DRONE - November 2017 PDF

buyer’s guide • reviews • pro tips + more…
November 2017 · No 26 · Price £ 5 . 99
Bind and Fly Props and Robbers Drama Class

The easy way to hook up a Preparing the police to Push your photos to the limit
controller and get airborne tackle crime from the skies with these simple editing tips
A BIRD’S EYE VIEW

We take flight with Parrot’s Bebop 2 Power and Mambo FPV
26
9 772059 287008
LINE OF SITE SNAP HAPPY

Can DRONES crack the The pro photographer
construction industry? loving the DJI Spark
MADE IN BRITAIN
The UK company taking on the world
LILY IS BACK! The rise, the fall,

the resurrection
001_DM26[Cover]IKICGC.indd 1 29/09/2017 17:32

PHANTOMFLIGHTSCHOOL
The UKs longest established and most
popular drone flying school
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Image by Neil Peck, PhantomFlightSchool client
www.phantomflightschool.co.uk to see video of our May 2017 trip
Images by Glyn Melling & Neil Peck, PhantomFlightSchool clients; & Alan Proto, PhantomFlightSchool pilot
01244 893 872 info@phantomflightschool.co.uk

Holiday ad August 20172.indd 1 02/08/2017 11:37
A Reader’s View
Point of Ayr Lighthouse,
Talacre, Wales
Photo by Haydn Greenow
A great photo and a great story, as Haydn

Greenow shot this iconic landmark with his
DJI Spark shortly after his daughter became
engaged there! “Her boyfriend proposed to
her at the bottom of the lighthouse steps. She
didn’t guess what was going on as we had
told her we were doing a photo shoot for her
birthday which was the same day. She did say
YES to the proposal though!”
003-98_DM26[Showcase Photos]IKIGC.indd 3 29/09/2017 17:35

contributors
Adam Gemma Mark rob

Juniper Cox Baker dixon
Hooked from the moment he saw Our launch editor for DRONE, Mark is a commercial drone pilot After 22 years flying in the RAF,
the AR.Drone at CES, Adam has Gemma has worked at the helm of based in the New Forest. In 2014, Rob is now a director at Pilotwise
spent the years since building, NEO magazine for over ten years. he founded Naughty Cat Media International in York. The
crashing, sinking, losing and Spending over a decade immersed and specialises in providing low company is well known globally
occasionally flying drones. With in Asian pop culture, she recently level aerial video and photography for having delivered quality
a background in photography branched out into the world of using drones. Most of his work training products for 30 years
publishing and over a decade technology to take on UAVs. She’s is carried out with lightweight and Rob is committed to the team
writing about video and still most excited about the future of and affordable systems like the delivering that same quality to the
photography in his rear-view FPV racing and the prospect of DJI Phantom series. Check out drone market and drone training.
mirror, he was the only choice for drone deliveries! Can drone racing some of his shots and get in You can follow Pilotwise on
Ilex’s excellent book The Drone go prime time? She certainly hopes touch at his website, located at Twitter @Pilotwise or get in touch
Pilot's Handbook (on sale now!). so! Follow NEO at @NEO_Magazine. www.naughtycatmedia.co.uk. at info@pilotwise.co.uk.
Andrew Lee MICHAEL rowan

Wat ton-Davies Schofield COOK bailey
Andrew spends his time Known online as Painless360, Michael gained his experience with Rowan is cinematographer and
monitoring the globe for drone Lee has a YouTube channel and drones through the US Army, flying drone fanatic with a passion for
news stories, testing to death the business dedicated to making RC the Shadow 200 system. After the exploring new places and shooting
things people send him (mostly technology easier to use. An RC pilot Army he flew drones in Alaska before them with his Xiro Xplorer. He’s
drones), and hoping his cats won’t for over eight years and with a 30- founding his own company, M2 always looking for new places to
moult all over his quadcopters. He's year background in electronics he Flight Solutions. As well as working fly and new ways to push his work,
a graduate of the Freedonia Flying became hooked on quads when he with emergency services, he was also and you’ll often find him along the
Academy and has never failed to was bought one in as a present. The the first person to fly an AV Puma Pembrokeshire coastline on most
walk away from a UAV landing. rest, as they say, is history! By now system 300 miles from the true North sunny/non-windy days! You can
You can follow him on Twitter at he can probably strip a quadcopter Pole – the furthest a UAV system has follow his most recent shots/trips
@raggedydrones and rebuild it blindfolded. flown from a coastguard ship. on Instagram @RTBaileyMedia.
4 DRONE MAGAZINE
004-5_DM26[Editorial]IKICGC.indd 4 29/09/2017 18:12

november 2017 • Issue 26
www.dronemagazine.uk
Uncooked Media Ltd, PO Box 6337,

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To Issue 26 of Drone Magazine!

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iven how far UAV technology has come over the past few years, it’s quite a 2 East Poultry Avenue, London EC1A 9PT
sobering thought to consider that there’s still some way to go before drones Distributed through the UK/US specialist trade by
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reason, that they already are and that the revolution is already upon us, but this issue Shropshire, UK
raises a few interesting areas where there’s clearly more work to be done.
Speaking with William Reddaway for our article on the construction industry, it’s
clear that there’s still a sense of trepidation about accepting and embracing drones for
what they can do, as well as a scepticism based on what they can’t. Years of negative DRONE is published every four weeks by Uncooked
press have likely had an impact here, but it’s also about proving to big business the Media Ltd. All text and layout remains the copyright
of Uncooked Media Ltd. DRONE is a fully independent
value that UAVs can offer, and turning all that positive talk about saving time, money publication and its views are not those of any company
and risk into cold, hard cash. There’s little doubt that the technology will continue to mentioned herein. All characters and artwork shown
in this magazine remain the © and trademark or their
adapt and evolve, and likely more tailor-made solutions will emerge to better resolve respective owners.
some of those concerns. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without
That said, I have found it interesting that Parrot’s latest announcements are both the express written permission of the publisher.
DRONE can accept no responsibility for inaccuracies
upgraded versions of existing models – following on from DJI doing likewise last or complaints arising from editorial or advertising
within this magazine. All letters and emails received
month. It could be easy to dismiss these as minor steps forward, with a Phantom 5 will be considered for publication, but we cannot
or a Bebop 3 being where the real innovation lies, but I’m quite content to see these provide personal replies. The publishers cannot be held
responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs,
major players simply improving on what they have, rather than feeling compelled to transparencies or artwork. Please do not call, email or
wrap up a ‘new’ model with a host of enforced bells and whistles just to meet a pre- write to enquire whether your unsolicited submission
has been received, as our priority is the production of
prescribed marketing window. the magazine.
Having previously worked in videogames, I’ve seen too many gaming franchises Another quality cold cut from
suffer as a result of an obligatory annual update – and perhaps we should feel grateful
that we’re not being pressured into spending another chunk of cash on a brand new
and possibly half-baked drone we probably don’t need…
Enjoy the issue! EST. 2003

DRONE © 2017 Uncooked Media Ltd
ISSN 2059-2876
Ian Collen, EDITOR
facebook.com/DRONEMagUK twitter.com/DRONEMagUK instagram.com/DRONEMagUK
WWW.DRONEMAGAZINE.UK 5
004-5_DM26[Editorial]IKICGC.indd 5 29/09/2017 18:06

10 20
40
26 32
contents
10 // MILITARY STRIKE 18 // AIR SHIPS 32 // TALKING PARROT
Our news round-up begins with reports of How a drone delivery system is navigating We take a close-up look at Parrot’s most recent
a drone colliding in mid-air with a US Army the problems caused by a 550m-wide river in releases, the upgraded Bebop 2 Power and the
helicopter over New York. Iceland’s capital. race-friendly Mambo FPV.
12 // SHARE THE AIR 20 // WORLD-WIDE WEB 38 // COMPETITION

Details on the latest CAA initiative, looking to We speak to the head of the Drone Major Group After last issue’s survey the Phantom Flight School
bring manned and unmanned pilots together as it launches its new global platform to unite was as keen as ever to help pilots avoid more crashes
for improved harmony in UK airspace. the drone industry. – so we’ve a free flying lesson up for grabs!
16 // RECORD BREAKER 26 // BUILDING BRIDGES 40 // lily lives!

After setting a new distance record of 100km A first-hand report on how the search for aerial It seems that reports of the death of the Lily
for a multirotor, we speak to the team to find innovation in the construction industry can fall Drone were greatly exaggerated as it makes a
out how it was done. on hard ground. surprising, if slightly diminished, return.
6 DRONE MAGAZINE
006-7_DM26[Contents]IKICGC.indd 6 29/09/2017 17:01

44
50 56
64 70
SUBSCRIBE TODAY FOR ONLY £14.99!

TURN TO PAGE 92
44 // FLYING SQUAD 64 // VIFLY R130 76 // LAB ANALYSIS

An interview with Essex Police drone team, one A hands-on review with the latest FPV model Master of the minidrone, we speak to TRNDLabs
of the latest forces to push for the use of UAVs in from ViFly, which proved a big bundle of fun for to see how its micro models shape up against
day-to-day operations. a racer of its size. the big guns.
50 // UAV IN THE UK 66 // ON THE CASE 78 // PHOTO SHOCK

There are few drone manufacturers in Britain We’ve cast our eye over the protective case We go crazy and push the limits of editing to
but we get a first-hand report from one market recently, and here’s a closer look at an turn plain aerial shots into something far more
company looking to break the mould. Inspire 2 backpack from GPC. dramatic, if a little garish…
56 // SHOOTING STAR 70 // in a bind? 94 // BUYER’S GUIDE

We hear from a professional photographer who’s As the ViFly R130 is a ‘Bind and Fly’ model, We don’t start counting down the days to
taken to the aerial perspective with a passion – we’ve put together a handy guide to hooking up Christmas until mid-December at best, but
for the DJI Spark! a controller and getting your craft in the air. here’s a great place for some early gift ideas!
006-7_DM26[Contents]IKICGC.indd 7 29/09/2017 17:01

8 DRONE MAGAZINE
008-9_DM26[Overview1]IKICGC.indd 1 28/09/2017 20:36

32
we take flight with
parrot’s latest releases:
the bebop 2 power and
mambo fpv
008-9_DM26[Overview1]IKICGC.indd 2 29/09/2017 18:50

Air Strike
Collision with US Army aircraft reported in New York
Words by Andrew Watton-Davies
A
collision between a drone and a UA60 the events and he described the version of the looking out left and right behind the pilots).
Black Hawk helicopter belonging to the flight he had heard from the crew, saying: “It So it bounced off of there and struck two
82nd Airborne Division is reported to was dusk and the pilot says ‘wait a minute, I blades; one got dinged really well and those are
have occurred on 21 September. The US Army think I see something’ – because the drone has titanium leading edges. They heard the ‘boom-
helicopter, normally stationed at Fort Bragg lights on it. boom’ but the controls seemed fine and they
in North Carolina, is said to have been flying “They’re flying at such a fast speed the pilot thought they were good for the eight minutes
at 500 feet over a residential area of Midland reacted to it but it was too late, the drone hit the flight back to Linden.
Beach in the Staten Island district of New York. left side of the aircraft where the crew chiefs “By the time they got here it was dark, so
It was operating alongside another Black Hawk sit (there are two crew always on each side, the flashlights could only see the ding on the
as part of the security operation for the annual
General Assembly of the United Nations, when
the craft was struck at around 8.15pm. The
pilot was able to land safely at nearby Linden
Airport in New Jersey.
Following the incident, Army Lieutenant
Colonel Joe Buccino told the press that “our
aircraft was not targeted, this was a civilian
drone.” He added that “there were no adverse
impacts to the flight.” He also confirmed that
the helicopter had been struck on the left side
of fuselage, that a window was dented and
that one blade was damaged and dented in two
spots, which resulted in a replacement blade
being required.
Jose Montanez of Gotham Film Works, an
aerial photography company that operates
out of Linden Airport and in the New York
City airspace, was at the airport at the time
and helped provide support and hanger space
to the grounded flight. We spoke to Jose after
10 DRONE MAGAZINE
010-11_DM26[news_NYC Hit]IKICGC.indd 8 29/09/2017 18:51

blades. But in the morning with the daylight
All photos by Jose Montanez
we’re all looking at it and they’re opening up
the transmission and engine cowling and, lo
and behold, they find what looks like a DJI
motor,” Jose said. “We were thinking it was
going to be some kind of giant. When they
pulled out that part, I was all ‘holy smokes;
that’s not a big drone’.”
Under Investigation
In response to the incident two Army Chinook
helicopters were sent to the airfield, according
to Jose, “one with a blade and one with gear”.
Whilst the full damage was not confirmed at
time of going to press, Jose advised that the
swap out was due to the Army’s procedure being
“to take measurements and pictures and send
it in.” The engineering team will look at the
damage and “they make the call if you can fly
with that blade, in case they fly with that blade
and it then cracks. Two blades were struck, but
one blade is what they’re going to change.”
Jose was especially concerned about As for the negative reaction to the incident, rest of us that want to do it right and have the
the incident, as he claimed that he’s heard Jose – an avid drone hobbyist himself – and common sense for other people’s safety.”
comments of “I almost hit a drone” from other other colleagues posted on Facebook and he FAA guidelines state that drones should not
commercial pilots in the area on a regular was emphatic in his message. “This is not a be flown near buildings or people, within five
basis. He says that the New York airspace is knock, this is a warning; this is a learning miles of major airports, nor at more than 400
especially busy with commercial helicopter lesson. Let’s not turn it negative, let’s turn feet in the air. It is also illegal to fly anywhere
traffic, complicated further due to the Class B this into a positive and go ‘hey, we need to be in the New York City area except in designated
airspace, with the likes of JFK, LaGuardia and looking out for each other’.” parks, and the FAA Temporary Flight
Newark airports interlacing at various points. Jose was equally emphatic in allocating the Restriction 7/0909 was in effect in the area at
As he put it: “In New York City forget about blame: “I guarantee you it’s someone without a the time of the impact. As this issue went to
the drones, they’re trying to shut down the licence, someone who probably never in their press both the NYPD and the US military were
helicopter business because of noise and safety life did the homework on the dos and don’ts reported to be investigating the incident, with
flying over the city.” [of flying a drone], and it screws it up for the no arrests having been made.
010-11_DM26[news_NYC Hit]IKICGC.indd 9 28/09/2017 20:35

Words by: Andrew Watton-Davies
Friends in High Places

CAA launches campaign to unite aviation communities
T
he UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Marcel Klebba, spokesman for the CAA, also drone users to educate GA pilots as there is
has announced the launch of its ‘Share told us that “Share the Air aims to unite both for drone pilots to learn from GA. A greater
the Air’ campaign, a series of open days drone and General Aviation communities. understanding and appreciation won’t happen
at airfields, flying clubs and flying schools Creating a mutual learning experience overnight, but we believe Share the Air is a big
that are aimed at uniting drone users and that will make the airspace safer and more step in the right direction.”
General Aviation (GA) enthusiasts. By giving enjoyable for both is a top priority. With drones Marcel also made it clear that the events
both groups of users a space to meet and learn becoming ever more popular it is vitally are not just safety-focused. “They can provide
from each other, the campaign hopes to bring important that all sides of the industry are able drone users with an in-depth introduction to
everyone using UK airspace together in an to work together constructively.” the wider world of flying and will help drone
effort to ensure safe flying for all. As Marcel also points out, this is very much users create strong links with the local airfield
The initiative, a part of the CAA’s ongoing a two-way street. “We would absolutely hope that would help with future requests to fly near
DroneSafe programme, will give those that following some events at GA airfields the airfield, as well as helping to deepen their
attending the opportunity “to see for drone users would invite GA pilots to come and understanding of the rules and regulations that
themselves the range of flying opportunities see where and how they operate. GA and drone govern UK airspace.”
that exist in their local areas”. Its aim is also “to pilots are both equal users of the airspace and Events will be running up and down the UK
demonstrate to drone pilots the significance the more they share information and safety and the CAA encourages users to check their
of the role they play within the aviation advice the better experience it is for everyone local airfields for details of any events running
community” by building links between them flying. In some areas of GA there is less in their area. For more information head to
and their local airfields. understanding of drones and how they operate www.caa.co.uk or follow @ShareTheAir and
The CAA hopes that by creating a greater so there’s definitely as big an opportunity for @DroneSafe on Twitter.
sense of collaboration between drone users
and the wider aviation community, all parties
will be able to safely and collectively get the
most of the shared airspace for the benefit of
all involved. Jonathan Nicholson, Assistant
Director of Communications at the CAA, said
that “with drones being the latest ‘must have’
in tech, we’ve seen a huge spike in drone
ownership across the country.
“What’s vital now is that we ensure both
drone users and the GA communities are
equipped to share the air in a safe, yet enjoyable
way that benefits both parties. By enlisting
the help of the General Aviation community,
drone enthusiasts have a fantastic chance
to be welcomed to the fold of flying, whilst
simultaneously learning more about the
environment they operate in.”
12 DRONE MAGAZINE
012_DM26[news_Share the Air]IKICGC.indd 10 29/09/2017 19:33

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vortext 180 3.indd 1 02/08/2017 13:23

Flying Lessons
Drone use to be taught in
Australian schools
Drone Spotting
Thermal camera soluton
improves UAV detection
K
elvin Hughes Ltd, an Enfield-based developer, manufacturer
S
and supplier of maritime navigation, surveillance and chools in the Australian territory of News South Wales will be
security radar systems, has announced the release of its offering lessons in drone operations as part of their curriculum
Single Mast Solution-Drone (SMS-D). This UAV detection and in the 2018 academic year. The programme already has 20 schools
tracking system features a thermal camera and video tracker from within the region signed up to the Higher School Certificate grade
that acquires the drone target using the initial radar detection course, following on from a trial programme earlier in the year which
information. The system is able to detect craft at distances of up has seen 109 students from 12 schools put through the UAV basics.
to 2.2km, providing 3D target information combined with range The training for 16-17-year olds is being provided by UAVAir in a
and bearing details, which can then be outputted to a third-party joint venture with Australia’s largest flying school, Basair, and the
counter-measure system. commercial drone operator Airsight Australia. Those who pass will
The system can be in either permanent positions or deployed receive a Remote Pilot Visual Line of Sight Certification III in Aviation.
on a vehicle, where, according to a company spokesperson, “in 10 Talking to Leigh Killian, Business Development Manager of UAVAir,
minutes you will be up and running with full aerial surveillance he explained to us that “our Certificate III is something we approached
in place.” We were also told that it uses a “very sensitive, high- the NSW Department of Education with and got it on scope. We are
end thermal electro-optic camera. The video tracker tracks the also working with governments in most states to get it running across
moving objects, providing an overlay point on the screen of the past all of Australia.”
tracking and current direction of travel. The video and radar track With regards to value of the programme, Leigh explained that
information enables the pan and tilt unit to maintain the correct “students are gaining industry standard qualifications whilst at
orientation of the thermal camera, so as to keep the aerial object of school to enter the workforce with a specific emerging technology
interest in the field of view.” skillset and are able to implement that into many different industry
We were advised the company is getting interest from many sectors. By completing an industry standard qualification, along
sectors, including “all areas of the security and counter UAV with the license component, Australia will be setting the benchmark
market. Prisons, military bases, government institutions and of high quality standards with training and implementing
country borders, as well as ports, private islands and super technology in a variety of areas. Industry sectors in Australia
yachts in marinas wishing to avoid paparazzi using drones currently using this technology include agriculture, construction,
– even movie production companies wishing to protect their emergency services, environmental services, real estate, surveying,
intellectual property.” Further details on the system can be found surf lifesaving and cinematography.” More details on the program
at kelvinhughes.com. can be found at uavair.com.au.
14 DRONE MAGAZINE
014_DM26[news_Detection and Schools]IKICGC.indd 12 29/09/2017 15:44

