Moving at the Speed of Sound and Beyond
The speed at which drones and multirotors are moving in development and application is really quite astonishing. I am amazed by the new designs and features that the drone marketplace keeps developing. What will they be like, and what will they be doing, in five to 15 years? That is the very question we asked many leaders in the industry. We talked to designers, manufacturers, operators and policymakers who work with drones in every segment of the industry. They gave us their thoughts on what the future holds for drones in their field of expertise. Check out the Future of Drones feature this month for some thoughtful insight as to what you can expect to see from drones very soon. In addition, the key piece of equipment that provides all of the latest features for flying current and future drones is the flight controller. Our editorial team looked at the latest flight controllers available to give you some insight as to which controller you can use on your rig. Check out “Total Control: the inside scoop on eight great flight controllers” to see which multirotor brain fits your needs.
If you’re looking to add a multirotor to your fleet (or get started!), we have three nice quad reviews. The Blade Glimpse is the ideal drone for pilots who want to start out in aerial videography. For those of you who have a need for speed, the Graupner Hott Alpha 250 racing quad will definitely scratch that itch. Advanced pilots who want to get serious about cinematography will want to check out our review on the DJI Phantom 3; I can tell you this is one sweet bird!
Many drones are being used for good causes, and our article on the Nepal earthquake is a perfect example of this. We wanted to find out how drones are being organized for humanitarian aid and learn what it’s like to fly a multirotor in such a devastated area. We solicited the expertise of Patrick Meier, who has been an advocate and innovator in setting up the Humanitarian UAV Network. Then we talked with Naimul Islam Opu, the owner of Cygnus Aerial Photography in Dhaka, Bangladesh, who gave us a first-hand look at what it is like on the ground helping out with his drones after the earthquake. And last, but not least, I am proud to announce that RotorDrone Magazine recently presented its first Drone of the Year award at the RCX radio-control exposition in California. Don’t miss our RCX show coverage; this event incorporates the entire remote control industry and multirotors have established a strong foothold in that community. We had a blast putting this issue together and I’m sure you are going to enjoy every page of it. I hope you’ll take a minute to let us know how we did, and what you’d like to see more of in RotorDrone. You can email us at RotorDrone@airage.com or leave a comment on our Facebook page. We look forward to hearing from you!
