Share:
There are many technical terms used within the drone industry as a result of its rapid spread. In this article, we will list and explain these terms.
| Term | Definition |
| 2.4 Ghz | The frequency used by digital (spread spectrum) radio communications in our applications, including 2.4Ghz RC, Bluetooth and some video transmission equipment. This is a different band than the older 72 Mhz band that is used for analog RC communications. To avoid radio frequency conflict is it often a good idea to use 72 Mhz radio equipment when you are using 2.4 Ghz onboard video transmitters, or use 900 Mhz video when using 2.4 Ghz RC equipment. |
| 5.8 GHz | Hence 5.8HGz is the preferred frequency of professionals because it operates in a high range and bandwidth. It will also contain low disturbance compared to 2.4 GHz. |
| Above Mean Sea Level | An elevation (on the ground) or altitude (in the air) of an object, relative to the average sea level datum. |
| Accelerometer | A device that measures the acceleration forces in a certain direction and helpful in maintaining the Drones orientation. These devices are used to stabilize quadcoptors. |
| Acro Mode | Also known as manual mode and rate mode. Arco mode doesn’t automatically level the aircraft. This means that the pilot will have to constantly make adjustments to keep from losing control of the drone. |
| Aerial Photography | Capturing images and video while in the air with a camera mounted to your drone. |
| Aerodrome | A small airport or airfield. |
| Aerodrome Traffic Zone | Provides information to protect the air traffic around an airport. It is accessible to local traffic. |
| Aircraft | A device used for flight in the air. |
| Air Frame | The air frame (or simply frame) is the body of your drone. Think of it as your drone’s skeleton. It’s where all your FPV system components (camera, props, motors, boards, etc.) are housed. |
| Altitude Heading Reference System | An IMU (see below) plus the code to interpret the output from its sensors to establish a plane’s XYZ and heading orientation. |
| Altitude Hold (ALT Hold) | In this flight mode, the drone maintains a consistent altitude through its onboard barometric pressure sensor. However, the pilot can still control the roll, pitch, and yaw in this setting. |
| A Mode or Atti Mode | The A Mode or Atti Mode is short for Attitude Mode, where the drone will maintain a certain altitude but not position. This allows the drone to remain at the same height but drift around. |
| Academy of Model Aeronautics | The main US model aircraft association. The AMA works closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish reasonable rules for the use of amateur UAVs. Each AMA chapter and field may have slightly different policies, but it’s possible to fly and test air frames and some technology on AMA fields without violating the association’s (or FAA/NAS) rules. |
| Arduino | An open source embedded processor project. Includes a hardware standard currently based on the Atmel Atmega168 microprocessor and necessary supporting hardware, and a software-programming environment based on the C-like Processing language. |
| Area of Intense Aerial Activity | An airspace within which aircraft, singly or in combination with others, regularly participate in. |
| Aeronautical Information Circular | Contains explanatory or advisory information concerning technical, legislative or administrative matters. |
| Aeronautical Information Publication | Defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization as a publication issued by or with the authority of a state and containing aeronautical information of a lasting character essential to air navigation. |
| Aeronautical Information Service | A service established in support of international civil aviation |
| Aerodrome Traffic Zone | An airspace of defined dimensions established around an aerodrome for the protection of aerodrome traffic. |
| AIRPROX | A near collision between two aircraft. |
| Air Traffic Control | The ground-based personnel and equipment concerned with monitoring and controlling air traffic with a specific area. |
| Air Traffic Service | For example weather information en route. |
| Almost-Ready-To-Fly | Drones that require some minor assembly and additional equipment. Examples: receiver (Rx) and radio transmitter (Tx). A radio transmitter is also known as a radio controller. |
| Angle of Attack | The angle between the chord of an airfoil and the direction of the surrounding undisturbed flow of gas or liquid. |
| Application Specific Sensor Node | Integrating sensors and sensor fusion in a single device. |
| Ardupilot | Open source system which allows fully autonomous flight and navigation. |
| Attitude Mode | Where the drone will maintain a specific altitude but not position. |
| Auto Leveling | A flight mode that allows the drone to perform even flight. This is typically an automatic feature that is engaged through a setting on the drone. |
| Automatic flight | A flight that is pre-programmed, so that the aircraft flies a route itself, whereby the pilot does not have to control the aircraft, but can intervene immediately if necessary. |
| Autonomous Aircraft | The International Civil Aviation Organization classifies autonomous aircraft as, “unmanned aircraft that does not allow pilot intervention in the management of the flight.” |
| Autonomous Flight | There are some SUAVs’s that are managed by internal programming that have instructions on where to fly as guided by an onboard GPS system. This is in opposition to steering mechanisms that are operated by radio control from the ground. |
| Autopilot | Short for automatic pilot. A capability of a drone to conduct a flight without real-time human control. For example, following pre-set GPS coordinates. |
| All Up Weight | The maximum weight of the drone, including batteries and other add-ons. |
| Axis | An imaginary line about which a body rotates. It’s one plane of potential flight. Most quadcopters have at least 4 axis controls, with 6+ being preferred. |
| Balanced Battery Charger | This is a charger or an internal system for Lipo batteries (or different chemistries) which uses smart technology to charge multiple cells properly that are located within the battery and balances them. |
