The consumer drone market is growing at an incredible rate. Falling prices, new technology and widespread availability means that drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are becoming a common sight in skies around the world. As well as being used for aerial photography, racing of drones is becoming a popular pastime.

UAVs contain advanced technology and are easy to fly, but it’s still possible to crash one if the pilot doesn’t understand how they work. Repairs are possible sometimes, but a serious accident with a drone may mean replacement is necessary. Accidents involving drones can result in legal action against the pilot in some cases, so it’s important to understand the rules of the air and how they affect UAVs.

The following tips will help to ensure new drone pilots make safe and enjoyable flights as they gain experience.

1) Never take off before reading the manual.

The excitement of getting a drone means some people make their first flight without reading the instruction manual. This is one of the most common causes of accidents. Always read the manual and understand the key facts about a UAV before taking off. Important points include how to set the drone up, the average battery life and what to do in an emergency. More advanced drones work in conjunction with apps, so you’ll need to download and set one of these up on your smartphone before flying. If the instruction manual isn’t clear, there are hundreds of drone tutorial videos on YouTube.

2) Check the aircraft before takeoff.

Most drones are packed with the propeller blades removed, so these need to be attached before takeoff. Follow the instructions carefully, as there is usually a specific configuration. Ensure the propeller blades are tightened before switching the aircraft on. If the drone has a camera, the gimbal may need to be unlocked before take off.

3) Understand how sensors protect a drone.

Advanced UAVs have sensors to prevent collisions. It’s important that the pilot understands how sensors make the aircraft react and the directions they operate in. Professional drones have forward, rear and downward facing sensors, and they can be adjusted to operate at different distances from objects in their paths. More basic drones only have forward facing sensors, so they will crash into obstacles if flown in reverse.

4) Check the weather before flying.

Small UAVs don’t fly well in adverse weather. Gusts of wind make it hard to control drones, and the battery life drains quickly as the rotors fight to stay on course. Water can cause serious damage to the sensitive electronics inside UAVs, so they should never be flown in the rain.

5) Maintain line of sight.

Flying a drone beyond line of sight is another common cause of accidents. The controller’s screen may give a clear first-person view from the aircraft’s camera, but this doesn’t tell the pilot everything he needs to know. For example, a helicopter approaching from the side of the drone won’t appear on the screen. It’s illegal to fly an unmanned aircraft beyond line of sight in many countries.

6) Take extra care flying indoors.

Flying drones indoors increases the risk of accidents. UAVs operate using GPS, and this may be weak if walls obstruct the satellite signal. Controlling a drone in a restricted space takes great skill, and it’s something only experienced pilots should undertake.

7) Learn to use the ‘Return to Home’ (RTH) function.

Sophisticated drones like DJI’s Phantom and Mavic offer a failsafe RTH function. If the GPS signal is lost, battery power is low or if there is a technical problem, the aircraft returns to the point of takeoff. This is a fantastic safety feature, but the pilot needs to set the RTH correctly and know how the aircraft will respond when it enters this flight mode. A drone will automatically fly to a set altitude in RTH, and this must take account of the surroundings. For example, if there are tall trees around the RTH height must be set to fly over these.

Owning your first drone is the start of an exciting new hobby, and it could even lead to a career as a UAV pilot. If a new pilot focuses on safe and responsible flying, there is very little risk of anything going wrong.

8) PCB Assembly

It can be a good idea to look up online alternative circuit boards when you are replacing your drone hardware, or if you wish to upgrade it down the line. There are many companies offering custom print solutions, one such is PCB Assembly China that has a large number of possibilities for their customers at affordable prices.

March 19, 2018 by Ajay Awtaney

Light Up Your Home With These 5 Indoor Lighting Tips

Homes

Your home is your sanctuary.

After a long day’s work, you just want to put your feet up and spend time alone or with family. Your home is a place that should renew your spirits and rejuvenate you when your energy has been zapped from doing things outside.

