Aerial Photography: Revealing Dramatic Contours, Shapes Of Land

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I always say that all aeriel shots are beautiful.

Aerial shots, captured from high above the ground, offer a unique and breathtaking perspective of the world. They provide a sweeping view that showcases the landscapes, architecture, and natural beauty in a way that is often inaccessible from ground level…to achieve this, you need a drone.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board.

UAVs were originally developed through the twentieth century for military missions too “dull, dirty or dangerous” for humans, and by the twenty-first, they had become essential assets to most militaries.

Today, we will see types of drones, what they are used for, which countries make them, is Nigeria among them? And also, the best drones of 2023.

Drone: The History

The term drone refers to any unpiloted aircraft. Drones can carry out an impressive range of tasks, from stealth military operations to package delivery.

The term drone has been used from the early days of aviation, being applied to remotely flown target aircraft used for practice firing of a battleship’s guns, such as the 1920s Fairey Queen and 1930s de Havilland Queen Bee.

The first pilotless vehicles were developed in Britain and the USA during the First World War.

Britain’s Aerial Target, a small radio-controlled aircraft, was first tested in March 1917, while the American aerial torpedo known as the Kettering Bug first flew in October 1918.

Although both showed promise in flight tests, neither were used operationally during the war.

During the inter-war period the development and testing of unmanned aircraft continued.

Chief Historian At Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Kevin Rusnak Sheds More Light.

In 1935, the British produced a number of radio-controlled aircraft to be used as targets for training purposes.

It’s thought the term ‘drone’ started to be used at this time, inspired by the name of one of these models, the DH.82B Queen Bee.

Radio-controlled drones were also manufactured in the United States and used for target practice and training.

Now as control technologies improved and costs fell, drone usage expanded to many non-military applications.

These include aerial photography, precision agriculture, forest fire monitoring, river monitoring, environmental monitoring, policing and surveillance, infrastructure inspections, smuggling, product deliveries, entertainment and drone racing.

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ECONOTES

BEAUTY OF AERIEL SHOTS

Vastness and Scale

Aerial shots capture the vastness of landscapes, whether it’s a sprawling cityscape, a majestic mountain range, or an endless coastline.

This perspective allows us to appreciate the grandeur and scale of these natural and man-made wonders.

Patterns and Symmetry

From above, we can witness patterns and symmetrical designs that are otherwise difficult to observe at ground level.

The geometry of city grids, perfectly aligned rows of trees, or the intricate patterns of crop fields can be mesmerizing to behold.

Dramatic Landscapes

Aerial photography reveals the dramatic contours and shapes of the land. Rugged mountains, winding rivers, and deep canyons unfold in all their breathtaking glory.

These images evoke a sense of awe and wonder as we witness the sheer power and beauty of nature.

Unique Perspectives

By taking to the skies, aerial photography reveals familiar scenes from an entirely new perspective.

Iconic landmarks, bustling city streets, and even ordinary objects can be transformed into stunning visual compositions that challenge our perception and inspire creativity.

Sense of Freedom and Exploration

Aerial shots provide a sense of freedom and exploration, allowing us to escape the confines of our everyday lives.

They inspire a spirit of discovery and curiosity as we soar above and witness the world from a bird’s-eye view.

Evoking Emotions

Aerial shots have the power to evoke strong emotions within us. The sheer beauty, tranquility, and sense of wonder captured in these images can stir feelings of joy, amazement, and even a desire to protect and preserve the natural environment.

Now let’s see some drone types….

Drones Types

Single-Rotor Drones

Single-rotor drones are unmanned helicopters that have been around for a very long time. These types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) rival the fixed-wing UAV configuration.

Single-rotor drones/unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are types of rotary-wing UAVs that have a single main rotor.

Single-rotor UAVs use a single rotor that acts as a small airfoil spinning at rapid speeds to capture airflow as that air is forced downwards causing a pressure difference that creates a suction effect thus generating lift.

The direction they travel is changed by altering the angle of the propeller.

These types of drones actually use the same principle as fixed-wing UAVs in the way they generate lift. These rotors are used as airfoils just like the wings of a fixed-wing aircraft.

They obtain energy to produce thrust from powerplants such as engines, batteries, fuel cells, powered drone tethers among others.

They also incorporate other devices such as propellers that are powered by electric motors.

Multi-Rotor Drones

A multirotor or multicopter is a rotorcraft with more than two lift-generating rotors.

An advantage of multirotor aircraft is the simpler rotor mechanics required for flight control.

Unlike single- and double-rotor helicopters which use complex variable pitch rotors whose pitch varies as the blade rotates for flight stability and control, multirotors often use fixed-pitch blades; control of vehicle motion is achieved by varying the relative speed of each rotor to change the thrust and torque produced by each.

Due to their ease of both construction and control, multirotor aircraft are frequently used in radio control aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (drone) projects in which the names tricopter, quadcopter, hexacopter and octocopter are frequently used to refer to 3-, 4-, 6- and 8-rotor rotorcraft.

