Is a drone a tool used by the film industry and the military for specialized tasks or is it a toy similar to a radio-controlled airplane? The short answer is “yes.”
Drones have revolutionized filmmaking by providing an easier, much less expensive way to film scenes from above without the need for a plane or helicopter. The military uses drones the size of small aircraft to monitor far-away areas and sometimes to launch an attack without having to send a pilot into harm’s way. Search-and-rescue organizations use drones equipped with infrared cameras to find lost hikers. These devices are also popular with regular folks, but the most common questions asked are, “Why would I get one?” and “What can I do with it?” As it turns out, there are many answers to these questions.
Varieties
Drones can be found for less than $100 or more than $5,000. The difference lies in quality and abilities, because with these little aircraft, you often get what you pay for. A $50 starter drone will often have very limited flight times due to the battery used and some may not have a camera. Drones are operated by means of a remote controller, which in some cases could be a cellphone. In most cases, the more basic drones aren’t particularly durable, especially when crashed. Some very small ones can be used indoors, but consider how pets may react and don’t allow children to use them without basic instruction or adult supervision—four sharp, rapidly spinning blades demand respect, even from a “toy” drone. A basic drone can be a fun way to learn the basics, but the limited fly time may soon become annoying. Stepping up to a model with a better battery, or better yet, easily replaceable batteries provides more flight time.
Flying for Fun
Recreational users—defined as someone who doesn’t use the drone for business purposes, is at least 13 years of age, and is a U.S. citizen—need only to successfully pass a test of basic safety requirements and obey flight rules in order to register with the FAA.
For casual users, a drone provides a birds-eye view of their home and neighborhood. A drone is a good way to observe wildlife that may not be feasible to approach, taking care to not disturb them. Others seek out drones with a “follow me feature” that can track them from a pre-determined distance to obtain video as they take part in activities such as running, hiking, kayaking, walking the dog, or myriad other action activities. Many home or building inspectors rely on drones to get an up-close view of windows, a roof, or a tower that isn’t easily accessible. Simply put, drones are a great way to go where a human can’t safely roam.
One very unique example took place when investigators wanted to explore the abandoned operations building in Nikola Tesla’s Wardenclyffe Tower in Shoreham, New York. Because the building is contaminated with dangerous mold, humans can’t enter it, so a drone was sent in to view and record current conditions. In another example of a novel use of a drone, a team of National Geographic-sponsored biologists used a drone to fly in and collect samples of nasal mucus expelled from humpback whales in Alaska when they surfaced and exhaled.