Cleaning up
the City
Graffiti removal drone
scoops tech prize
T
he development duo of Candave Marbury and Christopher Farmer
have won the inaugural ‘Unleash Your Geek’ challenge held in San
Jose, California with their Graffiti Removal by Automatic Drone
(GRAD) system. The GRAD, demonstrated at the Hammer Theatre as
part of the 3rd Annual Civic & Gov Tech Showcase event in September,
uses an underslung spray mechanism to paint over a target area.
The design was selected from a field of 140 entries and has garnered
the pair $20,000 in prize money and an additional $5,000 to assist
with patenting the technology. The system has been praised for its
potential to remove graffiti from difficult to access locations, such as
All at Sea
overpasses and highway signs – areas where the equipment involved
and the potential need to close the public highway can result in
expensive costs and long delays in removal. At the presentation the
Mayor of San Jose, Sam Liccardo, stated: “When this thing really
works well we’re going to see cities throughout the country wanting
to buy this incredible product.”
We spoke to the winners, although given the early stages of
development for the technology they were limited on what they could
discuss. “We’ve been working on this for over a year,” Christopher UAVs to be used in
said, adding that the development process is not over as “the unit we whale conservation
flew on stage is our small-scale platform and more a proof of concept.”
T
A version 2.0 is their industrial scale platform and Christopher also hanks to assistance from NATS and Maplins, Pippa Garrard of
told us that the team is “partnering with the City of San Jose and the the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) has become
California Department of Transportation to deploy our first clean-up a fully accredited commercial drone pilot – reputedly the first
services.” Further information can be found at grad.technology. female drone pilot to do so in Scotland – so that the trust can use
UAVs to assist with its conservation efforts.
At the announcement of the news, the HWDT stated: “Our new
Whale Trail Project – which looks to establish a network of sites
across the Hebrides where people can enjoy whale watching from
land – will benefit from the new technology. The drone could be
used to scope out sites and produce fantastic resources to market the
‘Whale Trail’, encouraging more sustainable wildlife tourism in the
area while providing information about how to get involved with
marine conservation.”
Talking to Morven Russell, Volunteer Coordinator for the HWDT,
she commented that the team has only just begun its journey into
using drones in this line of work. “As our survey season aboard is
drawing to a close, we haven’t planned on flying the drone until
2018. With the wind speed restrictions in place, it would be almost
impossible to fly the drone during the autumn or winter in the
Hebrides” - as many a pilot who’s flown in Scotland could attest to.
Beyond the adverse weather conditions, the team also has to
consider the potential harm the craft can have on the very creatures
they plan to observe. “As a marine conservation charity, we are
acutely aware of the potential disturbance human activity –
including drone usage – can have on marine life,” Morven explained
to us. “Therefore another reason to hold off deploying the drone is so
the Trust can liaise with different bodies about best practice and lay
down some guidelines before we start operating properly.” To find
out more on the work of the trust head to hwdt.org.
015_DM26[news_GRAD and HWDT]IKICGC.indd 13 29/09/2017 19:35

Perfect Combination
Hybrid multirotor breaks longest flight record
Words by: Andrew Watton-Davies power if needed to offer assistance with some
quick manoeuvring.
Speaking with Jack Fu after the record-
breaking flight, he told us: “Hybrid drones can
do much more than the traditional ones; for
example, flying for a very long time and very
long distances without changing battery.” He
also said that they are able to fly five times
longer than electrical drones and lift up to
four kilos in cargo weight, meaning that
“what cannot be done by traditional drones,
now can be done by the hybrid.” He believes
that hybrid systems will become increasingly
popular, noting that currently “the biggest
problem is that the noise is louder than
electric ones… a good silencer in the future
will remove this problem.”
Another restriction with the hybrid system
approach is the need for it to be on a larger
craft. Jack explained that the model “has to be
at least on a DJI M600 scale; namely a 1000mm
wheel base hexacopter. One of my customers
F
oxtech Hobby has laid claim to the At all points during the flight the operator tried one hour flying with the NOVA generator
record for the longest multirotor drone was within 500 metres of the craft, with the and the M600 – but no more, it’s reaching the
flight, reaching a distance of 100km after operation assisted by the three GPS controllers 2000w limit.” All this means that the systems
three hours in the air. The Chinese company and automated assistive flight systems. are only really usable for industrial operations,
performed the flight on 09 September using According to Jack Fu, General Manager of but with the extra range comes the option
its GAIA 160-Hybrid hexacopter to fly across Foxtech Hobby, the craft was under operator for longer missions. These are possible on full
the sea from a yacht in Changdao to a landing control during the flight “since local regulation automatic and/or with an operator “depending
spot on the coast of Dalia. The distance of doesn’t allow full automatic,” but that an on the radio range, which is normally 2km.
the flight was made possible due to the on- automated flight would have been possible by Any range beyond that and we have to take it
board gas-to-electric 2000w power generator assigning waypoints. over or change the route by a ground station
providing a 48v output, combined with the The set-up was also equipped with with 900MHz datalink to the drone.”
“super lightweight drone body and very high redundancy flight controllers and a full range As to what makes for a good hybrid power
efficiency power systems.” of optional equipment including a 20km system itself, Jack and Foxtech are playing
The flight of the 1600mm, 14.5kg airframe datalink, parachute and a secondary radio their cards close to their chest, with Jack only
was originally planned to take place four days control unit. In addition to the four litre hybrid willing to state: “That’s a secret, but the reliable
earlier but was delayed due to bad weather. power system providing drive to the T-Motor engine and high efficiency coils help.” More
Although the conditions were better on the day U8II KV85 motor, Flame 60A ESCs, and information on the hybrid hexacopter, along
of the flight there were still gale force 7 winds, Supreme 2880T propellers, was a 12S 3100mAh with a video of its three hours of flight, can be
with high gusts of up to 17 m/s to be wary of. Li-Po battery to act as emergency back-up found at foxtechfpv.com.
16 DRONE MAGAZINE
016_DM26[news_Foxtech]IKICGC.indd 14 29/09/2017 16:57

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ads.indd 1 29/09/2017 13:24

DM_SEPT_17.indd 1 27/09/2017 10:10:47
River Crossing
Drone deliveries bridge the gap in Iceland
F
lytrex Aviation has partnered with
AHA, the largest Icelandic shopping and
retail website, to bring automated drone
delivery to the capital city of Reykjavik. The
flights are taking place between the Hamrar
and Sundahöfn parts of the city, which are
separated by a 550-metre stretch of the Elliðaár
river, using Flytrex’ own modified Mule system
to make the journey.
Although the two AHA facilities are only one
kilometre apart by air, the geography and road
layout means that a journey by motor vehicle
is 6.5 kilometres, meaning that AHA has seen
a 60% reduction in delivery costs for the drone
system against the conventional alternatives
and a 20-minute reduction in delivery times
during peak road traffic hours.
Flytrex has reported that since the start of

the programme in August it has been making
around 20 deliveries a day between the main
storage facility and the pickup site on the
other side of the river – “each with an average
payload of about 1.5kg.”
According to AHA’s CEO Maron
Kristófersson, “over the last four years we
have been monitoring online delivery solution
technologies around the globe, and feel that
Flytrex has a smart, safe and commercially
viable solution to the problem. We hope to co-
operate with them not only in Iceland, but also
internationally in the future.” Maron also added
that despite the use of drone delivery “people
will still go to shopping centres; the shops will
still exist. But the delivery infrastructure will
totally change as we know it today.” Hadas also went into detail with us on the With the potential for one person to manage
Permission for the operation came after benefits of the drone delivery system for its a fleet of up to 12 drones that are all operating
months of a “meticulous regulatory process” client, saying that: “Besides the time saved, simultaneously, Flytrex is clearly looking to
which involved getting permissions from the AHA is mainly saving the costs of employees the future and expanding its drone delivery
Icelandic Transport Authority, as well as the and vehicle-related costs. The salaries in capacity. As Hadas explained: “We are hoping
Reykjavik City Council and police. According Reykjavik are very high due to the fact that to deliver straight to people’s back yards by
to Flytrex’ Hadas Bandel: “We are restricted there is no unemployment, so instead of the end of 2017, and we are currently working
to only one approved flying route and we have employing 12 drivers, AHA only needs to on receiving approvals to do so.” She says
limited heights which we cannot pass.” The craft employ one person who can handle and that “backyard deliveries are only a matter of
themselves are DJI Matrice 600 Pros, modified manage up to 12 drones, all by himself. Also proving to the authorities that the mechanism
with a wired release payload mechanism. The the drones are 100% electric, so no money is is totally safe and foolproof. We believe that as
systems are able to carry packages up to 18 x 28 x spent on gas, not to mention the fact that the soon as the regulator gains trust in the system,
38cm, with a maximum payload of 3kg that can drones cost less than road vehicles and require it will be approved.” More on the company’s
be flown for 10 kilometres. cheaper maintenance.” work can be found at flytrex.com.
18 DRONE MAGAZINE
018_DM26[news_Flytrex]IKICGC.indd 16 29/09/2017 17:00

ads.indd 1 27/09/2017 17:06
20 DRONE MAGAZINE
020-23_DM26[ftDrone Major]IKICGC.indd 20 28/09/2017 20:39

Getting W
ith the launch of a new platform to help unite
the drone industry in its continued growth,
the Drone Major Group is looking to create a
truly global marketplace. We’ve seen several
other networks and ‘hubs’ set up over the years, some
Connected
focusing on specific areas or regions, but nothing really
with the scale or ambition of this latest development with
a new, primarily online, portal designed to help connect
manufacturers and service providers around the world.
The Drone Major Group brings together several
companies, with CEO and founder Robert Garbett at the
heart of it. An Army Major (hence the name we’d wager)
with 22 years in service, Robert worked as an aeronautical
engineer taking care of Special Forces helicopters before
As the first “global connectivity injury steered him into policy – where he first encountered
drones, producing a joint air publication (taking in the
platform” for the drone industry Army, Navy and Air Force) for UAVs some 15 years ago.
launches, Ian Collen hooked up His career then took him via the Head of Airworthiness
for the Defence Logistics Organisation to roles with the
with its founder and CEO, Robert British Standards Institution (BSI) and the International
Garbett, to spread the word… Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) where his expertise
has led to him becoming heavily involved in shaping
the evolution of the drone industry on a national and
international level – he was named Chairman of the BSI’s
committee for the development of national drone standards
in the summer.
He teamed up with Tina Brevitt at the Society for
Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS), as it was called at the
time, which is the world’s biggest network of UAV operators,
and set up several software companies of his own; most
notably Software Major, which works on developing
software systems for the industry, and Cyber Major, an
offshoot that deals with AI technologies and cyber security
– and it is these three wings that have come together to
create the Drone Major Group, with the new global portal
the culmination of that collaboration.
“It is really that journey which showed me how the
industry is working, how it fits together, who all the
players are, where they’re interacting and where the lack of
connectivity is – and that’s really where Drone Major Group
was born,” Robert tells us a couple of days before the ‘live’
launch at the end of September. It’s not just about ‘drones’
in the aerial sense either, with the SUAS Group renamed to
encompass ‘Surface, Underwater, Air and Space’. “We’re
really looking at the entire industry, how it has evolved,
where it is right now, where the lack of connectivity is and
how we can help pull all of that together and help it grow.”

Drone Major Group’s collection of experts. “The second level
of support is really an information gathering exercise,”
Robert explains. “You can leave some details about the
project you’re running, about the requirements of who you
are and they will then organise for level three to engage
once it’s been reviewed.”
Level three is a one-on-one phone call to discuss your
project or requirements, which will hopefully lead to
some product recommendations and level four: a direct
introduction to the manufacturer. “Those manufacturers
will have all of the information that we have,” says Robert.
“They’ll know what project you’re trying to achieve, they’ll
know what you’re looking for, they’ll know who you are
and they will be able to advise on their specific platform.
Then it’s really down to the client to decide which of those, if
any, they wish to purchase.”
The Global Platform

The big new development is the global portal or platform,
initially accessed via www.dronemajor.net. According to
Robert, it is “designed to provide the connectivity between
the manufacturers of drones and the service providers for
drones, in all environments of the drone industry, with
the people who need that technology and who need those
services.” In simpler terms it’s a place where many of the
leading companies involved in the drone industry have
registered their key information, products and services, and
everyone is free to then use this as a tool to find the perfect
fit for their own specific needs. In many ways it can be seen a win-win situation, as the
Robert explains how the interaction can be split into four potential buyer gets the support to find the perfect solution
levels. In the first instance you just jump on the website for them, and the manufacturers get a new, targeted
and flick through the various filters or section headers to channel within which to promote their wares. Likewise
find what you’re looking for – and we found the online chat if a user happens to browse in certain fields a few times
option is always quick to offer help if you wanted to take without making a decision, then Robert’s team could step
things to the second level and deal directly with one of the in to help. “We can go back to that manufacturer and say
“Manufacturers will have all of the information that we have. They’ll know what
you’re trying to achieve and will be able to advise on their specific platform”
22 DRONE MAGAZINE

‘look, we’ve got this chap, he hasn’t actually called us but and pulls it all together”. There are other networks and
he’s obviously interested in your products. Would you like organisations out there doing great things, but there’s
to remarket to him?’ You might get an email with an offer certainly no shortage of ambition or expectation with the
but, again, that would be an opportunity for you to directly Drone Major Group. As Robert puts it: “I think we are here
connect with a manufacturer.” for the long haul and we are only set to grow.”
It is worth noting that this portal is geared more towards
the products and services offered by manufacturers
(of drones, components and anything else) and service To explore the new Drone Major portal and maybe sign
providers (such as insurers, training schools and the like). up yourself head to www.dronemajor.net.
Actual drone operators looking to promote their aerial
photography services, for example, would be better served
by using the SUAS Group network (www.suas-global.
com) or other outlets. But if you’re looking for your next The Bigger Picture
hardware or software solution, this could be a great place to In terms of planning for the next 6-12 months, Robert has a not-
weigh up your options. insignificant goal. “We want pretty much every single manufacturer and
service provider, everything to do with drones, to be listed on this website.
Better Together We want them there because we want the industry to be able to access
It’s not exactly a revolutionary concept, putting would-be them properly, through teams of experts that get to know how they can
customers in a fishbowl with related companies, but it’s a build their drones.”
comprehensive one. We hesitate to call it a ‘network’ and This also expands into using his team to help educate people using the
so does Robert. “This is more of a channel to market,” he site and get them to appreciate the wider potential for the drone industry
says. “A lot of manufacturers are not really interested in beyond their core practices. “For example, if someone doesn’t know what
talking to other manufacturers, they want to talk – and drone to buy, they speak to the expert and the expert says ‘here’s a couple
this is where the disconnect is – with the operators.” He of manufacturers’ – and that’s great.
gives examples of manufacturers working in what he “But he will also say ‘have you thought about training? Have you
calls “pseudo-isolation”, where they work closely with a thought about insurance? You’re working in mapping and scanning and
few companies that use their products. “But they’re not there is some really cutting edge software coming through from these
connecting with the wider community and finding out companies – would you like to see those as well?’ It’s about introducing
what the issues are around that application – so that’s what people to the right things to be able to complete their projects and grow
we’re enabling them to do.” their business.”
The new platform comes in three flavours for those
wishing to sign up. There’s a core directory, which is
absolutely free to register for, where you can give the
basics (a logo, key info and a weblink). Above that there
is a ‘Standard’ and a ‘Featured’ listing, both of which
come with an annual membership fee. The former lets
you glam up your listing with more bullet points, photos
and videos, while the latter is the full package, including
promotional emails, indirect access to analytics and other
perks. We should also note that Drone Major Group does
vet everyone that signs up to make sure they can deliver
on what they promise.
Robert says the early reaction has been overwhelmingly
positive. “We haven’t had any negative feedback from the
industry whatsoever. What we’re getting is ‘thank god
somebody’s doing this because the industry needs it’.”
Similarly he’s been pleasantly surprised by the number
of people keen to sign up before the site even went live. “I
thought people would say ‘well, after you launch…’ and
there has been some of that, but I’ve been astonished with
the amount of people who’ve said ‘this is amazing, it’s a no-
brainer, here’s my money, get me on that platform’. That’s
really, really encouraging.”
Overall, it could even be Robert’s own contacts that help
make the Drone Major Group a success, as he and his team
continue to work independently in regulation, legislation,
standardisation and other key areas of drone development.
“We’re not just selling a platform here; Drone Major is
engaged with the industry. We’re engaged with standards,
we’re engaged with the regulatory bodies and connecting
them to the operators who they need the information from –
we’re doing all of that at an industry level, as well as looking
at what tools and services we can provide the industry to
make life easier for them.”
The long-term goal is to expand the service and “become
the industry organisation that drives the industry forward

A Reader’s View
Teignmouth, Devon,
Photo by Bob Brewer
024-5_DM26[ReadersPhoto]IKICGCICv2.indd 22 29/09/2017 15:45

We’ve had so many great submissions of late that road bridge leading to Sheldon on the left, with the
we decided to break from the norm and allocate town centre, sea front and pier as you head to the
all of the showcase photo spots in this issue to right.” It looks like Bob has been enjoying our kind
our readers! This glorious panoramic was sent in of summer holiday!
by Bob Brewer from his travels through the West
Country in England and is “a simple photostitch” If you’d like to get one of your own photos into the
taken from a number of pictures shot with his magazine – and by submitting a shot for us to use, you
Phantom 3. are acknowledging that it is your own work and property
– then email us at dronemaguk@gmail.com, along with
“It was taken early in the morning from about
the image (the highest resolution where possible) and
350ft,” Bob explains. “Broadly speaking, it’s ideally with a little information about what’s in the shot
looking east across the town. You can see the and how you got it. Perhaps your favourite photo could
River Teign with Dartmoor in the distance and the make it into our next issue!
024-5_DM26[ReadersPhoto]IKICGCICv2.indd 23 29/09/2017 15:45

DRONE PRO
All photos by Murphy & Sons
Building for the Future

Having previously tested drone use on the Crossrail project, William Reddaway
is continuing to push the construction industry to take an aerial view but, as
Ian Collen finds out, there’s still plenty of work to be done…
I
f you’ve been with us for a while, you might recall that “We weren’t ever going to revolutionise how Crossrail
we first spoke with William Reddaway back in Issue was delivered,” William admits, “but we wanted to be able
05 when he was working as Innovation Consultant to prove that the industry can actually behave differently;
for London’s vast Crossrail project. Having taken on a that it can behave in a problem-solving and creative
similar role with infrastructure specialist Murphy & Sons, environment where we behave and work in a collaborative
he’s once again looking to encourage the construction manner.” For Will and the team it was very much a
industry to put drones to work on their various sites. learning curve, and this saw the use of drones adapted into
However, having caught up with him recently, along with supporting the work of the site crew.
his colleague, engineer and UAV expert, Jack Selman, it “The field engineer could still go out and do their
seems that the wider industry is still a little reluctant to reporting and if the drone followed the same route it could
take flight. add another layer of context from a different perspective.
We would have hoped that the use of drones on Crossrail Having that extra visual was useful for the engineering
would have proven to many the potential benefits in terms team and then they started to use those overhead pictures
of time, safety and efficiency. Initially drafted in to help for logistics planning and moving plant around the site.
with site inspections where a field engineer could spend Although we originally bought the drones to use for site
an entire day walking around, William found that the inspections, it turned into a different use.”
lack of human interaction (talking with the foreman and From there the project expanded into areas such as
engineers, for example) to be an issue, so instead began photogrammetry, inspections of cranes and chimneys
looking at how drones could enhance, rather than replace, – mostly because, well, why not? “It didn’t replace all
the existing day-to-day workflow. those processes because the industry (Crossrail) still had
26 DRONE MAGAZINE
026-30_DM26[DronePro_Will]IKICGC.indd 26 29/09/2017 12:55

