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First and foremost, according to dictionary.com’s definition 2.b., the noun Drone means “any unmanned aircraft or ship that is guided remotely” which is a definition that applies to quite a few devices. Drones, like any other technology, come with their own jargon that might as well be a foreign language to a complete newcomer. If that sounds like you (which sounds like me), then you've fortunately made your way here. After researching the ins and outs of drone enthusiasm, I have come across my fair share of unfamiliar terms and acronyms. Rather than spend hours googling, you can bookmark this page (or others) and use this guide like a mini drone dictionary whenever you need it, or cram likes it's finals week and you have a cumulative exam on drones, which you might. Types of Drones To start, it might surprise you just how many different types of drones there are. You can categorize drones a few different ways: Fixed Wing Drones: similar designs to airplanes which means they glide with angled plane-like wings and lack the ability to hover in one place. Single Rotor Drone/Helicopter: similar designs to helicopters; they have one major rotor that allows them to hover and a smaller rotor on the tail. Multi Rotor Drones: any drone with more than one rotor; more rotors facilitate flight control, but drones with fewer rotors are faster. Octocopter: drones with 8 rotors Quadcopter: drones with 4 rotors Tricopter: drones with 3 rotors Endurance Drones: capable of staying in the air for long periods of time Parts That’s a good start, but it's not enough to just know the drones, you've got to know what they’re made of. Of course there's electricity, plastic, and a sprinkle of magic that results in flight, but there’s also these gizmos involved: Rotor: the rotating part (or parts) of a drone which contribute to flight Propeller: blades or fans attached to rotors; together they propel drones in the air, allowing them to fly and hover Flight Controllers: mechanism that communicates the pilot’s input to the drone’s motors Accelerometer: measures the drone’s acceleration and tilt; works with the gyroscope to maintain orientation Gyroscope: stabilizes drone while it's in the air Features Not all drones are built equal. If you would rather buy a drone than build one, you should make sure that the drone you choose comes with the features you want: Dynamic Home Point: feature that automatically updates a drone’s home point. GPS Tracker: monitors your drones location so that you can find it if it ever falls. Accessories And finally, these optional things that could come in handy. These might not come with your drone, but you could buy them to make you’re flying experience easier: Battery Charging Dock/Hub: device that is capable of charging multiple batteries at a time. ND Filters: Neutral Density Filters reduce the intensity of the light and color of the images and videos captured by the drone’s camera. FPV Goggles: headset that gives you a first-person view of the drone’s camera; typically used in drone racing. Gimbal/Stabilizer: prevents the drone’s camera from shaking while in the air. Helipad: a portable mat that marks an area for a drone to takeoff or launch from. Other Acronyms FAA: Federal Aviation Administration; agency responsible for regulating civil aviation RTF: Ready-to-Fly; store-bought drone capable of flight right out of the box UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle; AKA an aerial drone piloted by remote control UAS: Unmanned Aircraft Systems; each component of drone flying activity such as the drone itself and its operator UUV: Unmanned Underwater Vehicles FPV: First Person View RPM: Revolutions Per Minute For more vocab lists and in depth explanations for these terms, check out these links: Multi-Rotors, First-Person View, And The Hardware You Need Different Types of Drones 21 Types of Drones Types of Drones: Explore Different Types of Drones Types of Drones – Explore the Different Models of UAV’s 10 Must-Have Drone Accessories for DJI Phantom 3 10 Best drone accessories – do you have the tools to fly? Professional Drone Buying Guide- Best 8 Features Should Know I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron

I got my first drone just a few days before take-off. An arctic white DJI Mavic Air – cute as a bug. I’d never flown a drone before, but I certainly wasn’t going to let that deter me… I’d already checked the rules for flying in American Samoa: flying is allowed, but not near airports or military installations. Easy enough. Plenty of extra batteries? Check. Compact case that holds all the equipment and fits easily in my backpack? Check. Ample practice flying before taking it on the road? S!