FPV Drone Basics:
Drone
A drone, also known as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), is a remote-controlled or autonomously-operated flying device used for various purposes, such as aerial photography, surveillance, agriculture, and more.
Cinewhoop Drones
Cinewhoop drones are a type of mini FPV (First Person View) drone that typically features a protective frame and camera setup. These drones are often used for capturing dynamic aerial shots and can fly in tight spaces, such as urban or city environments, to achieve stunning cinematic footage.
Commercial Drone
The commercial drone is an aircraft that is used for various professional purposes and commercial applications. These drones are specifically designed and equipped with advanced features to serve industries such as cinematography, photography, surveying, agriculture, inspection, and more. Unlike hobby drones, commercial drones are built to handle complicated tasks, have longer flight times, and have higher payload capacities. They may incorporate advanced technology like thermal imaging, LiDAR, or GPS navigation systems to enhance their capabilities for professional use.
Hobby Drone
The hobby drone is primarily used for recreational purposes. It is typically smaller and operated by enthusiasts or hobbyists who enjoy flying drones as a leisure activity. These drones are often equipped with essential features, such as a camera for capturing aerial photos or videos. Still, they may not have advanced capabilities like professional-grade drones used for commercial purposes.
FPV Drone
An FPV (First-Person View) drone is a type of unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a camera that transmits live video feed to the pilot, allowing them to navigate and control the drone from a first-person perspective through goggles or a monitor.
Multirotor
A multirotor is a type of rotorcraft that uses multiple rotors, typically arranged in a symmetrical configuration, to provide lift, stability, and control. It includes popular drone types such as quadcopters, hexacopters, and octocopters.
Quadcopter
A quadcopter is a type of multirotor drone that has four rotors positioned in a square or rectangular configuration, providing lift, stability, and control. It is widely used for aerial photography, racing, and recreational flying due to its relatively simple design and ease of operation.
FPV Racing Drone
An FPV Racing Drone is a type of drone used for competitive drone racing. These drones are designed for speed, agility, and precision, with specialized components like lightweight frames, high-performance motors, and an FPV camera system that allows pilots to navigate through challenging obstacle courses with accuracy.
FPV Freestyle Drone
Freestyle is a flying style focused on acrobatics and tricks. The same term is also commonly used to describe a type of frame or drone build that’s designed for freestyle flying.
Free Flying
Freestyle flying is a form of FPV flight that emphasizes acrobatics, exploration, and pure enjoyment. Unlike FPV racing or photography/cinematography, freestyle flying doesn’t adhere to a specific objective. It serves as an excellent starting point for beginners to familiarize themselves with FPV flying. Moreover, experienced FPV pilots utilize freestyle flying to perfect tricks, prepare for races, or rehearse upcoming shots. While there are no predefined rules for freestyle flying, it offers numerous advantages and opportunities for creativity.
Multirotor
A multirotor refers to any aircraft equipped with more than two rotors. It is one of the terms often used interchangeably with “drones.” So, if you hear someone mentioning a multirotor, chances are they are simply referring to a drone.
5.8 GHz
5.8 GHz is a frequency band used for wireless communication. The unit after 5.8 is GHz which stands for gigahertz. Gigahertz is a unit of frequency equal to one billion hertz. It is used to measure the frequency of electromagnetic waves such as radio waves, microwaves, and light waves.
Radio Protocol
Radio protocol is the signal between the receiver module and the drone’s flight controller. Different protocols are used for different requirements. Serial-based protocols are recommended these days, and almost every new model is used now. However, some older models may use protocols such as PPM or PWM.
Composition of FPV Drone:
Air Frame
The airframe, also known as the frame, refers to the main body of your drone. Imagine it as the skeleton that holds everything together. It serves as the housing for all the components of your FPV system, including the camera, props, motors, boards, and more.
Battery
The drone battery serves as the power source. The most frequently used type of battery for FPV drones is the lithium-ion polymer (LiPo) battery, which comes in various cell configurations. These configurations range from a single cell (1S) up to eight cells (8S). In general, having more cells equates to higher power output, resulting in increased speed. However, it also means an additional weight that affects the overall flight time.