| Bando | An abandoned building or structure suitable for FPV operations. Knowing what a bando is doesn’t necessarily enhance your technical knowledge or ability, but it’s fun to say and will definitely make it sound like you know what you’re talking about. |
| Barometric Altimeter | An instrument to indicate altitude. |
| Barometric Pressure Sensor | This device used barometric readings to determine the altitude of the aircraft. It can help drones to be able to calculate their height above the ground, along with using combinations of other sensors. (Enables Altitude Hold feature) |
| Battery | The battery supplies your drone with power. The most common type of FPV drone battery is a lithium-ion polymer (LiPo) battery, which is a multi-cell battery available with different cell configurations: from one cell (1S) all the way up to eight cells (8S). Generally speaking, more cells equal more power and thus more speed, but they also equal more weight overall, which impacts total flight time. |
| Band | FPV drones transmit video over certain frequencies (or channels). These channels are split into specific groups called bands (Band A, Band B, etc.). Each band has eight specific channels, each with its own unique frequency. |
| Battery Elimination Circuit | An electronic circuit design to deliver electrical power to other circuitry without the need for multiple batteries. |
| Bind | The process of making the controller (Transmitter) communicate with the quadcopter or the drone. This means connected. |
| Bind N Fly | Bind-N-Fly models are basically RTF drones with a receiver, but not a radio controller – you must purchase these separately. |
| Bluetooth | A wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances (using UHF radio waves in the ISM band from 2.4 to 2.485 GHz) from fixed and mobile devices, and building Personal AreaNetworks (PANs). Originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS-232 data cables. It can connect several concurrent devices. |
| Brushed | One of the two types of motors commonly used in FPV drones. In general, brushed motors are weaker than brushless motors and typically only used in very small (or micro) FPV drones |
| Brushless Motor | These motors have permanent magnets that rotate around a fixed armature, which eliminates any problems that could be associated with connecting current regarding a moving part. The brushless motors are much more efficient and hardy than brushed motors. Used for aircraft/drones. |
| Beyond Visual Line of Sight | The ability to operate an unmanned aircraft beyond the pilot’s line of sight. Flying UAS beyond visual line of sight requires a special permit from the FAA. |
| Bootloader | The unique code stored in non-volatile memory in a microprocessor that can interface with a PC to download a user‘s program. |
| Build | A drone unit that was built and assembled at home. |
| Center of Gravity | A point from which the weight of a body or system may be considered to act. |
| Camera | The camera is one of the most critical components of your FPV system. Typically, the camera is mounted on the front of the air frame, thus enabling that unique “first-person view,” where it seems as though you are looking through the “eyes” of the drone. Important features to consider when evaluating an FPV drone’s camera system are the field of view, aspect ratio, picture quality, and, perhaps most important of all, latency. |
| Camera gimbal | The holder of the camera used on drones. It can tilt and swerve, thanks to the servos that power it. |
| Carbon Fiber | An extremely strong, lightweight material known for its superior durability and resistance to heat and corrosion. The bodies of Microdrones UAVs are constructed from carbon fiber. |
| CE marking | The letters ‘CE’ signify that products sold in the EEA have been assessed to meet high safety, health, and environmental protection requirements. |
| Certificate of Authorization | A permit/waiver issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allowing a public operator to perform specific UAS operations. |
| Certified category | VLOS, EVLOS and BVLOS operations under EU legislation, inside and outside controlled airspace. Operations with a high risk profile. Autonomous flights are allowed. |
| Channel | See band. |
| Civil aviation | This includes commercial and private aviation. Another word is: civil aviation. |
| CleanFlight | A flight controller software for multi-rotor and fixed wings. |
| Collision/obstacle Avoidance | A feature built-in to some drones that allow the aircraft to sense and avoid obstacles, minimizing collisions. |
| Commercial Drones | A unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed for heavy use. These flying platforms have a specific purpose in mind such as for infrared inspection, package delivery, or for seach and resuce. Typical models of drones include the DJI Matrice 210 and DJI Matrice 600 Pro. |
| Commercial Flight | Flying a drone for money-making purposes. |
| Controlled Airspace | An airspace of defined dimensions within which ATC services are provided. |
| Controller | The handheld device that is used by the drone pilot that is used to control the drone and the quadcopter. Controllers are also called transmitters. |
| Control Area | A control area named CTA is a controlled airspace that exists in the vicinity of an airport, which extends from a lower level to a specified upper level. The lower level shall not be the ground. It usually is situated on top of a control zone and provides protection to aircraft climbing out from the airport. |
| Controlled Traffic Region | See the Control Zone. |
| Control Zone | A control zone named CTR or known as controlled traffic region is a controlled airspace, normally around an airport, which extends from the surface to a specified upper limit, established to protect air traffic operating to and from that airport. |
| Corridor Mapping | An application that involves mapping extremely long, narrow areas or structures, like roads, railways, oil and gas pipelines, retaining walls, etc. Microdrones direct georeferencing and LiDAR solutions are especially beneficial for corridor mapping. |
| Cx label | It’s given when drone meets EU technical requirements |
| Daisy Chain | Visual observers assisting the pilot when the drone goes beyond visual line of sight. |
| Detect and Avoid | The capability to see, sense or detect conflicting, traffic or other hazards and take the appropriate. |