*%. There just wasn’t enough time. The drone was released just a few days before departure. The Fly More bundle wasn’t even available yet, so I had to desperately hunt around to find to even find a seller with extra batteries. So, I only got a few minutes of practice before packing her up and whisking her off to the airport. I decided it didn’t matter. I told myself: I’m an intelligent girl - I can figure this out. First up, a stop in Maui on the way to Samoa. I decided to bring it out on the beach. It was a total bust. The drone needed another update (they seemed to be endless in those first few days) and it wanted to recalibrate…If you haven’t been through this yet, get ready. It seems to be required on every session. The drone gives you instructions – rotate the aircraft horizontally 360 degrees, and then vertically 360 degrees…This was my first time encountering this, and though I was following the instructions, it still took a few tries. And finally, after all that, there just wasn’t enough bandwidth on the beach for the millionth update I needed (f*@$!). I had to give it up. Next stop was the big island, Hawaii. My stay here was super short, and it was pouring rain and super windy the entire time. Not ideal for droning. Never even pulled my little bug out of the bag…sigh… Finally, American Samoa! The first lesson I learned came quickly - pulling out a drone in a third world environment is the fastest way to get literally EVERYBODY’s attention. I wanted to be slick and nonchalant but it’s just not possible, so fumbling through this recalibration process again was absolutely agonizing. There I was, picking it up, turning it around, setting it down, picking it up, rotating it…I could feel all eyes on me every time. I’d see little kids pointing at me from the corner of my eye and try to appear unaffected, but on the inside, I just wanted to crawl under a rock. As a girl who works hard to slip by unnoticed in life I was desperately uncomfortable with the attention I was getting. But alas! My persistence paid off. I’d gotten the drone into the air. Great, I thought. All I have to do now is make it fly in the direction I intend! And herein lies my second issue - I cannot tell you how many times I pushed on the joystick and watched the drone immediately buzz off in the opposite direction I’d intended. Despite these minor mishaps getting started, droning in American Samoa was rad! The territory is made up of 3 main islands. The largest, Tutuila, is the most populated and most developed. So, for this adventure, we decided to head to Ofu island, which is much smaller and more remote. It’s also insanely beautiful. The beaches here are nearly untouched by humans – the silky white sand glimmers in the sun, the water is crystal clear turquoise and teeming with life. There are over 250 species of coral here and over 950 species of fish (that’s more than twice the species you'll find in Hawaii!). Giant jet-black lava boulders protrude on the beach and the backdrop on land is lush emerald-green jungle. I don’t think I could’ve found a more incredible spot on Earth! Full disclosure: What I didn’t realize at the time, is that much of my flight took place over the national park beach, and droning is not allowed at national parks. In August 2014 The National Park Service made it illegal to launch, land, or operate unmanned aircraft under 36 CFR 1.5 (this law basically gives NPS the complete authority set and eliminate limits on public use within the parks, like a ban on flying drones). I didn’t know this at the time, and only found out later – don’t make this mistake when you drone. It’s important to check more than just general guidelines for your destination. Check specific sites where you plan to launch your drone on AirMap – it’s free and easy to use and it’s the best way to avoid a ticket or a fine on your trip. I had two successful afternoon flights and one during sunset on Ofu before returning to Tutuila for one last day. I decided to fly one more time there, but I was at the hotel and had already returned the rental car and I needed to pack for my flight so I didn’t want to walk down to the beach. The location was beautiful though, and I was eager to fly, so I decided I’d fly right off my hotel room balcony. Taking off from the balcony wasn’t too difficult, aside from again capturing the attention of every human within a half-mile radius. I was able to jet off the balcony, fly over the hotel and glide over open ocean once again. The bay here was much less windy than the beach on Ofu, and I’d had no trouble at all taking off from the balcony, so I felt much more relaxed and confident now. So, naturally the gods of technology saw fit to kick me down a couple of pegs! When it was time to land her, I found it to be much more difficult than take off. To do it, I’d have to bring the drone in over the partition wall and set her down in the center of the balcony to avoid the wooden slats. And this is where the trouble began… I realized I wasn’t so confident after all, so I decided to try to take the easy way out – use the Return to Home feature. Obviously, there’d been enough space between the drone and the balcony walls for an easy take off. Return to Home is supposed to return the drone to the point of takeoff - perfect! Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite that simple. The drone returned but it was slightly askew from where it had taken off from. It was too close to the partition wall. It hovered there, halfway between the ground and the top of the partition, alarms blaring, props whirring, whipping the wind into my face. In the tiny space of an enclosed balcony the buzzing was incredibly loud and echoing. Here I was again – ALL EYES ON ME! I was instantly overwhelmed and flustered; I could feel my face and ears turn beet red and I was starting to stress-sweat There were suddenly a lot of voices – adults yelling, little kids shouting. And then a young girl somewhere below me couldn’t take anymore. She screamed a blood-curdling scream…seriously, the girl has a bright future in horror films. Remember that issue I mentioned, where I move the joystick intending to the move the drone one direction and she takes off in the opposite direction? It was rearing its ugly head again! I pulled the joystick to bring her closer to the center, but apparently, I was urging her backward. She didn’t move – just continued to hover in place, sounding the alarm. Then the scream. That scream did me in! It made me jump and, in a panic, I just decided to force the thing down. A back prop clipped the wall and that was my beautiful new drone's first crash-landing…certainly didn’t take long…smh. Luckily, only a prop was damaged. I’ve flown a few times since and there appears to be no issues from that minor collision. Not too bad for a beginner, eh? And I’m happy to report, I’ve gotten much better at flying since then, and much less concerned with the attention it draws. And that’s good news, because I've got big plans for this little bug. Happy flying! Kori's on a mission to see the world and do good for the Earth and inspire YOU to do the same! Since 2016 she's visited 6 continents! Along the way she's hiked the Inca Trail, chased waterfalls and the Northern Lights in the Arctic, island-hopped on a pirate boat in Asia, explored incredible coral reefs in Oceania and stand-up paddle boarded in Antarctica! Don't ask her to pick her favorite adventure - it's impossible to choose! www.theearthlyvagabond.com #dronedronegirlfirstflightDJIMavicAirMavic #americansamoa #dronegirl #femaledronepilot #womenwhodrone

What is Part 107? Essentially, Part 107 is a remote pilot certification process for the commercial use of small drones. Without one, flying a drone for profit could get you fined upwards of $1,000. Part 107 was finalized as part of Chapter 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations on June 21st, 2016. To have a Part 107 remote pilot certificate (or “commercial drone license”) means that pilots are allowed to operate their drones for profit without a Section 333 Exemption (Section 333 being the part of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 that “grants the Secretary of Transportation the authority to determine whether an airworthiness certificate is required for a UAS to operate safely in the National Airspace System (NAS)”). How do You Get Certified? Certification for Part 107 can be obtained in a couple of different ways. Pilot certificate holders may either take the FAA Safety Team online course called “Part 107 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) ALC-451” or take the aeronautical knowledge test, then submit an online or paper application (FAA form “8710-13”) through the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA). All other applicants are required to pass the FAA remote pilot knowledge test. Are You Eligible to Take the Test? Not everyone can nor needs to take the Part 107 certificate. You can’t or don’t need to obtain certification if you are: Only a recreation drone user, Under 16 years old, or A Part 16 certificate pilot who has completed a flight review within the past 24 months ( meaning you have the option to complete the Safety Team training course, and submit an 8710-13 form) Before You Take the Test Each attempt to pass the test costs $150. Administration of the test is by appointment through www.catstest.com. There, you can pay and search for your nearest testing site. The test is administered at around 700 locations approved by the FAA, so you have a good chance of finding a site closeby. Unfortunately, you won’t know your actual testing date until a few days after registering when a representative from a CATS Testing Center will call to reserve a time slot, or you can directly book an exam by calling the CATS facility directly (800-947-4228). What to Expect on Test Day At your local testing center, the test will be administered electronically at a computer station under the supervision of a proctor. You will have 2 hours to complete 60 multiple choice questions. A score of at least 70% is required to pass, and you will be tested on the following 12 topics: Regulations Under Part 107 Airspace Classifications Flight Restrictions Aeronautical Charts Airport Operations for Drone Pilots Radio Communications for sUAS Pilots Aviation Weather for Drone Pilots Maintenance and Preflight Procedures Crew Resource Management and Aeronautical Decision Making sUAS Loading and Performance Hazards to Flight and Emergency Procedures Physiology for Drone Pilots Under Part 107 After the Test Immediately upon completion of your test, you will receive your score. If you failed, you will have to wait 14 days before you can be tested again. If you passed, your temporary certificate will be made available on the IACRA site within one week. With the temporary certificate, you can fly legally. Within 1 to 3 months, your permanent Remote Pilot Certificate will arrive in the mail. This certificate is valid for 24 months before you need to retake the test. Resources If you’re worried about the certification process or the material, there are many guides available online to help you prepare. You can check out these resources for more information on Part 107 and obtaining certification: What is “Part 107”? Drone Certification: A Step-by-Step Guide to FAA Part 107 for U.S. Commercial Drone Pilots How to get your drone license (and legally make money) DARTdrones: Pass the Part 107 FAA Drone Pilot Exam I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron

