Monthly Archives: July 2018

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9521099

Drones are the hottest topic in the tech world at the moment. People all over the world have fallen in love with this new technology and want to get their hands on it. From kids to adults to business owners, everyone wants to own a drone. While drones are not that difficult to buy, one has to keep in mind that these aerial vehicles do not come cheap. You will have to make a good deal of investment if you want to purchase a high quality drone. Therefore, it is important that you don’t make a hasty decision when choosing a drone and that you take the time to find the right one.

Challenges Faced in Finding the Right Drone

Drone technology is advancing at a rapid rate. A new type of drone is introduced in the market almost every other day. With so many types and brands of drones available, it can become a challenge for a person to find a drone that is best suited to his or her needs. However, finding the right drone isn’t a difficult task if you know what you are looking for. So, the first thing you will have to do is to identify the purpose for which you want to buy the drone. How you use the drone is going to determine which type is most suitable for you.

· Recreational Purposes

If you want to buy a drone only for recreational purposes then you can find the right drone quite easily. There are plenty of recreational drones available in the market that can be utilized for personal use. Such drones don’t cost much and are fairly easy to operate. You simply have to control the flight of the drone using a joystick type of controller whose functions are similar to any other type of remote controlled vehicle. So, you will get the hang of it quickly should you decide to start flying. The best thing about recreational drones is that you won’t have to break the bank for purchasing them.

· Commercial Purposes

If you want to purchase a drone for commercial purposes then you will have to do some extensive research to find the drone that is best for you. Since the drone is going to be used for a particular job, you will have to find one that has the capabilities for carrying out that task. For instance, if you want to use it for the purpose of aerial photography then you will have to get a drone that has an HD camera attached to it. Such drones can be found online with great ease. However, do remember that these types of drones are quite expensive and will cost you a good deal of money.

Factors to Consider When Buying Drones

In addition to the challenges faced in finding a suitable drone, there are a number of factors that you need to consider when buying these machines too.

· Design

The design of a drone is an important consideration. You would have to decide whether a quadcopter design would be suitable or whether you require a drone having more than four rotors. While a quadcopter is best for balancing and finer control, it would not be safe to use in rough weather and won’t be able to lift heavier payloads. On the other hand a hexacopter or an octocopter consumes more power, but can fly in much more severe weather.

· Speed and Elevation

Speed and elevation are also factors that you need to keep in mind when it comes to buying drones. Most small drones can’t fly as high are larger drones. So, if you want to take good quality aerial photographs then you will have to get an advanced drone that is capable of reaching heights of 300 feet or more. Moreover, a smaller drone won’t be able to go as fast and would be unsuitable for drone racing. For that you would require a speedy drone for racing which can clock in high speeds.

· Battery Life

Battery life matters also when making the decision of purchasing a drone. The battery life is going to determine the amount of time the drone can remain in the air. In addition to battery life, you will have to take into account the charging time required by the drone to recharge its batteries. Ideally, you should go for a drone that is capable of giving you at least 20 minutes of flight time and can be fully charged within half an hour.

· Controllable Range

The controllable range is the farthest distance up to which you can remotely pilot your drone. Most drones have very limited controllable ranges, meaning that you cannot take them out for long range flights. The advanced drones however have considerable controllable range and can be flown for long distances. Controllable range is an important consideration when buying drones for aerial photography as you would have to remain within this range when taking photos.

· Camera

Most people use drones for the purpose of taking photos. The drone itself doesn’t take photos but it has a built-in camera mounted on it that is responsible for taking the images. The more advanced the camera is, the more quality photos it should be able to take. However, do remember that HD cameras can be very heavy, so you will have to buy a heavier and more advanced drone if you intend to use it for the purpose of aerial photography or videography.

· Replacement Parts

Drones are aircraft and can easily be involved in accidents. All it takes is a wrong turn or a slight error of judgment to cause the drone to tumble to the ground. Most lightweight drones fall a lot and thus require replacement parts like rotor blades, extra batteries, propellers and gears to get back into the air. Thus, availability of spare parts is another important consideration that you have to keep in mind when buying small drones.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9413259

Drones are becoming more and more autonomous and easier for drone owners to control. There are some fundamental components all drone owners should be familiar with, which keep the drone in the air. Some people opt to construct their drones themselves instead of purchase a readymade drone, which often reduces the costs. This article will cover the basic parts of a fully functional drone and their functionality.

