Hi, I’m Hashimoto from the IT Division.
On Thursday, November 5, 2020, we had a study session on drones, a technology that’s getting a lot of attention in the construction industry.
Mr. T, who actually performs aerial photography using a drone at Sugitec’s Tokyo Branch, was the main instructor for this session, and was supported by Mr. Sugiyama, the Tokyo Branch Manager. The training was done online from the Tokyo branch.。
What is a drone?
We often hear the word “drone,” but do you know where it comes from? The word “drone” actually means “male bee.” It got its name because the sound of a drone’s propeller sounds a lot like a bee’s wings.
Mr. T gave a thorough explanation of the term’s origin, including an introduction to common drone products and tips for flying drones safely and legally.
What are the general flight rules for drones (unmanned aerial vehicles)?
The following airspace areas are designated for drone flights that require permission,
・Airspace over the vicinity of airports, etc.
・Over populated areas
・Airspace above 150m
If you want to fly in the above airspace, you’ll need to get the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s permission. We’ll now move on to the basics of the Civil Aeronautics Law.
Areas to watch out for when flying
When you’re flying a drone, it’s important to make sure you’re in an area where GPS signals can be received and that there’s no interference, like from magnets.
Without GPS, the drone won’t be able to find its way back to you. And if there’s any magnetic interference, it’ll be tough to control the controller properly.
Mr. Sugiyama, who’s got a lot of experience in this field, said that since these precautions are invisible in the form of radio waves, it’s really important to get information on the site you’re flying in advance. You should also think about what might happen in the surrounding environment and make a preliminary plan.
Questions raised by participants
As we went along, the participants asked a few more questions.
Q1.What is the wind speed when flying safely?
A.Wind speed of 5 m/sec or less at 1.5 m above the ground (eye level). *Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism regulations.
Q2.Regarding the complete discharge of a battery that has been left unused for some time.
１．How long do you mean by “leave it for a while”?
Ａ．3months.
２．What is complete discharge?
Ａ．Complete discharge means that the remaining battery capacity is 0%.
※Batteries that have been left unattended for more than 3 months should be fully discharged and fully recharged.
＜How to fully discharge to fully charge a battery that has been left unused for more than 3 months＞
Just leave the battery in the aircraft with the power supply until the battery is completely dead, then recharge it.
～How to store and safely use LiPo batteries～
・If you do not use LiPo batteries, keep the battery level at about 60%.
(Once the battery is fully charged, it will go through chemical reactions at a high power, which can lead to battery degradation. In the worst case, the battery itself may stop working.)
・Choose a genuine battery and charger, and charge the battery in the correct way.
・Overcharging is strictly prohibited. Charge within visual range.
・Do not subject to shock. If the battery gets scratched, swells or softens, discard it immediately.
・Do not leave in a hot place for a long time, such as inside a car in summer.
Summary
So, this time, as a quick drone study session, all staff members shared some info that we need to keep under wraps for now.
It’s likely that we’ll be using the drone more and more in the future, so the Engineering Department and the survey staff, who are on site every day, took a close look at it. There were lots of questions during the study session, which made it a really useful meeting.
We’re planning to hold a meetup next time based on this beginner’s class. We’ll focus more on how to utilize the information in the field. We’ll be sharing the details here.
Sugitec is now accepting drone consultations
Sugitec is happy to answer any questions you may have about building surveys and aerial photography using drones. If you’re wondering if drones can be used to survey the exterior of a building or to conduct an infrared survey of a building, just get in touch! We’re happy to answer any questions you may have.
For a quick overview of the drone survey, check out the info below.
