Comparison MJX Bugs 8 vs MJX Bugs 3

Maximum flight time of a quadcopter on one full battery charge. This indicator is quite approximate, since it is most often indicated for ideal conditions - in real use, the flight time may be less than stated. However, by this indicator it is quite possible to evaluate the general capabilities of the copter and compare it with other models - a longer declared flight time in practice usually means higher autonomy.

Note that for modern copters, a flight time of 20 minutes or more is considered a good indicator, and in the most “long-lasting” models it can exceed 40 minutes.

The highest speed that a quadcopter can achieve in horizontal flight. It is worth considering that in most cases this parameter is indicated for optimal operating conditions: a fully charged battery, low air temperature, minimum weight, etc. However, it is quite possible to rely on it both when choosing and when comparing different models of copters with each other.

Note that quadcopters were originally designed as stable and maneuverable aerial platforms, and not as high-speed vehicles. Therefore, you should specifically look for a fast quadcopter only in cases where the ability to quickly move from place to place is critical (for example, when the device is supposed to be used for video recording of fast-moving objects over large areas).

The type of camera installation that the quadcopter is equipped with.

- Built-in. A camera that is permanently installed on the vehicle and cannot be removed without disassembling the fuselage. This is the simplest option for tech who want to use a quadcopter for photo and video shooting or for flying with a first-person view (see “Real-time broadcast”); In addition, this camera design is considered more durable and reliable than a removable one. On the other hand, it does not make it possible to remove the camera to make the car lighter or replace it with another one that is more suitable in terms of characteristics.

- Removable. As the name suggests, such cameras are installed on detachable mounts. Thanks to this, the customer can remove or install the camera, depending on what is more important to him at the moment - the light weight of the car or the presence of an electronic “eye” on board. Note that in some models you can install not only a standard device, but also a third-party device.

- Absent. Drones that are not equipped with cameras at all fall into two main categories. The first does not involve the use of any cameras at all; As a rule, it includes inexpensive devices primarily for entertainment purposes, for which the “peephole” is just an expensive and unnecessary excess, which also increases the weight of the entire structure. The second type is models with...the ability to install a camera. It includes quite advanced copters - up to powerful professional machines capable of carrying a digital SLR. This option will be useful for tech who would like to independently select a camera to suit their needs. However, we note that the second type may have an auxiliary “eye” for live FPV broadcasts (see below); however, if such a “peephole” does not allow for taking photos/videos, it is not considered a full-fledged camera, and its presence is indicated only in additional notes. — Thermal imaging. A camera operating on the principle of a thermal imager - it detects infrared radiation from heated objects and forms a characteristic thermal image visible to the drone operator. Each color in this image corresponds to a specific temperature. A thermal imager equipped in a drone opens up possibilities not available to traditional optical cameras. Thus, it can be used to distinguish a person or animal against a camouflage background or in dense vegetation in an area. Thermal imaging cameras also “see” perfectly in complete darkness.

Quadcopters with a thermal imaging camera are by no means a cheap pleasure. They are used by rescuers, military, law enforcement, repairmen, hunters and fishermen. In particular, drones with a thermal imaging camera help find living people when clearing rubble, and are widely used to search for possible fires, gas leaks from pipelines, etc. In some situations, the performance of a thermal imager may be low - for example, it is not able to clearly identify an object if its temperature coincides with the background temperature (which makes it difficult to use in hot weather). In addition, the resolution and detail of the picture, even in advanced models, is quite modest. Thermal cameras in drones can be built-in or detachable.

The maximum resolution and frame rate supported by the aircraft camera when shooting in HD (720p).

HD 720p is the first high-definition video standard. Notably inferior to Full HD and 4K formats in terms of performance, it nevertheless provides pretty good detail without significant demands on the camera and processing power. Therefore, HD support is found even in relatively inexpensive copters. And in high-end models, it can be provided as an addition to more advanced standards.

In drones, HD cameras typically use the classic 1280x720 resolution; other, more specific options are practically non-existent. As for the frame rate, the higher it is, the smoother the video turns out, the less movement is blurred in the frame. In general, values up to 24 fps can be called minimal, from 24 to 30 fps — medium, from 30 to 60 fps — high, and speeds over 60 fps are used mainly for slow motion HD.

The viewing angle provided by the standard quadcopter camera; for optics with adjustable zoom, usually, the maximum value is taken into account.

The viewing angle is the angle between the lines connecting the centre of the lens to the two opposite extreme points of the visible image. Usually measured along the diagonal of the frame, but there may be exceptions. As for the specific values of this parameter, in modern copters they can range from 55 – 60 ° to 180 ° and even more. At the same time, a wider angle (ceteris paribus) allows you to simultaneously fit more space into the frame; and a narrower one covers a smaller space, however, the objects that are in the frame look larger, it is easier to see individual small details on them. So when choosing by this parameter, you should consider what is more important for you: wide coverage or an additional zoom effect.

