The Droner's Manual

The incredible advancements in the field of unmanned aircraft within the last decade have made it possible for almost anyone to build their own UAV, opening up exciting business opportunities in numerous fields ranging from video production to agriculture. However, many beginners and even more experienced hobbyists find this daunting, as reliable information for construction and programming of unmanned aircraft is often scattered across various sources, and the industry lacks established standards for the safe and efficient operation of small unmanned aircraft. The Droner’s Manual: A Guide to the Responsible Operation of Small Unmanned Aircraft compiles the most important and relevant knowledge into a guide for both beginner and experienced operators. With his expertise as a UAV operator for government, industry, and hobby uses, author Kevin Jenkins offers step-by-step guidance to build, program, test, and fly both multicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for a variety of purposes. This comprehensive manual covers unmanned system components, aircraft set up, flight controller fundamentals and failsafe features, regulations for recreational and commercial use, the flight testing process, and flight operations. The more than 70 illustrations include detailed schematics and diagrams for the construction of complex systems such as first-person view (FPV) and imaging payloads. You will fly with confidence by following this book’s direction on mission planning, checklists, and safe flight operations. Whether you use it to build your first unmanned aircraft or as a handy reference in the field, The Droner’s Manual is an essential for drone builders, pilots, and operators.