DRONE PRO
“I don’t want to just rush in and push a piece of technology into an

environment that’s not yet ready for it”
everything paid for to do it anyway, so they thought they development to the local community. Key areas such as
might as well do it the original way, but let’s see if a drone health and safety were also identified – ensuring that people
can enhance or support, and in future replace, the need for working on the site were comfortable with the drones flying
those dangerous activities.” around and didn’t distract them from potentially dangerous
tasks. Will says it came down to three factors: Can it be
Moving On done? Can it add value? And can it be done safely? The
“We never really got a definitive answer within Crossrail,” answer to all three was a clear ‘yes’, although he does admit
Will says about determining a clear need for drones. that proving value is “still hard to fully quantify and justify”
“However, we definitely saw that they had a use.” One and that how you specifically use drones in the construction
problem with that project was the parts of London they industry remains “up for debate”.
were working in were heavily urbanised areas, with plenty These days Will is working as Group Head of Innovation
of no-fly zones making aerial work difficult at the best of for Murphy & Sons, an engineering and construction
times. Likewise, the team wasn’t fully qualified and so sub- company working on sizeable infrastructure projects across
contractors were often called in, adding to the cost. the UK, Ireland and Canada. Whereas Crossrail was more
However, it was all part of the learning process, of a learning curve in terms of innovating with drones,
with benefits found in terms of PR and showcasing the Will says his new role is more about proving their value in

DRONE PRO
the field. “I think it is something worth looking into,” he

says, “but I don’t want to just rush in and push a piece of
technology into an environment that’s not yet ready for it,
or that we can’t derive value from.”
Will is able to draw on the expertise of Jack Selman,
an engineer who’s been with Murphy for several years,
having first seen the potential for drone use for automated
inspections while working on pipelines and now working
with the likes of Network Rail. “The amount of planning
and risk control that has to go into these projects takes up
a large proportion of the task itself, and the ability to use a
drone – and reduce the number of people you need to put
out on a site and the amount of time you’ve got to put people
out on site – is a massive benefit,” Jack says.
Chicken and Egg

One of the main obstacles facing any new technology is that it
needs to be proven before others will jump on board – leaving
a ‘chicken and egg’ scenario where coaxing anyone to take
that first step can be tricky. Referring to the construction
industry, Jack tells us that “there’s a lot of attitude in terms of
‘this is how we’ve always done it and it’s the way we’re going
to keep doing it’” and drones are no different – not helped by
some negative press. “For a production manager or a project
manager that comes across as a risk and, at the end of the
day, they’re going to have to put their name on the dotted line
and if anything goes wrong it falls on them.”
In some ways, this is where Will comes in. “That’s part
of what I’m trying to do in my role,” he says, “to bring that
almost rigour and business strategy to the business, to give
that flexibility to take this positive risk and to try things.
To have that understanding of how these systems could be
used beyond that initial ‘wow’ factor. So ‘wow that’s really
cool, but it’s also really useful’.” Part of that process is in
changing the mentality of potential users, so that drones are
seen more as just another tool rather than an intimidating
piece of technology that needs to be mastered.
Jack points to how archaeologists would fix cameras to
kites to get an aerial view of a dig site: “The important part
of that was not the kite, but the image they were getting
from using it. So yes, drones are an important part but to an
engineering firm the most important part is the data, and it’s
28 DRONE MAGAZINE

DRONE PRO
the data that people should be focusing on, and as a result of what it can do, rather than limiting what we do with the
that data an acceptance of the technology. The information, technology owing to its limitations.”
the safety benefits and the cost benefits you get from the Will and Jack both see the need to broaden the knowledge
process are the driving force behind what could be a bit of a and appreciation of UAVs among their peers and ultimately
culture shift – if people could look past this scary multirotor their clients, but there’s still a fine line between success
flying around and making a sound like a swarm of bees!” and failure. “A lot of people are basing their assumptions
It’s about making people look at drones and think ‘what on hearsay or a couple of press articles that they’ve read;
can they do for me?’ Right now, Will says that the likes they haven’t actually physically dealt with the data or the
of quantity surveyors and engineers are reluctant to get information that was provided to them by a drone,” says
involved. “At the moment they see it as something that Will. “But if you’re trying out this new data and it’s not quite
doesn’t do the job as well, so what’s the point in doing it? right or it doesn’t offer them what they want then they’ll
It’s about changing our psychology and changing those shun it straight away, so you’re teetering on the edge of
behaviours and to start accepting the technology for interest and ‘I told you so’!”
“It’s about accepting the technology for what it

can do, rather than limiting what we do with the
technology owing to its limitations”
Keep it Simple Taking the Lead

Although we might all be keen for Will and others to embrace the full The chicken and egg analogy is mentioned a few more times
scope of drone technology, he says it’s equally important for them to and perhaps it does need one or two companies to take a
keep things simple. “It’s also going to be about trying to fit a square peg leap of faith to get the ball rolling. Both Will and Jack are
into a round hole. Maybe a drone isn’t great yet for doing 3D modelling; keen to be at the forefront of this and predict a snowball
maybe we should just be using it for aerial photography and high altitude effect once the first few success stories begin to spread
inspections, because actually that does add value.” Not only that, it’s also through the industry. Although Will does admit that getting
a fairly straightforward process – something as basic as saving £1,000 companies to spend money without evidence to prove its
hiring a helicopter to take those same aerial shots. value can be a hard sell.
“I’m not suggesting that drones are the answer to everything,” “Obviously if the board heard me saying ‘let’s do some
stuff that doesn’t add value’ they’d probably have a heart
says Will. “Let’s not try and force the issue of adding a drone for
attack! If I’m going to suggest training half a dozen people
photogrammetry or volumetrics and everything else it can potentially do.
and buying half a dozen drones, that’s £30,000 to £40,000
Let’s use them for what they are very good for, get used to having a drone
worth of training and drones. Are we going to get £40,000
flying around, get used to some of the outputs they do and then start
worth of benefit back? And also if we do use it how are we
saying ‘did you know you can also do this with a drone?’
going to prove that we’ve got that benefit back? That’s one
“Once there’s an acceptance of the drone being around as part of the
of the challenges that we’ll face – with my business hat on,
tool kit that a construction company uses and then you start using it for
I don’t want to spend that sort of money and not be able to
other things as well, that acceptance and perceived value is increased
prove that it can bring benefit back.
because people realise that it’s not just been there for a bit of a ‘gadgety’ “But from an innovation leader perspective, I want to try
proof of concept – it’s actually adding value to another part of the things; to learn, to create knowledge in our industry about
business that could also maybe enhance what you do.” what can and can’t be done. That, for me, is not necessarily
worth the same amount in terms of return on investment

DRONE PRO
but to be seen as a leader in innovation in our industry, just at the point where we have to tip ourselves over the edge
we’ve got to start learning what some of these things can and actually go for it. We’re just waiting for that opportune
and can’t do and it’s only by trying it and giving it a go that moment, but we don’t want to wait too long and miss the boat
we can do it. There are loads of potential opportunities, when the rest of the industry becomes like ‘oh we’ve been
it’s just that you need a company like Murphy to take the using drones for years and then we’re a few years behind.”
plunge – and risk – and become an expert in it and start It’s a tricky dilemma and one that many companies may
leading the way, which is what I’d love to be able to do.” well find themselves in right now, whether it’s the use of
The construction industry is probably like many others, drones or any other emerging technology. We talk about
in that drones may well be of interest but there’s still some evolution over revolution and, though Jack points out that
doubt as to where people should actually be investing their drone use could already be seen as a revolution to some
money. Will likens it to the Betamax and VHS showdown extent, perhaps the final transition into the wider business
- “if you’re of a vintage!” (kids: Google it) – but the old community will see a rather slower development – or maybe
analogy is still relevant. “We don’t want to be ploughing Will and his team can be the spark that ignites an industry.
into a specific drone behaviour or technology if it’s going to Either way, in a few years’ time when drones are a common
be leapfrogged by something else. tool on any building site or infrastructure project, everyone
“It’s a balanced risk-taking that I want to uncover, may well be wondering why they waited so long…
but also make sure that it’s understood and that we, as a
business, get benefit from it and also that our engineers, and
ultimately our clients as they are the ones we are working You can find out more about the day-today operations of
for, get benefits from it as well. I think the will is there, it’s Will, Jack and the team at www.murphygroup.co.uk.
Built for the Job he says, pointing to the focus on aerial photography and
videography. “If you could design a drone that commands the
Although we’ve seen the likes of the DJI M200 and Yuneec H520 interface and how it operates in a way that was engineering
recently released and geared for use in construction industries, relevant and was familiar to other users, I think that would make
there’s still a sense that manufacturers could do more to it a lot easier for people to grasp.
embrace these markets. “A lot of drones you buy off the shelf, “There’s a bit of a knowledge gap that needs to be breached
they are prescribed in how you use them unless you know how to take you from being an engineer or a surveyor to someone
to build your own drone with every aspect of it set to your own who has that knowledge of the workings of a drone. If there
specifications,” says Will. “In the construction industry, we tend was a product with a bolt-on or a patch that could change the
to like the ‘buy not build’ aspect of products and being able to fly software – so instead of having the likes of DJI Go, you could
something that works and does exactly what we want it to do, have Go for construction, or whatever the case may be - if you
rather than us having to tweak it.” have some way of incorporating the tools or processes that are
This is echoed by Jack who says that drones remain an needed and are construction relevant, it will be much easier for
unfamiliar tool in construction. “It doesn’t talk in their language” people to swallow.”
30 DRONE MAGAZINE

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ads.indd 1 29/09/2017 17:08

Power
All photos by Parrot
Play
As Parrot unveils its upgraded
Bebop 2 Power and Mambo FPV
models, Ian Collen takes to the
dancefloor to see their new
moves in action…
32 DRONE MAGAZINE
032-7_DM26[ft_Parrot]IKICGC.indd 32 28/09/2017 20:44

L
ike many companies working in the drone industry, No doubt a Bebop 3 and a Mambo 2 are at the very
Parrot is continuing to evolve and adapt as it least on a drawing board somewhere at Parrot’s French
tries to find firm footholds in a rapidly changing headquarters, but it’s still interesting to see how these
environment. From its entry-level minidrones, to companies are looking to improve on what they’ve got
the mid-level Bebop and the more commercial or ‘prosumer’ rather than trying to reinvent the wheel purely for the sake
opportunities delivered by its fixed wing Disco – along with of enforced ‘innovation’.
its recently expanded Parrot Education programme (as Of course, the cynic in all of us could look at these as
reported on last issue) – the company is always looking for being small-step improvements to fleece more money out
new ways to meet the needs of a growing audience. of an enthusiastic following. Although we’d also argue that
The most recent additions to its line-up are adaptations making the models currently front and centre in your line-
of two of its flagship models, the Bebop 2 and the Mambo up as good as they can be for any new customers is certainly
minidrone. Interestingly this announcement came shortly no bad thing.
after DJI unveiled two new models of its own which were Regardless, we were invited by Parrot to get a first-hand
also revised versions of existing craft (the Mavic Pro and look at these two new models in action – thankfully in
Phantom 4, as also seen in our previous issue) – but whether London rather than Paris to make it a somewhat shorter
this signals a clear shift towards evolutionary platforms journey – so we headed off to find out for ourselves all that
rather than big-hitting new launches remains to be seen. was new and improved…

“It’s interesting to see companies looking
to improve on what they’ve got rather than
trying to reinvent the wheel purely for the
sake of enforced ‘innovation’”
Bebop 2 Power smooth flights for crystal clear footage, and ‘Sport’ letting
The original Bebop 2 was first announced way back in you unleash the craft for a bit more fun, with speeds hitting
November 2015 and has been a quite a success thanks to its 65kph (40mph).
strong feature set balanced against an affordable price tag The flight times have been upped from the original 25
(£439 at launch). Since then we’ve seen several upgrades minutes to 30 minutes, with two batteries included in the
and optional extras in terms of software and hardware, and package (leading to slightly misleading talk of one hour’s
the Bebop 2 Power is really the culmination of the past two flight time). As well as being compatible with the majority
years’ work. During our presentation it was described as the of smartphones and tablets via the FreeFlight Pro app,
“ultimate version of our flagship Bebop 2” and it’s a fair call. the Bebop 2 Power also comes bundled with Parrot’s own
The Power is a sleek black model, combining a matte core Skycontroller 2 for greater control and range (up to 1.2 miles),
with a shiny gloss finish and echoing that feeling that black plus the new Cockpitglasses 2 for that FPV experience
is the new white when it comes to modern drone design. straight out of the box.
It was billed to us as being geared towards video, “making The goggles are an impressive design, with the frame
it easier to fly a drone, make great video and share it with collapsing like a concertina for easy storage or transport
your friends”. To echo the point, the model is split into two while also offering adjustable lenses to suit your pupillary
key flying modes with the primary ‘Video’ option offering distance needs and even space for spectacles if you wear
them. The Cockpitglasses 2 are compatible with most
modern phones (up to six inches) and has a one-touch
button to alternate between the camera on the drone and
that on your phone – enabling you to quickly swap from the
FPV perspective to see ‘through’ the goggles and lock eyes
on your Bebop in the sky.
The positioning system has been improved to the point
where the down-facing sensors can recognise your hand as
a viable take-off platform, enabling you to place the Power
Key Specs: Bebop 2 Power in your palm, tap a button to get the props whirring slowly
and then throw it up for launch. It’s a fun addition, and
• street price: £629 something we’re sure was planned long before the DJI Spark
• eight: 525g
w was announced…
• camera: 14MP CMOS, 1080p HD
• battery: 3350mAh The Direct Approach
• flight time: Up to 30 mins The technical improvements might not be huge steps
• range: 1.2 miles (2km) with Skycontroller 2 forward, although having the controller and glasses all
bundled up for a very reasonable £629 does make the Bebop
34 DRONE MAGAZINE

and keep it in the frame no matter what direction you pilot
the drone.
One impressive variation on this is the new ‘Cameraman’
mode, which is “like having someone with you to take care
of the framing”. Once you select a target, the drone will
track it in the same way as Point of Interest and Follow-Me,
keeping in centred in the frame and even following it if it’s
moving, leaving you to focus purely on flying. However, you
are free to move your target within the shot, using the app to
slide a box that frames the target around the screen to move
them to the left or right, for example, and the Power will
adjust the angle of the shot accordingly.
There are also four new automated ‘Magic Dronie’ shots
giving you pre-scripted flights centred on a selected target.
Orbit, Tornado, Parabola and Boomerang are all variations
on the same theme, with the craft moving around the
central object in a smooth and controlled manner (with
some limited adjustments over height and direction) for
some easy and stylish shots.
2 Power a very appealing package. However, although the Equally impressive were the four new ‘Auto Shots’ geared
camera is the same as with the previous model, there are more for scenic landscapes and panoramics, with 360,
plenty of new additions to the software features that are sure Reveal, Epic and Rise combining more dramatic tilts and
to make the Bebop 2 even easier to fly and get some great pans. In one cool example, Reveal starts out with the camera
results with. looking straight down as the drone flies forwards (in our
We’ve seen ‘Follow Me’ added previously, but the example looking at a river below), before tilting up to see the
whole system has been upgraded to make it even better at full horizontal vista ahead of it. It’s the kind of shot you’ll
identifying a target and tracking it both visually and via have seen in the opening credits to a thousand films, and
GPS (if you keep your phone in your pocket as you move, for now you can do the same with just the press of a button.
example). Work has been done to make it more aware of the In terms of individual improvements, this might not
varying shapes and objects in an image to help differentiate seem like a huge leap forwards over the original – and if
between cars, people, bikes, buildings and so on. you already own a Bebop 2 then you could well remain
It can even track you vertically, as well as horizontally, quite happy with what you’ve got. However, if you’re
using the altimeter – so if you happen to be into mountain looking for a new drone to make that step from fun flying
climbing, then the Bebop 2 Power can track you on the way to something a little more sophisticated – combining great
up. It’s a quick and simple system easily accessed with a photo and video options with some cool FPV fun on the
double-tap on the screen – although in the confined, but side – then the Bebop 2 Power could well have become a far
controlled, space for our demo we did see some issues with it more appealing proposition.
being distracted by people walking underneath (it followed
them as if their heads were the ground moving!). Mambo FPV
There’s a ‘Touch and Fly’ system offering up your standard Originally launching just over a year ago as part of a
waypoint selection by tapping on-screen or via the map on collection of minidrones, the Mambo was designed to be
where you want the drone to fly to, along with the familiar more of a fun flyer. The version we reviewed back in Issue 14
‘Point of Interest’ to establish the central focus of any shot came with a projectile-firing cannon and a small ‘grabber’

now becomes something that’s a lot more fun to actually fly.
“It’s the kind of shot you’ll have seen in the At least you can now race your workmates instead of just
pestering them as this FPV version borders on Tiny Whoop
opening credits to a thousand films, and now you territory for nipping around the legs of chairs and tables in
can do the same with just the press of a button” your office or living room, and with a top speed of around
30kph – or 18.5mph.
Maximum flight times range from 8 minutes with the
camera attached to 10 without if you just wanted to fly
for picking up light objects – both interchangeable thanks to line-of-sight (the original had a maximum of 8 minutes
the Lego-like modular design that enables them to snap in without attachments), and the newer model comes with the
and out of place. Clearly, though, people wanted more than same simple controls and one-touch flips as before – also
just a chance to cause some mischief around the office, and controllable via the FreeFlight Mini app. We were told it was
the number one request for the next addition was an FPV “the perfect drone for beginners” and it’s hard to see too
camera – and so Parrot has duly obliged. much wrong with that claim.
This 720p HD camera snaps onto the top of the craft the That said, the new package is looking to encourage
same as the other accessories and comes with a built-in some refined piloting skills, with three modes designed to
Wi-Fi system to handle the live video stream, as well as a
MicroSD card slot for recording your footage and photos. By
integrating the camera and bundling up the Cockpitglasses
2 goggles into the package, along with a Flypad controller
extending the range to around 100 metres, the Mambo FPV
Key Specs: Mambo FPV

