How is the drone made?

How is the drone made?

What are drones made of, and how?

Drones have become a part of our everyday lives so quickly that we can spot them in almost every field - industry, art, real estate, agriculture, safety, and military. The trends are for these little flying machines to evolve in ways reminiscent of the science fiction we've only read about.

In this article, we'll look at how drones are designed to get a sense of how they will evolve in the future.

What are drones?

Drones are small machines that use motors and propellers to hover and move through the air. There are many types on the market, the most common being quadcopters (with 4 propellers). The more propellers a drone has, the more lifting power it has. Here we will look at the most common drones to examine their design in more detail.

What are drones made of?

To make them as maneuverable and stable as possible, every detail in the drones has been selected in order to reduce the overall mass. This is because the heavier an object is, the more thrust will be needed to keep it in the air. Additionally, less weight allows for more flight time.

Main drone parts

Every single component of the drones has been chosen to be able to make them as lightweight and functional as possible.

The frame of the drone

Thermoplastic is most commonly used in drones because it is affordable and can be easily machined. Its function is to hold all the elements together and protect them. Its task is mostly mechanical, so the frame must be strong and resistant to different conditions.

Thermoplastics are strong and low density, allowing various parts to be made with them.

Motors and propellers

The motors used in drones are usually electric and have copper coils. Thermoplastics or aluminum alloys are most commonly used for the motor housing as these materials are lightweight and strong. Because motors generate a large amount of heat, thermally conductive materials such as aluminum are used for the casing to have a cooling effect.

The propellers are those parts of the drone that are subject to the most wear and tear and are very likely to be affected during landing and maneuvering. Therefore, strong and lightweight materials such as thermoplastics are also chosen for them. Carbon fibre reinforced composites are also commonly used.

Because it is common for propellers to become damaged, it is advisable to have propeller guards on your drone. The guards as well as the propellers themselves are usually not expensive.

Batteries - the power of the drone

In terms of batteries, it can be said that a revolution has been achieved. Previously, lead-acid and nickel-cadmium batteries were used, which weighed too much, limiting the flight time. Today, drones mostly use lithium-ion batteries, which provide power and are extremely light. Thanks to the introduction of these batteries, drones with ever longer flight times are also being invented.

Sensors

Balance is key in drones - all motors must provide the thrust needed to keep the entire body in the air. To achieve the balance, multi-rotor drones have sensors through which we get information and achieve easy control.

Tilt sensors are one of the most important for the drone. Combining gyroscopic sensors and accelerometers, tilt sensors are connected to feedback loops to the motors.

During flight, the thrust of the motor is constantly controlled to keep the device in the air and take the maneuvers desired by the pilot.

There are also many other sensors that help monitor the status of the drone's systems. There are sensors that reflect power consumption so you can know when it's time to charge the batteries.

The future of drones

The more drones develop, the more autonomous they become. Nowadays, drones can navigate pre-set routes or follow other moving objects.

What is already clear that will happen is that drones will use their cameras to drive themselves in the future. We can notice that these machines are becoming more and more capable of flying without human control all the time.

Drones are already being developed to use their on-board sensors and their cameras to recognise other drones and fly in formation. So don't be surprised if you spot autonomous drones moving around in the sky soon. Tasks of future autonomous machines are expected to include taking part in rescue operations, tending to crops or flying in a search party for disaster relief.

Conclusion

Drones are becoming more popular by the day and are revolutionizing the way the world exists. It seems that we are yet to see how these machines will automate and perform group tasks.

Keep an eye on our drone blog where you can read a lot more interesting and useful information. Here you can also find DJI's newest drones. Our team will answer all your inquiries. Contact us online or welcome to our showroom.