If you don’t already know, DJI was scheduled to have what seemed to be a release event in NYC on July 18th, 2018. However, this morning, we received an email that it was postponed for a later date. A few hours later, an image of what appears to be a NEW Mavic Pro started circulating on social media. After further observation of the image, this could very well be the announcement DJI was supposed to release on July 18th. After examining the leaked image, it appears that there is a much larger camera attached that resembles the size of the Phantom Pro 4. By the size of it, this could mean that the new Mavic Pro might have a 1 inch sensor, which would improve the overall photo and video quality over the original Mavic Pro. The propellers look like they may have been redesigned, which could mean that they might be quieter, but at the very least, they have folding propellers just like the original. Could this be what DJI was going to announce on July 18th? Why do you think they postponed the event? And who on earth is going to go down for leaking this photo? What do you think?

When entering college, you may not know what it is you want to study at first. After perusing through your course listings, many things may jump out at you as potentially being interesting. While you’re looking, keep an eye out! You may or may not be aware, but schools are adding drone training to their registry. Colleges are training students to be drone operators and technicians. Our world is changing, and our schools are trying to reflect the society we currently live in. Drones are being integrated into different parts of society. It's a growing market which could lead to increased demand in drone expertise. Colleges and universities are beginning to realize this. For years, colleges and universities from all over the country have been adding minors and degrees in Unmanned Aerial/Aircraft Systems. Students at the Embry-Riddle University (one of the first universities to offer this program) have the options of obtaining their Bachelors on either the Pilot or Operator track.Their typical first semester schedule for someone on this path includes courses in pilot operations and aeronautical science success. As the job market demand for all things drone related continues to increase, universities are enhancing their efforts to prepare the potential workforce. The number of job opportunities available in defense, aerospace, and the commercial sectors has the potential to grow significantly, but the future is uncertain. While colleges are glad to provide students with the opportunity to learn, Technology Review reports that faculty are uncomfortable with the lack of certainty surrounding their student’s job prospects. Regardless of these fears, the drone industry is expected to continue to grow. The AUVSI (Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International) foresees the drone industry creating over 100,000 jobs through 2025. As a new and rising industry is still unclear what the future holds for people who take on these specializations. Current students should take advantage of their advisors, upperclassmen and entry level courses if they are interested in pursuing the degree. Other options to get your hands on a drone are workshops taught by the Women Who Drone! Check out upcoming workshops below. Check out these lists of schools that offer drone training programs: Women Who Drone Workshops based in NYC 15 Best Drone Training Colleges Drone Training Colleges: The 20 Best Ranked 16 Top Drone Programs at Universities and Colleges I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron

Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) are similar to the aerial counterparts in their variety and their functionality. Almost everything exciting you can do in the air is possible underwater, but there’s a catch: Underwater drones typically start at around $500. Yeah, there aren't any budget versions of these drones, at least not yet, so whatever model you buy should be worth the investment. Depending on where you live (or where you go), underwater drones could be a waste of money. While they sound cool, if you are rarely near a body of water, then there’s no point in splurging on something you’ll probably only use once a year when you take that vacation to the beach or the lake. On the other hand, UAVs are functional in your own backyard wherever that may be. Where and how you fly only depends on your skill level, the weather, and the law