• street price: £159
• eight: 63g
w
• camera: 3MP, 720p HD
• battery: 660mAh
• flight time: 8/10 mins (with/without camera)
• range: 100m with Flypad (20m via smart device)
36 DRONE MAGAZINE

make life progressively more challenging – and hopefully
rewarding. Easy mode is the standard offering, with full
stabilisation and aerial assistance. Once you’re comfortable Optional Extra
with that you can try out Drift mode, which maintains As the Mambo is a modular design, it means that existing owners will be
altitude hold but removes horizontal stabilisation, meaning able to buy the camera attachment as a standalone accessory for their
you’ll need to keep it in place manually – otherwise the craft
current craft, while anyone buying the Mambo FPV package will be able
will drift in the direction of travel until it slows to a stop by
to share the camera with other Mambos (so if you own two, you can get
itself, and always at the mercy of the wind.
twice the FPV flight time simply by swapping the camera across!).
For the seasoned pilot there’s Racing mode which goes
At the time of going to print no UK pricing had been given, although in
fully manual, so the drone will also drop in height without
the US a package containing the camera, along with the Cockpitglasses
correction. It does make things trickier but ultimately
2 you’d need to follow the action and a power battery was priced at $49
gives you more responsive and precision control when in
(around £36), which seems pretty reasonable to us.
experienced hands. We’d consider it a worthy challenge for
any new pilot to work their way up until they’re comfortable
in Racing mode, as those skills are always going to be handy.
In our hands Racing mode was admittedly hard work,
especially as our enclosed flying spot was prone to some
blustery circling winds, but the Mambo is a robust unit and
can survive a few good whacks. The video feed was also
pretty good, though admittedly not at the kind of levels
you’d find at a moderately higher price point. But then we
don’t imagine this would make for a serious racing model,
although it was still good fun to fly even if we didn’t quite
have the space to really let if off the leash!
As with the Bebop 2 Power, the Mambo FPV isn’t so much
about the incremental improvements; it’s more about the
package itself. You can still buy the original Mambo Fly
pack for £99, or the Mission pack with grabber, cannon and
a Flypad controller for £139 – but this new £159 upgrade
for the full FPV pack with the controller plus the HD
camera and Cockpitglasses 2 probably makes this the
weapon of choice for all new Mambo customers. Parrot
itself is predicting the Mambo FPV to be its biggest seller, and
it’s definitely the one we’d be adding to our Christmas list.
Both the Bebop 2 Power and Mambo FPV were due to

be released before this issue went to print at the end of
September. For more information on the two models, and
the rest of the Parrot range, head to www.parrot.com.

competition
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large team of aerial experts ready to offer advice to everyone from Closing date: 09 November 2017. Good luck!
terms and conditions

Terms and Conditions: The prize does not include transportation to and from the agreed flying site. Prizes are subject to availability. No correspondence will be entered into. No
employees of Uncooked Media or the companies providing the prizes may enter. No cash alternative is offered to these prizes. Entries are only valid if they reach us by the closure
date. Multiple entries will be disregarded. The publisher’s decision is final. Good luck!
38 DRONE MAGAZINE
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ads.indd 1 01/09/2017 10:38
The Rise, Fall
and Rise of Lily
Remember the Lily Drone that promised so much
but failed to deliver? Well, as Rowan Bailey
reports, it’s back. well, Sort of…
M
any of you will probably have heard of the drone and pledged features that didn’t make the grade, the
called ‘Lily’ that was successfully crowdfunded project was seemingly scrapped – until the recent
way back in 2015 amidst no small amount of hype. announcement that it was being released after all, with
For those of you who haven’t, this drone raised more than an amended ‘Lily Next-Gen’ version. In truth, this model
$34 million in pre-orders with the enticing promise of a is a toned down version of the original model, with tech
waterproof ‘selfie’ drone that took all of the advanced flying specialist Mota picking up some of the patents relating
techniques and made them one-touch simple. more to the name than to the impressive feature list we
However, having taken too long to get to market and were promised.
subsequently surpassed by the ever-advancing technology In many ways, the Lily story is one that echoes the pros
and cons of backing projects via crowdfunding platforms,
and so it’s worth taking a look at where things went wrong
with Lily before its recent surprising resurrection.
The blossoming Lily

With a watch-like controller that meant you simply needed
to throw the drone into the air where it would then take
flight and autonomously kick into one of the pre-set
intelligent flight modes, the Lily was an instantly eye-
catching design that was almost ahead of its time. Whether
it was the ‘Follow Me’ or ‘Orbit’ mode it could automatically
capture cinematic footage or selfies of you and your friends
with ease.
It promised speeds up to 15mph and it would follow you
with a maximum height of 15m and a proximity of no less
than 2m. There would be a 20-minute flight time from a
40 DRONE MAGAZINE
040-3_DM26[ft_Lily]IKICGC.indd 40 29/09/2017 13:00

two-hour charge and it would be so easy to use that even
the least tech savvy consumers could capture stunning
footage and photos on the move. Furthermore the price
point for the drone at the time of the campaign ($499, or
£373) was very competitive, offering a drone solution to
the masses that enabled shots that were only previously
possible by more experienced pilots.
Unfortunately things weren’t all plain sailing for the Lily
and despite millions of dollars in pre-orders the product
still failed to make it to shelves or to customers’ door steps
when the company behind it couldn’t get the model into
full production. With a race against funding and escalating
setup costs, the co-founders pulled it from production in
January this year.
Despite being a professional drone operator myself,

this drone still intrigued me, in particular the waterproof
design. Although I wouldn’t use it for professional jobs I
still enjoy using my drone when exploring the outdoors and
landscapes in my surrounding Pembrokeshire countryside
– and I’ve often thought that it would be great to take
a drone with me whilst kayaking along the coastline.
Previously this wouldn’t have been an easy solution as I
would have no safe platform for take-off and landing, and
the risk of ditching in the sea would be considerable.
The Lily Drone nullified these issues as I could simply
have it in a bag onboard and then throw it to take-off. The
waterproof design meant it could easily land in the water
next to me where I could pick it back up. Not many drones
offer this versatility, especially for such a price point.
It may not have been able to shoot 4K RAW footage but it Risk vs Reward
would certainly be worth it for the unique viewing angles. Those of you who have used crowdfunding platforms to
So, like many others, when I heard that the Lily was no support projects in the past will be aware that there are
more I was incredibly disappointed as there was no obvious no guarantees when backing a project. Even projects with
alternative on the market and, considering its massive substantial investment, as seen in this instance, can still fall
success during crowdfunding, I was really rooting for the short of what’s necessary when it comes to actually making
creators behind it. it a reality. Technology in particular can be incredibly costly

the time it reaches the market. This isn’t a reason to put you
off investing, but it’s certainly something to bear in mind!
On the flipside, it’s also worth remembering that
ingenuity and fresh aesthetics don’t always come from
major brands, and smaller companies or individuals who
are starting out on sites such as Kickstarter or Indiegogo
can help to shape the industry and push it forward in a
new direction. Supporting ingenuity like this is certainly
worthwhile on the whole, helping to push the drone
industry to new levels. Emerging companies like this are
not only creating great products but are also able to reflect
precisely what the consumers want, and this has had a
massive impact on how larger brands have perceived what
its audience is looking for.
The End is Nigh

So where did it all go wrong for Lily? Well technology is
a notoriously expensive industry to break into. R&D and
production costs can be considerable, especially when
you’re producing something new and with a unique set of
abilities. This is where things fell short with Lily. The co-
“Something that was groundbreaking when founders Antoine Balaresque and Henry Bradlow reached
a crowdfunding campaign started may be out to their customers to explain that they simply couldn’t
balance the funding against the amount of investment
considerably behind the curve by the time it required on the production line. They couldn’t acquire
reaches the market” the extra funding needed in time, despite receiving
largely positive results from a Beta release and its early
developments and successes.
As mentioned, there are no guarantees that you’ll get
your money back when investing on crowdfunding sites
to get into production, with a considerable investment should the project fail. However, Balaresque and Bradlow
required for prototyping, quality assurance, control ensured that refunds were provided which did lessen the
facilities and licensing issues to name a few. blow a little. It goes without saying, however, that it still left
Over the past few years there has been an abundance many people incredibly disappointed.
of drone-related crowdfunding projects that have come One thing for certain is that the Lily Drone at least stirred
and gone, with many being a great successes, while others things up in the industry, with coverage seen in many
have also fallen short. Another thing worth noting when mainstream magazines and websites reflecting on the
investing in projects such as these is the time frame for initial promotion – and sadly the subsequent demise. It’s no
delivery. Technology advances at an incredible rate and the surprise that we’ve been seeing many similar designs and
drone industry is evolving like no other. New features and feature sets emerging in the industry today. For many, much
upgrades are being released at such a rate that something like myself, it was thought that we wouldn’t hear anything
that was groundbreaking when a crowdfunding campaign more from the Lily Drone. That was until early September
started may actually be considerably behind the curve by where it reemerged, but not everything was as expected…
The Resurrection
With various patents and copyrights up for grabs, the name
for the Lily was recently purchased by the Mota Group,
42 DRONE MAGAZINE

which announced a ‘Lily Next-Gen’ drone that will be take-off and landing should keep things nice and easy, and
hitting the market soon. Early adopters will be able to the ‘follow me’ mode remains for some non-water based
purchase the drone for just shy of £400 ($499) with a final activities. The foldable design riffs on the Mavic a little, but
price point set for around £525 ($699) when it’s widely could still be a welcome change for some.
released. So what does this new version have to offer and is Plus, there’s nothing to say that if this iteration is
it still the drone we eagerly anticipated back in 2015? successful then the other features couldn’t be brought
Upon hearing that Lily was back I was initially quite back for a later version. Clearly Mota is playing it safe and
excited but I must admit that initial enthusiasm quickly avoiding the substantial investment required to bring the
diminished, as a lot of the original features are no longer original drone to market. Maybe it’s just down to us, the
present in this new iteration. Most importantly, for me, the consumer, to get behind the company and see what this
waterproofing is no more and the ‘throw to fly’ feature is new model has to offer.
also absent, as is the watch-style controller. For one, I’d be interested to get my hands on this reborn
The removal of these features suddenly brings the Lily drone to see what it’s capable of. I’d be lying if I said that
into a similar spot to many other drones in a corner of the I wasn’t disappointed by the lack of those features I’d
market that is already well established by big players. All planned my next kayaking trip around, but I still hold out
of which begs the question, why would someone now opt hope for the future of Lily. If nothing else, I will always
for the Lily over competitors such as the DJI Spark or Xiro’s support the ‘underdogs’, which the Lily has now become
equivalent ‘selfie’ drone, especially as some of these offer following a quite memorable rise and fall.
greater features?
Not that this is all bad news. Firstly, it’s great to see the
Lily actually make it to the market, even if it isn’t what we You can find out more about the redesigned Next-Gen
all hoped for. A 4K camera offering 13MP stills is pretty Lily at www.mota.com and on the original website
good, as is the reported 18-minute flight time. A one-touch www.lily.camera.

interview
Essex Police: Training Days Andrew Watton-Davies speaks with

two members of the Essex Police drone
team as they look to establish their own
flying squad…
Perran Bonner (PB): It’s being run by the CAA and they’ve
got a couple of guys where their day to day job is safety
management systems. The aviation industry is very good
at safety; they’ve learnt an awful lot over the years as it’s
developed and, sadly, with everything around air crashes,
it’s good at self-learning. It’s about that process. The reason
All photos by Essex Police we’re on it is that, although it’s early days for this within
drone operations we’re implementing it now because,
again, it’s all about safety.
B
ack in Issue 24 we featured the UK’s first fully
operational drone unit, and more and more forces AC: There’s a lot of stuff we’re doing within the policing
are continuing to explore their aerial options. of specialist operations environments. It’s all about pre-
We recently caught up with Essex Police and its Special emptively predicting things that can go wrong, and the
Operations Sergeant Aaron Connolly and Assessment ethos of that is what Safety Management Systems is all
Manager Perran Bonner, to get an understanding into about. It’s horizon-scanning how our drone operations
the preparation involved with UAV use. After a long day’s could go wrong on us and putting in control measures
training for the pair, they were still up for sharing their that make sure either what goes wrong is mitigated or the
knowledge and experience as pilot operators, tactical impact of it is lessened.
advisors and instructors for the team, along with Aaron’s
role as technical and safety manager, into the training and What’s the history behind drones being
groundwork behind the headlines. used by Essex Police and your own
training programme?
You’ve just finished the first day of an AC: Going back nearly three years ago, we had some high-
aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS) profile murders in Colchester that were quite resource-
course. How’s that been going for you? intensive, with quite a lot of searching over a rural location.
Aaron Connolly (AC): It’s been a bit of an eye opener, which We needed a way to map that area so that we could say what
is quite good. It’s all about the safety processes of running we had searched and, more importantly, what we hadn’t.
an aerial operation. So, for us, it’s about maintaining At the time the helicopter couldn’t provide us with what
standards of piloting, aircraft systems, battery life and we needed, effectively a big Google Maps image that was
battery management, the way the training centre operates bang up to date. I knew a drone pilot that happened to be a
and who’s accountable for what in the organisation. There’s policeman, so for that I went and got permissions from the
a full raft of systems in place that help to mitigate risk. CAA to fly that particular job.
44 DRONE MAGAZINE
044-7_DM26[int_Police]IKICGC.indd 44 29/09/2017 13:05

interview
“It’s really important that one of our students doesn’t leave our course and not be able
to hold their own in a conversation about the Air Navigation Order”
From there we looked at crime scenes, vulnerable missing own Operations Manuals – as there are a number of forces
people and road traffic collisions as part of a six-month pilot who don’t have them. Then we provide additional training
programme – if you’ll excuse the pun – and that moved options, including tactical advisors, where we have created
on to a full-time project that had me as the project leader. a recognised standard under Skills for Justice.
I went and trained as a force pilot from that pilot scheme;
my ‘zero-to-hero’ training was with Sky Futures, a ground What are the big differences between your
school and flight assessment advanced piloting course with course and the kind of teaching you’d find
certification in line with CAA requirements, run out of for a commercial PfCO?
Moreton-in-Marsh. PB: The training tends to be very scenario-led, all with
That gave us the benchmark of knowing that if this project relevance to the emergency services. And we’re constantly
was going to be successful for us then we needed to get hitting them with regulatory questions so that they’ve got
control of our own destiny and, to be honest, to save us a bit the confidence and the academic understanding needed
of money, by creating our own training centres that met the
high standards that Sky Futures had set, but making them
set in an emergency services context. It meant that we could
keep a really tight grip on what we were doing and, more
importantly, what we weren’t doing, and how that could be
evaluated properly.
PB: We train a variety of people, at varying levels of

experience and we’re sitting on a 23% failure rate, which
we see as a positive as it shows that we’re not afraid to fail a
candidate if they don’t meet our standards.
AC: The day starts at 8:30am and they’re still going at 5pm,
some days ending at 7pm in the evening. It’s one day of
ground school and then three days of flight training, and
whilst they’re flying we’ll be quizzing them in relation to
the Air Navigation Order and its associated articles.
PB: To be clear, this is the initial course. We are a CAA-

recognised NQE and we, as an assessor, certify them as
competent or not and we assist them in how to create their

interview
“We’re constantly hitting them with regulatory questions so that they’ve got the
confidence needed to operate within the emergency services”
to operate within the emergency services environment – PB: The Emergency Services Exemption E4506 has recently
because if they get it wrong, especially when flying, it’s very been released by the CAA and is there to aid the emergency
high stakes. This also provides the basis of knowledge for services in delivering drone capability at a time of crisis,
counter-UAV operations. such as when there is an imminent threat to life.
AC: We also train people as spotters for beyond line of sight AC: So, as an example, if you have a missing person in a
operation so they can be ready to help out the primary cold environment where there is a definite threat to that
operator in a live environment. We train within congested person’s life, you can challenge some of the rules within
areas; when training we’re flying very close to the National articles 94 and 95, such as deploying beyond visual line of
Police Air Service base so from day one they learning to sight. Your primary role there is to save a life so it would be
deconflict the airspace in a real environment. nonsense to suggest that we are bound by legislation when
The site has a road that’s under our control but we tell what we’re trying to do is save a life. Because it is all about
them that if they see a vehicle or a pedestrian they treat it safety; Article 241 is the overriding one but if you have a
as a member of the public. It’s really important that one look at Article 2 of the Human Rights Act, it’s about the
of our students doesn’t leave our course then deal with a right to life.
commercial operator or hobbyist and not be able to hold
their own in a conversation about the Air Navigation Order Could you explain how it applies to
and associated drone regulations. something more day to day, like if you’re
attending a road traffic accident?
what restrictions do the police fly under? AC: Getting control of the area is one of the stipulations
AC: Exactly the same as all commercial and civilian drone within that scenario. Very often we place cordons
operators. Only in exceptional circumstances would we around a scene but we still need to make sure that we’re
look towards using the Emergency Services Exemption, communicating, keeping people out and informing our own
which would only be deployed within the appropriate staff that if they are moving around in that environment
command structure. what the emergency procedures are. Our flight crews are
46 DRONE MAGAZINE

interview
taught that if they are in a flight area one of their duties is to

appropriately and adequately brief the members of staff that
will be working in that area.
The other part of that exemption is if there is something
like the M11 or the M25 motorway that’s closed with damage
to infrastructure; that could be deemed a major incident in
itself so within certain circumstances there is the ability to
fly within those needs, but you would have to justify it.
Are there any other areas where UAV use

is being adopted by Essex Police?
AC: If you have a look at Operation Buzzard (@OpBuzzard
on Twitter), it’s been used to get specialist resources to
rural areas for use against criminality like hare coursing,
theft of plant machinery and damage to crops. What we
are doing is getting our drone teams into these areas.
When out and about on patrol, or needing to get their
training hours in, they’ve utilised farmland to operate in
a different environment and whilst there they can patrol
from the air.
So far Operation Buzzard has been really effective and
other forces have been looking to it as a model due to the
benefits highlighted; for example, areas that have been
fly-tipped will put signs out showing unmanned aerial
operations. This plays on the criminals’ psyche that they
never know where we’re watching them from.
Not all police forces in the UK have a

drone team. Is there much sharing between
the various constabularies and other
police departments?
AC: Across all the forces and all the specialisms forces are
able to mutually aid each other in relation to resourcing.
We can go across the border if assistance is requested from

Essex Police, and that’s where you know what you will get
as a drone team; what pilot qualifications, what systems
you’ve got, what kind of cameras and so on.
I’m also a Sergeant of the Essex Police marine unit, so we
can cross-pollinate those technologies where we have got
specific needs. So, for example, if you have a look at Project
Kraken (@OpKraken on Twitter), the marine units are using
that technology to harden the coastline against clandestine
operations from organised crime groups. With things like
smuggling coming in through the border then we can use
drone technology with thermal imaging; the beauty of that
being that we can arrive by boat to intercept but we can be
well over the horizon to watch vessels coming and going
across the Essex coast.
PB: Some of that imagery has been used for prosecutions,

which is a positive by itself and helps to show drones being
used for good.
To keep up to date with the work of Aaron, Perran and

the rest of the Essex Police drone team follow them on
Twitter @EPoliceDrone.

A Reader’s View
Monnington-on-Wye,
Hertfordshire
Photo by Dimitar Lazarov

Dimitar caught this great panoramic of the
morning mist at 6am on an August morning
with his Phantom 3 Pro, merging five photos
into one image. He says he’s the proud owner
of several drones: “I try to travel a lot and every
time my ‘birds’ are on the back seat. Flying a
drone is not just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle.”

