an expert pilot is by practicing.

Foolish Assumptions

When writing this book, I tried to not make any silly assumptions that you, the reader, would have existing knowledge of drones. For that reason this book covers a lot of ground starting with the history of drones and quickly navigating into now. I also didn't assume that you already purchased a drone, and therefore this book covers how to shop online.

If you have done any research on drones, you may have noticed that there is an expanding marketplace of different drones, and not just aerial drones. This book does not assume that you own any one particular drone, and therefore, it is written in a manner that considers several different types of drones. The book focuses mainly on what are currently the most popular brands and models of drones available today.

In all my attempts to not assume anything about you, I did assume just this one thing. I assumed that you would not be taking the ultra-hobbyist route by building your own custom drone using kits and parts available on the Internet. This book assumes that you intend to shop for ready-made drones that are almost ready to fly right out of the box. I also assumed that you had some experience using a computer and the Internet.

This book covers a lot of ground, and my goal is that by the end of this book you will have:

• Confidently chosen a drone.
• Familiarized yourself with how your drone works.
• Built checklists for preparing for flight and wrapping up flight.
• Identified your own best practices for caring for your drone.
• Gotten comfortable with federal, state, and local laws governing your drone.

How This Book Is Organized

This book is broken into five main parts, each of which is written about a specific aspect of drones.

Part I: Getting Started with Drones

There are a lot of different names for unmanned aerial vehicles. The term drone can be somewhat deceiving because it insinuates something that does not have a pilot but rather flies autonomously. Explore the history of drones so that you can get a vision for the future. If you haven't purchased a drone, get a quick overview of the different features available with drones today so that you can buy the drone right for you. When you get flying, you may be the only person you know with a drone. Learn how to find and connect with other enthusiasts so that you can get your wings faster, learn how to do your own repairs, and make friends with other people fascinated by the boundless open skies.

Part II: Before You Fly

The most popular drones today come with very little assembly required, but you still need to understand what all the different pieces and parts are for so that you are familiar with your drone in the event you ever need to repair or replace parts. Understanding how your drone works will also help keep you safe. You get information in this part that will help keep you safe from unnecessary accidents. Last, the world of drones is evolving and growing rapidly, which is causing the FAA to step in and figure out a way to manage the increasing congestion in our skies. Know the existing law and how to stay legal with your drone.

Part III: The Miracle of Flight

There is a lot of technology that goes into getting a drone airborne. In order to fly, you should understand how you will control your drone and the limitations of that technology. Not to mention, flying a drone isn't like driving a car. Directional control is vastly different with a multi-rotor drone. You will see how to orient and steer your drone in several flight modes. This part will also show you how to set yourself up for success by choosing the right location and time to fly and help you take a methodical approach to flight preparation with your pre-flight checklist.

Part IV: Aerial Photos and Videos

While most hobby flyers fly drones for the sheer enjoyment of flight, most drone owners purchase their drones for taking pictures and video from an aerial vantage point. This part contains chapters that will help you configure your camera for great pictures and video. Explore the importance of light and its impact on how you set up your camera. Get some tips and tricks for making sure you have clear photos and video footage by reducing vibration and shake caused by turbulent flight. Last, explore different software that is available for editing pictures and video and sharing them with friends and family across the web.

Part V: The Part of Tens

This book wraps up with the traditional For Dummies, "The Part of Tens." Each chapter is comprised of ten topics or items. Chapters include lists of things you shouldn't do with your drone, as well as a list of things you could do with your drone to make money (assuming the FAA clears the way for lawful commercial use of drones).

Icons Used in This Book

As you read this book, you'll see icons in the margins that indicate material of interest (or not, as the case may be). This section briefly describes each icon in this book.

The tips in this book give you quick insights in how to better use your drone. This includes safety suggestions, maintenance ideas, and techniques on how to maximize your experience using your drone.

At the risk of sounding like an alarmist, anything marked with a warning is something you should pay close attention to. Proceed with caution if you must proceed at all.

Whenever you see this icon, think advanced tip or technique or technical information that is helpful and insightful but not mission critical. Feel free to skip these bits of information, but it won't hurt to read them.

If you don't get anything else out of a particular chapter or section, remember the material marked by this icon. This text will remind you of meaningful content that you should file away. This might also remind you of something already covered that is useful again.

Beyond the Book

A lot of extra content that you won't find in this book is available at www.dummies.com. Go online to find the following:

• Online articles covering additional topics at

  www.dummies.com/extras/drones

• The Cheat Sheet for this book is at

  www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/drones

  Here you will find quick-reference information that might come in handy when you're in a pinch.

• Updates to this book, if we have any, are available...