| Differential Global Positioning System | An enhancement to the Global Positioning System (GPS) which provides improved location accuracy. |
| DJI | Shenzhen DJI Sciences and Technologies Ltd, which stands for Da-Jiang Innovations, is a Chinese technology company headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong with manufacturing facilities throughout the world. |
| DJI Drone Flight Modes | DJI’s drones have Intelligent Flight Modes that help pilots control and maneuver the aircraft to capture photos and videos safely and efficiently. DJI’s commercial and professional drones are packed full of unique Intelligent Flight Modes. These modes help pilots control their aircraft, capture amazing video and images and help keep pilots and their aircraft safe. |
| Digital Spectrum Modulation | The process of encoding a digital information signal into the amplitude, phase, or frequency of the transmitted signal. |
| Direct georeferencing | A highly accurate and efficient method of connecting aerial images to their position on the Earth and putting them together in the most precise possible order. DG accomplishes this by measuring each image’s 3D coordinates and orientation angles via a GNSS receiver and an inertial measurement unit, rather than computing some or all of these (as is done in methods like traditional surveying/aerial triangulation, RTK, or PPK). Direct georeferencing reduces the amount of time required to collect and post-process data and eliminates the need for ground control points. |
| Drone | Another term for “unmanned aerial vehicles”(UAVs) or “remotely piloted aircraft” (RPA), covering a wide range of functions. |
| Dronie | A self-portrait photograph (selfie) or video captured using a camera drone. |
| Drone Racing League | A professional drone racing league that holds and operates international drone races. |
| DSM / DSM2 / DSMX | Spektrum, an RC equipment maker, refers to their proprietary technology as “Digital Spectrum Modulation.” Each transmitter has a globally unique identifier (GUID), to which receivers can be bound, ensuring that no transmitter will interfere with other nearby Spektrum DSM systems. DSM uses Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) technology. |
| Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum | a modulation technique. As with other spread spectrum technologies, the transmitted signal takes up more bandwidth than the information signal that modulates the carrier or broadcast frequency. The name ‘spread spectrum’ comes from the fact that the carrier signals occur over the full bandwidth (spectrum) of a device’s transmitting frequency. |
| eBee X | A fixed-wing drone produced by sensFly capable of covering more distance that a quadcopter used for carrying different payload options for photogrammetry, 3D mapping, multipectral, and infrared. |
| Electro-optical/Infrared | Pertains to Electro-optical/Infrared sensors |
| Electromagnetic Interference | Also known as radio-frequency interference (RFI) when in the radio frequency spectrum, is a disturbance generated by an external source that affects an electrical circuit by electromagnetic induction, electrostatic coupling, or conduction. |
| Electronic Speed control | Device to control the motor in an electric aircraft. Serves as the connection between the main battery and the RC receiver. Usually includes a Battery Elimination Circuit, which provides power for the RC system and other onboard electronics, such as an autopilot. |
| Elevator | Another term for “pitch” – moving the drone up or down. |
| Elios | A collission tolerant intuitive and precise drone for indoor inspection. |
| Extended Visual Line of Sight | Allows flight beyond Visual Line of Sight of the Remote Pilot by using “trained observers”. |
| Federal Aviation Administration | A United States Department of Transportation Agency, with the authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of American civil aviation. |
| Fail Safe | A system or plan that comes into operation in the event of something going wrong or that is there to prevent such an occurrence. |
| Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum | A method of transmitting radio signals by rapidly changing the carrier frequency among many distinct frequencies occupying a large spectral band. |
| Field of View | Describes the viewing angle from the camera of the drone. |
| Firmware | The software or sketch that is loaded into the non-volatile memory of microprocessor based products. It is called ‘firmware’ because it stays in the non-volatile memory even if power is removed – thus ‘non’ – volatile. In the case of the autopilots, it is the ‘program’ or application (App to smart phone users) that determines what the auto pilot does, and how. |
| Fixed wing drones | UAVs that consist of a rigid wing that generates lift via aerofoil and typically a small push propeller. Fixed wing drones can travel greater distances with less power due to the wing. |
| Flight Information Region | A specified region of airspace in which a flight information service and an alerting service are provided. |
| Flight Level | An aircraft’s altitude at standard air pressure, expressed in hundreds of feet. |
| Flight Envelope | The range of combinations of speed, altitude, angle of attack, etc., within which a flying object is aerodynamically stable. |
| Fly Away | Unintended flight outside of operational boundaries (altitude/airspeed/lateral) as the result of a failure of the control element or onboard systems, or both. It normally happens when your controller’s link to the drone is interrupted or completely lost thus making it difficult or impossible to control the drone. |
| Fly Away Protection System | When the communication between pilot and drone is lost, this system will return the drone to the pre-selected area. |
| FlySafe Database | GPS coordinates for where your drone is not able to fly. |
| Flight Log | A record of a single flight. |
| Field of View | Represents the ground swath width. The “drone’s-eye” view. |
| First Person View | A technique that uses an onboard video camera and wireless connection to the ground allow a pilot on the ground with video goggles to fly with a cockpit view. |