Best of Although the Asian and American
markets are at the forefront of
drone development, there are some
British
UK manufacturers keen to make an
impact. Pilotwise is one such company
looking to hit the mainstream and
director Rob Dixon talks us through
its ongoing design process…
P
ilotwise International Ltd has been operating in because of their recent proliferation, the wide range of
the aviation sector for 30 years this November. We uses and the operational and safety advantages they can
have been delivering training systems and world- offer organisations.
class training materials throughout that time, supporting We’d seen that there were few UK-based drone
air forces, aircraft manufacturers, charities, public sector manufacturers and the market seemed dominated by
organisations and FTSE 100/250 companies, but we wanted aircraft with modern flight controllers, but with possibly
to break new ground for the company in a new sector. less attention to flight efficiency. By happy coincidence,
The company is run by ex-RAF flying and engineering as we were considering our first steps, we spotted an
instructors with a rich heritage across the span of opportunity with another UK company – CarbonCore,
aviation, including fast jets and helicopters, so we decided based down the road from us in York. We spoke with the
to draw on our aerodynamics and propulsion knowledge owner, Cameron Tait, and offered him a position to conduct
and make the move into drones. Drones caught our eye a one-year scoping project. We wanted to see if we could
design and build a marketable commercial drone based on
his latest tried and tested CarbonCore Cortex that had won
much praise and custom around the world.
We added a small challenge, though. For our initial
product – completely unimaginatively called D-1 – we
wanted a traditional-looking, battery-powered multicopter
that would be sub-7kg, including a 1.5kg payload, and that
had an hour’s endurance. We wanted to build in operational
and safety redundancy and established a set of technical
specifications for Cameron to achieve.
50 DRONE MAGAZINE
050-4_DM26[ftPilotwise]IKICGC.indd 50 28/09/2017 20:47

All photos by Pilotwise
The First Steps
We drew up a full project plan identifying the areas in
which we needed to invest time, with the initial stages
of the scoping project focused on research. There is a
surprising lack of credible academic research into drone
propulsion and aerodynamics but, over time, we were able
to reduce a number of considerations to make a corporate
decision on the way ahead. We broke down the research
into propulsion, guidance, airframe, payload sensors,
platform sensors and so on. We looked at the capabilities
and suppliers of quality drone parts, such as propellers,
speed controllers, motors and flight controllers.
We knew that the existing Pilotwise team had a fair
amount to learn about operating drones, and Cameron had
to learn our Quality Management principles and cope with
military grade testing and evaluation rigour in development,
but we were confident that drawing on the best of our
collective experience we were well-placed. Utilising our
knowledge of aviation engineering and aerodynamics,
coupled with our new drone designer, we felt we had a good
skillset to develop a unique multicopter that we could bring
to market fulfilling our requirements of: Driving Force
When it came to considering a propulsion method, we
l Competitive flight times with a usable payload conducted a detailed study of current drone systems that
l Capability-based product that we would tailor to an seemed to be mainly focused on direct drive, electric motors
individual client’s requirements and LiPo batteries. Inspired from our military flying days,
l Thoroughly tested product to aviation engineering and we looked at a very small gas turbine engine to drive a
flying standards generator, but at our sub-7kg requirement, miniaturising
l Incremental design using marginal gains philosophy the gas turbine would have had an adverse effect on
l Propulsion and aerodynamic efficiency efficiency given the Reynolds numbers we calculated (the
l Detailed specifications with real performance data and Reynolds number being a dimensionless quantity in fluid
operating limits mechanics used to help predict flow patterns in different
“We felt we had a good skillset to develop a unique multicopter that we could
bring to market fulfilling our requirements”

fluid flow situations; something which can be applied to air l Contra-rotating vs co-rotating propellers
passing around an aircraft). l Propeller size and pitch
We looked at using internal combustion engines but l HD ratio (the gap between the rotating assembles)
the same issues applied. Using a hydrogen fuel cell would l Space between blade tips (tip vortices)
have been an efficient power supply; however, there are
currently few commercial small cells available to buy. Cells Again there was little scientific data freely available
can be hired but have to be returned to the manufacturer and an article by Sikorsky was the most rigour we
for refuelling, therefore we discounted them for the found. However, it still did not answer many of the
commercial market. questions concerning airflow of contra and/or co-rotating
We decided that for our first venture into this market we propellers operating in close proximity to each other
would use off-the-shelf electric motors and LiPo batteries with independent speed controls for each propeller. We
and try to obtain maximum efficiency from that restraint. undertook testing, including using smoke to track airflow
Again, there was no real data available to determine an paths, and by trialling different arm lengths, HD ratios and
optimal prop/motor/battery set-up, so we constructed a test propeller pitches we derived our optimum configuration.
bench research capability, made a number of assumptions D-1 is a large multicopter using eight large propellers to
and bench-tested each option to inform possible flying provide a very stable and efficient platform with minimal
configurations for the required performance. We found we vibration. We called on an aeronautical colleague who is
were actually fairly close to our predictions, so we were able an expert in this field to measure the vibration using a
to move forward to building and flying the drone. slam stick. This equipment can measure multiple orders
We decided that if D-1 was an octocopter it would give us of vibration very accurately and the D-1 had a very low
redundancy should a motor fail. We chose to use four arms vibration signature.
and have propellers mounted above and below each other to
minimise the overall size; this was a definite constraint as Sensor and Sensibility
the lower propellers are in the downwash of the upper set. The design and testing was borne from one of our aims of
Drawing on our helicopter and aerodynamics expertise we controlled flight when OEI (one engine inoperative). When
considered the optimal configuration: we caused the D-1 to lose a motor in flight, the drone stayed
“There is a surprising lack of credible academic research into drone

propulsion and aerodynamics”
52 DRONE MAGAZINE

airborne; we were able to land normally, take off again and Taking Shape
continue to fly around. We wanted this capability to ensure The prototype was two 30cm carbon fibre plates
someone on a job at a critical stage, with an expensive at the centre with carbon arms and legs attached.
sensor fit, would not have to cancel the work or risk losing We are not yet giving away the final design look,
or damaging the sensor in the event of motor failure. but we will say it will be mainly carbon fibre. We will
We documented and videoed our test serials and, on keep the operating maximum all-up mass below 7kg,
the video where we lost a motor, the rate of propeller so that D-1 is capable of being used in reduced proximity
windmilling and the video framerate made it difficult to see limits, if an operator has CAA approval to do so. Beyond
that the propeller wasn’t under powered; so, the next day that we’d rather not say any more… mostly because the
we removed the propeller completely and flew the test serial commercial D-1 design isn’t quite complete.
again with only seven propellers, just to capture conclusive In terms of capability, the D-1 is just the platform; it is
video evidence that D-1 could fly OEI. the means of carrying the payload sensor to do its work. We
To avoid confusion, we termed anything that helped have produced a UK designed and built multi-functioning
the drone to fly as a ‘platform sensor’, and anything drone that is stable. The overall capability will be realised
that was being carried and performing the operational when it is integrated with its sensor and that will be
requirement as a ‘payload sensor’. We used an open-source determined with a customer depending on what they want
flight controller initially, as it seemed that it would give to achieve. Pilotwise’s overall aim is to achieve a bespoke
us increased functionality and also the ability to collect capability from a UK company through excellent design,
flight data for analysis. We collected GBs of data and, thorough testing and through-life customer support.
although we were able to understand a lot of the results,
some fundamental questions were raised as our UAV was As things stand we now have a platform that:
operating outside the normal parameters for its data sets. We l Is proven to operate OEI
did, however, get sufficient results to give us confidence that l Has achieved a 1 hour and 39 seconds flight time on a
we were on the right track for performance and efficiency. single battery charge (carrying a Go-Pro camera)
One of the main issues was configuring the flight l Can carry up to 1.5kg payload and still be under 7kg total
controller to the D-1, as there were no guidelines for PID l Has flown in winds up to 25 knots (47 km/h)
(Proportional Integral Derivative) settings for this type of l Has flown in rain
multicopter. Through incremental and exhaustive flight
testing we integrated the flight controller and mission We have also had an intern from the Netherlands work
planner, but regularly saw issues with software bugs for us for five months as part of the project and he looked at
stopping the controller talking to the mission planner and what might be the best initial markets to consider. Given
variances in flight performance. So we changed the flight the endurance capability and stability, we’re initially
controller system, but only after we had obtained all the going to target D-1 at agriculture, inspection and public
data we wanted from direct comparisons using the initial safety markets, but it will benefit anyone who wants a
system. We now have a system that has resulted in a very stable, manoeuvrable platform with long endurance. Our
stable drone that we can tailor to clients’ needs to achieve a D-1 prototype works successfully, so now we are adapting
wide array of capabilities. the finished prototype to ready it for market. When

assembled, the D-1 is quite large so we are also making of available data, so we’ve conducted more extensive
some design tweaks. base research than we’d planned. However, we now hold
Our overall aim is to make it easy for the customer to comprehensive data sets on what worked and what didn’t
transport, assemble and fly, even in inclement weather. A for many configurations and have used the findings to guide
protective case for transport needs to fit in a standard car development at all stages. Applying the development rigour
boot. To achieve this, the arms need to detach, so we are to which we subject our traditional training business is
designing a quick attach/detach system that anyone can time-consuming and expensive, but ultimately rewarding
use reliably. Of course, this needs a good human factor and in that we will be able to manufacture with our usual
design principles to ensure correct assembly every time. integrity markers.
We are also testing the integration of operational It probably wasn’t necessary to constrain ourselves to
payloads. We are currently trialling a multispectral camera basing D-1 on the prior platform to save time. It has made
on the D-1 that is benefitting a local farmer in payback for it a little cheaper, but not really made any significant time
use of flying over his fields – the sort of mutually beneficial savings. The use of open-source hardware and software
relationship we have been establishing at Pilotwise over proved to be too ‘buggy’ for our specific drone. Whilst
the past three years or so. We’ve established two-way we generated a large amount of data that has supported
links with organisations for moving into our target corporate decision-making, ultimately the initial selection
markets; we’ve a relationship with a precision agriculture of flight controller was flawed. Hindsight is a wonderful
organisation and have a Confidentiality Agreement with a thing, though, and in the future we may consider making
construction company to explore joint development. our own flight controllers to match our specific drone size
and shape.
Lessons Learned We sourced reliable suppliers that have good customer
The main thing we’ve learned during this process is that interaction and quality products (for example, a great
to develop a drone to our own high standards of quality overseas propeller retailer for our large 30-inch carbon
is not as easy or as quick as we’d expected. There is a lack propellers). Mutually beneficial partnerships are
worthwhile for development as well as operations. This has
become particularly evident in the operational conversion
“D-1 is a large multicopter using eight large of the prototype. We’re not the type of organisation
that deals with the usual high volume sales tactics, so
propellers to provide a very stable and efficient specific sector knowledge and expertise that established
platform with minimal vibration” organisations bring is invaluable for generating the tailored
quality we crave.
We also work routinely with leading CAA-accredited
drone training organisation, Flyby Technology, and have
a consultant on our books who used to work in the drone
regulation section of the CAA. Their knowledge and input
into our development has also added considerable value.
There are several things we’d do differently if we started
again, but everything we’ve done has been recorded so
our corporate memory will be used to streamline the
development of models D-2, D-3 and so on. As for what’s
next, we’ll finish the operational conversion of D-1 and bring
it to market and then start research for the design of D-2!
To find out more about Pilotwise and the work it does,

head over to www.pilotwise.co.uk. And stay tuned to
Drone Magazine as we may well be back with updates
once the D-1 is closer to launch!
54 DRONE MAGAZINE

From Drone Zero to Drone Hero
With
Mark Thomas
Learn to Fly Like a Pro,
Film Like a Pro
What we can teach you:
Pre-flight checks
Can I fly here?
Beginner
Should I fly here?

James Patterson
Our unique 4:4:3 rules for safe flying

The fail-safes and how they can go wrong
The ten most common reasons for accidents
and how to avoid them
Intermediate
Confident in all phases of flight

Intelligent Flight Mode
Steve Samosa
Flying effectively in ATTI mode

Operating in strong winds
Camera settings
Filters
Composition
Advanced
Smooth operation
Steve Ashman
Cinematic effects
Subject matter
Photoshop
iMovie and Final Cut Pro
Flying indoors
Expert
Drone Deploy
Theory test
Images are by Finalists in the 400ft Britain drone
Flight test photography competition
All are PhantomFlightSchool clients
01244 893 872 www.phantomflightschool.co.uk info@phantomflightschool.co.uk
Drone ad.indd 1 13/04/2017 11:19

All photos by Jon Attenborough / jonattenborough.com, except where stated
A Spark of
Imagination You don’t need a high-end drone to
get great results. Ian Collen speaks
to professional photographer Jon
Attenborough who’s happily taken
to working with DJI’s newest, and
smallest, craft…
56 DRONE MAGAZINE
056-61_DM26[ft_Spark Guy]IKICGC.indd 56 29/09/2017 13:07

Photo by DJI
I
t’s not exactly a big surprise to find many
photographers having their eye turned by the
possibilities that taking a camera to the skies can
bring – and for Jon Attenborough that appeal was
no different. Having worked in film and TV out in
Australia for many years, with the likes of Wolverine,
Superman and, erm, Home & Away on his CV, Jon
turned his attention to stills photography. With a knack
for portraits he forged a new career, working heavily in
advertising before branching out to add lifestyle and travel
photography to his repertoire.
As with many creative types, there’s always room for
something new and exciting, though. “You end up going
to places that have been photographed a million times and
you’ve got to try and make it your own and interesting,”
Jon tells us. One quite literal “new angle” first caught his
attention via Instagram as more and more people were
posting their own aerial shots.
“I guess the drone thing was more of a curiosity to start
with,” he says but things escalated quickly and “then
became something of an addiction!” Not that making
the leap into the drone world is easy. “I guess it was a bit
intimidating as there was all this talk of licences, getting
permissions and the UK cracking down,” Jon explains.

“It almost seemed out of my reach and there was a bit too
much red tape, especially as soon as you mention the word
‘commercial’ or you’re looking to make any kind of money
out of it and the alarm bells ring.”
Though initially put off by the idea, an invitation from the
Sunday Times travel magazine to shoot out in the Dolomites
– a mountain range in north-eastern Italy – gave him the
perfect opportunity for a wonderfully scenic test flight
earlier this year. “I checked the rules for Italy and they’re
similar to the UK, but because I was with the local tourism
board, the local tour guides were like ‘sure, take a drone
up’.” The only thing Jon was missing was an actual drone, so
he got in touch with DJI and asked if he could borrow one!
A Flying Start
“I didn’t want to splash out a grand and then realise that
it’s not actually for me,” Jon says, and DJI is open to offers
from people planning all manner of adventures. Curiously,
though, for all of the high-end professional platforms that
DJI has across its range, it was the new Spark that Jon was
most interested in. “I know it’s a selfie-cam and more of
an entry-level, beginner’s camera but because I’m a travel
photographer and have to take everything with me as
carry-on luggage on a flight, my space is critical.”
However, DJI talked him around to the better
photographic capabilities of the Mavic Pro and agreed to
send one his way. All Jon needed to do now was to learn to
actually fly it! There was some time to practice in London
before heading out to Italy, and Jon explains that the likes
of YouTube videos and Reddit have proven a good source
for getting to grips with the basics. And the good news for
Jon (and the Mavic in question) is that “it wasn’t as hard as
I thought it would it be. To date I’ve only crashed once and
that was a very stupid mistake.”
It’s fair to say that once out in the Dolomites, Jon was
quickly impressed with the results. “It was like ‘this
is amazing’, especially looking straight down as that
perspective is just full of textures.” It does bring with it a
new set of challenges, though, such as getting used to lining
58 DRONE MAGAZINE

up your shots in a more organised manner than just looking
through the viewfinder and clicking a button. “It’s a bit like
going back in time to when you got your photos processed
at Boots and you had to wait 24 hours to see if you’d totally
screwed it up or not,” Jon says of those early experiences.
“There’s that magic moment when you look and it’s like
‘wow, I actually managed to get one that looks alright!’”
The shoot was a great success, with the Sunday Times due
to publish his shots shortly after this issue went to print.
Not that Jon didn’t learn a few key lessons along the way,
though. “In hindsight shooting mountains with a drone
isn’t the best thing to show it off because mountains tend to
look better from a bit lower, so they look bigger and more
imposing. When you’re up high it makes the mountains
look small and has the opposite effect. So I learned then
that the shots which worked best for me were the ones
that looked directly down and showed the texture of the
landscape below.”
Photo by DJI
Pocket Rocket
Having safely returned the Mavic Pro in one piece and
delivered some great photos to his client, Jon decided to
splash out on a drone of his own and, sticking with his
original temptation he went for a Spark. As well as its size
making it an ideal companion for a photographer on the
move (“it fits in my backpack with all my cameras and
lenses”), Jon says another reason was “because it’s got this
incredible panoramic option where it takes 21 shots and
stitches them together” – effectively turning those 12MP
photos into one considerably larger image.
He does admit that the Spark isn’t so good in the wind,
and being unable to capture RAW files is another downside
but it is suited to his needs, and the size and ease with
which you can have it up in the air in a few seconds also
gives him the freedom to “go a bit more ‘guerrilla’ style”
with it. “People are still a little naïve to the rules and the
laws and as soon as they see a drone they’re like ‘oh my
god, take it down, what are you doing?’ With the Spark it’s
a little more incognito. Obviously it’s a bit noisy but I think
you can get away with something that little bit smaller and
less intimidating.”
Jon’s most recent travels took him back to Australia,
shooting a lot in and around Sydney and its beaches, where
he says he was spoilt for choice. “It was everything from
deserts to oceans and cliff edges, rock formations – the
landscape is incredibly diverse and just a dream to shoot.”
He also says he’s been putting in the flight times to improve
his aerial skills, though he does admit that a sense of
nervousness remains, especially “when you’re taking it up
high and it’s a bit windy, and you’re over the ocean as well
and the only landing spot is on the water.”
Having the Spark does gives Jon the opportunity to be
that much more spontaneous on his travels when compared

to traditional aerial methods involving a helicopter. “With a A new perspective
helicopter you’ve got to go to the airport, you’ve got to check There are other variations to his usual on-foot photo work.
in and you’ve got to then fly to the location. This is just so For one, a little planning can go a long way when it comes
much more practical and it’s going to be something of a to aerial work, not least because you’re usually working
game-changer, if it’s not already. This has made it a hell of a with limited batteries, and therefore flight times. “When
lot easier and cheaper as it’s taken that helicopter out of the you go to a location you can see what you’ve got in front of
equation. Obviously you can’t go as high and you can’t go you when you’re taking a traditional shot, but when you’re
over some places but it’s still so much more practical.” going up in the air there’s a certain sense of guesswork
about what it’s going to look like,” Jon says. “Perhaps in
future I might use something like Google Earth to research
a place before I go to see if it’s interesting texture-wise or
what is available.”
Another issue is lighting, which is “one of the
fundamentals of photography”, and shifting the angle
of approach can make a big difference to the shot. “It
almost seems to make or break a shot more with the drone
photography,” Jon explains. “You get a lot more shadows
cast depending on the time of day. I shot an area in Sydney
that I thought was nice but unfortunately it was just the
wrong time of day and the bit I wanted to shoot was totally
in shadow and it ruined the shot. I probably could have got
away with it if I was on level ground, so the time of day is
imperative as well.”
As for the longer term, Jon acknowledges that getting
CAA-qualified will have to be considered at some point.
“As a travel photographer I haven’t actually shot a lot in
England, but I am going to end up shooting in the UK, for
sure, so I will have to look into it eventually. I think it’s
inevitable as I see a future in this genre of photography for
me.” That said he has no plans to upgrade from his Spark
quite yet. “I know that I don’t have the professional level
stills photography drone, but for what I need it’s absolutely
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fine, purely because I’m on so many aeroplanes and it needs
to go in my hand luggage” – though he does admit a Mavic 2
with RAW and a new camera could be a tempter… Learning Curve
For now, it’s still a new and exciting medium for Jon All new pilots will have their own stories about discovering the key
to explore, and it’s a great example of how anyone can fundamentals of flying to adhere to. Some will find this out in a
make inroads into aerial photography without spending classroom, others in a more practical environment – though we’d
a fortune. His only regret seems to be that he didn’t get hesitate to call it a ‘crash course’. For Jon it was the latter, even if there
on board sooner! “I wish I’d had it last year, as I went to were a few bumps along the way. “The very first time I ever flew the
Mexico four times and could have got some incredible drone, I went to the roof of my building, which is made of metal and
photos! As a photographer there’s a lot of competition
brick – and I mean a LOT of metal. So the drone went up and as I was
out there and everyone’s striving to produce something
landing it, it suddenly decided it didn’t know where it was and had a
new, interesting and different to everyone else just to
mind of its own and just went off. That’s the moment my heart stopped
stand out that bit more. I’ve seen some amazing drone
and it crashed.”
photographers and their work; it’s inspirational and it’s
Thankfully everything was fine and no harm was done (to the drone
like it’s a new thing to get excited about. I’m a little kid
or to Jon!), although he also told us about being out in Australia where
again on that drone.”
he was looking to get some shots from a sailing boat, and learned a
It seems like Jon’s aerial career is only just beginning.
hard lesson about using GPS and a moving target. “Landing that was…
“Aside from it being interesting for me and something I’m
getting quite passionate about, it’s a unique selling point interesting. My colleague had to catch it and there was a little bit of
as far as my business is concerned and hopefully I can offer blood involved – but it didn’t go into the water!” Good to know he’s got
it in conjunction with traditional photography. It’s another his priorities intact!
string to my bow and hopefully it will help me stand out
from the crowd – until everyone else gets one!”
You can see more of Jon’s work, both from the air and on
the ground, over at www.jonattenborough.com.

