Top Drone Accessories for Better Aerial Photography - 015
Here’s a situation we all have had at one point, ordering something online, like a drone for instance, and realizing that it didn’t come with all the accessories needed for an enjoyable experience. It’s back to the computer to order more stuff. The most common scenario is not having but one battery with which to go flying, now that gets under my skin. Good retail outlets suggest up sells that are popular. Some manufacturers have special upgrades, such as the DJI “Fly More” package, that include extra batteries, tablet holders and carrying case. Putting together your own package is doable if you want to save money, just compare the deluxe package to the basic offer. We assembled a list of accessories, not necessarily focused on the camera, but rather ideas on how to make your flight a positive experience.
Batteries and Multi-Battery Charger
As mentioned in the beginning of the article, not having enough batteries is a real bummer. Even if you have a drone that will fly for thirty plus minutes, one battery won’t cut it. Caution: If the manufacturer states the battery will last for thirty minutes for instance, don’t believe it; wind, temperature, and the drive to sell more drones may inflate the stated flight time endurance.
When it comes to chargers, pay attention to the manufacturer’s directive regarding average recharging time. I own a drone that has about a twenty-minute battery life; however, charging takes several hours with the included charger. Since I use two of these drones in our flight training business, our solution was to buy a ton of batteries and a quick charger. Note: Quick charging may shorten the life of the battery but for us it’s just the cost of doing business.
If you want maximum life from your batteries, consider upgrading to a “smart charger” that will manage the charge by cycling charge rates and capacity. The only disclaimer is that if you have an operation that dispatches in an instant, like public safety, then remaining at one hundred percent is a necessity.
It's also worth thinking about how to charge your batteries on the go, or “in the field,” as the expression goes. Options include using vehicle ports (USB, cigarette lighter plugin adapter, etc.). Also, incorporating an inverter into your car, or buying a solar generator/battery pack can preserve your vehicles battery and fuel. You don’t want to have to call a tow truck because your drone charging zapped your car battery.
Quick tip: As you replace expended batteries with fresh batteries put the tabs of the battery in the opposite direction to know at an instant the charged and discharged batteries. See a better illustration of this under the "Case and Backpack" heading.
Table
Many people have laughed as I’m carrying my table to the take-off site. I have the last laugh because trying to get prepared for a flight while grabbing drone stuff from the ground is a real pain. My suggestion is to buy a small light-weight collapsible table that includes a handle, because you don’t want to drag a heavy 8-foot table more than a few feet. Light-weight aluminum tables are the bomb.
Admittingly, the back hatch of an automobile will work as a staging point, but many times you can’t get close enough to the take-off site. Important: Don’t forget to update your home-point from the clear area of your take-off/landing pad.
Case or Backpack
Akin to the old story that many fathers told their children, “I walked to school in the snow, uphill both ways,” is the story from the old days of large, bulky legacy drones that were carried in large cases or awkward backpacks. My story from the early days was having to hauling an end-table sized drone in a case a mile and a half down the beach on a hand cart. Fortunately, drones have become a lot smaller, ushering in smaller backpacks and cases (with a shoulder strap). When deciding on a case, be sure to allow for enough storage space as we tend to underestimate storage space long term.
Landing Pad (also known as a Landing Zone-LZ)
Most pilots already own a landing pad, a necessary accessory indeed. Most own the fabric pad that expands out when opened, not bad if the wind is light. However, if the wind is up, it’s necessary to use the stakes, which is a pain, what if you are on a hard surface, like an asphalt parking lot? It’s still good to use a landing pad in this situation to prevent debris from being kicked up damaging your investment. I like to use a thin round wood in a circular shape, toss it on the ground then pick it up once, done and done.
SD Cards
We have all forgotten to bring an SD card to a mission. As simple as it sounds it’s easy to take the card out of the drone and forget to replace it or have an extra in the case. Ideally, replace the card and have extra cards on hand. Depending on where you are located not having an SD card can be a non-starter. If there is a store close by it doesn’t mean they will have the size and speed needed for drone work. My phone takes good photos and video which may get you out of a jam, but for most jobs it will take the extra capabilities of an SD card.
