Re: Teaching DRONES In a robotics class
 

They either don't know the law/regulation, or they ignore it. Or, in some cases, they have a waiver. Incidentally, rules and regulations--once confirmed--can be, and are, enforced as laws, if they're issued by a government agency. See "ITAR".

And Chris is right: AMA doesn't touch the commercial stuff, just hobby. If you're flying "commercial", as far as I know (not very) AMA doesn't cover any "incidents", unlike if you're flying hobby in accordance with their safety rules.


OP, there is one thing that you will need to include, probably as the first item in the class: Safety. The plane the props rotate in is known as "the plane of death" to some, because if a prop breaks for some reason, everything in that plane for some distance is at risk of getting hurt. Even on a quadcopter...

Re: Teaching DRONES In a robotics class
 

As of right now, there is no official law governing the use of model aircraft for commercial purposes, as their previous regulation was revoked after the comment period. The FAA proposed new ruling which you can find on Flitetest's facebook page. However, these are just a draft and as of now it is perfectly legal to use model aircraft for aerial photography.

Re: Teaching DRONES In a robotics class
 

At this point the government has their heads up there bums. It is practically impossible for someone to spy with a drone, you cannot have enough control over the camera to create the proper exposure. Also people have to keeping using multi rotors commercially they have spent thousands of dollars to get one up in the air. if anyone disagrees with me please email me were will have a fun chat.
samueldobens@duxbury.k12.ma.us

Re: Teaching DRONES In a robotics class
 

No, they're just behind--there's a "hole" between the technology and what the regulations are right now (which does seem to be a continuing problem, but that's another topic of discussion). And durn right you can't spy with a drone, what do you think Global Hawk, Predator, and Reaper are up to right now? (If you want to argue that those aren't drones... good luck.)

I've seen drones operated not for commercial use--guess what, they're pretty good at their imaging. A decent one could take some video (or still frames) and maybe not see what book you were reading, but that you were reading one. Heck, I've heard of a standard camera mounted to the bottom of a single-rotor R/C chopper and sent out hunting for a fixed-wing R/C that had gone down in thick brush, and they found that R/C and brought it back.


Let me put it this way: Those people that spent the money knew (hopefully) that they were taking the risk that they would not be allowed to use their technology commercially for a while, if at all. It's called business venture, and capitalism. Maybe it pans out, maybe it doesn't. Sometimes, this stuff just happens.

Re: Teaching DRONES In a robotics class
 

When i was saying drones can not spy i was meaning non government privately owned drones. What people are scared of is them hitting someone or getting close to your window. Predetors and drones of the like are meant to track military movement. They do not have the capability to get right up to your window. Before you start to defend the government that they are behind in regulations they do not know what they are regulating at all! have you even read them, To fly a model aircraft you have to be 17 or older give me a break! jamesmcip and i are better than 99% of people over 17 but it will make it illegal for us to fly. How is there a technological gap in that.
But if you would like to talk more please email me.

Re: Teaching DRONES In a robotics class
 

You don't know what you are talking about. AMA membership for 18 and under is FREE for a full, open membership, and you don't even have to get that to fly a model aircraft. That sort of membership, BTW, is NOT covered by FAA, because it's "hobby", which as I understand the FAA is decidedly not regulating, instead having NGOs (see AMA) regulate.


And yes, a privately owned and flown drone could most certainly spy. The cameras are good enough, in about the $2K range, if you had a decent pilot. The safety matter is another matter that can be addressed by a good pilot--because a good pilot won't fly when it's unsafe.

You want an email? Allow me to explain why I choose to keep this public: Misinformation, not corrected, can be very dangerous. And you are not spreading correct information. I might not be either--so if someone does have the correct information, they can correct both of us.

Re: Teaching DRONES In a robotics class
 

This^^

The current FAA rules are very clear; you may not use an unmanned aerial vehicle for commercial purposes, i.e. making money, without an FAA waiver. Read the links I posted above, as well as these:
http://knowbeforeyoufly.org/for-business-users/
http://knowbeforeyoufly.org/for-recreational-users/
http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releas...m?newsId=18295
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_polic...AS_Summary.pdf

The proposed rules, which won't become law until at least 2017, will allow for licensed operators to fly commercially if the aircraft is within sight and under 500 ft.

Back on the topic of this thread:
A class on Unmanned Aerial Systems ("drone" has a negative connotation) should include a unit on current and future rules and regulations for both commercial and hobby use.

