Proper planning can overcome some of the critical issues that you will face. Many people get caught out by winds, and misjudging wind speed, particularly at altitude, can cost you your drone.
The battery firmware issue currently affecting TB50 and TB55 batteries used in DJI’s Matrice 200 Series and Inspire 2 models has highlighted a few key issues that must be considered.
While the issue appears firmware, the root cause is the incorrect management of drones and drone fleets. Many operators have not encountered issues on these crafts, meaning it is not simply a software issue. A widespread software issue would impact far more operators of these craft than the “handful” reported. Drones left on shelves and not actively maintained will always encounter some problems.
This is more important than those of first responders and rapid deployment units.
The straightforward concept that drones need to be managed is more evident than ever. It was never the case that drones could be left on a shelf, grabbed when required, and expected to perform as designed. The reality is that if you adopt this approach, you can predict failures and incidents. Many components need to be managed and verified before any drone flight.
Training is vital, whether it is mandatory or not in your jurisdiction. You must be taught how, when, and what to look at.
Drones, for many organisations, are still a very new concept. Issues will occur unless organisations properly resource teams or individuals who use drones. Many organisations will train staff and give them the responsibility without understanding what this entails. Not only are they responsible for regulatory compliance but also for the maintenance and management of the drone fleet. This could be one drone or a hundred. More often than not, this is not their primary role in the organisation, meaning they have a day job to do first.
Employers need to understand the responsibility that this role requires. Many decision-makers see it as adding a tool to the arsenal, and in many ways, that is true, but these tools need attention to operate as designed.
Call us today if you use drones within your organisation and need more help understanding their correct use. We will be happy to help.