Drone Essentials: Batteries and Charging

Drone Accessories

• Batteries:
  • Buy manufacturer-rated batteries (DJI) to ensure quality and compatibility
  • Phantom 4 Pro extended life batteries have a white insert in the middle
  • Minimum of 10 batteries recommended for technical track operations
  • Colorado Drone Chargers is a trusted brand for multi-chargers and simultaneous charging
• Charging:
  • Rule 1: Never pull a battery off the charger until it's fully charged
  • Rule 2: Never leave a battery unattended while charging
  • Rule 3: Always charge batteries on a fireproof surface
  • Colorado Drone Chargers' quad charger can charge four extended life batteries in 45 minutes

Drone Control and Communication

• Tablet or Phone Control:
  • Most popular options: iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch
  • iPad is the most flexible solution, but overheats easily
  • Crystal Sky has a built-in hood, but also overheats and lacks third-party app integration
  • iPod Touch is a cost-effective and secure option
• Cables:
  • MFI certified cables ensure data and power transfer
  • Carry a box of cables with different types and lengths
• Propellers:
  • Redundancy is key; carry at least two or three pairs of props
  • Old school propellers are recommended over the new quiet props
  • High-altitude propellers are necessary for flying above 7,000 ft

Video and Photography

• ND Filters:
  • Polar Pro ND filters are recommended for video shooting
  • ND4, ND8, and ND16 filters can be used depending on the lighting conditions
• SD Cards:
  • SanDisk 128 Micro SD extreme Pro cards are recommended
  • Cards should have a minimum write speed of 95 megabits per second

Crash and Repair

• iFixit Kit:
  • A valuable toolkit for drone repair and maintenance
  • Includes tools for taking apart an iPhone and binding remotes
• Power Bank:
  • A mono price battery is a cost-effective option for charging devices
  • A 20,000 milliamp battery is recommended for drone operations

Miscellaneous

• Aviation Radio:

  • An Icom Aviation radio is recommended for communication in controlled airspace
  • A bow Fang radio can be used for team communications

• Business Card:

  • Always carry a business card for networking and marketing opportunities### Drone Acquisition Equipment

• Having a programmable radio (e.g. Icom Aviation radio and Baofeng radio) is recommended for team communication and legitimacy

• A high-visibility (hi-vis) vest is essential for team legitimacy and safety

• Wearing a hi-vis vest with a certificate holder and FAA logo can help avoid being accosted by authorities

• Hi-vis vests with pockets are recommended for storing radios, certificates, and other essential items

Importance of Hi-Vis Vests

• A hi-vis vest can make a difference in how authorities perceive and respond to drone operators
• It's essential to understand that people tend to judge others based on appearance, and a hi-vis vest can help create a positive impression
• Authorities are becoming more educated on drone regulations, making it easier for drone operators to work without interruptions

Upcoming Topics

• The next video will cover processing topics, including GPS, GCP pads, and processing equipment such as computers
• Documentation will also be discussed in a future video
• It's essential to stay updated on drone accessories and regulations, as they tend to change every couple of years

Drone Accessories

• Batteries:
  • Use manufacturer-rated batteries (e.g. DJI) for quality and compatibility
  • Phantom 4 Pro extended life batteries have a distinct white insert
  • A minimum of 10 batteries is recommended for technical track operations
  • Colorado Drone Chargers is a trusted brand for multi-chargers and simultaneous charging
• Charging:
  • Never pull a battery off the charger until it's fully charged
  • Never leave a charging battery unattended
  • Always charge batteries on a fireproof surface
  • Colorado Drone Chargers' quad charger can charge four extended life batteries in 45 minutes

Drone Control and Communication

• Tablet or Phone Control:
  • Popular options include iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch
  • iPad is flexible but prone to overheating
  • Crystal Sky has a built-in hood but overheats and lacks third-party app integration
  • iPod Touch is a cost-effective and secure option
• Cables:
  • Use MFI certified cables for data and power transfer
  • Carry a box of cables with different types and lengths
• Propellers:
  • Carry at least two or three pairs of propellers for redundancy
  • Old school propellers are recommended over new quiet props
  • High-altitude propellers are necessary for flying above 7,000 ft

Video and Photography

• ND Filters:
  • Polar Pro ND filters are recommended for video shooting
  • Use ND4, ND8, or ND16 filters depending on lighting conditions
• SD Cards:
  • SanDisk 128 Micro SD extreme Pro cards are recommended
  • Cards should have a minimum write speed of 95 megabits per second

Crash and Repair

• iFixit Kit:
  • A valuable toolkit for drone repair and maintenance
  • Includes tools for taking apart an iPhone and binding remotes
• Power Bank:
  • A mono price battery is a cost-effective option for charging devices
  • A 20,000 milliamp battery is recommended for drone operations

Miscellaneous

• Aviation Radio:
  • An Icom Aviation radio is recommended for communication in controlled airspace
  • A bow Fang radio can be used for team communications
• Business Card:
  • Always carry a business card for networking and marketing opportunities

Drone Acquisition Equipment

• Radio and Safety:
  • A programmable radio (e.g. Icom Aviation radio and Baofeng radio) is recommended for team communication and legitimacy
  • A high-visibility (hi-vis) vest is essential for team legitimacy and safety
  • A hi-vis vest with a certificate holder and FAA logo can help avoid authorities' interventions
  • Hi-vis vests with pockets are recommended for storing radios, certificates, and other essential items

Importance of Hi-Vis Vests

• Authority Perception:
  • A hi-vis vest can positively impact authorities' perception and response to drone operators
  • People tend to judge others based on appearance, and a hi-vis vest can create a positive impression
  • Authorities are becoming more educated on drone regulations, making it easier for drone operators to work without interruptions