| Flight Controller | A device that receives the inputs from the sensors (gyroscope, accelerometer, GPS, vision sensors, ultrasonic sensors) and remote controller of the drone which then sends inputs to the electronic speed controls and motors about how the drone should move. |
| FLIR | Acronym for forwarding Looking InfraRed, a company located in The United States. FLIR specializes in infrared technology to detect distant objects in low and zero visibility situations. |
| Follow Me | Feature that allows the drone to automatically follow a subject – typically using a GPS signal from a mobile device, remote control or beacon. |
| FPV camera | A specially-made camera for the first-person view capabilities of the drone. Typically found in racing drones or camera drones. |
| FPV Drone | A system in which a drone operator pilots a drone through the camera located on board. The operator wears goggles with screens inside that streams the drones camera footage it in real-time. |
| FPV Racing | An emerging sport where special types of drones, usually small racing UAVs, race around a predetermined track. |
| Frequency | To maintain communication with the pilot and drone through FPV, both pieces of equipment will need to be on the same radio frequency. FPV systems use specific radio frequencies to transmit and receive signals. With respect to FPV drones, the most common frequencies are 2.4 and 5.8GHz. |
| Freestyle | A type of FPV flying that focuses on acrobatics, exploration, and enjoyment. Unlike FPV racing and photography/cinematography, freestyle flying doesn’t have one specific objective. It’s great for beginners who want to get the feel of FPV flying down. Likewise, it’s where experienced FPV pilots practice tricks, train for a race, or rehearse an upcoming shot. There is no specific set of rules for how to freestyle fly, but there are lots of benefits. |
| Gap | Any small area through which a drone can fly. A common element in both FPV racing and freestyle flying. |
| Geofencing | Technology that uses global positioning system (GPS & GLONASS) to establish a virtual geographic boundary to prevent drones from flying into specific areas. |
| Geographic Information System | A system used to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographic data. |
| Geotagging | Including geographic information in the metadata of a photo, so those processing the images can more easily determine the precise position of points in the image. Microdrones offers a free tool called mdGeotager to help users simplify this process. |
| Gimbal | A 2 or 3 axis device that keeps equipment steady when the supporting platform moves. A mechanical camera stabilization features that lets you get smooth video and clear photos even while your drone in quickly flying (even in high winds). |
| Global Positioning System | It’s used to track the position of an object in relation to the global spatial plane, track movement, or cause an airborne vehicle such as a quadcoptor to hold position. Satellite network in possession of the USA army. |
| Global Navigation Satellite System | The standard generic term for satellite navigation systems that provide autonomous geo-spatial position with global coverage. |
| Ground Control System | A system of accurate measurements used to determine the distances and directions or differences in elevation between points on the Earth. |
| Ground Control Point | Points positioned on the surface of the Earth in known locations and used to georeference collected data. Surveyors and other geospatial professionals often install many ground control points for large projects to ensure accuracy. With a direct georeferencing UAV mapping solution, no ground control points are necessary. |
| Ground Control Station | Software running on a computer on the ground that receives telemetry information from an airborne UAV and displays its progress and status, often including video and other sensor data. Can also be used to transmit in-flight commands to the UAV. |
| Goggles | FPV goggles are used to stream video from your drone to you in real time. Similar to virtual reality (VR) goggles, FPV goggles feature two small screens that sit directly in front of your eyes. Your FPV goggles receive the video from your drone and then display it on these screens in real time, giving you a live, first-person view of flying from the drone’s perspective. |
| GoPro | It manufactures action camera that can be attached to drones. |
| Global Position System | A U.S.-owned utility that provides users with positioning, navigation, and timing services. |
| GLONASS | Globalnaya Navigazionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema, or Global Navigation Satellite System is another satellite network drones use to understand where they are in space. |
| Gyroscope | A gyroscope or gyro, measures the rate of rotation of the UAV and helps keep the craft balanced correctly with respect to yaw, pitch and roll. Helps to maintain the orientation of the quadcopter while in flight. In most cases, quadcopters use a triple-axis gyroscope. |
| Head Tracking | A feature that allows you to move the camera on the drone with your head using goggles that allow you to move your head up and down to control the camera. |
| Headless Mode | For beginner pilots – Using a mode that means the drone will always travel forward, backward, left or right when moving your remote’s stick in those directions – regardless of which way the front of the drone is pointed. |
| Hexacopter | A multirotor aircraft that has 6 propellers, with 3 that turn clockwise and 3 that turn counterclockwise. |
| High Intensity Radio Transmission Area | Flying through an HIRTA can interfere with the electronics on your drone. |
| Hobby Drone | A mid-sized drone for beginner hobbyists; typically with built-in cameras or can carry payloads. |
| Hobby-Grade | A step above toy grade drones. These types of quadcopters are reliable at a reasonable price. Examples are Syma X8G and MJX Bugs. |
| Hyperspectral Imaging | Method of measuring across the electromagnetic spectrum to obtain the spectrum for each pixel in an image in order to find objects, identify materials or detect processes. |
