Let's face it … multicopters are cool. If they weren't, you wouldn't have an interest in this book! They look like something straight out of science fiction, with their exposed wires, spinning blades, and mean profile. But, how do you sift through the plethora of information and opinions on the Web and at your local hobby shop? And what the heck is a gimbal?
This book is an introduction to the world of multicopters, presented in a casual and conversational way. Although examples, opinions, and advice are given in these pages … the principles and information you'll need to make your own decisions are given to you in a practical way. Even the most experienced multicopter pilots will find something in these pages new to them.
Chapter 1, What is a Multicopter?, provides a very basic overview of how multicopters fly and what components they use.
Chapter 2, Buying a Turnkey System, gives you an overview of the systems out there, the pitfalls of choosing cheap versus reliable, and where to get good information about turnkey systems.
Chapter 3, Choosing Your Components, provides an in-depth look at the components of a multicopter system and the calculations needed to choose the right parts.
Chapter 4, Assembling Your Drone, is a brief walkthrough of the wiring diagram and best practices for building a multicopter.
Chapter 5, Flying Your Multicopter, prepares you for the first flight of your multicopter, maidening, and practicing.
Chapter 6, First Person View (FPV) Gear, explains how to add an FPV system to your multicopter in order to fly it as if you were onboard.
Chapter 7, Camera Flying Techniques, discusses how to effectively use your new skills to get great camera shots and a stunning flying experience.
Chapter 8, Post Processing, explains how to stabilize and prepare clips for editing.
For this book, you'll need a strong interest in flying a multicopter and a working knowledge of basic math. It helps to be mechanically minded. In the final chapter, we'll be using Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2014.
This book is for experts and beginners to the multicopter world alike. It's tailored to those who aspire to eventually become professionals in shooting aerial imagery.
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