{"id":720,"date":"2019-11-05T17:43:33","date_gmt":"2019-11-05T17:43:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/?p=720"},"modified":"2021-12-08T16:09:14","modified_gmt":"2021-12-08T16:09:14","slug":"drones-vs-rc-helicopters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dronesvilla.com\/drones-vs-rc-helicopters\/","title":{"rendered":"Drones vs. RC Helicopters: What’s the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Remote control helicopters have been around much longer than multicopters \u2014 what most people refer to as ‘drones’ \u2014 have. But they are not as widely known as their more illustrious cousins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any unmanned aerial vehicle that flies without the benefit of a pilot in the cockpit would qualify as a drone<\/a>. And that includes remote-controlled helicopters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there are differences between your neighbor\u2019s ‘drone’ and an out-and-out RC helicopter. And that is what we explore in this article. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Difference Between a Drone and a Helicopter?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a few differences that set an RC helicopter apart\nfrom a drone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first of those differences has to do with structure and\nlook. Helicopters sometimes use one rotor, but it is more common to see them\nwith two: one rotor at the top and another at the end of the tail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, multi-copter drones use more rotors to fly. Most drones will use 4 rotors \u2014 hence the most common name of quadcopter \u2014 but hexacopters and even octacopters exist (drones with six and eight rotors, respectively).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another aspect that sets these two unmanned aerial devices apart is the complexity involved in the way they fly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, the flight of an RC helicopter is controlled by\nthe pitch of the rotor blades and the tail rotor. Understanding how these work,\nand how to repair the supporting components should they ever go bad, requires\nengineering knowledge and expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conversely, drones are propelled and powered by a much\nsimpler system\u2014even though they use more rotors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four rotors that propel a drone are fixed in pitch unlike those on a helicopter. They also fly at varying speeds to control the multi-copters flight. In order to yaw<\/a> or turn, one or two of the blades simply has to speed up or slow down to tilt the device in the required direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compared to an RC helicopter, the mechanics of a drone are\nsimple, consisting of only one moving part (a fan) attached to an engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This simplicity is key to the next big difference between RC helicopters and drones; cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of the complexity and highly technological engineering involved in the way they work, RC helicopters are more costly to produce. This doesn’t mean they’re necessarily expensive, but it means you get significantly less bang for your buck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our most recommended RC Helicopter, featured below, is around the $300 price but does not include a camera \u2014 drones in this price bracket would almost certainly include a basic one, if not a 4K ultra high-definition one.<\/p>\n\n\n

No products found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because drones are relatively simple in their workings and design, they are comparatively cheaper to produce than similar sized RC helicopters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repairing any damaged parts is also cheaper compared to what repairing an RC helicopter of the same size would cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technology and costs are therefore two huge reasons why drones are more popular than RC helicopters and more readily available to the public and various industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another thing that differentiates RC helicopters from drones\nwould be their battery life. Helicopters tend to use less energy to produce\nmore lift, meaning they are capable of longer flight times for the same amount\nof energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may be wondering why that is the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drones use more energy than helicopters in flight because\nthey are less efficiently designed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drones also expend a lot of energy in slowing the blades\ndown during aerial maneuvers or tricks. Whereas, this is not the case with\nhelicopters; they don\u2019t exhaust any energy when adjusting the rotor pitch for\naerial maneuvers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This inefficient use of energy is the reason behind the notoriously short flight times of many drones, as well as the fact that they’re often heavier \u2014 requiring more energy to keep the weight up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are Drones Easier to Fly?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At this point you may be wondering why manufacturers don\u2019t\nsimply double down on the simplicity of drones and create those for pilots to\nfly. That sounds like a better choice, given the complexity of the helicopter\ndesign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, their simple design and resulting low cost would\nmake this a sound choice from an economic point of view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, why not? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer to that would lie in that fact that drones, while\neasier and cheaper to make and maintain, are not necessarily easier to fly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drones come with a lot of on-board software that helps in stabilizing flight. Without the help of the software, they would be nearly impossible for a human to pilot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are simply too many variables to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, instead of controlling the pitch on one blade\nlike they would in a helicopter, a drone pilot would have to control and adjust\nfour different blades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is impractical for piloted vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, are drones easier to fly than RC helicopters?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, so long as they come with onboard software and all the\nother must have autonomous systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In that case, drones are more open to entry level pilots.\nThey are more stable and good for carrying payloads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The stability and guidance offered by the drones systems\nalso make them more suitable for jobs that need balance and movement control\nlike photography and film shooting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, you can perform a lot more tricks and maneuvers\nwith a drone that you can with an RC helicopter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maintaining control while piloting an RC helicopter depends all on you. There are no autonomous modes to piggy back on, so they present a real challenge to flight enthusiasts seeking for a hands-on flying experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n \n \"DJI\n <\/a>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n DJI Mavic Mini Drone <\/a>\n
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