There is also the X8 (also called octo-quad) configuration that is similar to the quadra-copter design, except that it has eight rotors; the lower of which have a reversed rotation direction.

Also Read: Largest Drone Built In Africa Unveiled In Pretoria

Fixed-Wing Drones

Fixed wing UAVs can carry various payloads and data-link equipment. The fixed-wing has the longest range over any of the other categories.

However, the downside to this platform is the requirement for a runway during landing or takeoff.

This issue is currently being resolved by UAV manufacturers by developing a fixed wing aircraft with the ability to take off vertically and transition to horizontal flight.

This type of fixed-wing aircraft has Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) technology.

To calculate and mitigate risks associated with fixed-wing aircraft, it is helpful in having a basic understanding of how an aircraft operates.

This allows the entity concerned with mitigating risks posed by UAVs to understand the aircraft limitations.

What are the Forces Operating on a Fixed-Wing UAV During Flight?

There are four main forces operating on an aircraft while in flight.

• Lift
• Gravity
• Drag
• Thrust

Fixed Wing Flight Benefits:

• Long range and endurance
• High altitude is capable of making detection difficult
• Can carry relatively heavy objects
• Quiet during operation

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Nigeria And Drones

Drone use is legal in Nigeria but you need to obtain have obtained a permit.

Does Nigeria Have A Military Drone?

The Tsaigumi UAV is an unmanned aerial vehicle designed and used by the Nigerian Air Force.

It is one of the first UAVs indigenously developed in Nigeria.

The Tsaigumi was inducted in the Air Force in furtherance of the Nigerian military’s ongoing drive to produce and incorporate made-in-Nigeria military weapons.

In September 2015, the Nigerian Air Force stated that they were planning to build a new UAV.

Later, in 2016, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Portuguese company UAVision.

The word “Tsaigumi” means surveillance in Hausa language of Nigeria.

The designer is Nkemdilim Anulika Ofodile, an aerospace engineer in the Nigerian Air Force.

The Tsaigumi UAV’s airframe was built by the 431 Engineering Group of the Nigerian Air Force, with the avionics and telemetry equipment were developed by UAVision of Portugal.

After the drone was inducted into military service as Nigeria’s first ever locally built military unmanned aerial vehicle, former President Goodluck Jonathan said that the Tsaigumi is actually the same drone as the GULMA, developed by Nigeria in 2013 under his presidency , and hence not the first domestic Nigerian UAV.

Air Vice Marshall Olatokunbo Adesanya disputed this, claiming that the GULMA drone “was not operational”, and that the Tsaigumi was thus the first completed Nigerian UAV.

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Also, in 2014, the PR & Information Director of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas had said that it was not possible for the Air Force to deploy the GULMA due to difficulties in production.

The GULMA is likely to have served as a prototype for the design of Tsaigumi.

The Tsaigumi was formally inducted into service on February 15, 2018.

According to Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, the Tsaigumi would be used monitoring of disasters, law enforcement, weather forecasting, protecting wildlife, and monitoring Nigeria’s exclusive economic zone as well as naval search and rescue operations and maritime patrol.

Best Drones Of 2023

DJI Air 2S

The DJI Air 2S is easy to fly, blessed with long battery life, and equipped with a camera that can shoot 5.4K video.

The Air 2S can sense and avoid obstacles approaching from the front, back, top, and below, and it can alert you to approaching aircraft.

It can also hold its position steadily, even in moderate winds, so you can focus on your cinematography instead of having to worry about keeping the drone stable.

DJI Mavic 3 Pro

The DJI Mavic 3 Pro takes many of the best features of the Air 2S and, for a little more than twice the price, tacks on three exceptional cameras: a Hasselblad-branded wide-angle lens with a Four Thirds sensor plus two telephoto lenses.

Thanks to the comparatively huge sensor on the main camera, the Mavic 3 Pro can capture more detail than our other picks and in a much wider band of lighting conditions.

As a result, it produces better images right out of the camera but also gives editing software more data to work with to improve the images even further.

Ryze Tech Tello Mini Drone Quadcopter

Ryze Tech Tello Mini Drone Quadcopter is a great choice for the novice drone pilot.

Although its flight time is much shorter than some of the other drone, the video is limited to 720p and it’s extremely easy to operate.

It also happens to have a DJI-powered flight controller for performing in-air tricks.

The drone’s mobile programming app supports Scratch, which allows users to program corresponding movements using coding blocks.

It can shoot 5-megapixel photos, and pre-programmed modes which make it easy to capture short clips even if you don’t know how to fly.

Overall, this is a great starter drone for kids and adults who want to capture an aerial perspective while traveling.

So whether it’s showcasing the wonders of nature, highlighting architectural marvels, or revealing the hidden beauty of everyday scenes, aerial shots enable us to see the world in a whole new light and appreciate the stunning beauty that surrounds us.

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Gimalo-Angel Olowogoke, signing out.