| Inertial Measurement Unit | An electronic device that measures and reports a body’s specific force, angular rate, and sometimes the orientation of the body, using a combination of accelerometers, gyroscopes, and sometimes magnetometers. Usually has at least three accelerometers (measuring the gravity vector in the x,y and z dimensions) and two gyros (measuring rotation around the tilt and pitch axis). Neither are sufficient by themselves, since accelerometers are thrown off by movement (ie, they are “noisy” over short periods of time), while gyros drift over time. The data from both types of sensors must be combined in software to determine true aircraft attitude and movement to create an AHRS (see above). |
| Inertial Navigation System | A way to calculate position based on an initial GPS reading followed by readings from motion and speed sensors using dead reckoning. Useful when GPS is not available or has temporarily lost its signal. |
| Inner Loop / Outer Loop | Usually used to refer to the stabilization and navigation functions of an autopilot. The stabilization function must run in real-time and as often as 100 times a second (“inner loop”), while the navigation function can run as infrequently as once per second and can tolerate delays and interruptions (“outer loop”). |
| Intelligent Orientation Control | Usually, the forward direction of a flying multi-rotor is the same as the nose direction. By using Intelligent Orientation Control, wherever the nose points,the forward direction has nothing to do with nose direction |
| Infrared Drone/UAV | A unmanned remote-controlled aerial vehicle with an infrared imaging camera onboard. An infrared camera sees a region of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum where thermal energy is emitted. Infrared imaging sensors detect incoming infrared energy and software interprets the signals into a digital infrared image or video. |
| IP Rating or Code | A rating system that classifies the degree of protection that an electrical enclosure has against water and dust. |
| Jello | A distortion in video feeds that is caused by the vibration of the drone. Typically, drones without a quality gimbal suffer from jello effect. |
| Kalman Filter | A relatively complicated algorithm that is primarily used to combine accelerometer and gyro data to provide an accurate description of aircraft attitude and movement in real time. |
| Kilobyte | One Kilobyte is 1000 bytes and is a way of measuring the amount storage space. |
| Kilometres | Unit of measurement part of the metric units of measurement. |
| Latency | Video latency is a critical factor in FPV flying. It indicates the time delay (or lag) between what you and your drone see. In other words, it’s the amount of time it takes for video to be transmitted from your drone to you. When flying an FPV drone, you want a minimal amount of latency, otherwise you won’t be able to react to your environment in real time, which can result in a crash. |
| LCD monitor | A screen usually attached to a controller used to view the drone's camera and flight data. |
| Leaks | When there are products close to release and unofficial photos and videos of it appear online. |
| Light Detection and Ranging | A method for measuring distances by illuminating the target with laser light and measuring the reflection with a sensor. LiDAR is a method of detecting, measuring and mapping using a laser. LiDAR is typically used in situations where standard survey techniques are difficult. |
| Line of Sight | Refers to being able to see your drone from your operating position with your naked eye. Your drone should always be within your line of sight. |
| Lithium Ion | A type of rechargeable battery uses lithium ions as the primary component of its electrolyte. |
| Lithium Polymer battery | A rechargeable battery of lithium-ion battery technology using a polymer electrolyte instead of a liquid electrolyte. This battery chemistry offers more power and lighter weight than NiMh and NiCad batteries. |
| Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability system | A collaboration between the FAA and private companies in support of UAS integration into national airspace. LAANC allows drones access to controlled airspace in near real-time. |
| Magnetometer | A device that measures magnetic field or magnetic dipole moment. It’s inside the flight controller that acts as a compass by measuring the Earth’s magnetic field to determine its orientation. |
| MAVLink | Most commonly found as protocols for communication between drones and ground control systems (GCS) to convey orientation, speed, etc. |
| Maximum Elevation Figure | A type of visual flight rule (VFR) information that indicates the elevation of the highest geographical feature within a quadrangle area. |
| mdCockpit | Microdrones’ easy-to-use software and Android tablet app that simplifies flight planning, monitoring, and analysis. |
| Mean Sea Level | Refers to the altitude above the average height of the ocean/sea. A UAV flying at 120 feet with a 30-foot hill below would still be at 120 Feet MSL. |
| METAR | Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Report or Meteorological Aerodrome Report. METAR is a specific format for reporting weather information. |
| Micro-air vehicle | A small drone. Many have size restrictions. |
| milli Amp hours | A unit that measures (electric) power over time, used to describe the energy capacity of a battery. |
| Micro Air Vehicle | A class of miniature UAVs that has a size restriction and may be autonomous. |
| Micro Controller Unit | The MCU is your FC’s (flight controller’s) processor. Continuing our human-body analogy: If the FC is the brain, then the MCU is sort of like the hippocampus – it’s where memory (firmware) is stored and accessed. The MCU also handles all the complex calculations the FC uses to regulate flight. |
| Mini drone | A type of drone that is inexpensive without camera attachments or payloads; for beginners or children. |
| Mission | A pre-planned flight aimed to achieve a specific purpose, such as the collection of data or images. |
| Mistakes High | Mistakes high is a variable measurement indicating the level of altitude needed to recover in the event of user or flight system error. For example, if you were flying a drone at an altitude of 80′ in an open field, you’d be flying 1 or 2 “mistakes high,” depending on the pilot. In other words, the drone is high enough that you can recover from either 1 or 2 mistakes before crashing. |
| Mobius Camera | A popular type of camera that is lightweight and can take video footage in high-definition. It can also take intervalometer photos. The camera is mostly used in RC drones. |
