Using Drones For Aerial Imagery

Using Drones For Aerial Imagery Version v2

Simon Handley

Skylark Aerial Photography

www.skylark-aerialphotography.co.uk

Skylark Aerial Photography

Skylark Aerial Photography is run by:- Simon Handley

My Background:- Development & Support Engineer of 28 years travelling

globally for a large gas company

Private pilot of 25 years with over 800 hrs flying experience

Have designed and built drones over the past 12 years

Skylark Aerial Photography Began Business January 2016

150 hrs flying drones in 12 months

Business is 60% filming/TV work, 40% Inspections and surveys

What Is A Drone ? Drones are more formally known as unmanned aerial vehicles

(UAV). Essentially, a drone is a flying robot. The aircraft may be remotely

controlled or can fly autonomously through software-controlled flight plans in

their systems working in conjunction with GPS.

UAVs have most often been associated with the military but they are also used

for search and rescue, surveillance, traffic monitoring, weather monitoring and

fire fighting, among other things.

Fact:- Drones are named after the male bee

History Of The Drone

The earliest recorded use of an unmanned aerial vehicle for fighting occurred

on August 22, 1849, when the Austrians attacked the Italian city of Venice with

unmanned balloons loaded with explosives.

The first pilotless aircraft were built during and shortly after World War I.

The first large-scale production purpose built drone was the product of

Reginald Denny Hobby Shops Hollywood. He said low cost RC aircraft would

be very useful for training anti-aircraft gunners. Nearly fifteen thousand drones

made for the US army during World War II to practice against.

The first operational decoy drone was the McDonnell Douglas Quail, which was

carried by Boeing B52 bombers to help them penetrate defended airspace in

the 50’s.

History Of The Drone

In May 2006, the (FAA) issued a certificate of authorization which will allow the

Reaper aircraft to be used within U.S. civilian airspace to search for survivors

of disasters.

Use of quadcopters and hexcopters from 2010 for aerial photography

Since 2013 small quadcopters are now readily available for use at home.

Licence regulations began 2013 for commercial operation.

UK there are three classifications for drone use regulated by CAA

0 to 7kg, 7 to 20kg, 20 to 150kg

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) governing body regulates drone use

above 150kg in European airspace

Skylark Where It All Began

12 years ago I began designing and building systems for fixed wing model aircraft

for transmission of video back to the operator


• Video transmitted to goggles which enabled the operator to fly and control the

plane from FPV (first person view). The planes have full GPS, compass,

altimeter, solid state gyroscope, autopilot.

• TX and RX range 2.5 miles, video down link 15-20 miles.

• Programme the autopilot via PC using waypoints

• Small micro processor controls the plane when required and monitors all

systems including autopilot, batteries, altimeter, gyroscope. Will initiate return

to home if any system is compromised.

• No regulations 12 years ago

Regulations & Licence For SUAS

Anyone flying a drone either recreationally or commercially has to take

responsibility for doing so safely. Permission to operate a SUAS (small

unmanned aerial system) for aerial work is required from the CAA (civil

aviation authority).

Theory

Air Law

Theory of Flight

Meteorology

Civil Aviation Procedures (CAPS)

Navigation

Lithium Polymer Batteries

Emergency Procedures

Human Factors

Flight Planning Exercise, and

Operations Manual Guidance

Regulations & Licence For SUAS

Ops Manual

After successful completion of the RPCT (remote pilot certificate course test),

candidates have to complete and submit their Ops Manual for approval. This is

completed in the candidate’s own time and requires them to produce a manual

detailing the way in which they operate their SUAS to conform to regulations and

safety standards.

Operational Evaluation (Flight Test)

Once the Ops Manual is deemed and ratified satisfactory, you will be assigned

an evaluator. The evaluator will give you a practical scenario that reflects a

normal task that you can expect from a customer in the future. You will plan the

mission and carry out the practical task at one of the approved operational sites.

Successful completion of the practical task gives students the RPC (remote pilot

certificate) award and ability to apply for PfCO (permission for commercial

operation) from the CAA.

