UAV stands for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and it covers all the remote controlled machines which are also known as quadcopters as well as the aircrafts used by the US air force. These machines are mainly used by the military and police to carry out a operation where a manned aircraft seems impractical or too risky. Drones are not new; They have been in use since the First World War. However, at the time the control was mechanical and the aircraft could only go as far as the fuel allowed.

Later, devices were developed that could be controlled with the help of radio or infrared technology. These devices became the predecessors of the modern quadcopter which employs integrated circuits or computer chips and can be programmed to fly for a defined period of time in a defined direction serving a defined purpose. This design gave rise to the latest quadcopters that are available on the market for hobbyists of all ages who love to fly them.

UAV classification according to the US Air Force

UAVs can be classified into many different types depending on the purpose for which they are used. However, not all of them are available in the market for the general public. The ones that are available in the market are generally called quadcopters that come with or without a camera and GPS for fun or entertainment purposes. Some business units are also done to achieve specific goals of a company or business. However, the most advanced machines used by the US Air Force fall into three main types;

1. Extremely small UAVs, also known as micro AVs or MAVs

two. Low Altitude Long Endurance UAV

3. Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (also known as ‘MALE’)

Four. High Altitude Long Endurance UAV (also known as ‘HALE’)

Examples of these UAVs include the Global Hawk, Mariner, Hunter, Predator, and Fire Scout. These are large, sophisticated flying machines with a satellite data link system, cameras, radar, laser designators, and weapons. Most of these are fully autonomous, meaning they are smart devices capable of making decisions during your flight. They capture real-time battle damage information and relay it to soldiers on the ground. They are capable of providing continuous operations of up to 7 or 8 hours of permanence in the air.

Functional classification of UAVs

There are six functional categories of unmanned aerial vehicles and these machines are designed to achieve a particular goal. The purposes they serve include target acquisition, battlefield intelligence, strike (aka unmanned combat aerial vehicle), cargo and logistics, research and development, and commercial unmanned aerial vehicles. UAVs are also classified according to their size and are known as micro, miniature, medium and large, specific for military or combat use.

The main feature that makes these UAVs different from those available on the market is their ability to fly autonomously. This means that the vehicle is capable of making decisions based on its flight to change direction, capture images or return to the ground. These machines come equipped with several sensors and, to make a decision, inputs from different sensors are merged. They can also communicate with other flying UAVs, as well as with ground stations and satellites. They are able to determine the ideal course to accomplish a mission. These powerful capabilities make them extremely sensitive and sophisticated devices, and these operations are not available in quadcopters used for fun and entertainment purposes.

UAV for hobbyists

Hobbyist UAVs are the most common type and come in various sizes, designs, prices, and features. Hobbyist UAVs that can be classified into three main types:

Ready to fly (RTF)

Bind and Fly (BNF)

Almost ready to fly (ARF)

Ready-to-Fly are the most widely used unmanned aerial vehicles among the general public, hobbyists, and entrepreneurs. As is clear from the name, these types of flying machines do not need much assembly as they come equipped with the required functionality and you just need to put the batteries in and you are good to go.

These RTF vehicles are designed to provide the user with many basic and advanced features, which are very useful for a number of applications. The latest quadcopters come with a 12 MP camera to take excellent quality aerial photos and record 4K videos. They also offer live HD video streaming on your smartphone or any other portable device. The newest ones are associated with a mobile application to give you more control over its functionality, as well as to use a flight simulator to learn to fly. Flight times vary from model to model, but a fairly good quality quadcopter provides up to 30 minutes of continuous flight time.

Bind-and-Fly, on the other hand, requires you to first bind the machine with your transmitter before taking off. Such a machine is not designed for amateurs, since it requires some assembly, which only experts can handle. Similarly, ARF or Almost-Ready-to-Fly aircraft require some form of assembly before they can be used. These machines come with an instruction manual so anyone can quickly and easily assemble them. They are perfect for expert pilots who already have the radio equipment (transmitter and receiver) and are just looking for other parts to complete the build of their vehicles.

All of these UAVs are available in the price range of $50 to $3,000 and even more, depending on their specifications, model, and overall design. Most quadcopters are very robust and durable and therefore last a long time if handled properly.

Although these unmanned aerial vehicles are considered friendly, they pose a threat to public safety, as they can mistakenly fly over private property and no-fly zones, collide with another aircraft, damage something, or crash in an unknown location. Therefore, it is advisable to follow precautionary measures while flying these seemingly harmless quadcopters for fun to ensure safety.