Listed below are some of the more important and commonly used terms drone pilots should know, in an easy-to-read glossary format.

A

Accelerometer: An electronic sensor that measures acceleration in specific directions helping to maintain orientation and stabilise quadcopters, especially in windy conditions.

Aerial Photography (AP): The process of taking aerial photographs and videos during flight, made possible due to small cameras mounted to the drone.

Altitude Hold: A function that allows the user to automatically hold the position of a drone at a specific height. Drones require an onboard barometer for this function.

Almost Ready to Fly (ARF): When a drone features most or all components but requires some form of assembly. Receivers are often not included with ARF drones.

Ascent Speed: The speed that a drone ascends into the air.

Autonomous Flight: An internal program that controls the flight of a drone, typically using on-board GPS to follow a pre-set path, rather than using steering mechanisms found on radio controls.

Autopilot: A function that allows the drone to fly in real time without human input, often using an internal GSP.

Auto Levelling: A flight mode that helps the drone stay at a specific level.

Axis: Refers to one possible plane of flight. Most drones feature 4 axis control, although 6+ are generally preferable. 

B

Batteries: The battery power and capacity of a drone is vital for its performance. Various sizes are available depending on the model and size of drone.

Barometric Pressure Sensor: A device that uses barometric pressure readings to identify the altitude of the drone. This allows the aircraft to determine its height above ground.

Bind: The process of linking a radio controller (transmitter) to a drone.

Brushless Motor: A type of electric motor that features permanent magnates rotating around a fixed armature. They are much more durable and efficient than brushed motors as they don’t require gearboxes, significantly reducing weight and wear on internal parts.

Battery Eliminator Circuit (BEC): An internal electronic component that lets a single battery power several circuits, such as the receiver and motors, helping to reduce the aircraft weight.

Build: Refers to home build aircraft rather than store bought.

BVLOS: Beyond visual line of sight.

C

Camera Gimbal: A rotatable connection used to hold a camera on the drone. Vary in size with some strong enough to mount DLSR cameras.

Carbon Fibre: Strong and lightweight composite material used in many drones due it’s impressive strength to weight ratio and durability.

Centre of Gravity (CG): The location of the central balance point of a drone. Basically, where all the weight is positioned, which needs to be at the centre of the aircraft. Adding different mounts, cameras, batteries etc., may alter the CG.

Controller: A wireless handheld controller used to operate the drone. Also called a transmitter.

D

Drone: A colloquial term for small (typically below 10lbs) multirotor aircraft. Drones are sometimes autonomous, meaning they control aspects of flight such as height and direction, while others are solely operated by the pilot. Come in various sizes with many different functions such as a photography and video recording.

Detect and Avoid (D&A): A function that allows the aircraft to detect air traffic and other hazards and take appropriate action to avoid crashes and collisions.

DJI (Dà-Jiāng Innovations): A Chinese company widely regarded as the best multi-rotor drone manufacturer in the world. Their drones are premium quality and fitted with the best technology, with various high-selling models available. For example, the DJI Phantom series are among the best-selling and reviewed commercial and consumer drones.

E

Electronic Speed Controller: A device used to increase and decrease drone motor RPMs. Works by connecting the battery to the RC receiver.

F

Field of View (FOV): The amount of visible environment from the camera, typically measured in degrees. 

First Person View (FPV): A feature that provides a live video in real time from the perspective of the drone from a mounted camera. Good for navigating and taking video and photos. FPV is usually displayed on a screen on the controller or via a smartphone.

Flight Controller (FC): The drone’s onboard controller responsible for operating various functions.

Frame: The core frame of the drone that the rest of the aircraft is built around.                       

G

Geofence: A virtual boundary created using GPS technology. Allows software to command automatic responses when aircraft enter and leave the areas, such as flying back to the pilot (home point) when leaving a certain height or direction.

Gigahertz / Ghz: Describes the radio frequency used in most drone radio controllers. 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz are the two most common frequencies for connecting the ground transmitter (controller) to the drone.

Gimbal: A specially designed camera mount that lets the camera move independently from the drone. Ensures the camera remains stable during flight, making it essential for aerial photography and video recording.

GPS (Global Positioning System): The use of global satellites to monitor aircraft movements and hold positions. Accuracy varies on each drone, with some more reliable than others.

GoPro: A range of popular compact and lightweight HD video cameras designed for outdoor use that are commonly attached to drones to take aerial photograph and record videos. Highly durable, being waterproof and shock resistant.

Gyroscope: A device that measures rotation rates to maintain orientation and stabilise the aircraft. Not included with smaller aircraft due to weight restrictions.

H

Heads Up Display (HUD): Displays various data directly to the pilot, usually found on a display screen on the controller or on connected smart devices. Data shown usually includes speed, altitude, GPS coordinates etc.

Headless Mode: A function that allows the onboard computer to align drone movement in relation to the controller rather than the front the drone.

Hero: A popular brand of compact and durable high-resolution cameras that are often used with drones. Cannot broadcast in real time however, so footage is only viewed after flying the drone.

Hexacopter: A common term for multi-rotor aircraft featuring six rotors.

Hobby Grade: Refers to the overall quality of the drone, with hobby grades being more durable, reliable and higher performing than toy grade drones. For example, the DJI Phantom series are considered hobby grade drones.