FPV Camera
A camera that is mounted on a drone and transmits live video feed to the pilot’s goggles or monitor. This allows the pilot to see what the drone sees in real-time and control it accordingly.
Propellers
Propellers are rotating blades used in various types of aircraft, including drones, to generate lift and thrust by pushing air in the opposite direction of their rotation. They come in different sizes, shapes, and materials to suit specific applications and performance requirements.
Electronic Speed Controller (ESC)
An Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) is an indispensable component in drone technology that governs the electrical current provided to the motors. By fine-tuning motor rotation speed and direction, ESCs enable improved maneuverability, stability, and overall flight performance in a comprehensible manner.
Flight Controller
A flight controller is a circuit board that manages the drone’s flight. It controls the power, or RPM (Revolutions Per Minute), for each individual motor on the drone in response to the information received from the drone controller. It is like the brain of an FPV drone. It’s a circuit board equipped with sensors that detect the drone’s movements and user commands.
Gimbal
A gimbal is a pivoted support system that allows for the rotation of an object along multiple axes. In photography and videography, a gimbal stabilizes cameras or other imaging devices, enabling smooth and steady footage even when the user’s hand or body is in motion.
Gyroscope
A gyroscope is a device that is utilized to measure and uphold level orientation. This sensor is connected to the flight controller in order to sustain stability.
Propellers
Also known as blades, FPV drone propellers come in different sizes with 2, 3, or 5 blades. The choice of propeller depends on the specific motor and its parameters. It is crucial to match the propellers with the motor’s specifications provided by the manufacturer to ensure optimal performance. Using incorrect propeller parameters may result in insufficient power or even damage to the motor.
Video Transmitter
FPV drone video transmitters are used to transmit live video feed from the camera on a drone to the pilot’s goggles or monitor. They are typically in the 5.8Ghz range and most of them have around 48 channels, divided into a couple of bands, each including 8 channels.
Video Receiver
FPV droen video receiver is used to pick up radio signals coming from video transmitters (VTX) on drones and turn them into a video that can be watched on goggles and displays.
Motors
The motor assembly is responsible for spinning the propellers of your FPV drone and generating sufficient thrust for flight. FPV motors are typically lightweight, compact, and built to handle high speeds and quick maneuvers required in FPV racing or freestyle flying. They are available in brushed and brushless variants, with brushless motors being more commonly used due to their higher power, efficiency, and durability.
Brushed Motors
A commonly used motor in a small multirotor, the brushed motor is typically powered by a 1S battery. It provides weaker power compared to brushless motors and has a shorter lifespan. However, it is light in weight and more affordable.
Brushless Motor
A motor commonly used in multirotor aircraft, the brushless motor has a wider voltage input range compared to brushed motors. It offers greater durability and more powerful performance. However, it requires coordination with an electronic speed controller (ESC) and cannot operate directly from a power source.
MCU
Micro Controller Unit. The MCU is your FC’s (flight controller’s) processor. Continuing our human-body analogy: If the FC is the brain, then the MCU is sort of like the hippocampus—it’s where memory (firmware) is stored and accessed. The MCU also handles all the complex calculations the FC uses to regulate flight.
Technical Terms
ACRO
Abbreviated from acrobatic. In acro mode, the pilot has complete control over the drone’s angular velocity of rotation. Simply put, it’s entirely up to you. The drone won’t self-level automatically or resist stick input. You have the freedom to fly the drone as you desire, executing loops, rolls, and other acrobatic maneuvers. Acro mode is also commonly referred to as manual and rate mode.
Band
FPV drones transmit video using designated frequencies known as channels. These channels are organized into distinct groups referred to as bands (such as Band A, Band B, etc.). Each band consists of eight specific channels, each operating at its own unique frequency.