| Mod | Short for modifications. Custom changes made by drone owners into their crafts to add features and functionalities that are not usually commercially available |
| Modding | Modifying your quadcopter. Example: adding a better camera. |
| Mode 1 Transmitters | Have throttle on the right stick and are popular in the UK. |
| Mode 2 Transmitters | Have throttle on the left stick and are more popular in the USA. |
| Model Aircraft | An unmanned aircraft that is capable of sustained flight in the atmosphere; flown within VLOS of the person operating the aircraft and flown fo hobby or recreational purposes. |
| Motor | The motor assembly is what’s responsible for spinning the props of your FPV drone and providing enough thrust to fly. There are two types of motors commonly used with FPV drones: brushed and brushless. |
| Multicopter | A multirotor or multicopter is a rotorcraft with more than two or more propellers. |
| MultiGP | An international drone racing league that manages and governs various radio-controlled racing. |
| Multispectral Image | Image that captures data at specific frequencies across the electromagnetic spectrum. |
| Multispectral Imagery | A type of imagery commonly used in agriculture, this is captured by a multispectral camera which detects light humans can not see. |
| Nano Drone | An extremely small drone that can fit in the palm of your hand and you can fly indoors. |
| Natura 2000 | Natura 2000 is a network of core breeding and resting sites for rare and threatened species, and some rare natural habitat types which are protected in their own right. |
| NAZA | A type of controller that is used in DJI Phantom drones. It includes the main control chip, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and a barometric altimeter. |
| No Fly Zone | Areas where flying a drone is restricted by government regulations. Areas where a drone could interfere with an airplane or record sensitive information make up most of these areas. |
| Non-civil aviation | This includes air traffic used for military, police and customs tasks. |
| Notice to Airmen | A written notification issued to pilots before a flight, advising them of circumstances relating to the state of flying. A temporary adjustment of access to airspace (often in the form of a no-fly zone). |
| O3 Transmission | DJI Air 2S features DJI’s most advanced O3 (OcuSync 3.0) image transmission technology, delivering an ultra-smooth, clear, and reliable image feed. |
| Obstacle Avoidance System | System pre-programmed into a drone that alerts pilots to obstacles and collision dangers. |
| Octocopter | A multirotor aircraft that has eight propellers. Four spinning clockwise and 4 spinning counter-clockwise. |
| On-Screen Display | A way to integrate data (often telemetry information) into the real-time video stream the aircraft is sending to the ground. |
| Open category | VLOS operations under EU legislation up to a maximum height of 120 meters, outside controlled airspace and characterized by a low risk level. Automatic flights are allowed. |
| Orthomosaic | A drone map comprised of a collection of photos from the selected area that have been stitched together. |
| Part 107 | Required in the United Stated when operating a drone for commercial purposes. Administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). |
| Payload | The amount of additional weight a drone is able to lift in addition to its own weight and batteries. If you attach a camera and gimbal to your drone, the combined weight is the payload. |
| Photogrammetry | A method of surveying and mapping through stitching photographs together to make one large image. |
| Photogrammetric Mapping | A method of map making using measurements from photographs |
| Pilot in Command | Has final authority and responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight. Refers to a FAA requirement that UAVs stay under a pilot’s direct control if they are flying under the recreational exemption to COA approval. |
| P Mode | This is the standard flight mode for most pilots. In the P Mode, all sensors on the drone are active including GPS and infrared sensors. This allows precise hovering of the drone, even if the user stops controlling it with the remote controller. |
| Pitch | A measure which describes the flight angle along one axis, usually measured from level in case of aerial vehicles. |
| Point of Interest | Designates a spot that a UAV should keep a camera pointed towards. |
| Power Distribution Board | A board used in multicopters to distribute power to multiple Electronic Speed controls. |
| Post-processing | Using software to transform georeferenced data into a more usable deliverable like a 3-D model or orthomosaic. |
| Post-Processing Kinematic | A satellite positioning technology similar to RTK. |
| Printed circuit board | A specialized board designed and “fabbed” for a dedicated purpose, as opposed to a breadboard or prototype board, which can be used and resused for many projects. |
| Precision Agriculture | Farming management concept based on observing, measuring and responding to inter and intra-field variability in crops. |
| Pre Defined Risk Assessment | Analysis of a type of operation, which may be derived from an STS. A PDRA must be submitted to the NAA for permission to operate in the specific category. |
| Pre Flight Planning | The activities conducted by the pilot and flight crew prior to takeoff to ensure that the flight will be conducted safely and in accordance with all applicable standards and regulations. The activity includes, but is not limited to, such things as checking weather, route of flight, airspace, equipment configuration, support personnel, terrain and communications requirements. |
| Pulse Width Modulation | The square-wave signals used in RC control to drive servos and speed controllers. There is one PWM signal for each channel. The width varies from 1000 to 2000 microseconds, depending on the RC manufacturer. |
| Professional Drone | High-end UAVs that are equipped with the latest technologies and imaging sensors. Often times the drone itself and the camera are sold separately. |
| Propeller (Prop) | A angled bladed uses to create an area of high and low pressure to provide lift or thrust. |
