Over the last few years, a new use for drones has rapidly been gaining popularity. Known as drone racing, this pastime involves racing small, agile drones around obstacle courses. This type of racing almost exclusively uses advanced FPV technology, often including the use of FPV goggles. As such, it provides an experience that involves all of the senses and offers fliers an adrenaline-laced surge of excitement while the race lasts. The sport is becoming increasingly organized, with the formation of the DRL (Drone Racing League) and competitions that can net the winners hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In order to compete in the world of drone racing, you must possess a racing drone. In order to achieve the fastest, most advanced, and most customized racing drones, you need to build your own. However, there are also many fast drones on the market today that you can use to get a taste of the world of drone racing.
Any racing drone you purchase should come with certain features. For example, almost all of these drones come with FPV capabilities. This feature allows you to see what the drone sees as you fly it. Instead of flying by sight alone, you put on the goggles (or look at the controller screen) and see the world from the view of the drone.
This ability to put yourself in the cockpit of the drone is one of the reasons that drone racing is such an exciting and popular pursuit. Any racing drone you purchase should come with reliable FPV that allows you to easily fly the drone without needing to rely on sight. This means clear images and no lag between the drone’s flight and what you see.
In addition, racing drones must be light and maneuverable. As a result, most racing drones are very small (sometimes nano-sized). However, they can be larger, as long as they are capable of maneuvering quickly around the obstacles in the race course. Of course, this maneuverability must include speed, since racing drones can get up to 120 miles per hour during a competition.
Many of the best racing drones come with durable, lightweight bodies made of carbon fiber or fiberglass. These materials allow the racing drone to withstand crashes and dings while keeping it light weight and maneuverable. You should be aware that many of these drones require additional pieces before you can fly them. Some require a few simple pieces; others require FPV goggles or other important elements. Just make sure to take any missing pieces into consideration when looking at price and functionality for your racing drone.
Other features you might find on a racing drone include a night vision camera (so you can fly it at night), technology that reduces lag in the FPV, FPV-equipped controllers in case you do not want to use FPV goggles, a long range, and advanced cameras. Of course, you can also purchase fast drones in a variety of price brackets, but even the best racing drones rarely cost more than $500.
If you want to try out racing but do not want to build your own, purchasing a racing drone that comes with a light weight yet durable body, a reliable camera, advanced FPV, and a reputation for speed can help you to get a taste for the sport without costing you too much money.