A Reader’s View
St Helens Triathlon,
Eccleston Mere
Photo by Steve Samosa

This great overhead photo was one of a
series of action shots taken by CAA-approved
photographer Steve Samosa during the St
Helens Triathlon in his home town. We’re
exhausted just looking at it, let alone actually
doing the 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run
that the elite athletes had to face – so we think
Steve had the easier job here!

All photos by ViFly, except where stated
ViFly R130
Reviewer: Lee Schofield
W
ith many countries already having legislation
that applies to models over 250 grams the hunt for
excellent multirotors below that level is hotting
REVIEW up. These smaller models are exercises in compromise;
smaller props means less efficiency, smaller batteries and
smaller cameras, and this can lead to short flight times,
disappointing FPV, less impressive features and poorer
crash handling or flying characteristics.
For many pilots hearing the words ‘130mm FPV quad’
conjures up images of skeletonised carbon fibre and exotic
frames to save weight, props with huge pitches with
low flight times. The ViFly R130 is one of a rare breed of
130mm quads that’s been made for the everyday pilot
who’s looking for a capable, solid and smooth-flying model
that won’t snap anything in a crash. We’ve heard of pilots
competitively racing this little thing and that’s a testament

to it’s all round ability.
• treet Price: $189 BNF (£143) / $269 RTF (£203)
S The first thing that you notice when you pull it out of the
• Dimensions: 125 x 115 x 30mm package is how solid it feels. The model without a battery
• Weight: 165g (without battery) weighs only 165g and all of the electronics, apart from
• Camera: 700TVL, 1/4 inch CMOS, 120-degree FOV the ESCs where you plug the battery into, are inside the
• Battery Type: 850mAh 3S LiPo (550mAh 4S optional) protective shell out of harm’s way. The carbon fibre for the
• Flight time: 6-8 mins arms is 3mm and this, combined with the short arm length,
• Charge time: 45 mins makes them very tough. The DAL bull nose props may not be
• Controller: Not included (FrSky, FlySky and to everyone’s taste but they are very stiff and tough as well.
Spektrum compatible) The camera is inside a rubber sleeve and has a very
• Website: www.viflydrone.com impressive range of movement. There are tiny, but bright,
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Photo by Lee Schofield
white LEDs by the side of the FPV camera and a red and
blue status LED at the back. While they’re not easy to see
“If you’re looking for an all-round fun FPV flyer that
in daylight they do help in dusk conditions. Those exposed you can pop into your backpack and shouldn’t have
ESCs are protected by a metal cage, with the idea of putting
one of the main components outside the case for cooling to register to fly, this is well worth a look”
and easier replacement being a nice touch.
The model is available in two options, as a Bind and Fly
(BNF) model with a choice of three receivers installed or as The model also includes an OSD, too. Configurable via the
a Ready to Fly (RTF) version where it comes with a radio. Betaflight tab it shows the battery voltage, horizon, flight
Inside the BNF package comes a spare set of props, some mode and flying time. It’s a shame that a current meter isn’t
spare feet and some Velcro for the battery. For this review installed as it’s a much better way to monitor the amount of
we used an FrSky BNF version and binding was a simple battery charge remaining.
process, using one of the (just) two controls on the model by The camera is sadly a CMOS unit and one of the few places
the side of the USB connector cable. on the model where you can feel the compromise. The image
The other control lets you take care of the in-built FPV is good and it handles overcast days well but the lack of a
equipment. Pressing the mode button briefly changes the more standard mount means that it’ll be tricky to change
FPV channel sequentially, while holding it for a few seconds the camera out to one of the latest mini-CCD cameras from
changes the power of the 40-channel transmitter from manufacturers such as RunCam or Foxeer.
25mw to 200mW to 500mW. You can feel the back of the There seems to be one of two reactions to this quad from
model get warm if you select 500mW. initial experiences; pilots either love or hate it. Those who
have a strong negative reaction usually turn out to be small
On the Fly form factor multirotor racers who aren’t happy with the
It comes pre-flashed with Betaflight 3.1.7 so it’s a breeze to props and heavy-duty construction. But for those who are
set up if you know your way around the Betaflight interface. looking for a quad they can fly every day and will take all
Before flying we’d strongly recommend connecting the the knocks and keep flying, those are exactly the elements
model to your PC and checking that all of the settings are to that make the R130 such a nice model.
your liking. By default the model uses stick arming, rather From our time with it, it was the most fun we’ve had with
than switch, which isn’t a great idea for a small model like a model of this size. We flew it in all conditions and despite
this as you need to be able to kill the motors just above the a few ‘mishaps’ we’d not even snapped a prop. The FPV
grass on a switch. The model also includes a buzzer so it perspective is easily good enough to fly quickly
might be wise to set up a switch on the radio to activate and the tuning and choices ViFly has
that, as in any height of grass this model will disappear made for this model will suit
so if you’ve had a tumble you could be looking for a while everyone but the more serious
without that noise to guide you. racer who’ll need the minimum
The model supports both 3S and 4S batteries. If you’re weight and maximum speed to
careful with the ones you use then you can end up with a be competitive at the top level.
quad just under that 250g limit. We used an 850mAh 3S So if you’re looking for an out
battery here and it was 1g under that barrier. Flying time on and out racer, this probably isn’t
that battery was about six minutes depending on how much the model for you. If you’re simply
we pushed it, so it’s enough to get into the corners of the looking for an all-round fun FPV flyer
flying space you’re using. On a 3S pack the model is quick that you can pop into your backpack and
and a nice sport-style flyer; on 4S it is very quick indeed shouldn’t have to register to fly, this is well
with lots of power for flips and rolls. worth a look.
064-5_DM26[rev_Vifly]IKICGC.indd 65 29/09/2017 19:10

All photos by GPC, except where stated
GPC
Inspire 2
Backpack
Reviewer: Adam Juniper
Carrying the bulky case around was never easy, though.

• rice: $299
P While the big case was well-suited to professional shipping
• Dimensions: 610 x 520 x 254mm (cars, aircraft holds etc.), it wasn’t something you’d want to
REVIEW • Weight: 363g (544g shipping) walk a long way with. For some that wasn’t a problem, but
• Website: www.goprofessionalcases.com clearly for others it was restrictive, especially if your chosen
location was some distance from a handy parking spot.
While DJI did drop the protective ABS outer shell with the
T
he DJI Inspire 2 is an important commercial drone. new Inspire 2 case, it did nothing about the structure; it was
It is capable of capturing professional quality images still a big box with a handle on the top.
and, although it may not exactly be accessibly priced The case market for the Inspire 1 quickly offered a variety
for everyone, it’s certainly attainable for a small business. of alternatives for more adventurous pilots, from some
Despite the significantly higher price tag than its Phantom padded straps that you could place around your original
series, DJI chose to ship the new Inspire in a similar two- DJI case to turn it into a backpack, to a very dubious fabric
piece polystyrene case held closed using ABS-plastic product that lived largely on eBay, to the likes of the InsPak
locking mechanisms. luxurious hard-shell backpack that, for around £300,
While this was a step up for the Phantom, offering was shaped to carry your Inspire 1 in take-off mode and
something which, at a push, could be used as a light designed to look at home in a luggage showroom.
shipping box, or in the back of the car, the admittedly Then there was Go Professional Cases, or GPC, which
more robust version in which the new Inspire 2 arrives in has quickly established itself as a leading brand in bags for
still seems something of a let-down in comparison with cameras, and now drones (it will surprise no-one to know
the aspiration of the original hard case. Admittedly the that it started out selling to the Go Pro market). GPC didn’t
production quality did disappoint, with a cheap plastic zip come from nowhere; it’s an offshoot of the more military
that could fail, but the ABS shell and EPP had space for two and professional-oriented outfit Caseman. As a brand, GPC
controllers, the camera and four additional batteries, plus – now recognisable because of the blue-topped foam used in
the one in the craft (five if you only have one controller). its cases – has always targeted prosumers and, of course, the
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Photo by Adam Juniper
“This definitely offers more than just another solid

box to move your drone around in”
setup. Since the batteries are only useful in pairs, we chose

to put an iPad cable in the extra hole. Each hole seems to be
cut to perfection, with no difficulty getting things in and
consumer and prosumer tech market moves fast. That led out, but no room for wobble either.
GPC to water-cutting. It did seem a bit odd that the power adapter has no home
That means that the central padded area of each of its in the cut foam but the charging hub does, but then again
cases is cut from a sheet, or sheets, of foam using a very the latter does have some delicate elements. Perhaps more
powerful water jet with 50,000lbs of pressure. The jet moves curiously there is no purpose-built place for the props.
across the surface of a large sheet of foam like a reverse 3D However, there is a good range of pockets, one on each side
printer; cutting holes out from it according to a design fed and two on the front, and the latter could comfortably be
through a printer. used for props. In addition there are vinyl caps to protect the
Getting a new design up and running for relatively motors are included.
small production runs is very fast and foam cutting is All the zips feel very high quality and the fabric similarly
very precise, and that has helped get GPC to market with so. The bundle includes a chest strap so once you’ve got the
three different types of case for the Inspire 2, including the backpack on you can keep it in place and the whole thing
backpack we’re looking at here. seems to melt away once you’re wearing it (though there
will be no casual carrying on one shoulder like the kids;
Case Study when at an angle the bag is just too big).
If, like us, you’ve been used to a hard-shell backpack (albeit At $299 this isn’t cheap, but then quality cases aren’t
with lovely soft straps) you might be a little concerned that (DJI’s charges £254 to replace its own effort) and this
the GPC case would seem flimsy in comparison, but right definitely offers more than just another solid box to move
from the start that seems unlikely. The foam, though more your drone around in. If you’re prepared to ‘shell’ out even
pliable than EPP, is definitely firm. more to protect your Inspire 2, then you can add a hard case
The manufacturing quality of the foam is impressive to store the backpack in for a further $295. Alternatively,
and the design very practical. You can fit the Inspire 2 GPC also offers a hard-shell Travel Mode Case for $469 and
with batteries (albeit in travel mode, which slows you the top-end Landing Mode Case for $549. The best thing
down at the other end), along with up to two controllers, about all of these bags, though, is you that UK readers
five additional batteries (or seven if you’ve only got one can buy one from a regional warehouse, as well as GPC’s
controller) and the camera box, plus four DJI SSD cards American outlets, so you can have your case in place before
should you have the financial resource to add these to your the weather turns for the winter.
066-7_DM26[rev_GPC Case]IKICGC.indd 71 29/09/2017 16:14

A Reader’s View
Skamania Lodge,
Washington, USA
Photo by Thomas Greer

As always, we’re not just looking for shots
from the UK, and Thomas Greer from Portland,
Oregon has sent us this great shot – taken with
a Phantom 3 (and edited in Lightroom) while
on his travels in Washington. “The day was
gorgeous and I luckily had my drone with me.
The Columbia Gorge has been plagued with
wildfires over the past few weeks; however we
had the perfect conditions while visiting for my
wife’s birthday!”

Bind and Fly
As with our ViFly R130 review,
not all drones come ready to fly.
Lee Schofield talks you through
setting up a BNF model…
Safety First!
Before moving on and plugging a battery into your
new model, you need to make sure that the props
are removed and that you’ve attached any FPV
antennae that came with the model. Powering up
a motor with a prop installed on the bench or firing
up an FPV transmitter without an antenna installed
T
here is a huge variety of multirotor models around so you fry its transmission circuitry is something
right now, which is fantastic for enthusiasts of you only do once…
all levels. There are lots to choose from for pilots
wanting to race, freestyle, learn the basics, take
video and pictures and just try out the hobby for fun. Ove these pages we’ll look at what you need to do using
However, there is an extra complexity as many of the pre- something like Betaflight after you’ve bound the model to
built models now come in two versions: a Ready to Fly the radio and also take a look at a few other things worth
(RTF) version that usually ships with some kind of radio, checking while you’re in there setting everything up.
and a Bind and Fly (BNF) version that comes with only a
compatible receiver, meaning you’ll need to bind it to your Using Betaflight
radio and do the final checks yourself. Betaflight is the software that runs on the vast majority of
the flight controllers in modern BNF models. It’s available
from the Google Chrome Web Store (chrome.google.com) as
an application so you can simply head to the site, search for
Betaflight, download and install it and you’re ready to go.
Different versions of this software could also be on the
model so you would need to check you’re using the right
thing to set everything up. You don’t need to worry about
this too much, though; if you plug a multirotor into the
wrong software then you can’t break anything. The first
thing to do is to connect the new BNF model to the computer,
open Betaflight and click the ‘Connect’ button at the top right
hand corner and you should then see a screen that looks like
the one shown at the top of the next page. If you do then your
model is using Betaflight and we can carry on!
If you can see all of the tabs on the left hand side then it’s
running Betaflight. If it will only show you three tabs then
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it’s something else. Click on the tab on the left called GUI
and type ‘version’ into the command line at the bottom of
the screen and the model will tell you what it has installed.
If it’s something called Cleanflight then you’ll need to
download that from the Chrome store and use it instead. The
set-up process is identical, though.
One more thing before we move on: do you see that
‘dataflash’ bar up in the right hand corner of the same
screenshot near the big red ‘Disconnect’ button? The fact
that it’s showing some data already is a good sign. This most
likely tells us that the logging feature Blackbox has been
configured and the flight controller has been armed. The fact
that there is data in there means that this quad has had at
least a minimum of testing before leaving the factory, which
is never a bad thing.
On the Radio
By this stage we can be sure of a couple of things. We know
what software the multirotor is running and we also know
that the flight controller works! Next up we need to create
a model on the radio you will bind to the craft. Refer to the
manual for the radio you have or check out the tutorials on
places like YouTube and other online resources where there
are lots of excellent ‘how to’ videos on the set up for most
common radio types and models.
For a standard multirotor model you need six channels
set up. The first four need to be aileron, elevator, throttle and
rudder. The last two are to control how the model flies; they
are to select the flight mode (a three position switch is ideal)
and another switch to arm the model. If the model you have
includes a buzzer then the option of adding an extra switch
for ‘buzzer’ mode can be handy to help find it if you crash
into tall grass or somewhere else out of sight.
Make sure you know how to adjust the endpoints on the value other than 1500µs then it thinks you’re trying to fly
radio for the channels you’ve just setup. Flight controllers in that direction and the model will drift. Along with not
expect to see signals from just above 1000µs to just under calibrating the accelerometers (more on this later) this is one
2000µs. Radios like the Taranis that drive the channels past of the two biggest reasons for drifting models.
these limits can be seen as a problem sometimes. If you’re on The final tip here is that on most radios you only need
a Taranis you might want to reduce the channel endpoints to do this once. Copying model setups that work to create
from -100 and +100 to something like -97 and +97. new model memories is common. Using that trick makes
By default, all flight controllers will expect that 1500µs sure that all of the setup is carried into the new model
is the middle channel position for the rudder, aileron and ready for binding. It’s a great way to save a lot of time when
elevator so look for a sub-trim menu. If the model sees a setting up a new model.
Photo by Lee Schofield Photo by ViFly

Photo by ViFly
“The fact that there is data in there means that this quad has had at least a minimum
of testing before leaving the factory, which is never a bad thing”
Back to Beta Click that ‘Connect’ button again and let’s get started
Making sure those props are off and the FPV antenna with the mandatory checks. The model should have all of
is attached, follow the manual for binding the receiver the settings for the radio receiver configured so we just need
installed in the model to the radio. This normally needs to check that the channels are moving in the right direction
the main flight battery plugging in while holding down a and are set up properly in the Radio tab.
bind button. Once you’ve done that then we can connect to Move all of the main flight controls and watch which bars
Betaflight again and see how everything looks. move on the screen. If the wrong bar is being moved (such as
Personally, I like to look at the settings and power the the throttle channel moving the aileron/roll bar), then try all
model from the USB cable alone; some models power the of the ‘Channel Map’ settings in the top right hand side of the
radio receiver from the USB cable, too, so by plugging screen. If all else fails you can usually move the channels on
the model into your computer you can check the radio the radio itself to match one of the ‘Channel Map’ settings.
connection and settings. Once you’re happy that all of the channels are moving
Some models also need the main flight battery attached. the right bars then we need to check the direction of the
If you can check the model settings with just USB power, channels. Raising the throttle or elevator should increase the
there’s less chance of something overheating while sat on value and moving the rudder or aileron should do likewise
the bench and the motors can’t turn. for the relevant channel, too. If not then reverse the problem
channel in the radio before moving on.
Next, check that the channels don’t go above 2000 or
below 1000 – use the travel or endpoint adjustment on
the radio to reduce the movement if needed. Also use the
sub-trim menu on the radio so that the rudder, aileron and
elevator rest as close to 1500 as you can. If it flickers slightly
that’s okay. Check that the switches you’ve set up for mode
and arming are moving and make a note of which AUX
channels they are as you flick those controls on the radio.
Switched On
Now we can move on to the Modes tab and set up the arming
switch and modes we want to use. Personally, I’d always use
switch arming as it allows you to disable the motors at the
flick of a switch and is very handy when landing in longer
grass or if you need to quickly kill the motors after a crash.
72 DRONE MAGAZINE

