Drones aren’t just for the Military Anymore

The Predator Drone or MQ-1 Predator is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) used by the United States Air Force.  Although it has been configured to carry missiles and other munitions in an offensive capacity, its primary function is still reconnaissance and forward observation.  The level of real-time intelligence obtained from the air on a position is an HUGE force multiplier in any defensive or offensive scenario.  In the event of a SHTF scenario, having your own Predator Drone would be an ideal way to keep an eye out around your retreat and to monitor threats without them seeing you or exposing your position.  Although you can’t actually get your own Predator, you can get the next best thing … the Draganflyer X-Series UAVs from Draganfly Innovations.

Draganfly X8

Unique Design

The Draganflyer is a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) UAV.  At first glance, a Draganflyer looks like a toy RC helicopter but unlike a traditional two-rotor helicopter platform, these UAVs use eight rotors, each with its own motor.  Combined, the motors are large enough to carry payloads as heavy as 2.2lbs!

The rotors are arranged as four counter-rotating offset pairs, mounted at the ends of four carbon fiber arms.  This type of platform provides for a level of maneuverability, precision, and speed that traditional two-rotor helicopter platforms can’t come close to matching.  Plus, it makes it amazingly simple to fly!

Idiot Proof Flight Controls

Another advantage of the rotor design is that it provides amazing stability in the wind.  Combined with an onboard computer that provides electronic flight stability, the X8 will stay on position with zero effort.  The pilot can literally park the drone at a particular point in space and walk away from the controls and the drone will continue to hold position!

But it doesn’t even stop there. The special stability control software means that if the pilot, at any time, begins to feel as if they are loosing control of the UAV, they need only release the controls and the Draganfly will return to a hover position all on its own! It is truly amazing to watch.

[box]NOTE: Learning to fly a traditional 2 rotor craft is really difficult and requires a great deal of skill. The X8, on the other hand, you can learn to fly the X8 to great effect within only a few minutes … and due to its built in computer that provides stability controls, it also can’t be easily crashed.[/box]

Completely Programable

For those of you that like to crack open the hood, the X8 (and even some of the other models) are also completely programable.  I’ve used the APIs to “train” them to perform certain tasks entirely on their own, like flying a perimeter and taking pictures without me having to actually do the flying.  Seriously, this little guy is AMAZING! The onboard computer, although more advanced, greatly extends the mission profiles possible for this little guy. At a minimum, when combined with its onboard GPS system, the X8 inertly knows “where it is” at all times, and can therefore also perform basic tasks like returning “home” from where ever its current position is.

[box]NOTE: Imagine a scenario where your retreat was being approach by a potential hostile party. The drone could easy be flown over their position manually, retrieve critical intel, and then left to fly back on its own; thereby allowing the pilot to move onto other critical tasks.[/box]

Quite and Efficient

Best of all, the X8 is dead silent and very efficient.  Its unique rotor design results in very quite operation, which when at a high enough altitude, can’t be heard by a person from the ground. Its lithium polymer batteries are very lightweight and can be fully recharged in a little as 30 minutes! I don’t have much experience with the endurance of the drone, but I can say that I’ve observed it being used for at least 15 full minutes under load (hi-rez camera) and it still had power.

Compact, and Easily Transported

If all that wasn’t already enough, the X8 can also be folded up and easily transported.  This would give you the ability to take it on missions away from your retreat and gain valuable intelligence in more forward operating scenarios.

[box]NOTE: Imagine having to cross unknown terrain, how valuable would it be if you could get realtime intel on the roads, structures, and activity in the area? [/box]

So What Do These Things Cost?

There are several models and configurations ranging from very basic (almost toy level) which is only a few hundred dollars (Draganflyer IV) to as much as $10,000 to $50,000 for the Draganflyer X8. These are certainly not cheap, but anything worth having ususally is not. Should you buy one of these? Well, that is up to you really, basic preps should take priority over expensive gadgets like this … but assuming you are part of a larger group or you already have your BOL and basic preps setup, I think a model like the high-end Draganflyer X8 would provide significant piece of mind as well are provide a significant fore-multipler.