Game of drones: The expectations vs reality of taking to the sky

THEY’RE the ultimate toy for adults, and are on countless Christmas lists. But drones aren’t as great as you think.

THE other day a drone came into my possession and it was probably close to the single greatest day of my life.

I could only imagine it’s how my friends with children felt on the day their babies were born.

You may find these statements too outrageous to comprehend, but put yourself in the shoes of a full grown man handed the ultimate adult toy and it might make more sense.

I was given was the 3DR Solo, a high-end model that retails for just under $1800 and boasts that it is “the world’s smartest drone” and “the easiest to fly”.

“Solo makes it easy for anyone to get professional aerial photos and video,” the website reads.

In a clear-cut case of getting what you pay for, my drone had a number of impressive features including wireless HD aerial video streaming direct to a device, powerful smart shot technology and intuitive gaming-style controller with an HDMI output.

As I gazed at the device, I channelled my inner Michael Bay thinking of all the amazing shots I was going to achieve with this glorious drone.

However, I was soon about to learn that flying a drone and capturing breathtaking images is not as easy as you first think.

The drone broadcast in HD directly to your device.

EXPECTATIONS VS REALITY

As soon as the drone arrived, I had the box open and was quickly reading the instructions.

Luckily, it only comes with a handful of parts making assembling the unit a breeze.

I didn’t encounter any real problems until I went to take the drone out on its maiden flight.

Expectation:

The drone was built, charged and ready to fly. I had spent the previous days dreaming of the amazing footage I was going to capture at a number of iconic locations across the city.

Reality:

When I opened the box, I was greeted with a flyer that informed me of all the legal restrictions on where and when I could fly my drone.

As it turned out, I was not allowed to fly closer than 30m to vehicles, boats or buildings that were not on my property.

I was not allowed to fly over any populated areas such as beaches, other people’s backyards, heavily populated parks or sports ovals during a game.

I was not allowed to operate within a radius of 5.5km of airports or helicopter landing sites.

I was not allowed to fly at night; the drone had to remain in my line of vision the entire time and couldn’t go any higher than 120 metres.

Verdict:

The restrictions are limiting, there is no doubt about that. However, they also force you to get creative, which is one of the main reasons to buy a drone to begin with.

A small portion of the flyer advising the legalities of the drone.

With the restrictions in place, I decided to adhere to the video tutorial and take it down to an open park, so I could get used to the controls of my new toy.

Expectation:

I wanted to head down to my local park, fire up the drone and discreetly have a session flying the drone.

Reality:

From the second I powered the drone, it become apparent there was no way to fly it discreetly.

The gadget was far more powerful than I had imagined and took off with such force, the grass below parted under the wind from the four propellers.

This power meant the drone was very loud - like an ensemble of whipper snippers operating in harmony.

Unfortunately, these factors meant the drone brought unwanted attention from people nearby.

Having a crowd gathered to watch you flying a drone in the park is bad enough, but when people notice it is recording and broadcasting on your device, it’s a whole new level of awkward.

Even though I was doing nothing suspicious, I still couldn’t help but feel like parents of children playing in the park viewed me as some sort of creep.

Verdict:

Flying a drone anywhere near groups of people is always going to grab unwanted attention and potential abuse.

If you can avoid this type of situation it will be more beneficial, but if this is not the case, you might have to accept people thinking you are some sort of deviant.

An area isolated from the general public is your best bet for a smooth flight.

Once I had learnt the basic controls and was with the drone, it was time to start shooting.

Expectation:

I had seen the promotional video of the drone and had watched endless YouTube clips of beautiful cinematography captured from the attached GoPro.

Reality:

While I was lucky enough to have a drone designed with the ability to perform powerful computer-assisted Smart Shots, I opted to attempt things manually to see how easy it would be.

I quickly learnt, it was not easy at all and my shots were looking nothing like the videos I had watched in anticipation of my drone flight. (See the video at the top of the story for the full results.)

The multiple controls used to steer the drone and camera contributed, but it was also down to fear of damaging the expensive product.

I knew the drone had failsafes in place to protect it from plunging from the sky onto the ground, but that didn’t make me any less nervous and reserved with the activities I undertook.

Additionally, the battery life of the drone only lasted for about 20 minutes of flight time, which means you have to be efficient in nailing your shot.

Verdict:

If you have a drone capable of smart shots, you will be in a good position. Otherwise, you can expect a few speed bumps along the way.

I do believe the more experience you have with the drone, the easier it will be to control and the more confidence you will have in the failsafes and your abilities. Although, this will take some time.

In terms of the battery, you have to be willing to accept it only has a short life and will require you to return home to charge it for another 1.5 hours before heading back out.

If money allows you could always buy back up batteries to swap, although this is likely to add unexpected costs.

THE BIG QUESTION

Owning and using a commercial drone has it pros and cons.

While some of negative aspects are unavoidable, most would become less of a worry the more you used your product.

Despite all the negative connotations, I would find it hard to not recommend drones to the average punter.

Every time I took the drone out and returned home, I found the experience exhilarating and couldn’t wait to fly it again.

I think it’s just a matter of how much money and time you want to invest that will determine your experience for drones.

As for me? I will definitely be taking to the skies again.

A selection of commercial drones that can be bought easily.

DRONES ON THE RISE

In aviation and in space, the term drone refers to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Traditionally, the military was responsible for the majority of drone sales, but recent times have seen a massive surge in the consumer market.

A study from Junipers Research discovered there has been a 500 per cent increase in the number of drones shipped annually.

According to the research, more than 20 million consumer drones were shipped globally this year, in comparison to the 4 million the year prior.

It is believed reduced costs, increased competition and easy accessibility have led to drones becoming popular with the wider public, not just hardcore hobbyists.

When talking consumer drones, prices range from low-end $50 models to the $2000 professional drones.