Drone reference guide
Here you will find a glossary of common drone terminology and abbreviations that you may need to know.
Name/Term
|
Description
Quadcopter
|
The most popular name for Small UAVs, which has 4 rotors positioned on a horizontal plane like a helicopter. Other names include Quadricopter, Quadrocopter.
Multicopter
|
A generic name for a drone with multiple propellers. This covers quadcopters, octocopters, etc.
Hexicopter
|
This is a drone with six props and motors, this offer greater stability.
Octocopter
|
These drones have eight blades and offers greater stability.
RPAS
|
Remotely Piloted Aerial System. This is an aircraft that is piloted by a remote not onboard the aircraft.
UAV
|
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. This is an aircraft that is not manned.
UAS
|
Unmanned Aircraft System. This is an aircraft that is not manned.
SUAS
|
Small Unmanned Aircraft System. This is a small aircraft that is not manned.
Fixed Wing Drone
|
similar designs to airplanes which means they glide with angled plane-like wings and lack the ability to hover in one place.
Name/Term
|
Description
Toy Drone
|
Small (nano/micro ) sized quadcopters, Inexpensive and a good size to start with for most beginners.
Hobby Drone
|
Hobby drones are used by flyers who may not have professional experience, many have camera's or have options to attach one.
Professional Drone
|
These are high-end drones and have much bigger capabilities with longer flight times and better camera's used for cinema and TV work.
Selfie Drone
|
Selfie drones are smaller and more lightweight and used for taking photos used for social media or other online forums.
Racing Drone/FPV
|
Racing drones or FPV drones are small agile that transmits real-time video back to the pilot. These can be used with goggles to get a first-person view for the pilot.
Name/Term
|
Description
Yaw
|
If you were looking down on a drone from above, yaw refers to the movement of the drone clockwise or counterclockwise.
Roll
|
This is the movement of the drone forward, backward, left and right.
Pitch
|
This is the movement up and down of the drone along a vertical axis.
Throttle
|
Throttle gives the propellers on your drone enough power to get airborne. When flying, you will have the throttle engaged constantly.
Name/Term
|
Description
Dolly Zoom
|
A dolly zoom is an in-camera effect where you dolly towards or away from a subject while zooming in the opposite direction.
Orbit
|
An orbit is a dynamic flying maneuver where the drone rotates around your subject while steadily gaining elevation.
Fly By
|
Whether your subject is in motion or stationary, fly your drone over, through, or to the side of the subject.
High Pan
|
The best part of this shot is its simplicity. Launch your drone and fly up to your desired altitude and start slowly panning your camera around.
Fly Through
|
The fly-through shot is where the camera passes through a tight space like a window or a pair of close beams.
Pedestal
|
The first thing you need to do is fight up to an altitude. Hit record on the way up and you have a pedestal shot.
Dronie
|
The drone's camera centers on the selected subject as the aircraft travels backward at an ascending incline.
Arc Shot
|
The arc shot is also called a 360 degrees shot. In this shot, the camera moves in an orbit around the subject in an arc pattern.
Name/Term
|
Description
Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST)
|
The law requires that all recreational flyers pass an aeronautical knowledge and safety test and provide proof of passage if asked by law enforcement or FAA personnel. The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) was developed to meet this requirement.
Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
|
In order to fly your drone under the FAA's Small UAS Rule (Part 107), you must obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA. This certificate demonstrates that you understand the regulations, operating requirements, and procedures for safely flying drones.
A
Name/Term
|
Description
Accelormeter
|
A device that measures the acceleration forces in a certain direction. It also helps to stabilise your drone.
Acro
|
This is short for acrobatic mode, this is used for doing freestyle tricks and users can gain precise flight controls.
Aerial Photography
|
This is capturing images and video with a camera mounted to the drone.
AGL
|
Altitude above ground level.
Altitude Hold Function
|
This is a function that allows the drone to hold its altitude using an onboard sensor usually on the bottom of the drone.
ARF
|
These are drones that are almost ready to fly but require some assembly and don't usually include a transmitter.
Auto Pilot
|
This is a feature on some drones that allow them to function without human control, this could be following pre-set GPS points or other follow functions.
Autonomous Flight
|
This is where the drone will go to a position that is preset and the drone will carry out the flight to that set point.