Move the arming switch into the position you want to
have as ‘Armed’ on the model and select the relevant AUX
channel from the drop down menu by the mode box called
‘Arm’. Then use the sliders to move the amber coloured bar
to encompass the channel value shown by the amber stick
indicator underneath. Move the switch to the ‘Disarmed’
position and check that the channel value stick moves out of
the selected range completely.
Do the same for the flight modes you want to use. I’d
suggest a mixture of Angle (self-level mode), Horizon (self-
level but allows for rolls and flips) and Rate mode (for tricks).
Rate mode isn’t shown in the list of options in the Modes
screen but if the other two modes are not selected then it
defaults to Rate mode.
If you have a buzzer on the model then also setup the
relevant AUX channel to activate Buzzer mode that so
you can sound the buzzer in case it gets lost as previously
mentioned. For the last step in this section, double check the
props are off and turn off your radio. After a second or so you
should see that the parachute below the battery icon at the
top of the screen turns red. If not then check the manual for
your radio and the receiver you’re using to enable a failsafe.
The number one reason for fly-aways is not having the
failsafe set up.
Back in the main screen, ensure that the model is level
and flat and check that the pitch and roll angles shown are at
zero or very close to it. If not then keep the model perfectly
still and click the calibrate accelerometer button to record
the right level position. That completes all of the main
settings in Betaflight but there are a few things to check on
the physical model before we finish.
Do a visual inspection of the props: How they are installed

and are they installed the right way? Are the prop nuts
tight? I usually remove and balance them, too, as excessive
vibration on the model can cause some unexpected
behaviour. Have a good look over the model and make sure
all the screws and bolts are tight and nothing will foul the
props. The battery leads in particular can get in the way of
the props if not routed or secured.
With all of that done you should be safe to fly! It’s a good
idea for the first flight to be a gentle hover for three or four
minutes, just to check that everything is working and
nothing overheats or comes loose.
Optional Settings
There are a number of other things that are worth looking
at while in Betaflight that are not necessary for a safe initial
test flight, but are useful to change to suit your preferences.
The majority of flight controllers inside modern BNF
Photo by ViFly models include an on-screen display (OSD). More commonly
these days these settings can be changed by using the OSD
tab in Betaflight. Often manufacturers leave the settings
as standard and this means that elements like the artificial
horizon sidebars are turned on.
Every pilot has their own preference for how the OSD
looks and once you’ve got used to a particular layout you’ll
find any model not using the same one will be distracting.
Typically the longer you’ve been flying the less you’ll want to
have on the OSD!
You can add and remove elements to the OSD using the
‘radio switches’ beside the list of options on the left hand
side. Once an item has been selected you can drag that
element into position on the screen to position it perfectly.
It’s handy to have your FPV goggles or screen running
while you do this as you can have pieces that are cropped
by the side of the image. Keep moving things and pressing

Photo by ViFly
“I’d always use switch arming as it allows you to disable the motors at the flick of a
switch and is very handy if you need to quickly kill the motors”
Save to see the results in the goggles until you’re happy that in to get it fully charged. At the end of the flight you’ll see
everything looks good. a summary screen and it will show you how many mAh
Another useful option to consider is calibrating the Betaflight thinks were used (use the DVR in your FPV
voltage and current meters. If your model measures the goggles to check).
battery voltage and current from the flight battery then If the numbers are very different then you can adjust the
you may need to tweak the settings to get them accurate ‘Scale the output voltage to milliamps’ setting to get them a
in the OSD. Measure the battery voltage and see what is lot closer. It does seem to work counter-intuitively, though.
displayed in Betaflight at the top of the screen (it’s that So if the current sensor reports that 10% more mAh were
things that looks like an AA battery). Adjust the ‘Voltage used than were actually taken from the pack then reduce
Scale’ until they are as close to the same as you can. this number by 10% to adjust. It might take a few tries to get
Measuring the current sensor can be a little more it really close.
involved. For this to work your model needs an on-board
current sensor, so check the details of the model you’re Summary
using. I fly the model with a battery at 100% and then charge With all of this in place, you should have the model set up
the pack back home to see how many mAh were put back for the basics just the way you like it and be safe to take your
model out into the field and fly. Your BNF is now RTF!
Remember that some manufacturers are more diligent
that others when tuning the model so you may get into the
air and find that the model feels very twitchy or not very
responsive. Tuning the model is the final step and could be
an entire article on its own but you should find plenty of
online sources to help with getting better PID and RC rate
settings for the model. Bear in mind that PID tuning is an art
in itself and what feels perfect for one pilot may feel ‘wrong’
to another.
The steps that we’ve just covered can also be used as a
basic checklist if you’re building a model from scratch. Of
course, there would be a few more things to set up but once
you’ve got the receiver working you can follow these same
steps to bind it with your craft. Either way, good luck if you
do opt for a BNF model and happy flying!
74 DRONE MAGAZINE

LONDON’S BIGGEST MODERN
POP CULTURE FESTIVAL
27-29 OCTOBER 2017

LONDON EXCEL
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ads.indd 1 29/09/2017 13:29

interview
Skeye is not the Limit

Andrew Watton-Davies chats with Petra Kosi, marketing
manager at TRNDLabs, about how its featherweight designs
can pack a knockout punch…
T
RNDlabs is an “international lifestyles” brand started Back in 2014 we started observing the drone industry and
in 2014 by founder and CEO Gerard Nieuwenhuis. we discovered that there were two very different levels of
It took the plunge into the drone market with the drones sold on the market. The first level was categorised as
arrival of its Nano drone in 2015, and since the launch of this a toy drone, which meant that the product functioned more
1.5-inch flyer, the company has brought its fleet up to eight as a fun gadget with no additional features and a very cheap
drones in total, with six in its Skeye range and the higher look. Another level was a high-end product, such as the
spec Fader and Spectre recently being added. DJI Phantom 2 drone, that was indeed a very high-quality
Based out in Rijssen, a town in the Dutch province of drone but also had a price tag on it.
Overijssel, the company now has bases across five countries Despite the huge choice available, what we’ve always
and is reported to be selling almost 50,000 drones a year. felt is missing is a true entry-level drone. The premium
As well as doing a fine trade in online sales, you’ll also find drone makers are starting to make smaller, simpler drones
its UAVs, along with its line of personal audio equipment, but have yet to offer an affordable option for beginners,
in the high-street, with craft available from the likes of travellers and people with a bit less income to spend.
MediaMarkt, Europe’s largest consumer electronics retailer, We wanted to create something that was much more than
and the fashion chain Urban Outfitters. a toy; a drone with real acrobatic capabilities that looks cool
We’ve tested a number of its craft since this magazine and gives the pilot a taste of the amazing innovations from
launched, starting with the Nano in Issue 2 and more the drone industry. That’s what led us to develop two new
recently in Issue 23 with the Fader, and we recently had drones this year: Spectre and Fader. We think it’s the perfect
the chance to discuss the company’s approach to drone choice for the curious gadget fan dipping their toes into the
development, its thoughts on the market as it stands world of drones for the first time.
now, and its views on the future of the small drone with
marketing manager Petra Kosi… Why do you think that more big
manufacturers, such as DJI, don’t also
What was is that first made TRNDlabs look target this ‘lower-budget’ market?
into the drone market? It is hard to talk about the reasons why DJI chooses its
76 DRONE MAGAZINE
076-7_DM26[int_TrndLabs]IKICGC.indd 76 29/09/2017 18:59

interview
specific target group, but it can be seen that brands have

started to produce more affordable versions of their high-
priced drones. The market is very much dependent on the
power of consumers and in order to have the results brands
need to be flexible.
What are the differences between the

more specific drone enthusiast and the
broader gadget fan?
What makes enthusiasts different from the curious gadget
fans is the understanding of the skillsets that you need to
have in order to fly a drone. Our Skeye line was perfect for
drone enthusiasts because the drones were easy to use and
fun to fly.
With Spectre and Fader we covered the group of curious
gadget fans that enjoyed flying our Skeye drones but wanted
to learn more. With those entry level training drones we
opened up a possibility to curious gadget fans that are
considering entering the drone industry professionally.
Do you see much crossover with your

other markets, such as your personal
audio equipment?
Yes, we see it in the people that love style, functionality and
are looking for suitable and affordable gadgets they can use
in everyday life.
There’s been a lot of regulation talk

lately, though notably for drones heavier
than 250g. How do you think this will
affect the minidrone market and makers
like yourselves?
Currently the drone manufacturers are racing to put
as much advanced technology as possible into the 250g
products. The weight regulation has been in effect for
some time in the USA already and we think that the
trend will continue around the world. In 2017 the drone
industry has become highly competitive and in order to
“The premium drone makers are starting to make
stay on top brands will have to come up with even more smaller, simpler drones but have yet to offer an
creative solutions.
affordable option for beginners”
what do you think the next big technical

developments will be for minidrones?
Based on our observations and the recent trends in the
drone industry, we believe the most likely changes will
be obstacle avoidance and gesture control, which we are
already seeing with the DJI Spark. Besides that, there will
be more and more demand on additional features, such as
face recognition, tracking and 4K cameras.
We don’t believe this could happen in the near future,
but it might happen in the longer term. Even though small
drones are getting upgrades in their features, the heavier
drones will still have a big advantage on the battery life,
durability and stability.
Finally, what advantages do you think

TRNDlabs will have against those big
hitters moving into the market?
What will help us be competitive in the future are
creativity, affordability and flexibility.
You can find out more about TRNDlabs, and its full range
of products, on its website trndlabs.com.
076-7_DM26[int_TrndLabs]IKICGC.indd 77 29/09/2017 19:01

Photography on the Fly
All Photos by Naughty Cat Media
78 DRONE MAGAZINE
078-85_DM26[Photo Feature]IKICGC.indd 78 28/09/2017 20:57

Extreme
Measures
After guiding you through
the Drama tool last issue,
Mark Baker returns to see
what happens when you
really push the boundaries
of photo editing…
H
opefully our previous tutorial whetted your appetite
for some rather more creative editing solutions. Our
first feature on Snapseed’s Drama filter looked at
the more practical side of the effect; mostly adding
definition to cloudy skies and giving an overall punch to
your shot. In this issue we get to grips with some of the more
outlandish possibilities. The results might not be to everyone’s
taste, but they are certainly interesting!
Remember, there is no right or wrong way when it comes
to editing. If you like the outcome then it doesn’t really matter
how you arrived at it. That said, we would suggest starting off
subtle; there is nothing to stop you experimenting with the
filter settings or combining multiple effects to achieve a highly
stylised look for your aerial images. As we did last time, we’ll try
and identify a few pitfalls you might want to avoid, but the rest
is up to you. Have fun ripping up the rule book and setting your
creative side free!
The Top-Down Lowdown

As we’ve discussed previously, shooting from a top-down (or
‘bird’s eye’) angle has its own advantages and drawbacks. On
the positive side you generally have a much better exposure
balance, without the harsh highlights and shadows prevalent in
shots with a high dynamic range. Of course there are exceptions
and if you have a very reflective surface in the frame you can
still encounter problems. In these situations a good polarising
filter can be worth its weight in gold…

On the flipside top-down shots can often appear flat and lifeless,
especially if they are taken during the middle part of the day when
natural shadows are at their shortest. We’re going to look at how the
Drama filter can add some impact to this kind of image, as well as what
you can achieve when you already have strong shadows to work with.
Drama is essentially a tonal contrast-based effect and it can produce both
subtle and abstract outcomes.
Our first example, to the right, shows how you can achieve a fast
‘other-world’ landscape. The original shot is of a creek at low tide and it is
seriously lacking in contrast. Applying the default Drama preset gives us
a lot more definition and, while it is a bit harsh, it definitely helps to give
an illusion of scale. That’s one of the great things with creative filters; the
further away you move from ‘natural’ shots, the closer you get to an idea
of something completely fantastic. Who says that this can’t be the dried
ocean of a rocky planet?
The aim for our next edit was again to mess with perception of scale,
in this case turning our 200ft shot into a vast river delta seen from
space! We’ve applied the default Drama filter, but this time we had
a couple of other issues to deal with. Drone cameras with Automatic
White Balance (AWB) can often struggle with top-down images.
On this occasion we are left with a blue or ‘cold’ tinge which is only
exacerbated by the Snapseed effect. We also have some particularly
strong highlights on the left of frame which can become very noisy
with high contrast adjustments.
The solution was to wind back the exposure/brightness by about -20 in
the ‘Tune Image’ menu before we moved on. We also decreased highlights
by around the same margin to give us a better base to work from. After
applying the Drama filter our final adjustment was to boost ‘warmth’
from the ‘Tune Image’ menu. That little extra bit of heat helps to restore
some more natural colour and gives a more interesting end result.
80 DRONE MAGAZINE

In this shot of waves breaking on a beach we have really gone overboard

with the Drama filter. It has been made possible by another variable
which is all-too common in the UK – a heavily overcast sky. This gives
us a much flatter exposure to work with and means we run into fewer
problems with highlights and shadows.
To produce the grimy high contrast look in the edited version we have
doubled up on Drama; first applying the default preset and then saving
and repeating the process on the (already dramatic) image. On the
second application we have pushed Saturation to +60. This gives us some
extraordinary colours at the same time as picking up far more detail than
was apparent in the original image.
Top Tip
If you are moving on from free editing apps to paid software then
Lightroom (part of the Adobe CC Photography Bundle) is our
suggested platform. It has a ‘Dehaze’ slider which is a great way
of replicating some of the tonal aspects of Snapseed’s Drama
filter. It might take a little time to master but coupled with some
quality plugins it affords a whole world of possibilities.
Our last top-down example tackles late evening shadows head on. The
seagulls circling the tug are barely visible in the ‘before’ shot, lost in the
highlights on the water and from the boat itself. Step one was to apply
-100 highlights in the ‘Tune Image’ menu. This might seem extreme, but
it was the only way to make them manageable in the final image.
The second step was to apply a healthy dose of Drama to the image – in
this case +100 filter strength and +25 saturation. As you can see in the
‘after’ photo, we have created quite a bit of noise in the top left of frame
but it’s worth it for the way the muddy water has come alive and helped
pick out the birds above it.

Angle Grind
As we’ve mentioned, top-down shots are among the easiest to work with
when it comes to high-contrast effects. Bringing your drone camera
back towards the horizon does lead to more problems but they can be
overcome to a certain degree if you’re prepared to live with some of the
side effects.
Our first example here demonstrates one technique which can help
mitigate the ‘noise’ which high contrast effects often introduce to images
with strong highlights. We’ve applied Drama with +75 filter strength and
+25 saturation to our original image. This has done a good job of picking
out detail in the water and making the overall colours richer. It has,
however, created a lot more problems within the highlights.
We’ve decided to style it out and turn to another useful filter: the Lens
Blur. Having selected it from Snapseed’s Filter menu we’ve pinched
and swiped to create a tight ellipsoid around the yacht and its wake.
Increasing the ‘Blur Strength’ and ‘Vignette’ sliders has helped us to
smooth out some of our worst areas. At the same time we’ve introduced
an interesting effect outside of its usual environment.
Mist and fog can scupper the best-laid plans of aerial photographers, but
in the right situation they can lead to some truly striking images. This
example has been shot in optimum conditions. On an otherwise bright
day some patchy low mist has rolled in to add depth to the sky and some
interesting shadows on the water.
Cranking the default Drama preset up to +90 filter strength and +10
Saturation has enhanced both, and introduced some striking contrast.
Remember, you need to ensure that you keep your drone in view at all
times and flying into dense cloud or fog is not recommended – so stick to
the patchy stuff where you can maintain line of sight!
82 DRONE MAGAZINE

This set of three images shows off one of our favourite uses for the Our two edited images below have both had the maximum filter
Drama filter, which we refer to as creating the ‘PlayStation’ look. Many strength applied on the ‘Drama 2’ preset. The first of the edited versions
videogames deliberately apply a noisy filter (particularly on cutscenes) has had highlights cut by -30 and a sharpening increase of +40 in the
to make them look more grimy and realistic. Snapseed can do a pretty ‘Structure’ option. In the final shot we have really gone overboard with
authentic job of replicating this effect and turning your aerial shots into the ‘Brush’ tool, applying saturation and temperature changes to various
epic gaming landscapes. parts of the image.

With this sunset we have broken one of the golden rules for sensible
editing by applying two strong filters on top of each other. Our first step
was to run our original shot through the Drama filter using +50 filter
strength and 0 saturation. Next we’ve saved our image and sent it to the
‘HDR’ effect which is also included in Snapseed.
The combination of the two might not give the most natural-looking
results, but it does make something interesting from what was an
otherwise bland image. It is surprising just how much detail can be
recovered from the foreground (in this case from a Yuneec Typhoon
H camera), although pushing it this far does create a lot of noise and
artifacts. Not one for the purist, perhaps, but it’s an innovative way to
approach a common problem.
For our final example we’ve once again gone all-out, sacrificing realism
for something unnatural but still compelling. Our starting point is the
default Drama preset and we’ve then set the ‘Brush’ tool free. The sea has
had its saturation boosted and temperature cooled. The beach has been
warmed up and darkened with the EV brush. The grass has also been
effectively coloured in and warmed up.
84 DRONE MAGAZINE

Summary
Hopefully some of our ‘Dramatic’ interpretations have
encouraged you to push the boundaries with your own editing.
It might not be suitable for every shot, but it can be a great way
of getting yourself out of a creative rut and trying something
different. Have fun experimenting and with a bit of luck you’ll
find you’ve developed another tool for your aerial photography.
Until then, fly safe and leave the drama for the editing suite!
Mark Baker is a professional aerial photographer and

cinematographer. To see more of his work, or to drop him
a line if you have any questions, you can head over to his
website www.naughtycatmedia.co.uk.