Cones, Flagging Tape and Safety Vest
Depending on the type of mission it’s good to have cones, flagging tape and safety vest in your vehicle and/or pack. We were on the side of a street with several pedestrians milling about and interested in seeing the action when several members of the cast were content with sitting just a few feet away from our very large drone. Unfortunately, I didn’t have this equipment at the time but was able to ask them nicely if they wouldn’t mind moving away a bit to increase the safety buffer. They kindly complied; I typically get a better response when offering sweet tea over limes. Lesson learned on my part.
Windsock or Anemometer
A windsock can be an asset when winds are high and/or winds are gusting. Sure, your fancy app will alert you to high winds, but wouldn’t it be nice to be able to know if it’s worth taking-off instead of having a gust send your drone crashing into a tree (or worse) as the app is altering you of the high winds? I have a simple, non-aviation windsock that’s small, portable, and hooks to a tent-like pole that attaches to my vehicle.
A anemometers for drone-work is typically a handheld device with a fan-like device that is pointed in the wind to give a wind speed reading. It goes without saying, if the operator doesn't point it in the direction of the wind, or the wind is shifting wildly, the information will be in error. While handheld anemometers are popular I prefer the simple windsock, and you won't have to replace the batteries. Actually, due to UV damage windsocks need to be replaced periodically (every few years) if left outside.
Tablet and Holder
Most drones use a cell phone instead of an integrated screen located on the controller. A side note, I prefer using a tablet or cell phone because if one quits working you don’t loose both devices. Reminds me of the comedian that quipped during an interview how TV-DVD-VCR combos were a horrible idea because if you lost one the entire unit had to be sent to the repairman.
Don’t forget to buy the specialize holder that converts your standard cell phone holder to a tablet holder, the picture is what happens while you wait by the mailbox for the tablet adapter to arrive. If using a standard tablet consider picking up a sunscreen, but opinions are mixed on this because it can get in the way. Alternatively, there’s the more expensive route, a specialized screen made for daylight conditions. One more thing, a tablet will require a longer cord because the manufacturer only supplies enough cable to barely accommodate a cell phone, go figure.
Landing Gear & Prop Guards
Another couple of suggestions is to pick up a landing gear and prop guards for your drone. A landing gear can be a big help if you are not using a landing pad or have a good chance of missing the landing pad on landing due to high winds and/or turbulence. There can be a lot of vegetation and debris outside of the landing area and reduce the likelihood of damaging your drone or being tempted to hand catch the drone on landing. I’m not a fan of hand catching a drone for safety reasons except for a handful of situations. A popular drone channel said in one of their videos that hand-catching a drone was the mark of a professional, I disagree, there are simply too many risks.
Extras: Cables, Props, Tools, and ND Filters
Last, but not least, are to have those infrequently used items such as extra cables, props, tools, and ND filters. Extra props are a no-brainer, but not having the tool to replace the props can cause a significant delay. A worst situation if it’s a specialized tool.
Extra cables can be a mission saver as cables break and get lost. Furthermore, be sure to have miscellaneous cables, such as an Android phone cable if the need arises to switch from an iPhone to Android.
We wrap up by suggesting having a set of ND filters to allow how much light is allowed into the camera lens. Filters have a lighter lens color of shading to very dark. In a future article we will discuss the specifics behind ND filters but for now, put in your pack. The old filmset saying, “We’ll fix it in post,” only goes so far, so best to be prepared.
An old sage in the business said, “It’s better to have multiples of each rather than swapping out accessories between drone cases.” I came around to embracing this concept after having my own issues forgetting or misplacing certain items. Accessories does not make the pilot, but it can create a productive atmosphere in which to do great aerial photography. Plus, experimenting with various accessories is a critical part to developing your own style as a pilot.
TC Freeman is the Chief Instructor for the RemotePilotAssociation.com (RPA) and has a passion for helping recreational and commercial drone pilots learn to fly and earn FAA commercial Remote drone Pilot certification through live, hybrid or self-study courses.
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Copyright 2023, Remote Pilot Association (TC Freeman)
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