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Different Types of Drones- An Analysis

Drones are aero gadgets which have been in use for a while and have various purposes, use cases and consumer base. From combat to research, photography to recreation, there are drones for everyone in various prices and sizes. Before going into the details of the types of drones, it is important to know, assemble and maintain the basic parts of a drone like propellers, batteries, motors and electronic speed controllers in various capacities.

Types of Drones

Some types of drones based on functionality are –

Photography Drones

These are lightweight drones attached with high-definition digital cameras to take aerial shots and shots of spaces not accessible to humans, through remote control, hence securing their importance in the lives of cinematographers, military personnel and amateur photographers. Multirotor drones are generally used to carry out photography with drones for a balanced flight, whereas in cases where longer flight times are required, single rotor drones are used. The categories of drones used for this purpose is generally VTOL (vertical take-off and landing), however they can be adjusted to horizontal flight modes. As the tasks involved in photography a lot of retakes, we should have a stock of good drone batteries.

Reconnaissance Drones

Slightly larger in size, reconnaissance drones are used as both non-combat and combat drones. These drones are among the most commonly employed by militaries around the world. The IAI Heron and the LUNA are both classified as reconnaissance drones. Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) and High-Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones are the types of Reconnaissance Drones.

Tactical Drones

These are non-combat drones that are primarily used in the military for surveillance. These drones are equipped with GPS and infrared cameras, which helps in gathering data in unknown territories during the night and places ravaged by natural disasters.  Tactical drones are typically lightweight and relatively smaller in size. Examples of tactical drones are the RQ-11B Raven and the Lemur 2.

Combat Drones

Combat drones are huge and allow military forces to conduct aerial warfare and military strikes without risking the life of a human pilot. These weaponized aircrafts are equipped with bombs or missiles. Variants such as the Predator and Reaper, used by the US, are around 36 ft long and able to fire on targets with air-to-surface missiles and laser-guided bombs. These drones have been unfortunately used throughout history to conduct terrorist activities. These units can operate for 14 hours over a range of a thousand miles. China has manufactured its own version of combat drones, the CH-4. Combat drones are also used as decoy drones in a number of cases, depending on the mission. They are ideally drones with a longer flight time than recreational drones.

Cargo Drones

These drones are designed to transport goods over short to medium distances. In large countries such as USA and Australia they can be used for delivery of consumer packages, medical supplies, and other payloads, especially in areas with limited infrastructure or during emergencies. In a large scale, such delivery methods may be cost effective and automated. Amazon has used MK27-2 hexacopters to deliver packages that weighed less than five pounds to residents in College Station, Texas, and Lockeford, California.

Underwater Drones (ROVs): They are used for marine exploration, underwater inspections, and research. Also known as Submarine drones or Remotely Operated Vehicles. They can explore the ocean and come in two different varieties: tethered and untethered. Tethered underwater drones relay real-time data, such as video, to the source at the other end of the cable attached, without losing connection. Untethered underwater ROVs share similar capabilities but cannot travel as far below without losing signal.

Mini and Nano Drones

In today's world there is no use of a gadget if it is not micro sized. Mini drones, also known as micro drones or small drones, measure at about the size of your hand. Not to be mistaken for a child’s toy, the six-inch Black Hornet have been used in combat and invasion.

Nano Drones are extremely small drones, designed for indoor use or close-range reconnaissance in limited cases. They are known for their stealth and skilled movements.