Do your drone takeoffs and landings go smoothly every time? For safety reasons, would you equip your drone with propeller guards?
This lightweight drone accessory surrounds or partially covers the drone's propellers, providing a layer of protection during flight. Let's delve deeper into the question: Do you really need propeller guards for takeoff and landing?
What are propeller guards?
Propeller guards, also known as prop guards or blade protectors, are protective frames that can be clipped onto or integrated into a drone. Their primary purpose is to protect the propellers from damage and prevent the drone from injuring people, objects, or itself during a collision.
During takeoff, flight, and landing, accidents can happen at any time, especially for beginners. Therefore, when purchasing a quadcopter drone package suitable for beginners, propeller guards are often included in the package.
Why are drone blade guards so important for takeoff and landing?
For drone beginners, controlling drone flight, takeoff, and landing is inherently risky due to the proximity to the ground, potential obstacles, and the need for pilots to control the throttle and direction. Therefore, propeller guards are essential for takeoff and landing.
Protection on Uneven Ground
When taking off or landing on grass, gravel, or uneven surfaces, there's a risk of propellers striking objects. Protective guards provide a cushion, reducing the possibility of propeller or motor damage. Furthermore, placing a weighted drone landing pad at the takeoff and landing site can further minimize the risk of damage to the drone.
Personal Safety
When flying a drone at high speeds, especially in densely populated areas or indoors, using propeller guards can reduce the risk of injury from exposed propeller blades, improving personal safety and minimizing the possibility of damage to property.
Preventing Tipovers
Beginners often struggle with precise control when manually controlling a drone for takeoff and landing. The drone's flight path may be tilted, potentially creating hazards to the surrounding environment. Installing a protective guard reduces the chance of a drone tipping over and damaging its propellers.
What are the disadvantages of drone propeller guards?
Propeller guards are beneficial for most drone pilots, but some still prefer to remove them. Why?
Added Weight, Reduced Performance
Despite their lightweight design, propeller guards still add weight to a drone, reducing flight time and maneuverability. This impact is particularly noticeable for mini quadcopters.
Increased Aerodynamic Drag
Propeller guards disrupt the airflow around the propellers, potentially creating turbulence and reducing efficiency. This reduces control precision, which is crucial for takeoff and landing in windy conditions or confined spaces.
Impact on Skill Development
Relying on propeller guards can hinder novice pilots' skill development, hindering their ability to master precise throttle and stick control. Experienced pilots often believe that learning to take off and land smoothly without the guards helps them develop better flying habits.
When should I use propeller guards?
Propeller guards protect drone propeller blades. Whether or not to use them depends on your skill level, flight environment, and objectives.
For drone beginners, a propeller guard can reduce insecurity during flight and protect your investment while you learn.
If you're flying indoors, the confined space increases the risk of collision, so using a propeller guard is a wise choice.
If you're flying near people or fragile objects, use a propeller guard for your own safety and the safety of others.
If you're taking off or landing on uneven surfaces, installing a propeller guard can also effectively protect the propeller blades.
Do I absolutely need a propeller guard?
Propeller guards are typically designed for quadcopters, whether consumer or commercial drones, such as the Autel EVO Nano series propeller guards, the Autel EVO Lite series propeller guards, and the Autel EVO II series propeller guards. Meanwhile, FPV drones are less commonly equipped with propeller guards due to their high speed and maneuverability.
If you're an experienced outdoor pilot who has perfected drone takeoff, flight, and landing, and whose drone has good omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, propeller guards may be unnecessary.
Conclusion
Propeller guards play a vital role in protecting your drone during takeoff and landing. However, whether or not to use them depends on your flight environment and level of experience.
Overall, propeller guards are a wise and cost-effective protective measure suitable for most drone pilots.
