Recent years have seen a sharp rise in drone use for recreation. Originally developed for use with large-scale military applications, drone technology has since been adapted for other uses in video production, land surveying and law enforcement to name a few.
However, piloting drones is a tricky skill to learn and anyone serious about drones needs a starting point as they can become expensive and require some technical knowledge. Luckily, there are some other devices that can help prepare your children for drone technology, or indeed yourself:
- Remote Control Helicopters
- Child-Friendly Mini Drones
- Beginner Drones
Learning to fly drones is a transferable skill and a hobby that should be encouraged. Drones are now used in many sectors and learning to fly them, as well as utilizing their extra technologies could help with getting a career as a professional drone pilot, a career that is currently being projected to increase exponentially over the next few years.
Spinning Motor RC Copters
RC helicopters are probably the first thing you would think of when training for drones and these are an excellent start to learning how to control lightweight drones. Modern RC copters are not to be confused with full-sized scale model helicopters which are professional models for expert pilots.
RC copters actually utilize small drone technology in their motors in order to give them lift (rather than rotary blades) and there are many models, shapes and sizes, but they are generally smaller than scale model RC helicopters. There are many great models out there to choose from and you can buy Sky Rover remote control helicopters at alphatoys.com. Should you wish to learn with RC copters then it might be best to start off with small, then progress to medium and then large.
Models such as the Sky Rover are basically easy to understand but hard to master. Two sticks control-blade RPM and direction simultaneously giving the model lift and direction. These models are best suited for children around 10 years old and due to their lightweight design are best used in a suitably large area inside or in very low to no wind outside, such as in the Summer.
Child-Friendly (UFO) Mini Drones
These small devices are very safe for children and are an excellent teaching machine when younger children are learning about the forces of lift and direction.
Not only are they easy to operate, but they are also encased inside a cage which minimizes the risk of any unfortunate accidents or injury as can be the case when learning with RC copters. Recommended for children as young as 6 years old, these drones are operated by using hand gestures (which is why they are encased) and can help with their development in communication skills, encouraging exercise and movement, and hand-eye coordination.
These too, are not recommended for use in small areas or in any type of wind.
Beginner Quadcopter
Perhaps the best and coolest device to learn with is the beginner quadcopter as these devices resemble full-sized drones and UAVs the most. Their unique 4-motor design makes them stable and easy to control but still requires some skill to learn.
There are many models of quadcopter from very cheap and basic models to medium grade and then professional level. Basic models are great tools for learning the basics of quadcopter functionality and aren’t expensive to replace should they crash.
Medium level quadcopters are the most fun to fly at a recreational level but can range from between a hundred dollars up to a couple of thousand. Many medium level quadcopters such as the DJI Mini have a good range of around 4 to 10km and are compatible with many mobile devices for their extra features such as virtual control and camera operation.
High-end devices might be a little expensive for the needs of a younger child, but if your kids are serious about becoming a drone or UAV pilot then there are some machines that will prepare them immensely for a career in unmanned aviation.
The DJI Phantom series is an amazing drone for your kids’ first glimpse into professional quadcopter piloting, although they are expensive at around $5,000. However, these are the drones that are used for things like land surveying and videography, two of the main careers currently looking for good pilots.
These drones utilize advanced technologies such as data tracking, satellite data storage and various signal technologies so your children will learn about the real-world applications of UAVs rather than using them as cool toys.
Since these drones are so expensive and will require previous drone knowledge, they aren’t recommended for smaller children and would be best purchased for teens and young adults with previous drone experience from the beginner models and RC copters mentioned.
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