| Quad/Quadcopter | A multirotor aircraft that uses four rotors (propellers), 2 clockwise and 2 counterclockwise to generate lift. |
| Racing | Racing is one of the most popular uses for FPV drones. In an FPV drone race, pilots use FPV equipment to race each other around a predetermined track. |
| Racing drone | A drone relatively smaller and more agile; developed for drone racing; includes a built-in camera for a cockpit view. |
| Raceband | A frequency (5.8 GHz) typically used in drone racing especially when multiple pilots are flying. |
| Radio Controlled | Control of a drone via radio waves. |
| Radio Mandatory Zone | In a RMZ it is mandatory to maintain two-way radio contact with Air Traffic Control. |
| Received Signal Strength Indicator | The unit of measurement used to estimate the radio signal strength between a controller and a drone. |
| Return to Launch | Fly back to the “home” location where the aircraft took off. |
| Return to Home | A safety feature that allows the drone to autonomously fly back to the pilot’s location and/or starting point. |
| Racing Drone | A small quadcopter that is designed to participate and compete in FPV (first person view) racing events. |
| Ready-To-Fly | A drone that requires little to no assembly and is ready-to-fly straight out of the box. |
| Real-Time Kinetics | Satellite positioning technology that draws on GPS and GLONASS data to precisely pinpoint a drone’s location. |
| Resume Flight | A system feature that allows the drone to resume the mission at the last waypoint where it left off before pausing for a battery change or any other reason. This is especially helpful in commercial applications like surveying, mapping, and inspection. |
| Revolutions Per Minute | The unit of measurement used to determine the number of times the drone’s motors turn in 1 minute. |
| (The) Roadmap | A document released in 2013 by the FAA detailing safety guidelines for drone flight in national airspace. |
| Roll | The rotation of the aircraft from nose to tail (front to back on a copter). Basically, roll refers to the movement of the drone forward, backward, left and right along a horizontal axis. |
| Rotorcraft | A drone that generates lift through rotor blades instead of wings. |
| Rotary or Rotary Wing Drone | A Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft, such as a helicopter or multi-rotor drone. |
| Rudder | Another term for “yaw.” This is rotating the drone clockwise or counterclockwise. |
| SAFE Technology | Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope technology is a revolutionary electronic flight envelope protection system. It also offers smoother flight capability that battles windy conditions for you and multiple modes so you can fly with the level of protection and assistance that suits any given moment of the flight. |
| Self-Level | Keeps your drone level even without stick input. In general, there are two types of self-leveling: angle mode and horizon mode. Angle mode is the most restrictive, as it prevents the drone from exceeding certain pitch or roll angles. Horizon mode is slightly less prohibitive, because it allows for controlled rolls, but will still self-level if there is no stick input. |
| Selfie Drone | Typically a small portable drone that is used to take photos or videos from an aerial perspective. |
| Sense And Avoid | The capability of a UAS to remain well clear from and avoid collisions with other airborne traffic. Sense and Avoid provides the functions of self-separation and collision avoidance. |
| Sensor | A device that responds to a detected (or sensed) physical stimulus by performing a set task. Most of the sensors onboard Microdrones UAS perform measurements and data collection. |
| Servomotor or servomechanism | An electromagnetic device that converts electricity into precise controlled motion. Aerial vehicles use servomotors for various functions such as pan cameras and wing flaps adjustments which can be controlled from the ground. |
| Sidelap | The percentage of an image that must overlap with adjacent images to allow for accurate georeferencing. |
| Skydio | Drone manufacturer located in Redwood City, California. |
| Small Unmanned Aircraft System | Unmanned aircraft systems, such as drones or quadcopters that weigh less than 55lbs. |
| S Mode | Also known as Sports Mode, the S Mode allows the DJI drone to fly and maneuver twice as fast (about 40 mph to 65 mph) |
| Spatial Awareness | The capability of a drone to be aware of its boundaries and positioning. |
| Specific category | VLOS, EVLOS and BVLOS operations under EU legislation, inside and outside controlled airspace. Operations have a medium risk profile. Automatic flights are allowed. |
| Specific Operations Risk Assessment | An extensive risk analysis of an operation, which has to be performed if an operation in the specific category does not comply with an STS or PDRA. |
| Spotter | When flying in FPV, this person keeps the drone in their visual line of sight. |
| Standard scenario | An exemption at national or European level for an operation in the specific category. |
| Temporary Flight Restriction | A temporary notice of restriction on a specific area of airspace because of the presence of government VIPs, special events, natural disasters, and other unusual occurrences. |
| Temporary Restricted Area | Airspace temporarily reserved and allocated for the exclusive use of a specific user during a determined period of time. |
| Telemetry | The process of recording and transmitting the reading of an instrument. |
| Telemetry System | A two way radio system to allow flight data to be sent from your aircraft and also to allow control or adjustment information to be sent back to it from a “ground station”, commonly a laptop computer. |
| Thermal Sensor | Sensor used to detect heat. |
| Throttle | Controls the vertical up and down motion of the drone. Positive throttle will make the drone fly higher and negative throttle will make the drone fly lower. Basically it controls that influences the RPM or the speed of electric motors. |
| Thrust | The amount of upward force your drone can produce when at full throttle. |
| Terminal Control Area | A terminal area named TMA or known as terminal manoeuvring area is a controlled airspace surrounding a major airport with a high volume of traffic. |
