Discover the necessary care with Drones in different climates
Hello!
It's great to have you here on another #MondayBlog!
Today, once again, we are going to talk about climate. If you haven't seen our article on the relationship between climate and your equipment and your insurance, click here and give it a read!
However today, our focus is on drones. Wonderful machines that made a huge difference in the audiovisual field. By the way, do you know how they came to be?
A LITTLE HISTORY
According to the ITA (Internet of Things Agenda), a drone is a flying robot that can be remotely controlled and piloted through flight software implanted in its system, working in conjunction with GPS and on-board sensors . That definition is pretty cool, isn't it?
In fact, the concept of drones is quite old, dating back to 1849, when Austria used unmanned balloons filled with explosives to attack Venice.
After that, its use was mostly military, and decade after decade, its technology was improved and its size was enhanced.
However, the drone that became popular and is used today in professional and amateur filming, came into existence only in 2010, and that is why what we are experiencing today is called the “Golden Age” of drones.
Its advancement is so sure and exciting that big companies like Amazon are studying and testing its use in delivering goods. Therefore, talking about drone is a very relevant subject.
Whether you are a producer or an audiovisual technician, drones are already part of your reality, and if you are the owner of some kind of business with delivery, it will become part of yours too.
And for this reason, we at Prospecto will explain to you how, when and why special attention is needed with your drone and why having good insurance is always essential.
WEATHER AND DRONES
Assuming that drones are flying machines, it is very easy to conceive that weather can and will interfere with drone flight, just as it does with regular air travel. After all, is it not uncommon to find people who have been stuck for hours at an airport waiting to take off due to heavy rains, or even those who had to wait to fly the other day due to blizzards?
None of this is new, but we tend to forget the obvious. A drone is much smaller equipment than a commercial plane, or a helicopter, so wind, rain, snow and even heat and sand can not only disrupt your footage, but also destroy what has already been captured, as well. to damage the drone itself.
THE WIND
Strong winds can take your drone off course, and make the takeoff, landing and control of it impossible tasks, and all this can also cause accidents. And we're not just talking about the destruction of the equipment itself, we're talking about physical damage to a third party or their property, in addition to the risk of accidents involving people.
And do you know why we care about it? In a marathon a few years ago, they used a drone to film the event. It was windy and the equipment pilot lost control. To make a long story short, the drone, out of control, landed on one of the marathon runners and cut his finger off with its propeller. Sounds like a lie, right? Yeah, the story is true.
So if you, the producer, are filming with drones, check the day's wind at the filming location. And take out your ACCL (Air Carrier Civil Liability) and HULL of the equipment insurance . Just a friendly advice.
WATER
A heavy rain can enter your drone and damage internal components, as we are talking about electrical equipment. And yes, there are waterproof versions and water resistant versions, but none of them can withstand every type of storm.
So it's good to know what the drone being used is capable of withstanding, before putting it in the air and making it inoperable, or worse yet, causing it to fall.
THE COLD
As we have already mentioned in our article “Find out how the weather can affect your equipment and your insurance coverage”, extreme cold can dramatically reduce battery life in equipment, and in the case of drones, this translates into range and your flight time.
Batteries commonly used in drones use Lithium Polymer (LiPo) and the cold reacts with this battery chemically, causing the drone to quickly lose energy, sometimes up to 50% more than in normal use. There have been cases of the drone simply turning off during the flight and falling into free fall.
FOG AND SNOW
Both the use of drone in the presence of snow and fog bring a problem called low visibility.
And yes, there are times when it is cinematically essential to record these moments, but this low visibility reduces the ability of drone cameras to collect visual data, which translates into wasted money, with a high possibility of failed flights.
But don't despair, if it's essential to fly in this type of weather, here's an expert tip, compensate for the darker skies by slowing down the shutter speed and whim in post-production.
CONDENSATION
Best known as the #1 enemy of electronic equipment, condensation could not be missing from this list. Excessive air humidity can cause a number of problems with regard to the drone's operational capability.
Condensation can ruin propeller engines, camera, and internal drone systems. And if you're using GPS, this condensation can even interrupt the signals, distorting the geotags.
FOG
It's very easy to understand why it's necessary to avoid flying in the rain or snow, but flying your drone in fog is also a bad idea, as fog often triggers obstacle avoidance sensors, which makes it believe there's something right in front of you, and causes it to stop in mid-flight, in order to avoid collisions.
Drones, if used correctly, are inventions with great potential. We are all witnesses to the wonderful images in movies, series and commercials, captured through the use of this equipment.
But let's not forget about security, folks. Check the weather, wind strength, and flight permits required by the local regulatory body where you will be filming using a drone.
Hire experienced professionals, as well as the necessary insurance.
We at Prospecto are available to help you find the best insurance solution for the use of drones in your project.
Not least because drone claims are no joke, and we'll talk about it in detail in a new #MondayBlog.
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We hope you enjoyed the information that we at Prospecto brought you this Monday.
We'll be waiting for you in the next #MondayBlog!
Have a great week, lovers!
Prospecto Seguros
Learn more:
Drones
Equipments
Audiovisual Production
Errors and Omissions
Life and Personal Accidents