Possibility of online video broadcasting from the quadcopter to an external device — smartphone, laptop, control panel with display, virtual reality glasses, etc.

This feature provides several benefits at once. Firstly, it greatly simplifies the control of the device, even if it is within sight; and if the copter is not visible from the ground (which happens often, especially when using heavy professional equipment), then it is very difficult to do without "eyes on board". Secondly, live broadcasting makes it possible to use a drone for real-time observations, as well as full-fledged aerial photo and video shooting; recording of footage can be carried out both on an external device that receives the broadcast, and on the aircraft’s own carrier (usually a memory card — see below).

The specific features of the live broadcast for each model should be clarified separately; however, nowadays, thanks to the development of technology, such an opportunity is available even in low-cost devices.

Additional sensors provided in the design of the quadcopter.

— Heights. A sensor that determines the flight altitude of the machine. Such sensors can use the barometric or ultrasonic principle of operation. In the first case, the height is measured by the difference in atmospheric pressure between the current point and the starting point (that is, the sensor determines the height relative to the initial level); in the second, the sensor acts similarly to sonar, sending a signal to the ground and measuring the time it takes to return. Barometric sensors are not very accurate, but they work well at high altitudes — tens and hundreds of metres; ultrasonic — on the contrary, they allow you to accurately manoeuvre at low level flight, but lose effectiveness as you climb. However, in some advanced models, both options may be provided at once. Data from the height sensor can either be used by the quadcopter “independently” (for example, when hovering or automatically returning), or transmitted to the operator to the remote control or smartphone.

— Optical. A sensor that allows the quadcopter to "see" the environment in certain directions. One of the simplest variants of such a sensor is a downward-facing camera that allows the device to “copy” the surface under which it flies. Due to this, the machine, for example, can navigate indoors, where the signal from GPS satellites does not reach. In...addition to such a chamber, "eyes" can also be provided from different sides of the machine. Note that optical sensors have certain limitations in their use — for example, they lose their effectiveness on dark, shiny or uniform (without noticeable details) surfaces, as well as at high speeds.

— GPS module. A sensor that receives signals from navigation satellites (GPS, in some models also GLONASS) and determines the current geographical coordinates of the machine. Specific ways of using position data can be different: returning home, flying by waypoints (see below), recording a flight route, etc.

— Gyroscope. A sensor that determines the direction, angle and speed of the machine's rotation along a specific axis. Modern technologies make it possible to create full-fledged three-axis gyroscopes of very compact dimensions, and it is with such modules that quadcopters are usually equipped. On the basis of gyroscopes, automatic stabilization systems usually work, returning the car to a horizontal position after a gust of wind, collision with an obstacle, etc. At the same time, such equipment affects the cost of the device, and in some cases (for example, during piloting), automatic stabilization is more of a hindrance than a useful feature. Therefore, some low-cost, as well as advanced aerobatic quadcopters, are not equipped with gyroscopes.

A special display that can display the image from the drone's camera in the live broadcast (FPV) mode.

The display for FPV broadcasting is usually placed on the remote control: this allows you to view the image from the camera without being distracted from the control. At the same time, the specific design of such a screen may be different: in some models it is built directly into the remote control, in others it is placed on a special mount and can be removed (or even work separately from the remote control). However, anyway, this feature means that viewing live broadcasts from the copter is available in the original configuration, for this you do not need to look for additional devices such as smartphones or tablets.

An alternative to the display in some drones is an FPV broadcast helmet. It has its advantages (see below), but the traditional screen is cheaper, moreover, it is easier and more versatile to use: so, it can be viewed without problems even with glasses, and the image can be seen by several people.

The presence of a helmet for broadcasting FPV in the package of the copter.

Such a helmet is usually a kind of mask with a built-in screen to which the image from the drone's camera is transmitted. At the same time, the mask covers the screen from all sides, which is directly in front of the operator's eyes; this provides two benefits at once. Firstly, it achieves the maximum "presence on board" effect, which not only provides additional entertainment, but also contributes to precise control. In this sense, this accessory is similar to virtual reality glasses (adjusted for the fact that the picture does not respond to head turns — it changes only when the drone's camera moves). Secondly, the screen is protected from external light, and the image on it is clearly visible regardless of the surrounding conditions — be it a sunny day, twilight or complete darkness. On the other hand, when using a helmet, the operator does not see what is happening directly next to him (more precisely, he can see these only through the camera of the copter); and for those who wear glasses, such an accessory may be inconvenient or even completely unsuitable for use. At the same time, such equipment is more expensive for everyone than the more traditional option — the FPV broadcast display (see above), installed on the remote control. So there aren't many helmet-equipped quadcopters, mostly racing models (see "Type"), for which precision control is key.