of the land. Underwater drones are well suited for people who like being on the water. Just like aerial drones, underwater drones have emitters that need to stay within range of their remote. The person controlling the drone has to be on a boat nearby. In cases where visibility is lost in the depths, the boat is a landmark and also a guide to orientation. Underwater drones are trickier to orient and keep track of. Unfortunately, it is possible to completely lose visibility of your UUV during a dive until you bring it back up to the surface. Some of these drones come with a tether, but there’s also the Biki which swims like a fish. So, how deep CAN they go? You might not want to rush out to buy a UUV to be the first person to see the remaining 95% of the ocean that has never been explored before. While depths for each model vary, my research has seen depths ranging from 100 to almost 500 feet. Keep in mind that there is rarely any significant light beyond 200 meters (656 feet). Ultimately, of course, the decision is up to you if you think it’s worth it to buy an underwater drone. If you’ve got the right location and budget, I say go for it. I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron

Photo by: Lonneke Tubbing, WWD Ambassador Earlier this year, Computer Science major Salina Servantez made headlines after 3D printing a drone for an assignment. Her project was impressive as it was not simply a model, rather an actual functioning drone capable of flight. It took some time, but she pulled it off, but could You, the average drone enthusiast, do the same? This led me to wonder: Could Anyone with access to a 3D printer print out their own drone? After researching the subject, I got my answer: Yeah, if you have the time and patience. For those of you who are unfamiliar, 3D printing is an amazing technology that is steadily becoming more accessible, but it can be time consuming. In university, a small model of our school mascot took about 30 minutes to print and preparing to print can be an extremely involved process. There's the type of filament you want your object to be, you can customize the design and change the density of the filament to determine the strength. Working with 3D printers is also not an exact science. Trial and error will most likely be involved as you struggle to make parts fit, redesign, crash during fly tests, and reprint. With that in mind, you can imagine that this whole process might take a while, but that should not deter you. Having access to a 3D printer is a great asset if you’re a beginner or just prone to crashing. While you may not have the time and patience to print and build an entire drone, at your own convenience, you can design (or download a design) and print replacement parts for your homemade and preexisting drones. It may be a worthy investment if you already own a 3D printer. You can print any part of a drone except for the electrical components which can be bought separately. 3D printing has many variables and it takes time to get it right. Even Servantez said that her first flight barely made it off the ground. There are DIY drone guides available on the internet, so don’t go into it blind. If you’re interested in 3D printing, check out other people’s designs on thingiverse.com, an archive of digital designs. Thingiverse already has listings for drone parts and quadcopter designs available for free. I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron

Women Who Drone has the pleasure of interacting with so many female pilots around the world. Today we showcase Elizabeth Lassithiotakis, a 27 year old female drone pilot in Australia. Check out her beautiful images below and read on for her experience learning to operate and use her drone for photography. >> Bondi Icebergs While I am still very new to droning I found that it’s much easier than I previously thought. It's a very smart aircraft. I remember my very first flight and how extremely nervous I was. Terrified of crashing, I ventured to the local park to ensure a safe flying area. All height and distance settings were set very close so I didn't lose it. Slowly but surely I have been pushing myself to venture further and further away. I’m now feeling much more confident in my flight abilities. Bondi Beach Sunrise Mona Vale Dad always says "you learn something new everyday" and I truly believe there is still so much more to learn about my Mavic Pro. I wish I knew more about tilting the gimble. I honestly think it wasn't until about two weeks ago I learnt that you could actually tilt the gimble and it would make capturing that perfect shot even easier. Elevation aside, I love that flying a drone will always be a learning experience. Maroubra Beach I’m lucky to live in Sydney, Australia where we have such a beautiful coastline. I’m at the beach at least four times a week with my drone, just waiting for good light, like a surfer waiting for the perfect swell. My alarm goes off at 5.30 most mornings to catch the very first light of the day. Flying at sunrise is amazing - you can capture the most beautiful lighting conditions. Bondi is usually my first stop, followed by a beautiful stroll down to Coogee coastal walk which includes some of Sydney’s most stunning beaches (Bronte, Tamarama and Clovelly). Bondi Icbergs #FEMALEDRONEPILOT #WOMENANDDRONES #WOMENWHODRONE

