By Meri Hakobyan, Vazgen Yetumyan
During the international seminar on the application of the BeiDou satellite navigation system and drones being held at the Guizhou Academy of Sciences in China, the participants were presented with the main directions of development of drone technologies, their technical features, and possibilities of their application in emergency management.
At the seminar, Professor Jiang Zhangneng of the Institute of Advanced Technologies and Materials of the Guizhou Academy of Sciences presented the classification of drones according to structure, the domain of their application, engine type, and flight capabilities, reported the Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent.
According to him, the most common are the multirotor, fixed-wing, and hybrid drones, each of which has its own advantages and scope of application.
“Multirotor devices can take off, land, and hover vertically at one point, due to which they are widely used for monitoring, overseeing, and video recording. Fixed-wing models provide higher speed and long flight, which makes them suitable for mapping and monitoring large areas, while the hybrid systems combine the advantages of these two technologies,” the professor noted.
The course presented also a technical comparison of different types of drones according to flight speed, range, operating altitude, the ability to hover in the air, as well as operational efficiency. As per the presented data, fixed-wing drones are distinguished by the longest flight distance, while multirotor models are more effective in precise monitoring and local operations.
The speaker noted that there is no perfect structure of a drone, and each model is designed taking into account the balance between speed, flight duration, payload, flexibility, and economic efficiency. Also, Professor Jiang emphasized that one of the main directions of development in drone technology is the improvement of electric and hybrid engines, which enable longer and more efficient flights.
The lecture touched also on the differences between personal use and industrial drones. While models intended for personal use are mainly used for photography and entertainment purposes, industrial models are used in agriculture, geodesy, energy infrastructure monitoring, search and rescue operations, and other professional fields. They can also carry special equipment, including LiDAR sensors and multi-spectral cameras.
During the presentation, special attention was paid also to the flight control system, which is considered the “brain” of a drone.
“It processes flight data using sensors and satellite navigation, determines the optimal route and controls the operation of the device’s engines, ensuring safe flight,” noted Professor Jiang.
The lecturer spoke also about the main risks of operating drones, stressing the importance of technical inspections, operator training, cybersecurity, and constant assessment of weather conditions. He noted that international standards have been established for safe operation by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
As reported earlier, an international seminar dedicated to the application of the BeiDou satellite system and drones is being held at the Guizhou Academy of Sciences in Guiyang, China, with the participation of representatives from various countries, including Armenia. Representatives of various state departments from Armenia, as well as Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondents, are in China to participate in this international seminar.
