UAV types, classifications and purposes

UAV stands for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and covers all remotely controlled machines that are also known as quadcopters, as well as aircraft used by the US air force. These machines are mainly used by military and police to perform an operation in the one that a manned aircraft seems impractical or too risky. Drones are not new; They have been in use since the First World War. However, at that time the control was mechanical and the aircraft could only go as far as the fuel allowed.

Subsequently, devices were developed that could be controlled with the help of radio or infrared technology. These devices became the predecessors of modern quadcopters that employ integrated circuits or computer chips and can be programmed to fly for a defined period of time in a defined direction serving a defined purpose. This design gave rise to the latest quadcopters that are available on the market for hobbyists of all ages who love to fly them.

UAV classification according to the US Air Force.

UAVs can be classified into many different types based on the purpose for which they are used. However, not all of them are commercially available to the general public. The ones that are available in the market are generally called quadcopters that come with or without a camera and GPS for fun or entertainment purposes. Some business units are also made to achieve specific objectives of a company or business. However, the more advanced machines used by the US Air Force fall into three main types;

1. Extremely small UAV, also known as micro AV or AVM

2. Low altitude long endurance UAV

3. Medium-altitude, long-life UAV (also known as ‘MALE’)

Four. High altitude long endurance UAV (also known as ‘HALE’)

Examples of these UAVs include Global Hawk, Mariner, Hunter, Predator, and Fire Scout. These are large, sophisticated flying machines with a satellite data link system, cameras, radars, laser designators, and weapons. Most of them are fully autonomous, which means that they are intelligent devices capable of making decisions during your flight. They capture battle damage information in real time and relay it to soldiers on the ground. They can provide continuous operations for up to 7-8 hours airborne.

UAV functional classification

There are six functional categories of UAVs and these machines are designed to achieve a particular goal. The purposes they serve include target acquisition, battlefield intelligence, attack (also known as unmanned combat aerial vehicle), cargo and logistics, research and development, and commercial UAVs. UAVs are also classified according to their size and are known as micro, miniature, medium and large, specific for military or combat.

The main function that makes these UAVs different from those available on the market is their ability to fly autonomously. This means that the vehicle can make decisions depending on its flight to change direction, capture images or return to the ground. These machines come equipped with several sensors and to make a decision, the input of different sensors is merged. They can also communicate with other UAVs flying around, as well as ground stations and satellites. They are able to determine the ideal course to accomplish a mission. These powerful capabilities make them extremely sensitive and sophisticated devices and these operations are not available on quadcopters used for amusement and entertainment purposes.

UAV for hobbyists

Hobbyist UAVs are the most common type and come in various sizes, designs, prices, and functionality. Amateur UAVs that can be classified into three main types:

Ready to fly (RTF)

Bind-and-Fly (BNF)

Almost ready to fly (ARF)

Ready-to-Fly are the most widely used UAVs among the general public, hobbyists, and business people. As is clear from the name, these types of flying machines do not need much assembly since they come equipped with the required functionality and you only need to put the batteries and go.

These RTF vehicles are designed to provide the user with many basic and advanced features, which are quite useful for a number of applications. The latest quadcopters come with a 12 MP camera to take excellent quality aerial photos and record 4K video. They also offer live HD video streaming on your smartphone or any other handheld device. The newest ones are associated with a mobile application to give you more control over its functionality, as well as to use a flight simulator to learn how to fly. Flight times vary from model to model, but a fairly good quality quadcopter provides up to 30 minutes of continuous flight time.

Bind-and-Fly, on the other hand, requires you to first connect the machine with your transmitter before taking it off. Such a machine is not intended for hobbyists, as it requires a little assembly, which only experts can handle. Similarly, ARF or Near Ready-to-Fly aircraft require some form of assembly before they can be used. These machines come with an instruction manual so anyone can assemble them quickly and easily. They are perfect for expert pilots who already have the radio equipment (the transmitter and the receiver) and are only looking for other parts to complete the structure of their vehicles.

All of these UAVs are available in the market in the price range of $ 50 to $ 3,000 and even more depending on their specifications, model, and overall design. Most quadcopters are very robust and durable and therefore last a long time if handled correctly.

Although these UAVs are considered friendly, they pose a threat to public safety as they can mistakenly fly over private property and no-fly zones, or collide with another aircraft, damage something, or land somewhere unknown. Therefore, it is advisable to follow precautionary measures while flying these seemingly harmless quadcopters for fun to ensure safety.