When you look up at the stars and see flashing lights accompanied by a buzzing sound, don't worry it could be a drone flying. Now that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has relaxed rules that allow drones to fly at night, more drones can now be seen flying around at night.
Why do we see so many drones at night?
The use of drones for photography is one of the most common recreational activities, and at the same time, drone night photography has also become popular. Drone photographers use drones to capture gorgeous landscapes and urban buildings. Drone night aerial photography will further test the flying skills and photography abilities of drone photographers.
Drone night photography is not only used for drone aerial photography, but also provides services for public safety. Drones can be used for night surveillance, night search and rescue missions, night firefighting, agricultural activities, and more.
1. Drones are used for night surveillance
Police and security agencies often use drones in low-light conditions. And, because of their resolution capabilities, many police departments around the world use night vision drones for nighttime surveillance. Night vision drones will be able to fully grasp everything in the dark, perform situational awareness, and be difficult to detect, providing guarantee for commanders to make quick decisions.
2. Drones are used for night search and rescue missions
Search and rescue at night is very difficult, and the addition of drones alleviates this situation. With the use of flyable night vision drones, the night visibility of search and rescue personnel has been greatly enhanced. High-quality night images and videos are transmitted in real time, so trapped personnel can be properly rescued faster.
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3. Drones can be used for night video and photo shooting
Drones are now used for a variety of activities in the field of aerial photography, but one of the most interesting uses is when people use drones to take stunning photos at night. If there are not many light sources in the natural environment at night, the drone will become unsurprising! Night vision drones can capture high-quality images and show the charm of night drone photography.
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4. Drones can be used for night firefighting
Fire rescue missions become more difficult to assess on-site conditions during nighttime conditions. Night vision drones equipped with thermal sensors are very useful at night. Drones will be able to detect heat sources and quickly sense on-site conditions, allowing firefighters to access real-time information and make fact-based decisions on the ground.
5. The agricultural industry can use drones at night
Drones are also used in agriculture, where they can monitor crops and livestock at night. These drones allow farmers to track cattle that they would not be able to observe in the dark because the nocturnal animals are difficult to see from the ground, allowing them to learn about the animals’ living habits and better manage their farms.
6. Drones can be used for nighttime entertainment
Drones flying at night must have lights for navigation and warning purposes. But at the same time, some people use drone lights to perform drone light show. By programming the flashing time of the drone lights, the drones can show different patterns, text and animation effects in the sky.
Can I fly a drone at night?
Both amateurs and professionals (including government agencies and organizations) can fly drones at night, which requires them to follow FAA Rule 107 or corresponding laws and regulations.
First, let's be clear about the definition of night: The FAA defines night as "the time between the end of evening civil twilight [period of sunset until 30 minutes after sunset] and the beginning of morning civil twilight [period of 30 minutes prior to sunrise until sunrise]."
Second, there are significant risks in flying a drone quadcopter at night. The pilot can easily lose sight and have visual deviations in the control of the drone. Therefore, flying a drone at night also requires installing a flash light to be discovered by other manned aircraft or drone pilots and to indicate the location of the drone. It is illegal to turn off the drone lights at night, please be aware.
Summarize
Restrictions on flying drones at night have become looser, and more and more drone pilots are experimenting with night photography. But you still need to pay attention to the laws and regulations on flying drones at night, so as not to infringe on other people’s private property or cause panic to others.
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