Operational Requirements

The aircraft must not be flown:

• over or within 150 metres of any congested area

over or within 150 metres of an organised open-air assembly of more than

1,000 persons

• within 50 metres of any vessel, vehicle or structure which is not under the

control of the person in charge of the aircraft

• within 50 metres of any person except during take-off or landing, the aircraft

must not be flown within 30 metres of any person except for the person in

charge of the aircraft.

Fact: The Chinese EHang 184 can

carry 1 person.

Cumbria Air Users Group Skylark is a member and represents commercial drone users

Meet every 6 months at Police HQ Penrith (Central Point)

Members:-

RAF Control

RAF Spadeadam

CAA (Civil Aviation Authority)

Police Drone Squad

Commercial Drones Operators (Skylark Aerial Photography)

Carlisle Airport

Great North Air Ambulance

Aero Modellers Society

Para Gliders Society

Gliding Society

Flight Training Carlisle

Sellafield

Representative of Light Aircraft Users

Quadcopters

A quadcopter, is a helicopter that is lifted and propelled by four rotors.

Quadcopters generally use two pairs of identical fixed pitched propellers; two

clockwise and two counter-clockwise.

These use independent variation of the speed of each rotor to achieve

control.

By changing the speed of each rotor it is possible to specifically generate a

desired total thrust and so control the quadcopter.

Quadcopters

Fact: The fastest quadcopter drone can accelerate

from 0 to 60 mph in 1.3 seconds and fly at 118mph

Quadcopters

Skylark Aerial Drones

Skylark operates three drones commercially, but has 4 experimental long range

fixed wing drones and 1 training quadcopter.

DJI Inspire 1 DJI Inspire Pro 3 to 6kg weight

50mph max speed

15000ft max altitude

Climb rate 1000ft/min

4K Cameras


DJI S-900 heavy lift spreading wings multirotor hexacopter, carrying a Lumix GH4

DSLR, and this can also be configured to carry other payloads up to 5kg.


DJI Inspire 1 professional quadcopters,

which carry the professional *Zenmuse X5

micro four thirds DSLR camera system.

Unlike most drones, we can fit different

lenses (including zoom), which gives us

the ability to capture the perfect footage.

We have a variety of lenses and filters –

Olympus M.Zuiko digital ED 12mm

f/2.0, DJI MFT 15mm f/1.7 ASPH

and Olympus M.Zuiko ED 14-42mm f/3.5-

5.6 EZ, Olympus M.Zuiko ED 45mm

*Zenmuse X5 (rebadged Lumix GH4 for DJI)

The Workhorse


Control

Commercial Offering

Photographic around 20% of work commissioned for:-

Photographic Inspection & Survey around 20% of work commissioned for:-

Estate Agents

Historic Buildings

Airports and Services

Sporting Activities

Inspection (roofs chimneys)

Surveys (wild life)

Landscapes

Attractions

Model Railway Societies

Weddings

Events

Assignment Example The Black Horses

Assignment Example BP 150

Examples

Examples

1st Place Runner Up Daily Telegraph Big Picture Competition

Examples

Commercial Offering

Video/Film Work

Sporting Events

Transport

Action Video

Weddings

Events

Promotional Marketing

Company Page Facebook

Social Media Clips Required Within 24hrs

Tourist Attraction

TV Productions

News

Fact: A hobby drone operator flew a drone to

11000ft

Commercial Offering

Video/Film Work

Around 60% of work commissioned for

Some work to date

BBC4 Swallows & Amazons Inland Waterways Coniston Water

France TV2 Lake District Documentary

ITN News at 10

Wiggle Outdoor Equipment

TV Series Against All Odds

Great North Swim and Great North Swim Run

Lakeland Trails

Windermere Lakes Cruises

Windermere Jetty

Low Wood Bay Promo

BBC1 Breakfast TV

Commercial Offering Video

With the crew on Helvellyn for Against All Odds

Commercial Offering Video

With the crew at Cautley Spout for Against All Odds

The Future ?

Or Is The Future Here ? Rwanda chosen for world's first 'drone-port' to deliver medical

supplies

Thank You For Your Attention

Using Drones For Aerial Imagery

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