Bando
A bando refers to an abandoned building or structure that is ideal for FPV operations. Understanding the concept of a bando doesn’t necessarily enhance your technical knowledge or skills, but it’s a fun term to use and will certainly give the impression that you are knowledgeable in the field.
Failsafe
Failsafe on an FPV drone is a safety mechanism implemented to minimize potential risks and ensure a controlled response during unexpected scenarios, such as signal loss or low battery. When the drones failsafe is triggered, it typically activates predefined actions to maintain or regain control of the drone and prevent accidents or damage. These actions include initiating a return to home (RTH) function, descent or landing, or even activating a parachute system for safe recovery. The pilot can customize the specific failsafe settings and actions based on their preferences and requirements.
Flow
There are a plethora of FPV Freestyle styles to choose from. The “Flow” style, in particular, emphasizes the elegance of smooth lines and seamless transitions between maneuvers.
Fly Away
This feature automatically brings the drone back to the ground or within the designated control limits.
FOV
FOV (Field of View) is a crucial parameter to consider when selecting a camera. The size of the FOV determines the camera’s visual coverage, with a larger FOV expanding your visible field of view. For instance, a FOV of 165° indicates that the camera can capture a visual range of 165 degrees, measured from the lens’s center point to its visible diagonal.
Frequency
In FPV systems, specific radio frequencies are utilized for the transmission and reception of signals. When it comes to FPV drones, the most frequently used frequencies are 2.4 and 5.8GHz.
Gap
A gap refers to any small space that a drone can navigate through. It is a prevalent element in both FPV racing and freestyle flying.
Geofencing
Geofencing is a technology that utilizes the Global Positioning System (GPS & GLONASS) to create a virtual geographic boundary, effectively preventing drones from entering specific areas.
Jello Effect
The “jello effect,” also known as “jello” or “rolling shutter effect,” is a visual distortion that can occur in videos captured by cameras. Typically, drones lacking a high-quality gimbal are prone to experiencing this phenomenon.
Locked In
Locked-in refers to a state in which an FPV drone is flying with exceptional stability and precision. It implies that the aircraft is maintaining its intended course, altitude, and position without any significant deviations or fluctuations.
LPF
LPF stands for Low-pass Filter. In signal processing, an LPF is a type of filter that allows low-frequency signals to pass through while attenuating or reducing the intensity of high-frequency signals. It effectively filters out or removes high-frequency components from a signal, allowing only the low-frequency components to be transmitted or analyzed.
Mistakes High
Mistakes high is a flexible measurement that indicates the altitude required for recovery in case of user or flight system error. For instance, if you were flying a drone at 80 feet in an open field, you would be flying at a height that allows for 1 or 2 “mistakes high,” depending on the pilot’s skill level. In simpler terms, the drone is positioned high enough that you have the margin to make 1 or 2 errors before it crashes.
OSD
OSD stands for On Screen Display. In the context of drones and FPV (First Person View) systems, OSD refers to a feature that superimposes flight data onto the live video feed. This data can include important information such as battery voltage, altitude, speed, heading, GPS coordinates, and more. OSD allows pilots to monitor crucial flight information without diverting their attention from the live video feed./
PCB
A printed Circuit Board (PCB) , commonly referred to as a PCB, is a silicon circuit board that features copper traces and soldered components. In the realm of this hobby, most electronic devices are constructed on PCBs, including flight controllers (FCs), video transmitters (VTXs), transmitters (TXs), receivers (RXs), and more.
PDB
PDB stands for Power Distribution Board. The Power Distribution Board is a specially designed board that can handle high currents. It is constructed with copper traces that serve as connections for various electronic components, including LiPo batteries, ESCs, video transmitters, LEDs, and more.
PID
PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) refers to the three parameters that can be adjusted to alter the flight performance of a copter. In theory, PID is a control loop that aims to minimize the disparity between a measured process value and its desired value by modifying the control input of the process.
Pitch
Pitch refers to the upward or downward tilt direction of a drone as it moves along its vertical axis. To better understand pitch, envision your drone’s nose as your own. Adjusting the pitch is akin to raising or lowering your own nose in a straight line. When the nose ascends, the pitch increases; when the nose descends, the pitch decreases.