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CHRISTMAS LIST
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Buyer’s guide
our comprehensive guide to some of the TrndLabs Fader
Category: Indoor, Outdoor, Fun Flyer
leading drones around. choose your budget, Street Price: £99
check the specs and see what catches your eye! Camera: 720p, 1MP
Weight: 55g
Diagonal Motor Spacing: 175mm
Battery Type: 520mAh LiPo
Control / Range: 2.4GHz / 50m
Skeye Hexa Drone Hubsan X4 H107D Best Feature: Good starter model
Category: Toy, Indoor, Compact FPV Quadcopter
Street Price: £39.92 Category: Indoor, Outdoor, Compact
Camera: None Street Price: £130 Bionic Bird
Weight: 30g Camera: Front-facing, 0.3MP Category: Ornithopter
Diagonal Motor Spacing: 130mm Weight: 70g Street Price: €129 (£116)
Battery Type: LiPo Diagonal motor spacing: 114mm Camera: None
Control / Range: 2.4GHz / 50m Battery type: LiPo Weight: 9.2g
Best Feature: Great for beginners Control / Range: 2.4GHz RF / 50m Wingspan: 330mm
Best feature: Giant 4.3-inch screen on the Battery Type: 55mAh LiPo
controller Control / Range: 2.4GHz / 100m
Parrot Mambo Best Feature: Fly like a bird!
Category: Indoor, Outdoor, Fun
Street Price: £99
Camera: 3MP / 60fps BLADE INDUCTRIX
Weight: 63g FPV BNF
Diagonal Motor Spacing: 180mm Category: Indoor, Racer, FPV
Battery Type: 550mAh LiPo Street Price: £85.99 (£164 for the
Control / Range: iOS or Android / 20m Ready-to-Fly version)
Best Feature: Ideal for office hi-jinks! Camera: Integrated FPV
Weight: 24g
Diagonal motor spacing: 83mm
Revell Control DJI Flamewheel F450 / F550 Battery type: 200mAh LiPo
VR-Quadcopter Category: Specialist Control / Range: 2.4GHz RF / 100m
Category: Indoor, Outdoor, Fun Flyer Street Price: £70.00 Best feature: Perfect for rookie racers
Street Price: £99.00 Camera: Optional
£150
Camera: 720p, 2MP Weight: 250g

Weight: 100g Diagonal motor spacing: 1045mm Syma 4 Channel 2.4Ghz
Diagonal Motor Spacing: 280mm Battery type: 6S LiPo Quadcopter with Camera
Battery Type: 500mAh, 3.7v LiPo Control / Range: 2.4GHz RF / 2,000m Category: Indoor, Outdoor
Control / Range: 2.4GHz / 50m Best feature: Optical zoom cameras
under
Street Price: £45

Best Feature: Good introduction to FPV flying Camera: Front-facing, 0.3MP
Weight: 590g
Revell Multicopter Diagonal motor spacing: 300mm
Hexatron Battery type: LiPo
Category: Outdoor Control / Range: 2.4GHz RF / 500m
Street Price: £100.00 Best feature: Lightweight prop guards
Camera: Optional FPV version
Weight: 1200g
Diagonal motor spacing: 114mm Revell Control
Battery type: LiPo Mini Charger
Control / Range: 2.4GHz / 100m Category: Indoor, Outdoor, Fun Flyer
Best feature: It’s just monstrously big Street Price: £34.99
Camera: None
Weight: 15g
Revell Control GPS Pulse
Quadcopter Top 5 Diagonal Motor Spacing: 95mm
Battery Type: 250mAh Li-Po
Category: Indoor, Outdoor, Fun Flyer
Street Price: £109.00 Budget Drones Control / Range: 2.4GHz / 20m
Best Feature: Protective cage
Camera: 720p, 2MP
Weight: 152g
1 Hubsan X4
Diagonal Motor Spacing: 185mm 2 Parrot Rolling Spider UDI U818A FPV
Battery Type: 610mAh, 7.4v LiPo
3 Syma X5SC-1 Category: Camera drone
Street price: £130
Best Feature: Great stability for its size 4 UDI U818A FPV Size: 250mm
5 Blade Glimpse FPV Weight: 140g
Best Feature: Live-view in App
94 DRONE MAGAZINE
094-7_DM26[BuyersGuide]IKICGC.indd 94 28/09/2017 20:50

Essential DJI Spark
Category: Indoor, Outdoor, Flying Camera
Accessories
The things that no drone owner
Street Price: £519
Camera: 1080p, 12MP
Weight: 300g
should go without Battery Type: 1480mAh, 3S LiPo
Control / Range: Wi-Fi / 100m
Best Feature: Great tech in a small package
Xiro Xplorer
Street Price: From £315
Camera: 1080p, 30fps
Weight: 410g (inc. battery)
ImmersionRC Vortex 285
Category: Racer
Battery Type: 3S Li-Po, 1300mAh
Street Price: £300
Camera: Fit your FPV camera of choice
Best Feature: Great price
Weight: 350g (no battery or camera)
Diagonal motor spacing: 285mm
A really good bag Yuneec Breeze

Battery type: 3S/4S Li-Po
Control / Range: RF
From around £100 Best feature: Foldable
Street Price: £439
There’s a lot of fiddly electronics in the Camera: 4K / 13MP
heart of your aircraft and, while they Weight: 385g (inc. battery)
might look pretty strong, every last gram Xiro Xplorer Mini
will be exorcised in the design process Battery Type: 1150mAh Li-Po
Street Price: £429 / €499
to lengthen flight times. Not only that, Control / Range: 5GHz Wi-Fi / 100m
Camera: 1080p, 13MP
but if you’re after beautiful photographs, Best Feature: Great for aerial selfies
Weight: 431g (inc. battery)
you’ll probably be travelling away from Diagonal motor spacing: 310mm
the beaten track, so look for comfort and Battery type: 1650mAh, 3S Li-Po
convenience in a bag, too. Check out the Control / Range: 2.4GHz / 100m
likes of Lowepro, Manfrotto or specialist Best feature: Portable AND powerful
creations like the InsPak.
Ehang Ghostdrone 2.0

Aerial
Category: Outdoor, Flying Camera
Street Price: £540
Camera: 4K Sports Camera (GoPro 3, 3+ and 4
compatible)
Weight: 1150g
The Beast 280 MK2 Diagonal Motor Spacing: 290mm
Racing Drone Battery Type: 4500mAh LiPo
Category: Racer
Control / Range: Smart device required / 500m
Street Price: £350
Portable Toolkit Best Feature: Fully controlled with
£150-£600
Camera: Sony 700TVL
your phone
Weight: 30g
From around £10 Diagonal Motor Spacing: 280mm
Keeping screws tight is a great way to Battery Type: Li-Po
make sure parts don’t fall off mid-air Control / Range: Optional
(which, incidentally, is very bad!). Make Best Feature: Very, very fast
sure you’ve got a set of screwdrivers for
hex, hex-socket and small Phillips sizes,
as well as good-quality pliers. You’ll also Propel Star Wars Collection
find tweezers useful for when cables Category: Fun Flyer, Air Combat, Collectible
retreat inside plastic casing. Street Price: £190
Camera: None
Weight: Varied
Diagonal Motor Spacing: Varied Accessory: Epson
Battery Type: 800mAh Li-Po
Control / Range: 2.4GHz / 100m Moverio BT-300
Best Feature: Too cool to fly! Price: £719
operating system: Android 5.1
Transmission Delay: Less than 9msec
display: Silicone (Si) OLED
Top 5 Resolution: 1280 x 720
Beginner Drones
Epson has come up with a system that allows
you to see your drone’s camera view and flight
Anemometer 1 DJI Phantom 4

data, whilst keeping an eye on the drone
through a semi-transparent display embedded
From around £15 2 Parrot Bebop 2 in a pair of glasses. There is certainly some
room for improvement and hopefully this
If you’re flying regularly, a small
investment in a wind-speed reader will
3 Hubsan X4 can be achieved with firmware upgrades over
help you make sure you don’t take off when 4 Blade Nano QX the coming months. However, we should still
the wind might carry your craft away. 5 Blade Glimpse FPV give Epson top marks for boldly striding into a
rapidly evolving field.

DJI Pre-owned DJI Phantom 4 Advanced DJI Matrice 200
and End of Line

These days it pays to be savvy to
Category: Commercial, Flying Camera
Street Price: £1,469
Camera: 4K, 20MP
Category: Professional, Flying Rig
Street Price: From £5,899
Camera: None (X4S, X5S, Z30 and XT compatible)
Weight: 1,368g Weight: 3.8kg
older models you might see in
Diagonal motor spacing: 350mm Diagonal Motor Spacing: 887mm
stock clearances (or car boot
sales) so you can bag a bargain Battery type: 5870mAh, 4S LiPo Battery type: 4280mAh Li-Po
rather than get fleeced. Control / Range: 2.4GHz / 4.3 miles (7km) Control / Range: 2.4/5.8GHz / 4.3 miles (7km)
Best feature: Excellent camera Best feature: Brilliant with the Z30 camera
Yuneec Tornado H920 Plus

Category: Professional, Flying Camera
Camera: 4K, 16MP
Weight: 5kg
Battery Type: 4000mAh, 6S LiPo
Control / Range: 2.4/5.8GHz / 1 mile (1.6km)
Best Feature: Pro air and ground solution
DJI Phantom Range DJI Inspire 2 PowerVision PowerEye

Category: Outdoor/Flying Camera Category: Commercial, Professional, Flying Camera Category: Commercial, Flying Camera
Street Price: From £300 to £900 Street Price: £3,059 Street Price: £3,999
The Phantom 1 looks a lot like the latest Camera: None (X4S and X5S compatible) Camera: 4K, 16.1MP
model, but with no video streaming it’s Weight: 3,920g (with batteries, without camera/ Weight: 3.9Kg
for DIY hobbyists now. The Phantom 2 gimbal) Diagonal Motor Spacing: 315mm
came in a confusing variety of variants (a Diagonal motor spacing: 605mm Battery Type: Dual 9000mAh LiPo
bad habit of DJI). The Vision and Vision+
Battery type: 4280mAh Li-Po (dual system) Control / Range: 2.4GHz / 3.1 miles (5km)
added a built-in camera and gimbal,
Control / Range: 2.4/5.8GHz / 4.3 miles Best Feature: Intelligent design
controlled by an app and phone clipped to
the RC via Wi-Fi hotspot. The Phantom 3 Best feature: Top of the line technology
set new benchmarks for photo and video
quality in a consumer-friendly design
and is still popular today. And with the DJI Mavic Pro
Phantom 4 range expanding, you can Category: Indoor, Outdoor, Flying Camera
expect to find good deals on the original Street Price: £1,089
as its life-cycle draws to a close. Camera: 4K/1080p, 12.7MP
Weight: 743g
Battery Type: 3830mAh, 3S Li- Po
Control / Range: 2.4GHz / 4.3 miles (7km)
£600+
Best Feature: Great tech in a portable package
DJI Matrice 600 PowerVision PowerEgg

Category: Commercial, Professional Rig Category: Outdoor, Flying Camera
Street Price: £3,999 Street Price: £1,399
DJI Inspire
Camera: Not included Camera: 4K, 13.8MP
Weight: 9.1kg Weight: 2.1kg
Category: Outdoor/Flying Camera Diagonal Motor Spacing: 1668mm Diagonal Motor Spacing: 476mm
Street Price: Various Battery Type: 4500mAh Li-Po (5700mAh Battery Type: 6400mAh Li-Po
Leaving aside the changes in camera, the optional) Control / Range: 2.4GHz / 3.1 miles (5km)
Inspire 1 airframe has been through a Control / Range: 2.4/5.8GHz / 3.1 miles (5km) Best Feature: Unique stylish design
number of minor revisions in its lifetime, Best Feature: Highly versatile
all while retaining the ‘1’ moniker. The
screw-on propeller system at launch was
quickly updated to a 1345S Quick Release QuestUAV Q-100 Datahawk
model (about which there are some
question marks). The V2 brought support
Category: Pro-mapping, long-range survey Top 5
for the new X5 cameras with a slight re-
modelling, a new form of quick release
Camera: 20MP Sony QX1
All-Time Greats
prop (1345T) and upgraded motors, from Weight: 2kg 1 DJI Phantom Series
350kv to 420kv. If you plan to fit the wingspan: 1160mm
Battery Type: Ah Li-Po
2 Parrot AR.Drone
professional X5 camera to an early Inspire
1, it’ll need an upgrade pack that extends Range: 8,000m 3 Hubsan X4
the landing legs and replaces the base- Best Feature: Rugged, all-weather design 4 Fossils Stuff Gravity 250
plate to which the camera clips.
5 Yuneec Typhoon H
96 DRONE MAGAZINE

Gear up for FPV
Even if you’re getting a pre-built
Accessory: FrSky Taranis Q X7
Price: £108 ($150 in the US)
Channels: Up to 16
racer, make sure you’ve got (or Compatibility: FrSky X series,
are getting) everything you need. D series and V8-II series receivers
The Taranis Q X7 sits between the more expensive models
available from the main manufacturers and the sub-£60 entry
radios. But the difference isn’t just on the price here; it’s on what you
get for the money. For that £110 you get a radio with enough switches
for all but the most advanced pilot and the full power of OpenTX in a
radio that’s well built and widely supported by the community.
Lumenier QAV-X CHARPU

Category: FPV frame
RC Controller Street price (frame only): £90

Carbon Fibre: 4mm thick
and Receiver Size (motor-to-motor): 214mm

Weight (frame & battery protector
It should be obvious, but you’ll need
only): 93g
something to control your craft and
communicate via the transmitter (TX), Best feature: Camera mount system
and your craft will need the means to hear
it (RX). The pair will need to work together
(so use the same manufacturer). The big ImpulseRC Alien 5” Fossils stuff revo
brands are Spektrum, Turnigy and FRSky, Category: FPV Frame Category: FPV Frame
and more expensive models offer the Street price (frame only): £110 Street price (frame only): £70-75
ability to store settings for multiple craft Size (motor-to-motor): 225mm Size (motor-to-motor): 180-240mm
and possibly even to display telemetry
Weight (frame only): 135g Weight (frame only): 115g
data like battery health (assuming the
Best feature: Replaceable arms Best feature: Super rigid design
aircraft can transmit it).
Fossils Stuff FSGX 210 Tiny Whoop

Category: Ready-to-Fly FPV Category: Ready-to-Fly FPV
Street Price: £420 Street Price: £175
Size (motor-to-motor): 210mm Size (motor-to-motor): 64mm
Weight (frame only): 140g Weight (with battery!): 24g
Best feature: Awesome colours Best feature: Impossibly small
Goggles (or monitor)

and Camera Top 5
FPV frames
ImmersionRC Vortex 250 Pro
FPV is defined by the ability to see that
‘first person’ view. The company Fat Shark
Category: Ready-to-Fly FPV
Street Price: £400
Flying Cameras
is almost synonymous with these goggles, Size (motor-to-motor): 250mm 1 DJI Inspire 2
although alternatives can be found (some
find the bigger Quanum screen-in-a-box
Carbon Fibre: 4mm thick
Weight (before battery, camera): 415g
2 DJI Phantom 4
more comfortable). Some feature built-in Best feature: The LEDs (in this RTF version) 3 Parrot Disco
receivers and might be bundled with a 4 Yuneec Typhoon H
camera and transmitter, too. FPV racers
see a lot of static, so look out for a ‘non- 5 3DR Solo
blue screen’ monitor which won’t revert
to a blank ‘no signal’ screen in tough
conditions.
DJI CrystalSky Monitor luxury. For commercial users the cross-
compatibility, battery life and playback
street Price: From £449 performance are likely to make it a must-have
Batteries resolution: 1920 x 1080 / 2048 x 1536
brightness: 1000 cd/m² / 2000 cd/m²
addition to a professional set-up.
and charger compatibility: Phantom 3 (Pro and

Advanced), Phantom 4, Inspire, Matrice, Osmo
If you’re not going down
the DJI route (and few and Mavic Pro series, plus DJI’s Cendence
people would purely for controllers
FPV flying), then charging Available in 5.5 and 7.85-inch variants (the
batteries, or Lithium-ion Polymer batteries latter also coming in an additional ‘Ultra
(better known as Li-Po), while still not Bright’ version), CrystalSky is DJI’s dedicated
exactly art, are a little further from science viewing solution, and the image quality is
than you might hope for. A good charger stunning in all conditions. It’s restricted to
and a charging/discharging regimen is its own software (no third party apps) but
important; always make sure you look it really comes into its own with a host of
after your batteries! ports and slots for post-flight playback. For
recreational users it will be an expensive

A Reader’s View
It still impresses us how differently things
can look from the air. This great overhead
of his local crop harvest was one of several
shots Corey took and perfectly illustrates
how some beautiful sights, shapes and
Kiveton Park, South Yorkshire patterns can be missed at ground level!
Photo by Corey Brunt

flYBY
Your future as
a drone pilot
starts Here
With Flyby Technology’s unique training system, we will teach you to think like
neW!
professional pilots and equip you with the confidence to excel in any situation.
All Flyby Technology instructors are ex-military pilots with extensive experience of
training today’s fighter and helicopter pilots. We want to share that expertise
with you to give you the professional and practical skills you need. ONE-WEEK FAST
Whether you wish to be a professional pilot to land your dream job, are wishing to TRACK COURSES
add to or start a business, or are looking for the best training for you and your AVAILABLE NOW
organisation, the team at Flyby Technology are here to make that happen.
Visit the website and book on a course today! BooK online
www.flyby-technology.com
Flyby Technology Pilotwise International Ltd | Marlborough House | York Business Park | Nether Poppleton | York | YO26 6RW
FREEPHONE 08081 680626 | admin@flyby.technology
Untitled-2 1 09/06/2017 12:37

The UKs longest established and most
popular drone flying school
One to one hands-on flying

lessons for beginners to experts
Flying sites for lessons across the UK
One Hour: £120, Two Hours: £200
Our Pilots
Alan Proto Anto Baird Anna Henly Simon Smith Newall Hunter Tom Jacobs
Free flying lesson and drone set up when you buy your DJI drone from us
3,000 hours of one-to-one flying lessons, workshops, and drone holiday flying completed
100% 5* reviews on website from happy flying lesson customers
01244 893 872 www.phantomflightschool.co.uk
PFS 1.indd 1 02/08/2017 11:45

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buyer’s guide • reviews • pro tips + more…

November 2017 · No 26 · Price £ 5 . 99

Bind and Fly Props and Robbers Drama Class

A BIRD’S EYE VIEW

LINE OF SITE SNAP HAPPY

LILY IS BACK! The rise, the fall,

001_DM26[Cover]IKICGC.indd 1 29/09/2017 17:32

UNIQUE DRONE HOLIDAYS TO

l Flying supported by experts

Image by Neil Peck, PhantomFlightSchool client

www.phantomflightschool.co.uk to see video of our May 2017 trip

01244 893 872 info@phantomflightschool.co.uk

A great photo and a great story, as Haydn

003-98_DM26[Showcase Photos]IKIGC.indd 3 29/09/2017 17:35

Adam Gemma Mark rob

Andrew Lee MICHAEL rowan

004-5_DM26[Editorial]IKICGC.indd 4 29/09/2017 18:12

Uncooked Media Ltd, PO Box 6337,

Editor: Ian Collen

Managing Editor: Gemma Cox

Design: Imran Kelly

Contributors: Rowan Bailey, Mark Baker,

The Big Kahuna

To Issue 26 of Drone Magazine!

Enjoy the issue! EST. 2003

facebook.com/DRONEMagUK twitter.com/DRONEMagUK instagram.com/DRONEMagUK

004-5_DM26[Editorial]IKICGC.indd 5 29/09/2017 18:06

12 // SHARE THE AIR 20 // WORLD-WIDE WEB 38 // COMPETITION

16 // RECORD BREAKER 26 // BUILDING BRIDGES 40 // lily lives!

006-7_DM26[Contents]IKICGC.indd 6 29/09/2017 17:01

SUBSCRIBE TODAY FOR ONLY £14.99!

44 // FLYING SQUAD 64 // VIFLY R130 76 // LAB ANALYSIS

50 // UAV IN THE UK 66 // ON THE CASE 78 // PHOTO SHOCK

56 // SHOOTING STAR 70 // in a bind? 94 // BUYER’S GUIDE

006-7_DM26[Contents]IKICGC.indd 7 29/09/2017 17:01

008-9_DM26[Overview1]IKICGC.indd 1 28/09/2017 20:36

008-9_DM26[Overview1]IKICGC.indd 2 29/09/2017 18:50

Words by Andrew Watton-Davies

010-11_DM26[news_NYC Hit]IKICGC.indd 8 29/09/2017 18:51

010-11_DM26[news_NYC Hit]IKICGC.indd 9 28/09/2017 20:35

Friends in High Places

012_DM26[news_Share the Air]IKICGC.indd 10 29/09/2017 19:33

vortext 180 3.indd 1 02/08/2017 13:23

014_DM26[news_Detection and Schools]IKICGC.indd 12 29/09/2017 15:44

015_DM26[news_GRAD and HWDT]IKICGC.indd 13 29/09/2017 19:35

016_DM26[news_Foxtech]IKICGC.indd 14 29/09/2017 16:57

IN K SPARK only IN K MAVIC only IN K INSPIRE from

STO COMBO £6 STO PRO £10 STO 2 £

INSPIRE 1 PRO £ 2999.00

PHANTOM 4 PRO from £1589.00

OSMO MOBILE PHANTOM 3 PRO 849.00

BATH CHESTER GUILDFORD LONDON (STRAND) PLYMOUTH SOUTHAMPTON (HIGH ST)

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Flytrex has reported that since the start of

018_DM26[news_Flytrex]IKICGC.indd 16 29/09/2017 17:00

020-23_DM26[ftDrone Major]IKICGC.indd 20 28/09/2017 20:39

020-23_DM26[ftDrone Major]IKICGC.indd 21 28/09/2017 20:40

The Global Platform

020-23_DM26[ftDrone Major]IKICGC.indd 22 29/09/2017 18:53

020-23_DM26[ftDrone Major]IKICGC.indd 23 29/09/2017 18:53

024-5_DM26[ReadersPhoto]IKICGCICv2.indd 22 29/09/2017 15:45

024-5_DM26[ReadersPhoto]IKICGCICv2.indd 23 29/09/2017 15:45

All photos by Murphy & Sons