B
Name/Term
|
Description
Balanced Battery Charger
|
This is a charger for an internal system for Lipo batteries which uses smart technologies to ensure cells are charged correctly and equally.
Barometric Pressure Sensor
|
The device used for barometric readings to determine the altitude of the drone, this is used for the altitude hold feature.
Beta Flight
|
This is a flight controller configuration software.
Bind
|
This is where you connect the drone and the controller together so you can control the drone.
BNF
|
This stands for ``BIND n fLY`` Which means the transmitter is connected to the drone then ready to fly.
Brushless Motor
|
These are motors that have magnets the rotate around the fixed armature. This means that the moving parts don't touch the other parts of the motor and are much more efficient.
Build
|
This is a drone that users need to build before they can fly out of the box.
BVLOS
|
Beyond visual line of sight (This is illegal in the UK unless you have an exception from the CAA).
C
Name/Term
|
Description
Camera Gimbal
|
This is the holder of the camera on a drone it can tilt and move and they can stabilise footage for video content.
Commercial Flight
|
This is flying your drone for commercial purposes.
Controller
|
This is a handheld device that is used by the drone pilot to control the drone, other names include ``Transmitter`` and ``Radio``
D
Name/Term
|
Description
Drone
|
This is a UAV capable of flight by the controller or autonomous flight.
DJI
|
DJI is the leading manufacturer of drone/UAV systems around the world.
E
Name/Term
|
Description
(ESC) Electronic speed control
|
This is the device that controls the aircraft's motor and how fast it spins, in turn, controlling the drone.
F
Name/Term
|
Description
Fail Safe
|
This is a system that helps protect drones in case something fails. For example, if the drone lost connection with the controller then the drone will return to home (RTH).
FPV (First Person View)
|
This is a system where the user can view a live video of the drone when it is flying, this can be streamed to FPV Goggles. FPV can be used on racing drones.
Frequency
|
The frequency is what the drone communicates with the controller many drones can switch between frequencies to choose the best ones.
G
Name/Term
|
Description
Geofencing
|
This is the use of GPS to create a virtual fence that the drone cannot move out of.
Gimbal
|
This is a specialised camera mount that stabilises the camera on it to make the footage smooth. There are different types of gimbal depending how many axes the gimbal has.the more they have the more stable the footage will be.
GIS (Geographic Information System)
|
This is designed to capture and also store the geographic data of the drone.
GPS (Global Positioning System)
|
This is used to track the position of the drone and track the movement. It also helps the drone keep its position when in the air.
GCS (Ground Control Station)
|
This is a software that runs on the ground controller that displays aircraft information this frequently includes video and flight commands to the drone/UAV.
Gyroscope
|
This measure the rate of rotation on the drone/UAV and helps keep the drone/UAV balanced when in the air.
H
Name/Term
|
Description
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.
HIRTA (High Intensity Radio Transmission Area)
|
Flying through an HIRTA can interfere with the electronics on your drone.
I
Name/Term
|
Description
IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit)
|
This is a controller that combines the accelerometer and a gyro which helps the orientation and stabilisation of the drone/UAV.
INS (Inertial Navigation System)
|
This is a way of calculating position that is based on the initial GPS signal, this is also followed by speed, motion sensor readings.
K
Name/Term
|
Description
Kilometers
|
Unit of measurement part of the metric units of measurement.
L
Name/Term
|
Description
LCD Monitor
|
A screen usually attached to a controller used to view the drone's camera and flight data.
LiPo Battery
|
This is the most favoured by most of the drone manufacturers because of its low weight and maximised charge capacity and power. LiPos are safe however overcharging or mistreating them can result in damage or even fire.
M
Name/Term
|
Description
mAh (milli Amp Hours)
|
A unit of measurement that describes how much ‘power’ a battery can provide before it needs to be charged again.
Mode 1 transmitters
|
This is where the controller has the throttle on the right stick.
Mode 2 transmitters
|
This is where the controller has the throttle on the left stick. This is the most common mode.
N
Name/Term
|
Description
Nano Drone
|
An extremely small drone that can fit in the palm of your hand and you can fly indoors.
No Fly Zone
|
This is an area where you can not fly at all.
National Airspace System (NAS)
|
The airspace, navigation facilities and airports of the United States, along with their associated information, services, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, personnel, and equipment. It includes components shared jointly with the military.
