What Types of Drones Are Present in the Market?
Types of Drones available in the market today
There are various types of drones available in the market today, each designed for specific applications and use cases. Here are some of the most common types of drones:
- Multi-Rotor Drones
- Fixed-Wing Drones
- Hybrid Drones
- Single-Rotor Drones
Fixed-Wing Drones
These kinds of drones resemble airplanes and are mostly used for surveying, mapping, and surveillance. They are more effective than multi-rotor drones and can cover long distances in considerably less time.
These find a lot of application in the military, as they are often put to use when manned flight is difficult or not possible. Commercial industry also makes good use of these kinds of drones.
Single-Rotor Drones
These are also called helicopter drones. They have a single rotor blade and can take off and land vertically, letting them to fly more precisely than their fixed-wing counterparts. These are larger and more expensive than multi-rotor drones, but they can fly for long and can carry heavier payloads. They also have advanced cameras and sensors to collect data. These are good for farmers and agricultural researchers.
Multi-Rotor Drones
These are perhaps the most common type of drones and are mainly taken into use for videography, aerial photography, surveying, and inspection. They can be controlled with ease, that is why they are good for indoor locations. There are different kinds of multi-rotor drones,
- Trirotor: It has a total of three rotors for generating buoyancy and they are used for movement and control. And the arm distance is normally 120 degrees. The advantages are low cost, light size and flexibility. It also has lower lifting power due to the number of motors.
- Quadrotor: These are common types of multi-rotor. 4 motors are fixed on a frame, and each arm is 90 degrees apart in X4 configuration. Two motors rotate clockwise and the other two rotate anti-clockwise to generate opposite forces to keep balanced.
- Hexacopter: It is mounted on a symmetrical frame, and each arm is normally 60 degrees. As opposed to a quadrotor, this has more motors for increasing power and stability. It also improves higher redundancy. Though the motors of the drones will eat up more power, so the drone time in the air will have a negative impact.
- Octocopter: It has eight rotors, so it has robust stability and power. It has an upgraded version of quadrotor and hexacopter. These are taken to use for professional purposes, and they generally have heavier lenses and cameras. But due to the increase in the motor count, the consumption of energy is fast and the size of the frame is large.
Hybrid Drones
Talking of hybrid drones, these have the features of both fixed-wing and multi-rotor drones, letting them take off and land vertically while they can also fly long distances just as fixed-wing drones.
These have a variety of sensors and cameras, allowing them to collect a lot of data. The range and endurance of hybrid drones are also ideal for monitoring or surveying large farmlands. They can cover larger areas in a single flight, reducing multiple flights and increasing efficiency. Apart from that, their extended flight time lets them remain in the air for a long, making it easier to monitor.
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