The setting in your abode must then be perfect. It should give you a sense of calm, security and joy. There are many factors that contribute to this ideal environment, and one of these is proper home lighting.

See the light

Light, whether natural or artificial, has many benefits. Sunshine has restorative powers for the mind and body, over and beyond giving people a healthy dose of Vitamin D. Lighting fixtures beautify and add radiance to a home. It can also be a helping hand in providing security to your property.

It is only natural that you would want to maximize these advantages. Here are some tips to shed more light on how you can do so:

1. A sunny disposition

Architects and designers will most likely recommend that you incorporate lots of natural light in through windows, glass doors, skylights, or even sunrooms. This is because aside from aesthetics, it also has several other advantages.

Letting the sunshine in creates the illusion of space by making it appear larger. It also keeps mold and mildew growth at bay, keeping you and your family healthy.

When speaking of health benefits, regulated sunshine exposure has been found to lower the risk of depression among adults and children alike. Since it has also been found to help people become healthier, happier, calmer and more productive, sunshine has been used to regulate some conditions like Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

2. Mirror, mirror

You might not use it to look into the future, but mirrors play a good role in enhancing your home’s interior lighting. Aside from checking if you still look good, mirrors also have functional and decorative purposes.

Hanging a mirror to reflect natural light in the sunroom, for instance, can make the room look brighter. You can also place a huge mirror at the end of a hallway, thereby creating an illusion of a wider, more spacious area.

Strategic placements of mirrors in the house can also be used to view another room. This is just like how they did it in the past, when smartly placed mirrors are used as a spyglass of sorts to check who’s at the front door.

3. Kaleidoscope

It is a common misconception to bathe your rooms in bright lights all throughout. Expert light consultants suggest utilizing multiple sources of lights in a room. You need to consider the various uses of an area so you can decide what types of lighting fixtures to fit.

Proper selection of light sources and knowing how to diffuse them can contribute to a well-lit room. Opt to layer and blend your light to improve the look and functionality of a home space.

As a basic guide, you can follow these recommendations:

Ambient lighting: For general illumination (e.g. chandeliers or recessed canister lights)
Task lighting: Designed for specific task at hand (e.g. LED strips for kitchen under-cabinets for easier food preparation or a lighted makeup mirror)
Accent lighting: Focuses light on a specific area in a room to create drama or attract attention (e.g. sconces, track lights, flood lights, or LED downlights that may be used to highlight art and other artifacts or light a stairwell or hallway)

Fifty shades

Dimmers are a non-negotiable option, according to home lighting experts. Aside from helping with energy consumption, they are necessary to adjust the brightness of the light fixtures in a room.

Multi-purpose rooms benefit greatly with the use of lighting dimmers as it allows you to set the mood for a specific activity. You can turn it up when you’re sewing, for example. Then you can turn it down for a more subdued feel when you’re entertaining guests for dinner.

A light bulb moment

Not all bulbs are created equal. Understanding the different types of bulbs and their wattage will considerably help you decide where to use them.

Consider the function of the room and choose the corresponding lighting fixture. Is it your home office? A bathroom? Designers nowadays shun fluorescent lights, saying that they can lead to off colors and can cause fatigued eyes. Instead, they suggest using dimmable LED light bulbs or the like.

You can take note of the following color temperatures and lumens:

2700K and 3000K are warm white (yellow); 2700K is warmer (more yellow)
4000K – Tinge of yellow
5000K – Pure white
6000K – Tinge of blue

Note that:

For general use at home, 3000K (warm white) is recommended while 4000K or 5000K are recommended for bathrooms and laundry rooms.
If you’re looking for brightness, bulbs with around 600 lumens can give off light comparable to that of a 60-watt incandescent lamp.

Out of the dark

With a plethora of options in the market, choosing the appropriate light for your home is not a problem. Proper consultation with your interior designer or a home lighting advisor can do wonders for home illumination.

Impeccable lighting choices can literally light up your life, making your home the ultimate dwelling for rest and relaxation. It is time to step out of the shadows and embrace the positive vibes that good interior lighting can bring.