At some point, every business person has asked themselves: What can I do to stand out? In a world filled to the brim with smartphone carrying travel bloggers, pilots have innovated new ways we can see the world. Using drones, touring a location can be more personal, interactive, and engaging than before. Companies are opening all over the world to offer drone tours in popular locations like Hawaii, Cambodia, Copenhagen, and many others. There may even be drone tours available for your state. So how do they work? Well, that depends. You could enjoy an aerial tour from the comfort of your home by watching online videos. In May of 2017, Gabrielle Kratsas of the website Great Value Colleges wrote an article showing how colleges are using drones to record videos of their campuses (30 Stunning Aerial College Tours via Drone Videos). From your laptop, desktop, or phone, you could see the whole world, or however much of it is available for viewing online. On the other hand, you could explore the world for yourself from vantage points that were previously unheard of. Based in Honolulu, Hawaii Drone Tours is run by drone pilots with backgrounds in Military Aviation and Aircraft Maintenance. They travel to locations, allowing tourists to use their own drones or rent one of theirs to fly over exclusive locations. Guests age 10+ up cost $129.50 per person. In the capital of Denmark, there’s Copenhagen Drone Tours which works with event agencies. This company allows its clients to feel like they’re flying by live streaming their drone video to FPV goggles. Their services include developing tours based on “your exact needs and wishes.” Also, they’ll visit your conference or event to offer your clients a tailored experience. Sky Films is an Asian service that offers courses aerial photography, drone tours, and pilot training in Cambodia. They have two choices in programs (1 day or 3 days) each involve learning the basics in drone operation and editing. Their 1 day program starts at $190 and the 3 day program at $500. Both programs decrease in price per person with more people in groups up to 3 people. They also offer 70% discounts for Non-Profit organizations. Drone tours are definitely a sign of the times. Steadily they are becoming incorporated into different facets of our lives, providing people with more opportunities to interact with technology. Though each of the services I talked about in this article are in different countries on different continents, they each strive to create a unique experience or put a new spin on the traditional idea of how tours are conducted. I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron

The gap between the presence of men and women in the realm of technology can be overwhelming. Women Who Drone seeks to encourage more women and girls to join the drone community. Nowadays, communities rely on social media and Instagram is a significant platform for pilots of all levels to share their work. Capturing amazing photographs and videos, drones thrive on Instagram. For this article, I explored Instagram to find accounts dedicated to drone photography by female pilots. As a newbie to the world of drones, I wanted to explore the #dronestagram tag and find accounts by female drone photographers. Under the tag, I searched through the top posts. Looking through the tag was much more time consuming than I expected as a myriad of the tag’s top posts were either by men, collectives, or profiles with no person’s name attached. I was able to find the profiles of Then, I began looking through the #dronegirls tag. This tag was full of work by women all over the world. A few of my favorite accounts include: Clare Neilson Clare Neilson is based in Australia, and her work mainly consists of aerial shots of water and the beach. My favourite post of hers is this sunset photo at Merewether beach. I like how the peach sunlight reflects on the dark indigo of the waves. Cathy Waite: The Sea Diaries Cathy Waite is also a seascape photographer. Her profile abounds with surfers and crashing waves. My favorite of her posts is her first sea drone photo taken back in February. The tiny forms of the surfers and how the water transitions from lighter in the center to darker at the edges creates a massive impression. Emily Kaszton Emily Kaszton is also a photographer who’s profile contains posts of seascapes. She usually posts photos of the beaches of California, and posts come with nice little descriptions of the locations, piloting/editing tips, and the Song of the Day. This post of two whales is my favorite. It's always a treat to see animals in their habitat and the way the waves curl in this shot is reminiscent of teal fabric. There were all sorts of beautiful images found on Instagram by men and women, but it’s always nice to support women in their endeavors. Creating a community where women feel welcome to explore their interest is important. Of course, if you are also looking for more female pilots to follow you can’t go wrong with the #WomenWhoDrone tag, and check out the official Women Who Drone Instagram account. I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron

The public’s intrigue in unmanned aerial vehicles is skyrocketing . As drones become increasingly mainstream, companies come up with ways to make them more accessible to the general public. Providing consumers with low-cost options makes the hobby accessible to children, newcomers, and the thrifty. Quadcopter's can cost hundreds of dollars, which, for many of us, is pretty pricey. Anyone learning to fly for the first time risks damaging an expensive piece of machinery, but an inexpensive option lowers the monetary risk. Whether you’re a complete novice or someone who’s looking to maintain their favourite hobby on a budget, here are 4 of the best reviewed drones available on Amazon for less than $50 (in no particular order). The qualifiers for this list were items under $50 with at least 4 stars and over 100 reviews. Cheerwing Quadcopter Plus Bonus Battery This quadcopter by Cheerwing is close to our budget at $44.98 and is equipped with a 2MP (720P) HD camera. Its maximum flight time averages 6-8 minutes. The top positive review states that this drone has managed to stay intact after numerous falls. The top critical review is dissatisfied with the product, stating that the camera is low quality and the battery has only given them around 2 minutes of flight time. Reviews Syma Toys RC Quadcopter 2015 This quadcopter is one of the cheaper ones on this list $29.48. It has a camera and about 7 minutes of flying time. The top positive review lauds this product as being perfect for beginners. The top critical review stated that their motor burned out after 35 days. Reviews Newest Syma X20 Mini Pocket Drone Headless Mode This is the cheapest drone on this list at only $26.90. It also has the shortest flight time of about 5 minutes and no camera. The top positive review for this product states that it is easier to fly than other drones of the same price, but it is slow and best suited for indoor use. The top critical review states that their drone stopped flying after only 3 days. Reviews Holy Stone HS150 Bolt Bee Mini Racing Drone This racing drone is also $45.99. It does not have a camera, but it does come with a bonus battery. The average flight time is 5-7 minutes. The top positive review believes they were right in choosing this drone to get their grandson into racing. The top critical review thinks that this product is good for its price but not the best, preferring a different model at the same price. Reviews Whatever form of technology you choose to consume, there are always high-end and low-end versions of a product. Choosing the less costly option may seem like a good way to save money, but when you buy the cheaper option you run the risk of buying an inferior product that isn’t even worth the money you spent on it. On the other hand, you might be getting a great deal on a product or missing a feature found on more expensive quadcopters. Amazon carries various models of drones at different price points. There are even more drones than what's on this list available for under $50. Check them out and let the community know how well they hold up. I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron

When you think of drones you might think of aerial photography or maybe daydream about amazon delivery - but did you know drones are being used around the world to solve global humanitarian problems? The world is massive and there are still remote areas that don’t have access to medical care. Imagine having to travel three hours just to get medicine or a vaccine. UPS and Gavi (the vaccine alliance) have partnered to create drones that are able to deliver urgent medical supplies in Rwanda. Humans can’t stop climate change from happening, but what if we could reduce the effects of climate change on livelihood and food security? A company named WeRobtics is using drones in Fiji for aerial mapping in the hopes it could reduce the risk of climate change on the small island nation. Learn more about their work using drones for good. In some of the poorest, remote areas of the world the need for new and innovative solutions is high. Poor infrastructure and weather conditions make transportation difficult. Photo Credit: Barcosnightingales.org UNICEF recently launched the first African-based drone corridor in Malawi to test the use of drones for humanitarian purposes. It’s is open to universites, innovators and NGOs, to test innovative drone technology to help save lives. Have an idea you want to test? Learn more here. Like many new innovations, drones are being used to help solve problems we have long been trying to solve as a planet. The opportunities are endless if we continue to think big, innovative, and allow empathy to drive the way we build technology. Erin is a marketing, public affairs and social impact strategist. With over nine years of experience developing winning strategies and campaigns, Erin is also the co-founder and executive producer of the Global People's Summit. In her free time Erin enjoys playing with her new spark drone and learning how to take some epic photography. You can follow her on Instagram @wilddrones.