Droning On and On: Fundamentals of Drones, Drone Flying and Drone Law (On-Demand)

Course Description

This course will cover everything from the different types of drones and how they are being currently used to the various legal issues relating to drones. You will learn everything from why not to launch from under a tree or other shade-providing object to whether you need a Part 107 license to take pictures of a house for a realtor. After taking this course, you will be ready to purchase and fly your first drone, understand federal drone law and regulations, and get a glimpse into the future of unmanned flight.

Syllabus

1. Drone Basics: How Drones Work
   • Fixed wing v. rotary
   • Flight mechanics: Lift/Thrust, Yaw/pitch/roll, Stability via gyroscope
   • Navigation systems: GPS/obstacle avoidance
   • Communication systems: Only as good as your GPS signal, signal jamming technologies (police v. terrorists)
   • Drone software: Flight controller, main processor, gyroscope and accelerometer, barometer, GPS receiver, compass, electronic speed controller, radio frequency receiver power distribution board, onboard storage, connectivity ports, communication systems, data processing, user interface (Smart controller/cell phone), sensor integration. Future with AI
   • Battery life and power management: Cold weather, recharging batteries
2. Drone Operations
   • Safety concerns. Fixed obstacles, other drones, birds, weather (wind, rain and snow)
   • Privacy concerns
   • Types of Drones: Consumer, Commercial, Military
   • Common uses of drones: Construction, Inspection, Agriculture, Energy, Entertainment/News coverage, Law Enforcement, Insurance/Risk Assessment/Claims, Monitoring animal populations/anti-poaching
   • Current market for drone services: Construction/Inspection
3. Drone Manufacturing and Getting Started in Drones
   • Manufacturers and market trends.  China/DJI
   • Getting started. 10 years ago, buy a junky drone, crash it and learn to fly, then but a good drone. Today, buy a good drone. Entire package will be $2,000+
   • Traveling with a drone. Lithium-ion batteries carryon, drone backpack
4. Ethical Considerations
   • Privacy and surveillance. Drones make is easy, but, how much is too much? Recent trends
   • Environmental impact. It can be used to save the environment (anti-poaching, environmental assessment over time, but can endanger wildlife as well (bird strikes, using drones for hunting)
   • Public safety. Search & Rescue v. Unauthorized surveillance
5. Basic Drone Law
   1. Need for drone registration? Weight of drone
   2. Commercial v. recreational use, TRUST certificate, Part 107 Test, Permits for certain commercial activities
   3. US federal drone law as compared with drone law of selected foreign countries, AKA Great place to fly and what you need to know about drone laws in specific countries
   4. Getting the proper permit(s) for flying in foreign countries
   5. State drone law for selected states
   6. National Park/State Park Drone Law, with a special look at Utah and seasonal drone permits
   7. Take-off/landing requirements, flying in “from the side” of a park