| Terminal Area Forecast | A weather forecast for a longer period, for example 8, 24 or 36 hours. |
| Terminal Manoeuvring Area | Segregation of aircraft horizontally and vertically by air traffic control. |
| Tijdelijk gebied met beperkingen | Temporary area with local restrictions in the Netherlands |
| Toy-grade | A type of drone that is meant for beginners with basic functionalities. |
| Toy drone | See Mini drone. |
| Transponder Mandatory Zone | In a TMZ you are obliged to put a Mode S transponder on the drone. |
| Tricopter | A multirotor drone with three motors. |
| Trim | Buttons on the remote control that help you adjust roll, pitch, yaw and throttle if they are off balance. |
| UAS Incursion | A non-participating UAS operating over or near a wildfire that: Intrudes into a Temporary Flight Restriction, or Interferes with fire management efforts and the interference is documented through the appropriate reporting system*. Example of appropriate reporting systems would include SAFECOM, SAFENET, or a reporting system used by one of the states. |
| UAS Regulation | Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 of 24 May 2019 on the rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft |
| Ultrasonic sensors | These sensors work in pairs. One sensor sends out the sound pulse while the other receives the pulse. The difference between the sending and receiving is used to calculate height and is used for drone stability. |
| Uncontrolled Airspace | Airspace where there are no air traffic control (ATC) services necessary or available because of practical reasons. ICAO set airspace F and G as uncontrolled. |
| Unmanned Aircraft System | Unmanned aircraft, such as drones, controlled by an operator on the ground. |
| Unmanned Aerial Vehicle | In the military, these are increasingly called Unmanned Aerial Systems, to reflect that the aircraft is just part of a complex system in the air and on the ground. |
| Unmanned Traffic Management | An air traffic management system under development by NASA, the FAA, and other government agencies that will traffic low altitude drone flights. |
| Upright Launch | This is the ability of the drone to take off upright, as opposed to fixed wing aircraft. Also called “vertical takeoff” (VTOL). |
| U-Space | Flight area for operations assigned to (in particular) the certified category. |
| UV Sensor | Sensor used to detect Ultraviolet light |
| Video Latency | Refers to the amount of time it takes for a single frame of video to transfer from the camera to the display. |
| Virtual Reality Goggles | A VR headset for drones made so it can come with advanced features like head tracking, or simply used for more immersion. |
| Visual Observer | A crew member that assists the UAS pilot in the duties associated with collision avoidance. This includes, but is not limited to, avoidance of other traffic, airborne objects, clouds, obstructions, and terrain. |
| Visual Line of Sight | The pilot’s ability to see an aircraft from the ground well enough to control it, without the use of artificial visual aids (aside from glasses). |
| Vertical Takeoff | This is the ability of the drone to take off upright, as opposed to fixed wing aircraft. Also called “upright launch.” |
| VOLMET | A meteorological information for aircraft in flight, is a worldwide network of radio stations that broadcast TAF, SIGMET and METAR reports on shortwave frequencies, and in some countries on VHF too. Reports are sent in upper sideband mode, using automated voice transmissions. |
| Vortex Ring State or ‘settling with power’ or ‘power settling’ | VRS, (this flight condition also sometimes called ‘settling with power’ or ‘power settling’) is an aerodynamic condition for helicopters normally generated in nearly vertical or vertical descent when the relative upward air velocity equals the downward induced main rotor flow rate. In a well-developed vortex ring state, most of the engine power is consumed by accelerating air in a circular pattern around the rotor system. The vortex ring state causes turbulent rotational flow across the blades with increasing roughness and possible loss of control. The helicopter continues to descend, and a natural reaction is to increase power by raising the collective control. This merely increases the strength of the vortex ring, and the helicopter will settle even faster. To recover from this situation, the pilot needs to remove the helicopter from the column of air. This can be done in any direction; however, it is best to accelerate forward and reduce the collective pitch slightly. This will normally result is a minimum altitude loss. In the early stages of development, a large application of power (if available) might be sufficient to overcome the upward moving air and initiate a recovery. Theoretically, entering autorotation would change the airflow and result in a recovery, although it would also produce a large loss of altitude. The standard prevention is to avoid vertical descent and keep some forward movement while descending. |
| Waypoint | A set of coordinates, which define a point in space. Waypoints are useful in designing various autonomous missions for quadcopters. Mapping out would be impossible without a possibility to define these physical locations. |
| Wide Area Augmentation System | A system of satellites and ground stations that provide GPS signal corrections, giving up to five times better position accuracy than uncorrected GPS. |
| WiFi FPV | This type of FPV is common with more inexpensive drones. Typically, the pilot connects to a mobile app to receive the drone’s live stream. |
| Wingspan | The maximum distance from wingtip to wingtip. |
| XWing | Refers to the x design on a drone’s framework. |
| Yaw | Quadcopter rotation around it’s center axis on a level plane. |
| YWing | Refers to the y design on a drone’s framework. |
| Zenmuse Camera | DJI’s line of high-end cameras designed for enterprise/commercial grade work. These include DJI’s infrared(XT2), large sensor(X5S), and zoom cameras(Z30). |
Summary
We have learned about main terms used in connection with drones.
Please leave a comment if anything else should be added.
Thank you for reading.
If you like to read more you can check other articles on our website:
If you interested in DIY projects with Raspberry PI and Arduino visit Acoptex.com.
Last update: 16/12/2021
Share:
