8.4: A Measure of Success: Drone Racing
Drone
racing is a sport where specifically designed drones are raced against each
other in competition. Racing drones are small unmanned aerial vehicles about
the size of the palm of a human hand. They typically have four propellers arranged
in an “H” configuration and can reach speeds over 100 mph. A distinguishing
feature of these drones is that they carry a camera with a live video feed
connected to a headset that the pilot wears to allow a first-person view (FPV) of
the drone’s flight path. Competitors then use this view to pilot their drones around
a three-dimensional obstacle course while avoiding colliding with objects and
other racing drones.There are many leagues around the world that have different
rules and regulations. They mainly aim for rules that allow fair competition
between racers.
These drones
face many limitations including maximizing speed and handling while carrying
all the equipment needed to operate. A typical drone consists of a frame, four
motors, a battery, a camera, receivers, transmitters, and identification lights.
Other limitations include the technology itself to allow this to happen. The first
recorded organized races began in Australia in 2013. The camera technology is
still relatively new and is being constantly updated. The drones themselves are
developing technology. Each year, racing leagues like the popular Drone Racing
League update their drones with the best camera, motor, electrical, and sensor
technology available. For example, bigger batteries allow individual races to
last longer and it allows more races per tournament.
Ethics in
drone racing are guided by rules and regulations set by each governing league.
The main goal of each league is to ensure a fair competition between each drone
and pilot. A common rule for many leagues is that all pilots race with the same
model of drone. The Drone Racing League goes a step further and provides all
the drones and parts to pilots. MulitGP league separates drones into different performance
classes. Standard rules that punish cheating, unfair play, and un-sportsman-like
conduct also ensure fair competition.
There is an
interesting take on the challenge of privacy. Many leagues broadcast their races
with the pilots taking on callsigns instead of their own names. For example,
the Drone Racing League’s website lists its pilots starting with their callsigns
then giving more information afterwards. Many of these pilots follow similar
privacy practices that traditional athletes do. Many have social media accounts
but don’t include any private information that may harm them if it falls into
the wrong hands.
Safety in
drone races come from holding races outdoors or in stadiums to minimize the
risk of collision with people or causing damage to property. The pilots themselves
are placed off to the side and out of the path of the drones. Spectators are
also placed out of the way and often at a vantage point to see the race in its
entirety. Protective netting is placed between drones and people when needed. The
Drone Racing League even has dedicated staff, like “Race Director”, “Drone Handler”,
“Area Manager” etc. who each have defined jobs to ensure safe operations. For
example, only Drone Handlers can retrieve crashed drones and only do so if there
are no drones flying the course. There are also specific safety protocols for
pilots too. One such rule is that pilots will only touch their controllers when
cleared to prior to a race and they also must put down their controller as soon
as their drone lands or crashes.
Last, lost
of link or system control is not a big issue in drone races unless the drone is
on a ballistic collision path with people or property. In that case, protective
netting is usually placed to prevent out-of-control drones from harming people.
A typical race may have one or several drones crash. Typically, these crashes
happen at turns around obstacles. These obstacles are strategically placed in
locations so that crashes will minimize damage. Once a crash happens, ground
crew or the pilot go and retrieve it after a race is over.
Drone
racing is an exciting to watch sport that pushes the limits of drone performance.
Each racing leagues has its own set of rules that provide fair and safe
competition. It will be interesting to see how this sport continues to evolve
in the future.
References:
Drone Racing League. (2019). About. Retrieved from https://thedroneracingleague.com/about/
Drone Racing League. (2019). Official Rules: Tryouts 2020. Retrieved
from https://thedroneracingleague.com/official-rules-tryouts-2020/
Drone racing. (2019). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drone_racing
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