Re: Teaching DRONES In a robotics class
 

You obviously do not know how digital cameras work and what is best for FPV flight. To get a picture into a house is very difficult. The camera will expose to the side of the house. To fix this you can only have the window in the shot. which means getting really close, i can tell you right know there is not a single UAS out there that a normal person would not know was 6 feet outside there window. Once you are into the winnow area you then have to figure getting your focus on point the only camera i could think of the get the focus right would be the Nikon D4s with the Group area af but this camera will run you over 6000$ with out a lens. In my opinion go get a 100-400mm lens and get far away much more efficient. Or as bruce from Rcmodelreveiws/xjet would say Use a pole.

I am very thankful for the link to the AMA it reminds me to print of my ecard i got from them because i have been a member for three years.
if you are not familiar with the FAA regulation here you are. http://www.faa.gov/regulations_polic...AS_Summary.pdf
These are proposed not in full effect

Next time i would not try to argue with an avid RC pilot.

Re: Teaching DRONES In a robotics class
 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but those look like proposed regulations, not actual, enforced ones.

I'm not sure if this thread is the place to be discussing commercial drone usage-- the OP explicitly asked about creating a class on UAVs, and we seem to have migrated quite a bit from that topic.

Re: Teaching DRONES In a robotics class
 

#1. (answering the bold) If it weren't for work, I'd be out there with you. As it is, I work long hours, and with robotics, have no free time. I was an AMA member for 5 years before letting my membership lapse due to lack of free time to fly. So, this goes both ways. Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear?



#2. We aren't talking FPV. You obviously don't have acquaintances who are into cinematography. One of the folks I know put a UAV, with camera, up--and while you can't quite make out the faces in the cars in one or two of the videos I've seen... it's pretty darn clear. And that drone is quiet, mostly. I've heard it outside with no walls. It's quiet--on the order of, I'm outside and hear a light buzz, then look up and go "hey, a drone". If your house were as soundproofed as some I've been in, or there was enough background noise, you probably wouldn't hear anything, probably wouldn't see anything unless you happened to look outside. This isn't a cheap UAV, but more of a mid-range as near as I can tell. 6'? Try more like 20'.

Oh, and #3. From the document YOU LINKED: This would be any non-commercial sUAS's as I recall. In other words, anything the AMA currently covers.

Re: Teaching DRONES In a robotics class
 

Well, I never thought I could create a flame war with one sentence in one post on Chief Delphi. Well, I suppose with the internet, anything is possible.

Re: Teaching DRONES In a robotics class
 

This isn't, and we should get back on topic before this discussion get any more heated and gets this thread locked.
--------------
If I were taking a class in unmanned aerial vehicles, I would like to have the following covered in the curriculum:

• safety
• rules and regulations
• different controller options
• radio options
• how to choose motors and batteries
• how to choose a propeller
• differences in rotor count

EDIT: I found this course outline from HELIOCENTRIC EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING, LLC http://www.beoutside.org/New%20Folde...Curriculum.pdf that may be of interest to the OP.

Re: Teaching DRONES In a robotics class
 

Depending on the class overview, and how broad the curriculum wanted to get/how far into design, I would also include:
--Types and (potential) applications. (This would be more of a broad-spectrum fixed-wing/quad/hex and what each might be good for.) Maybe one class session.
--Basic aerodynamics (lift/drag/thrust/weight)--keep this one basic but it's foundational to the design of a UAV of any size or type. Maybe about 1-2 weeks worth, 2 if combined with the next item.
--Basic structural principles (stress/strain)--again, really basic, this is more of a foundation but you can use "rules of thumb" for sizing if needed.
--And make sure to include flying time. Nothing beats flying time. (On a simulator if necessary.)

Re: Teaching DRONES In a robotics class
 

If you're teaching the programming aspects as well, it would be useful (and interesting) to discuss how quadcopters (at least the ones I've seen) use PPM signals - though this only makes sense if students are somewhat familiar with pwm and analog. The controls behind quadcoptes are pretty fascinating but might be a little advanced (depending on what route you take).

Also, I'm going to second the safety thing, rogue copters are dangerous to more than just themselves.

Re: Teaching DRONES In a robotics class
 

Also another thing that would be good for a class (depending on how involved you want to get) is the tuning of the PIDs for the flight controllers. Some controllers have auto tune features, such as APM, but others like the KK2.1, naze 32, and cc3d require pid tuning.

While this is a very involved proses it will create a much better flying multirotor.