Quadcopter frame

This is a structure (frame) in which all the other parts fit in. It acts as a skeleton in which different components are placed in such a manner that they uniformly distribute the drone’s center of gravity. Different drone’s designs have different quadcopter frames structure with a minimum of 3 propeller fitting gaps. They are available in various shapes and sizes and their price ranges from a mere $10 to $500 depending on their quality.

Motors

Motors are essential for the propeller’s rotation. This enhances a thrust force for propelling the drone. Still, the number of motors should be the same as the number of propellers. The motors are also fitted in a way such that they are easily rotated by the controller. Their rotation enhances the drone control in terms of direction. Choosing the right motor is really essential for the efficiency of the drone. You have to check carefully about various parameters such as voltage and current, thrust and thrust to weight ratio, power, efficiency and speed etc.

Electronic Speed Controller (ESC)

This is an electronic control board that varies the motors speed. It also acts as a dynamic brake. The component still helps the ground pilot to approximate the height at which the drone is running in. This is attained by gauging the amount of power used by all the motors. Altitude is associated with power drain from the power reservoirs.

Flight Control/Board

The flight board makes a log of the takeoff place just in case a need arises for the drone to go back to its takeoff location without being guided. This is known as ‘return to home’ feature. It also determines and calculates the drone’s altitude in respect to the amount of power it consumes.

Propellers

Propellers are clove like blades structured to create a difference in air pressure. When in motion, they cut through the air creating difference in pressure between the top of the rotors and the bottom. The top side is characterized by low pressure as compared to the bottom causing the drone to lift into the air. The price starts from as low as $1 and follows an upward trend depending on their make and model. For example, carbon fiber propellers cost around $50. They are light weight and are break proof, which are qualities not present in propellers costing around $10.

Radio Transmitter

It is a channeled transmitter and a communicator to the drone. Each channel has specific frequency capable of steering the drone in a certain motion. Drones require at least 4 channels for effective operation.

Battery, Electronics and Power Distribution Cables

The battery acts as the power source to the drone. It supplies energy in all the electronics in the framework through the power distribution cables. Nickel Metal Hybrid or Nickel Cadmium based batteries were first used, however, their use has diminished while the use of lithium batteries has increased. They can store a greater amount of energy than the Nickle Cadmium and Nickle Metal Hybrid. The rating of a typical battery is 3000mAh and 4V. It costs about 10$. The electrical and electronic part is a crucial part pertaining to the control and operation of the drone. However, in respect to the purpose of the drone, other components can be either included or omitted. The drone may be functional without these parts, though for multitasking purposes it’s advised to include them.

Camera

For video shooting, cameras are attached to the drones. Cameras with the capability of shoot and store or shoot and send are available and used in relation to the operator’s taste or budget. Some use their own cameras while the quality conscious use GoPro cameras.

Landing gear

This is a structure meant for safe landing of the drone. However, it can be exempted since an experienced user is capable of balancing the motors speed for safe landing in emergencies. There are two major types of landing gear. One is fixed landing gear and the other is retractable landing gear.

First Person Video

Though it is expensive in comparison to the normal control device interface (transmitter) screen, it gives the user an interactive 3D view experience. The first person view (FPV) gives the user an ultimate feeling of as if the user is flying in the skies. There are two major components of an FPV system. The first one is the ground component. The ground component is also called the ground station. It consists of a video receiver and a display system on the ground. The second major component is the video receiver. The video receiver receives the data by matching the frequency of the receiver with the transmitter present of the drone. The most common frequencies used for transmission of video are 433 MHz, 869 MHz, 900MHz, 1.2 GHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz. Advanced versions of ground components have sophisticated antennas which result in greater image resolution. The airborne component has a camera and a video transmitter on the drone. These are the basic components of a basic FPV system. However, advanced FPV systems have advanced components and functions. For example, the FPV system can be added with a GPS navigation system. It can also have flight data systems. Further advanced FPV systems have “return home” systems which allow the drones to come back to the position from where they initially took off.

In conclusion, these are the major components of a drone. Choosing the right component according to your requirements is a must. You are the one who is going to fly the drone so you know better. The components are available in abundance from various online stores and can be bought easily. Buy them, assemble and combine them and have the time of your life flying your drone.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9412752

The latest telematics market trends continue to point towards providing in-car connectivity and by 2016 2G network connectivity will be a thing of the past. Therefore, it goes without saying that there’s a huge market potential that still remains untapped as far as the telematics ecosystem is concerned.

