There
are many drones available on the market. They all work for different purposes
so it is difficult to define a classification. They can vary in size and
design depending on the application.
The
military is one of the most popular uses of drone technology. It allows for
easy surveillance and control. An air flying unit can easily monitor areas
that are difficult to reach by humans and can even take photographs of
important locations. We will now discuss the different types of drones.
For ease of understanding, they can be divided into four main sections: The
number of propellers inside, their size and flying range, as well as
equipments.
Different
types and Drones:
Rotory drone |
multi-rotor drones |
Tricopter |
Very little |
Consumer |
Camera |
Quadcopter |
Mini |
Prosumer |
With FPV |
||
Hexacopter |
Medium |
Professinal |
With GPS |
||
Octocopter |
Large |
/ |
Stabilizers |
||
Single-rotor drones |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
|
Fixed-wing drones |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
Section
1 - According to the Number of Propellers
Rotory
drones
1. Single
Rotor Drone
Multi-rotor
drones are the most popular. These designs have multiple rotors to hold their
position. However, single rotor models will only have one rotor. A tail
rotor is another that provides control over the heading. Single rotor
helicopters are the best option if you need to fly faster and with more
endurance, but you also have hover with heavy loads.
2. Tricopter:
A
tricopter has three types of motors: three controllers, four gyros, and one
servo. Each motor is held by a location sensor and is located at the
extreme ends of each of the three arms. It is important to raise your
tricopter by moving the throttle lever. The gyro sensors will immediately
detect this signal and pass it to the controller to control motor
rotation. Because it has so many electronic and classic sensors, a
tricopter can stay on its tracks. Manual correction is not necessary.
3. Quadcopter:
Quadcopter
is a multirotor that has four blades. These motors are typically
controlled by specially-designed brushless DC motors. Two motors move
clockwise, while the other two operate in the opposite direction. This
helps ensure a safe landing of quadcopter. This battery is a lithium
polymer.
4. Hexacopter:
Hexacopter's
6 motor mechanisms, 3 of which work in clockwise and the other three in
anti-clockwise, will make it a versatile tool for many applications. These
devices can lift more than quadcopters. It is extremely safe and reliable,
so you don't need to worry about it.
5. Octocopter:
The
word Octo is eight. This means that the octocopter has eight motors, which send
power to eight propellers. These craft are more capable than the units
mentioned above, and they are also very stable. Octocopters can record
stable footage at any height. These devices are used in professional
photography.
Fixed
Wing Drone
This
category is completely different from the ones above. These designs are
very different from the multi-rotor drones. They look like traditional
planes and have a wing. They are not strong enough to resist gravitational
force and cannot stay stable in the air. These drones are used in
movement-related recording, where they can advance according to the capabilities
of their inbuilt battery system.
The
bottom line
Quadcopters
are the most popular type of drone on the market. They can lift a lot of weight
and don't require any engineering adjustments. This is the best option for
most of your needs.
Section
2 according to Size:
1. Very
small drones
You
can design them with any size you like, from large insects to units up to 50 cm
in length. These are the two most popular designs: Mini Drones, and Nano/
Micro Drones. Because of their small size and lightweight construction,
the nano drones are very popular. They can be used as essential weapons for
spying.
2. Mini
Drones:
These
drones are smaller than micro drones, meaning they will be larger than 50cm in
length but have a maximum dimension of 2m. These drones are mostly made
with fixed wings construction, while a few models can have rotary
wings. They are small and lack power due to their small size.
3. Medium
Drones
These
drones are heavier than aircrafts, but they are smaller and lighter. These
drones are able to fly for up to 5-10 minutes and can weigh as much as 200
Kgs. The UK watchkeeper is one of the most well-known designs in this
category.
4. Large
Drones:
Drones
of large size are comparable in size to aircraft and are used most often for
military purposes. These drones can capture areas that are not possible to
cover with regular jets. These drones are used for surveillance
purposes. They can be further classified by users into different types
depending on their flying capabilities and range.
Section
3: Based on Range:
1. Drones
at Very Close Range:
They
are a favourite toy for many children. With powerful batteries, they can
fly for up to 5 km with a flight time of 20 to 45 mins. Raven and Dragon
Eye are two of the most popular units in this class.
2. Close
Range Drones:
These
drones can fly 50 km with a battery backup lasting between 1 and 6
hours. They are ideal for surveillance missions as they can fly longer
distances and can be used for longer periods of time.
3. Short
Range Drones:
They
are often used for military purposes because they are not as good as
close-range drones. They can travel up to 150 km, which is close to 100Km
greater than the coverage of close-range drones. They are ideal for spy
and reconnaissance applications as they can fly in between 8-12 hours.
4. Mid
Range Drones:
This
drone category is more powerful than the others. These drones are known
for their high speed capabilities, which can cover an area of up to 650
km. They are used for surveillance purposes and some basic types can be
used to collect meteorological data.
5. Endurance:
This
is the ultimate collection of drones. They have a flight time of 36 hours, can
reach a maximum height of 3000ft above sea level and are easy to
fly. These drones are very popular for surveillance purposes.
Section
4 - According to Equipment:
1. With
Camera
Action
camera enthusiasts and professionals love drones with cameras to capture great
shots in difficult locations. They are being used frequently by the film
industry for movie footage. These drones have seen a dramatic drop in
their price, so buyers are more excited to buy them for routine use. One
can easily purchase one for as low as $100-$1000. These days, most action
cameras are equipped with special drone mounting capabilities.
2. With
FPV
First
Person Viewing is a common use of drones capable of recording things as if
viewers were watching them in real-time. These drones can be controlled by
sight using a portable monitor. These drones are often used for film
production and interview shooting.
3. With
GPS
These
drones are becoming more popular because they can capture location information
anywhere, at any time. This drone can be used to record scenes at any
fixed place. They are also stable and will return home when they have completed
their task. It is important to note that the drones will recall the
location of the last shoot and can be sent back to the same spot for the next
shoot.
4. Stabilizer
The
main purpose of Gyroscope technology was to improve drone flight
capabilities. The current device features six-axis drone stabilization
technology. This allows the device to stay in place and can handle movements at
higher speeds. These devices are able to follow directions instantly and
can be used for any shooting need. The central flight control mechanism
allows users to have easy navigation so that specific footage details can be
gathered.