Hovering Time: The length of time that the drone hovers for when not moving in a direction. Heavier drones have less hovering time due to their added weight.

I

Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU): A combination controller that features accelerometers and gyros to provide improved orientation and stabilization assistance.

Inertial Navigation System (INS): System used to calculate drone positioning using the initial GPS reading, then motion and speed sensor readings, making navigation possible even if GPS signal is lost or unavailable.

J

JST: A common battery connector used on drones

L

Line of Sight (LOS): When the drone is visible to the naked eye from the pilot’s position.

LiPo Battery: Lithium polymer batteries, the main type of battery used in drones, known for being lightweight with a large charge capacity:

M

mAH: Represents milli amp hours, a common unit of measurement showing how much power a battery offers before needing recharged.

Magnometer: An electronic compass that pilot uses to know the direction the drone is facing

Micro: A term for the smaller drones, typically weighing around 25g, also known as micro air vehicle (MAV).

Mobius Camera: A type of high-resolution camera purposely built for drones. Capable of capturing HD videos and photographs.

Modification: Modifying a drone to have custom features and functions, such as adding an improved camera.

Multicopter: General term for drones with several rotors (horizontal propellers, such as quadcopters (four rotors), hexacoptors (six rotors), and octocopter (eight rotors).

N

Nano: Term for the smallest types of drones, usually weighing 8g and under, also known as toy drones

NAZA: Range of electronic controllers developed by DJI. Compatible with mid to high-range drones, provides functions such as gyro, accelerometer, barometric altimeter, GPS, and compass.

No Fly Zone: Areas where drone flight is restricted by the government. Typically found in areas where drones could interfere with aircraft or illegally record sensitive data, such as airports and military bases.

O

Octocopter: A drone consisting of eight rotors (horizontal propellers)

On Screen Display (OSD): A display screen on the controller providing real time telemetry data such as altitude, battery, etc.

P

Payload: The total amount of extra weight a drone can lift along with its weight and batteries.

Phantom: One of the best-selling line of drones from DJI

Pitch: Describes the flight angle of an axis and whether it’s rising or falling in relation to the ground.

Point of Interest (POI): Term given to any objects that may be of interest such as a prominent landmark.

Power Distribution Board (PDB): A printed circuit board that provides power connections between various internal systems such as batteries, motors, and the ecteronic speed controller.

Q

Quadcopter: A drone consisting of four rotors (horizonal propellers). Four rotors offer quality stability compared to helicopters and are among the most popular types of drones.

R

Radio Control (RC): Drones that are radio controlled from distances using a handheld transmitter.

Ready to Fly (RTF): Refers to a drone that is sold preassembled and ready to fly straight from the box. Require little to no assembly, with most needing just batteries added.

Received Signal Strength Indictor (RSSI): Refers to the signal strength between the controller and the drone.

Receiver: The radio component on the drone that receives the radio signal from the transmitter. Sometimes refers to the video footage received from the drone to the controller when using FPV mode.

Return Home: A mode that returns the drone ‘home’, which is usually the starting position or the current location of the pilot. Useful for when the drone is out of sight or about the battery is about to die.

Revolutions Per Minute (RPM): The total number of rotations the drone motor completes per minute.

Roll: Refers controlling the drone movement left and right around the angle of its long axis.

Rotor: A propeller attached to a motor that provides the drone with a lifting element.

S

Sense and Avoid: A form of collision detection that prevents the drone from crashing and colliding with objects and other aircraft.

Servo: Stands for servomotor, which are on-board mechanical devices used to complete various functions on the drone’s surface. For instance, zooming with the camera or moving wing flaps mid-flight.

Starter Drone: Drones that are designed for beginner use.

sUAV: Stands for small unmanned aerial vehicle. Often referred to as SUA (small unmanned aircraft) or SUAS (small unmanned aircraft system).

T

Telemetry: Important data used in drone flying, such as speed, altitude, battery, position, pitch etc.

Throttle: The amount of power applied to rotors. Increasing the throttle increases RPMs and the overall speed of the drone.

Toy Grade: A common term for drones that cost under $100. While not as reliable as hobby grade drones, toy grade products are much cheaper to maintain as their replacement parts cost less. May lack many functions found on hobby grade drones but are a great starting point for drone flying.

Transmitter: A radio-controlled transmitter held by the drone pilot. It transmits radio signals that instruct the drone the direction to fly and to perform any functions. Also refers to the video transmitted in real time when using FPV function. Often shortened to TX.

Trim: Adjusting the controller settings on a transmitter to prevent drifting.

U

UAV: Stands for unmanned aerial vehicle, a common term describing drones and other aircraft.

Ultrasonic Sensor: A sensor that uses ultrasonic sound waves to determine the drone’s position from the ground and whether there are obstacles present.

V

Vertical Take-Off Landing (VTOL): A function on drones that allow them to launch vertically.

W

Waypoint: Locations that feature set coordinates used to mark a physical space. Waypoints are essential for mapping out autonomous flight paths for a drone.

Wide Open Throttle (WOT): When the maximum throttle is used to achieve top speed.

Y

Yaw: Describes a drone’s rotation around its own centre axis, such as moving clockwise and anticlockwise on a level plane.