NAZA
|
A flight controller used on the DJI Phantom Drones and contains the main control chip, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a barometric altimeter.
O
Name/Term
|
Description
OSD (On Screen Display)
|
This is a display that shows flight data and battery life warnings.
Obstacle Avoidance
|
Obstacle avoidance technology refers to the technology that drones identify obstacles and automatically avoid them through sensors, cameras and other technologies.
P
Name/Term
|
Description
Payload
|
The amount of additional weight a drone can take.
Pre Flight Planning
|
Planning before your flight including routes of flights, terrain flying over and communication information.
PDB (Power Distribution Board)
|
This is a board that distributes power to different parts of the drone/UAV.
Pilot in Command (PIC) or (RPIC)
|
The person responsible for the operation and safety during flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle.
Part 107
|
Required in the U.S. when operating a drone for commercial purposes. Refers to CFR Part 107 of the Federal Aviation Administration. Regulations for non-hobbyist unmanned aircraft operations, which covers a broad spectrum of commercial uses for drones weighing less than 55 pounds.
Prop
|
Short for Propeller.
Q
Name/Term
|
Description
Quadcopter
|
The most popular name for Small UAVs, which has 4 rotors positioned on a horizontal plane like a helicopter. Other names include Quadricopter, Quadrocopter.
Obstacle Avoidance
|
Obstacle avoidance technology refers to the technology that drones identify obstacles and automatically avoid them through sensors, cameras and other technologies.
R
Name/Term
|
Description
(RTH) Return to Home
|
This is a feature that the drone will return to the GPS home point.
Radio Controller
|
This is a wireless handheld device used to control the drone in flight.
Racing Drone
|
A quadcopter that is designed to compete in first person view racing.
Roll
|
Used to describe up and down movement on each side of the drone.
S
Name/Term
|
Description
Spotter
|
This is a person that keeps track of the drone if you don't have VLOS or you are using FPV.
sUAS (Small Unmanned Aircraft System)
|
sUAS (Small Unmanned Aircraft System) Unmanned aircraft systems that weigh less than 55lbs.
Servo
|
Drones and UAV's use this to move cameras or parts on the drone.
T
Name/Term
|
Description
Throttle
|
This is a control that influences the RPM or the speed of the electronic motors.
Thrust
|
A combined amount of force from the propeller and motor which will generate lift for the drone/UAV.
Transmitter
|
Also known as a controller this is something that sends commands to the drone/UAV.
Telemetry
|
Telemetry A two-way digital data stream that relays flight data and instructions between the UAV and ground station.
TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction)
|
TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) A temporary restriction of all flight that applies to a specific area due to the presence of government VIPs, natural disasters, special events, and other unusual occurances.
Trim
|
Trim Buttons on the controller used to control roll, pitch, yaw, and throttle.
U
Name/Term
|
Description
UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System)
|
UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) An unmanned aircraft, such as a quadcopter, controlled by an operator on the ground.
Uncontrolled Airspace
|
Uncontrolled Airspace Airspace that has no ATC (air traffic control) services. Class F and Class G airspace is uncontrolled.
Ultrasonic sensor
|
This is a sensor that uses the ultrasound wavelength to communicate with a transmitter
V
Name/Term
|
Description
VLOS (Visual Line of Sight)
|
VLOS (Visual Line of Sight) The operation of an UAV within the operator's direct line of sight without the aid of any device other than corrective lenses.
VO (Visual Observer)
|
VO (Visual Observer) An optional crew member whose job is to maintain visual contact with the UAV to ensure its safe operation.
Video Latency
|
Lag from your camera to an external display.
W
Name/Term
|
Description
Waypoint
|
This is a set of coordinates that the drone will follow.
Waiver
|
The FAA issues waivers (or authorizations) to certain requirements of Part 107 if an applicant demonstrates they can fly safely under the waiver without endangering people or property on the ground or in the air.
Wi-Fi FPV
|
Mostly found on cheaper drones, usually performed by a downloadable app that allows you to connect to a live feed. The signal is compatible with most Android/iOS smartphones and tablets.
Y
Name/Term
|
Description
Yaw
|
If you were looking down on a drone from above, yaw refers to the movement of the drone clockwise or counterclockwise.