The Anatomy of Drones and Their Major Components

While drones have taken the consumer market by storm in recent years, such aerial vehicles find use in many industries such as agriculture, science, and photography. Much of the rising popularity of drones is a result of their various advancements and more prices, allowing many industries and individuals to harness their capabilities to improve a wide variety of activities. While drones may vary in their construction and design based on the application they are to serve and how advanced they are made to be, many consumer drones utilize a similar set of materials and parts. In this blog, we will discuss the anatomy of consumer drones in brief detail, allowing you to have a better understanding of these intricate vehicles.

In order for a drone to be an effective aerial vehicle, it must be made from materials that balance strength and low weight. As such, a majority of drones are constructed from magnesium alloy, titanium, aluminum alloy, carbon fiber, or various thermoplastics. That being said, drones will not be made from just one material or another, as they may utilize varying materials in accordance to the part in question so that performance and reliability is maximized. Alloys are simply mixtures of one or more elements, and this allows for the finalized metal or material to be even stronger and more durable than each material by itself. Utilizing alloys can also allow for an assembly to achieve needed corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, production cost goals, and more.

While many drones are quite compact and small, they will still be made up of a variety of complex assemblies and parts that each have their own functions and operations. As stated before, drones may vary in their overall makeup based on the application that they will serve, and some features may be adjusted to achieve specific speed, flight duration, stability, or durability needs. Nevertheless, there is a common set of parts that many drones have, some of which we will discuss below.

The drone frame can be considered one of the most important aspects of the whole vehicle, serving as the base of which many other components are connected to. Similar to the fuselage of a fixed-wing aircraft, the frame of a drone will need to be made from strong, lightweight materials. The frame of a drone will often come in two or more pieces as well, making it easier to place internal components within them during installation or repair.

As drones are remote controlled by a pilot, there must be an onboard system that allows for the instructions provided by the remote control to be executed. This comes in the form of a motherboard that utilizes provided instructions to manage motor speed, steering, and more. Additionally, the motherboard will also interpret data from the battery monitor, onboard sensors, and receiver. Furthermore, many flight controllers are also able to utilize onboard sensors and GPS modules to determine positioning to compensate for any adjustments.

The motors and propellers of a drone are also essential for basic flight, as the motors allow for the propellers to spin, the propellers creating the lift to take off and move. Generally, each drone arm will have its own motor. Depending on desired maneuverability, speed, payloads, and other such characteristics, the exact motors and propellers chosen may vary. For propellers, tapered and bullnose tip propellers are the most common choices.

The final major element of a standard consumer drone is the battery, serving as the source of power for all systems and equipment. While small drones often only need a small battery to have enough power for operations, larger drones may need a larger battery to have sufficient power. It is important to balance the size, capacity, and weight of the chosen battery, as too large of a battery can end up causing energy to drain faster and more power is needed to create enough lift to overcome weight.

Beyond such parts, other common elements include LED lights, GPS modules, cameras, and other such parts. Here at NSN Supplies, we can help you quickly source all the various drone equipment and parts that you require, offering competitive pricing and rapid lead times through our market expertise and purchasing power. We believe in treating our customers to a hands-off purchasing approach, meaning that once you send us a requisition, we will take care of all the sourcing, shipments, quality control, and other processes for you! If you would like to learn more about how we can operate as your strategic sourcing partner, give us a call or email at your earliest convenience!