Posted on

UAV FAQ’s

We get a ton of questions regarding our UAV’s and we thought we would compile a list to help everyone! If you have a question you don’t see here make sure to email, message or comment with the questions and we can answer it and add it to our list.

  • Do you need a license to fly it?

A:  You don’t need a certification to fly for hobby purposes but if you are going to use it for commercial purposes or for any compensation or furtherance of a business, then YES you do need to become part 107 certified. (see our blog about Hobbyist Vs Part 107 HERE)

  • How fast does it go?

A: There are several types of drones and all have varying speeds.  The maximum average speed of a drone is around 45mph.

  • Can you take off from anywhere?

A: This is where things get a little tricky. You cannot take off from private property without permission, but you can take off from anywhere public. Depending on the state you live in and the ordinances of the towns, the areas you can launch from may differ. For example, some states prohibit launching from state owned parks, National parks are prohibited. However, if you launch from a public road and fly over these areas that is perfectly legal.

  • Can you take pictures of me from my house?

A: Technically, if someone launches from public property and they fly by your house and your shades aren’t drawn they can legally take a photo of you.  You can read the ‘Photographers Rights’ that have been around forever that break down this very thing. But remember, if you have a smartphone – your privacy has probably been invaded wayyyyy more than you probably know.

  • How far away can you fly and how high can you go?

A:  Some drones can go up to 4-5 miles away!  But there are still UAV laws in place where UAV’s cannot go beyond visual line of sight.  So even though UAVs can fly up to 4-5 miles away most of the time they aren’t. Legally, UAV’s can not go higher than 400 ft AGL (above ground level).

  • How expensive is a drone?

A: UAV’s can range from $10-$1M – all depending on the needs of the buyer!

I’m sure there are a million more questions that we could answer but these we found were the top contenders for most frequently asked. Once again, if you have a question comment below or reach out and we would be happy to answer it.

Thanks for reading and have a great rest of your week!

Posted on

Traveling with Drones

Happy New Year!  We hope you had a wonderful time over the Christmas & New Years holiday.  We escaped to the snowy mountains and had a blast!  Head on over to our AerialScope YouTube page to watch our new Vlog series and watch the latest video while up there!

So, traveling with drones is what we are chatting about today.  We figured, since we are out of town what better way to talk about this subject! You have two options when flying on a plane with drones.  Checking bags (in which a hard case is recommended) or carrying baggage on (a soft case should suffice).

Let’s talk about the heart of our drones, the batteries.  Lithium Ion Polymer batteries CANNOT be checked and they should be drained around 30-40%. Regardless if you check your drone or not the batteries need to stay with you. Some people like to cover the battery terminal with tape for added protection, up to you.  If you’re not sure, just check your airline regulations/TSA to verify.  Another thing with batteries is getting a good plan in place for battery management.  Always have extensions cords with you and have a plan for how you want to charge your batteries.  There isn’t always a place to plug in so keep that in mind.  Lots of dronies use generators as their supply so they don’t have to go very far.

We like to have a small repair kit with us when we travel.  Honestly, you should have this on you at all times anyway – you never know when you might be needing to make some quick repairs!

It’s also a good idea to pack extra propellers – this is good practice for anywhere you go you just never know when you are gonna need new props.

It’s always a good idea to see what the FAA recommends in terms of flying with your drones. To read what they suggest click here

Happy flying!

Posted on

3D models…?

What are 3D models? Why are they useful? How in the world did you do that?? These are all questions we receive on a regular basis, and we love being able to explain!  Let me break it down.

What are 3D models? 3D models are an interactive digital space.  They can be used for marketing, construction, surveying (with licensed surveyors), video games, I could go on!  We recently did a 3D model for a golf course and in that model, you can literally walk through the entire course from the comfort of your own home without setting a foot outside.

Why are they useful? 3D models help increase your digital footprint, they provide cutting edge technology for you and your clients, and they can help generate business and widen exposure – just to name a few.

How in the world do we do it?  We create 3D models through the use of photogrammetry.  That is a big word, but simply means the science of making measurements through the use of photos.  So, when we create a 3D model we are taking several photos (by several I mean anywhere from a couple hundred to thousands!) and we stitch those photos together to create the 3D model.

Still have questions about 3D models? Ask below or reach out to us! You can look at some of our 3D models here:  AerialScope 3D Models

You can also watch a YouTube video on our channel where I navigate through one of our 3D models and help you figure out how to use it:

3D Model Navigation Video