RTF (ready to fly)
RTF stands for Ready To Fly. This refers to drones that come fully assembled and ready to fly out of the box. These drones are usually designed for beginners and come with everything you need to get started, including a transmitter (remote control), battery, and charger.
There are many brands that produce RTF FPV drones. Here are some of the most popular ones and their hottest products:
– DJI: DJI FPV Combo
– Parrot: Parrot Bebop 2 FPV
– Holy Stone: Holy Stone HS 230 RTF
– Force1: Force1 U 49W Blue Heron RTF
– ARRIS: ARRIS X-Speed 280 V2 RTF
RTH
RTH (Return to Home) is a feature that, once enabled with GPS functionality, allows the aircraft to automatically fly back to its takeoff point.
RTL
RTL (Return To Launch) is another feature that, when GPS functionality is enabled, allows the aircraft to return to its original takeoff location.
Self-Level
Unlike acro mode, self-level mode maintains the drone’s level position even without stick input. Generally, there are two types of self-leveling: angle mode and horizon mode. Angle mode is more restrictive, as it limits the drone from exceeding specific pitch or roll angles. Horizon mode is slightly less restrictive, allowing controlled rolls but still self-leveling in the absence of stick input.
FPV Drone Equipment:
FPV Simulator
FPV Simulator is a software application that replicates the experience of flying an FPV drone in a virtual environment. It allows pilots to practice and improve their flying skills, learn new maneuvers, and test drone configurations without the risk of damaging real-world equipment.
FPV Goggles
FPV Goggles is a wearable device used by drone pilots to experience a first-person view of their drone’s camera feed. This immersive technology enhances precise control and navigation, making it ideal for activities such as drone racing and freestyle flying.
Lithium Polymer (LiPo) Battery
A Lithium Polymer (LiPo) Battery is a type of rechargeable energy storage solution favored in the drone industry for its high energy density, rapid discharge rates, and lightweight nature.
Battery Charger
DJI is a leading technology company headquartered in Shenzhen, China that specializes in manufacturing drones, camera stabilizers, and other photography and videography equipment for professional and consumer use.
Radio Controller
A Radio Controller is a handheld device that wirelessly communicates with and controls a drone. By sending signals to the drone’s onboard receiver, pilots can adjust the drone’s speed, direction, and other settings. These controllers often have multiple channels, programmable settings, and ergonomic design, making them essential tools for drone pilots.
EXPO
Expo, short for “exponential,” is a feature in FPV (First-Person View) setups. It lets you tweak how your transmitter’s controls respond. With expo, the middle stick positions are less touchy, while the edges are more responsive. This gives you finer control, especially for slight maneuvers.
Top FPV Drone Manufacturers & Companies:
DJI
DJI is a leading technology company headquartered in Shenzhen, China that specializes in manufacturing drones, camera stabilizers, and other photography and videography equipment for professional and consumer use.
TBS (Team Blacksheep)
TBS (Team Blacksheep) is a leading FPV drone manufacturer and company based in Hong Kong, known for its high-quality and innovative drone products. Founded in 2010, TBS has become a popular brand among FPV enthusiasts and professionals, offering a range of drones, components, and accessories, including video transmitters, antennas, and goggles.
BetaFPV
BetaFPV is a renowned FPV drone manufacturer and company that specializes in producing high-quality, lightweight drones for freestyle flying, racing, and aerial photography. Based in China, BetaFPV offers a range of drones, components, and accessories for both beginners and advanced pilots, including brushless whoop drones, flight controllers, and motors.
EMAX
EMAX is a well-established FPV drone manufacturer and company with over a decade of experience in the industry. The US-based company has built a reputation for producing high-quality and dependable drones, components, and accessories, including motors, ESCs, and propellers.
GEPRC
GEPRC is an esteemed FPV drone manufacturer and company headquartered in China, that is recognized for its top-quality and pioneering drone products.