Flight Practice
Flight Practice
Image: Court of the Carolinas, NC State University
Embedded Files
Flight Controls
Flight Controls
The flight control configuration diagrammed above is called Mode 2 and is the most common configuration on aircraft controllers. (Diagram from DJI Mini 2 User Manual)
The flight control configuration diagrammed above is called Mode 2 and is the most common configuration on aircraft controllers. (Diagram from DJI Mini 2 User Manual)
When you manipulate the left stick (in Mode 2), the drone stays at the same geographic coordinates (x & y). Pushing the stick up and down changes the aircraft's altitude (z). Pushing left and right causes the drone to rotate in place, changing the direction the nose points. Left rotates the nose to the left (counterclockwise as seen from above); right rotates the nose to the right (clockwise as seen from above).
When you manipulate the left stick (in Mode 2), the drone stays at the same geographic coordinates (x & y). Pushing the stick up and down changes the aircraft's altitude (z). Pushing left and right causes the drone to rotate in place, changing the direction the nose points. Left rotates the nose to the left (counterclockwise as seen from above); right rotates the nose to the right (clockwise as seen from above).
When you manipulate the right stick (in Mode 2), the drone's altitude above sea level (thought not necessarily above ground level) remains constant but it's geographic coordinates change. Pushing forward or backward makes the aircraft move forward or backward with reference to the nose of the aircraft. Pushing left or right makes the aircraft move left or right with reference to the nose of the aircraft. You need to very aware of which way the aircaft's nose is pointing when you use the right stick.
When you manipulate the right stick (in Mode 2), the drone's altitude above sea level (thought not necessarily above ground level) remains constant but it's geographic coordinates change. Pushing forward or backward makes the aircraft move forward or backward with reference to the nose of the aircraft. Pushing left or right makes the aircraft move left or right with reference to the nose of the aircraft. You need to very aware of which way the aircaft's nose is pointing when you use the right stick.
If you want to practice on your phone, you can install Drone Simulator Realistic UAV (Androi) or DRS - Drone Flight Simulator (Apple) and do that. Make sure the control sticks work as indicated above (you might have to change the settings) and play away. They are the same style of controls as the Tello uses on a phone.
If you want to practice on your phone, you can install Drone Simulator Realistic UAV (Androi) or DRS - Drone Flight Simulator (Apple) and do that. Make sure the control sticks work as indicated above (you might have to change the settings) and play away. They are the same style of controls as the Tello uses on a phone.
Flight Simulators
Flight Simulators
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has created flight simulators for multirotor and fixed wing remote aircraft. The simulators are free for download and avalable for MacOS and Windows. This is a great way to get some practice while you're waiting to get your first drone! There are also a few phone apps out there to do drone flight simulation.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has created flight simulators for multirotor and fixed wing remote aircraft. The simulators are free for download and avalable for MacOS and Windows. This is a great way to get some practice while you're waiting to get your first drone! There are also a few phone apps out there to do drone flight simulation.
Our Aircaft
Our Aircaft
Ryze Tello
Ryze Tello
We will start indoors with a Ryze Tello aircraft. You should read the aircraft manual and the safety guidlines found among other information on the Tello downloads page.
We will start indoors with a Ryze Tello aircraft. You should read the aircraft manual and the safety guidlines found among other information on the Tello downloads page.
DJI Mini 2
DJI Mini 2
We will use a DJI Mini 2 aircraft. You should read the aircraft manual, which is found among other information on DJI's downloads page for the Mini 2.
We will use a DJI Mini 2 aircraft. You should read the aircraft manual, which is found among other information on DJI's downloads page for the Mini 2.
DJI has a number of videos about the Mini 2 aircraft that we'll be using in the course, including the First Flight Video linked here.
DJI has a number of videos about the Mini 2 aircraft that we'll be using in the course, including the First Flight Video linked here.
Here is a 3rd-party video introduction to the DJI Fly app - it's a good orientation to the interface.
Here is a 3rd-party video introduction to the DJI Fly app - it's a good orientation to the interface.
DJI Mini 3
DJI Mini 3
We will also use a DJI Mini 3 aircraft. You should review the aircraft manual, which is found among other information in the downloads page for the Mini 3.
We will also use a DJI Mini 3 aircraft. You should review the aircraft manual, which is found among other information in the downloads page for the Mini 3.
Flying Your Drone
Flying Your Drone
There's so much information on the internet about flying drones. I've selected a few that you can use to help you learn to fly and improve your skills.
There's so much information on the internet about flying drones. I've selected a few that you can use to help you learn to fly and improve your skills.
Basic Maneuvers
Basic Maneuvers
This page from PilotInstitute has a nice description of basic drone flight that includes checklists and safety information, a very nice video of 15 drone maneuvers that we can work on (also linked above), and links to other information.
This page from PilotInstitute has a nice description of basic drone flight that includes checklists and safety information, a very nice video of 15 drone maneuvers that we can work on (also linked above), and links to other information.
NC State's Lake Wheeler Training Area
NC State's Lake Wheeler Training Area
NC State University maintains a training and practice area for remote aircraft at 4090 Mid Pines Road, just off Lake Wheeler Road, about 15 minutes south of campus. This area is a FAA-recognized Identification Area (FRIA) in which remote ID is not required. Permission from the University is required to fly in this area, or any part of NC State's campus. This area in particular is for use in training and research, however, not for regular use by faculty, staff, or students.
NC State University maintains a training and practice area for remote aircraft at 4090 Mid Pines Road, just off Lake Wheeler Road, about 15 minutes south of campus. This area is a FAA-recognized Identification Area (FRIA) in which remote ID is not required. Permission from the University is required to fly in this area, or any part of NC State's campus. This area in particular is for use in training and research, however, not for regular use by faculty, staff, or students.
Assessment
Assessment
Here's what you should be able to demonstrate by the end of this course.
Here's what you should be able to demonstrate by the end of this course.
- Ability to plan for and carry out a simple, photographic mission.
- Effective use of the Flight Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) checklist.
- Effective use of operational checklists for aircraft, including pre-, during-, and post-flight elements.
- Crew resource management (e.g., briefing and use of visual observers).
- Situational awareness during an entire mission.
- Competent execution of basic flight maneuvers, including …
- Takeoff and landing, including flight control checks after takeoff
- Vertical box, with aircraft in any number of orientations as instructed (e.g., rotating 90 degrees on each leg)
- Horizontal box, with aircraft in any number of orientations as instructed (e.g., always facing the inside of the box)
- Complete a simple photographic mission (e.g., photograph a set of objects in a particular sequence)
- Reasonable responses to a hypothetical emergency scenario while flying (e.g., one of your visual observers calls out that a hawk is flying toward your aircraft or that a crewed aircraft has entered the flying area)
- Reasonable oral responses to other potential emergency scenarios.
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