In the recent past, we have seen that providing connected cars has taken a new momentum and every car maker is gearing up to facilitate connectivity that offers powerful network technologies even as faster networks like 3G and 4G are emerging. For example technologies supporting real-time driver safety instruction, fleet maintenance programs, including fuel and productivity tools are now available worldwide for vehicle users to peruse – all this at the same price points as previous years’ tech.

According to Ernst & Young, by the year 2025 the market penetration statistics is expected to be 88% for new cars. This is a new paradigm shift as far as in-car connectivity of integrated telematics is concerned. In the US alone, by 2025, 16 million new cars are going to be equipped with embedded telematics. Let’s quickly take a look at the hottest trends in the exciting world of telematics today.

Top Market Trend 1: Mapping to a Safer, More Efficient Intuitive Mechanization

In the rapidly evolving world of telematics, the topmost exciting innovations like GPS tracking or map navigation systems alone have begun to empower both managers and drivers to associate with online platforms and encourage real-time communication on the go.

Although the GPS tracking system took hold about 10-12 years ago and has quickly become a mainstream telematics service, it is still counted as one of the top technologies that directly communicates with your car and transmits information such as providing maps, heavy rain up ahead, weather reports, wheel sensitivity, traffic alerts, reducing speed, etc. with day-by-day, hour-by-hour, and meter-by-meter accuracy.

Top Market Trend 2: Autonomous Cars Becoming a Reality

Back in 2013, the first so-called ‘autonomous-drive’ car has been driven in Japan. ‘Autonomous-drive’ or driverless car is attracting the most buzz. While these voice-controlled vehicles are already in operation, albeit in test versions and not as yet produced commercially, but there’s no stopping the fact that such cars are going to be available sooner than we think. Maybe as early as 2020, you can see a car with all its latest voice and touch controls, zooming past you on the street.

Top Market Trend 3: Greater Smartphone and Tablet Integration

Smartphones, iPads and Tablets have become a business staple nowadays. They are not a novelty anymore, but at work as highly personalized tools for users to take advantage of. So, no wonder then that these smart omnipresent new-age gadgets have become an easy platform for integrating telematics into them. Smart-phones, or for that matter tablets, create a seamless IT operation that can work hand-in-hand with the latest advanced telematics solutions – whether you are in your car, home or office, or even during your leisure time, it can give you exact specifications and deliveries meeting your every need.

Mobile apps on your smartphone facilitate connectivity that allows drivers to control their car remotely; you can check your car’s performance, safety and security by communicating with it in real-time and on the go. Rising consumer demands of tech savvy people have made sure that the telematics market continues to grow. Overtime, this Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Solutions(V2I) feature will also allow inter-connectivity between two connected cars that will bring about an increasing need for machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity as well.

Top Market Trend 4: In-Vehicle Infotainment!

There’s a palpable excitement around infotainment in the automobile industry and amongst vehicle users. And the world of telematics doesn’t exempt from this euphoria, and why should it, especially when there’s an ongoing love affair with the social media networks.

According to the latest report published by Allied Market Research, by the year 2022 the in-car infotainment market will witness a double digit growth at an expected CAGR growth rate of 13.3% to reach $33.8 billion in total revenue.

With an unmistakable presence of great options or high-performance interfaces like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, touch screen audio or even audio, video, GPS-based navigation systems, interactive voice recognition services, live media streaming service, phone pairing features, among others, it is a given that the entertainment quotient in the infotainment industry will have a lion’s share in terms of loyal followers and making it quite easier to gain new markets and customers. To be sure, this is just the beginning of things to come.

Top Market Trend 5: The Impact of the ‘Internet of Things’

The diversity of the Internet of things (IoT) is set to profoundly impact the telematics ecosystem. With the combined power of interconnection of everyday objects via the internet, the “car of the future” will be increasingly intelligent, “wearable”, interconnected and seamlessly accelerated.

What’s more, in the grand scheme of things of IoT, the car itself will become smarter than it is now as it will start leveraging key IoT enabling technologies that will directly address the virtual realm of real-time information, infotainment, and social networking with aplomb.

In the IoT environment, the car can only literally be a big data in motion problem which has become the proverbial poster child of this so-called IoT revolution where M2M (machine-to-machine) is a parent and Telematics is a grandparent and IoT is a child. We must realize that this is a third generation family, with similar DNA that is. All three generations are here to impact our lives.