Drone Anatomy 101: 6 of the Most Important Parts

Drone Anatomy 101: 6 of the Most Important Parts

Civilian drones took off several years ago, with ambitious videographers and tech enthusiasts as eager early adopters. What could have easily been a fad is increasingly becoming a firm part of many people’s lives. Fans find new applications for them all the time and take joy in refining and expanding more familiar uses.

Newcomers will find the pastime quite accessible if they can get past the price tag. With that said, taking time to learn about your drone, specifically drone anatomy, can make the drone-owning experience even better. Here is a crash course on the most important parts that let these machines take flight.

Rotor(s) and Propeller(s)

The rotor is a mechanical hub within the drone’s body that connects to a propeller. When it rotates, the propeller starts to spin. When it provides enough force, the drone starts to lift off the ground. This process is the basis for the helicopter, and it applies to this type of wingless aircraft as well.

Some drones only have a single rotor, such as, well, a remote-controlled helicopter. Quadcopters have four. Both of these types are considered small drones, making them perfect for beginners. If you want more speed and more power, we recommend the quadcopter.

The designs get more powerful with each additional rotor. Hexacopters and octocopters, which respectively have six and eight of them, are formidable machines intended for professionals. If one rotor or propeller breaks, the consequences are less dire than with smaller drones because the rest pick up the slack.

With that said, more rotors mean more parts, which means more parts to replace. The initial cost can already be hefty enough without taking repairs into account. They may also be less efficient with their battery life. On top of that, local regulations may limit where larger drones can fly. You must determine which kind of drone fits your needs and desires best.

Flight Controller

Fans of RC vehicles may be familiar with servos, the components that enable communication between the machine and the remote. The flight controller does something like that for drones. It receives signals from the operator to shift the drone’s altitude, direction, and speed.

With that said, flight controllers are more complex than your average servo. Controlling each rotor on the remote would be too unwieldy and complicated for even the savviest drone pilots. This intelligent circuit board interprets the remote’s inputs and manipulates the rotors accordingly, doing the work for you.

More sophisticated flight controllers use a variety of additional components, including barometers, gyroscopes, compass sensors, and GPS. With these tools at their disposal, they can maintain their position or enable autopilot. Drone enthusiasts nickname them “the brains of the drone” for a reason.

Electronic Speed Controller

The electronic speed controller, or ESC, connects to two parts: the flight controller and the battery. Through the latter link, it controls the flow of energy that goes to the rotors. As a result, it can increase or decrease the voltage that the rotors receive, affecting the speed of the drone.

When the operator wants the drone to accelerate, their input on the remote sends signals to the flight controller. That circuit board then relays the message to the ESC, which stops holding back as much and lets the electricity reach the rotors. Make sure that this part is working well, or your machine may hover in place — at best.

Obstacle Avoidance Sensors

The excitement of flying a drone is often tempered by the concern that one may lose control and crash it. Fortunately, some high-tech drones can override the user when the machine is in danger of slamming into the ground. How do they know when a collision is imminent? They use obstacle avoidance sensors.

Various types of sensors use different means of obtaining information about the immediate area. Some use infrared, while others capture and interpret video footage. They may even use sound pulses to determine distance. Either way, they discern potential impediments on their flight path and find a way around, over, or under them.

Obstacle avoidance sensors can be found in various areas of the drone. You can usually find a pair on the front, using stereo vision for a greater sense of depth. There is also often a pair on the bottom, which helps the flight controller measure altitude.

Battery

If your drone is not functioning properly, the problem might be that one or more of the components needs replacement. If every piece seems shipshape, it may just be the power source. A few drones, particularly single-rotor ones, use fuel. For most others, the more efficient source is a rechargeable battery.

To be clear, you cannot just use a few AAs you got from the store. The battery packs that drones use are bulkier and more powerful. Many use either lithium-ion or lithium-polymer (LiPo). More intriguingly, many are “smart.” They communicate with the flight controller and change their output to match the present circumstances.

Camera System/Equipment

Drone operators love recording their flights. Ego is hardly a factor: these machines can capture a birds-eye view of places that most of us only ever see from the ground. They are popular for videography, and plenty of manufacturers design drones to meet the demand.

Simpler drones come with a means of gripping handheld cameras and smartphones. Strap in your preferred recording device and enjoy the view. More complex ones have built-in cameras, complete with a multi-axis gimbal that can change which way it faces. They may even be able to send the feed directly to your phone or computer in real-time.

Shop Smartly with Your Drone Anatomy Knowledge

Not all drones are designed equally. Even so, this crash course in drone anatomy should give you a greater understanding of the most common and important components. That information can help you make a more informed decision when shopping for multirotor drones and replacement parts.

We can help you even further by providing you with top-notch products on the Absolute Hobbyz online store. Explore our selection today and place an order right away.