Comparison XK X250 vs Cheerson CX-10

General drone specialization.

This parameter is specified in cases where the device has a clearly defined specialization and is noticeably different in equipment/functionality from conventional quadcopters for entertainment purposes. In our time, the following types of drones are distinguished: mini-drones, racing vehicles(including in the form of racing mini-drones), selfie drones, kits for battles, as well as industrial/commercial solutions. Here are the features of each of these options:

— FPV drones. Quadcopters with a “First Person View” transmit the image visible to the camera in real time. Those. During such a broadcast, the operator will see on the screen the same thing that directly falls into the field of view of the lens. This can be useful for photo and video shooting from the air, more precise control of a drone, and performing a number of specific tasks for reconnaissance or military purposes. Smartphones, tablets or other similar gadgets are used to view images from the camera; there are also remote controls with built-in screens (see “Display for FPV broadcast”) and specialized masks like virtual reality glasses (see “Helmet for FPV broadcast”).

— Mini-drone. Miniature devices with dimensions of no more than 150 mm (length a...nd width) and a weight of no more than 100 g. This allows them to be easily transported from place to place, as well as to fly even in confined spaces - right up to city apartments. At the same time, many mini-drones are intended exclusively for entertainment, but there are also models with quite advanced characteristics. But the communication range of such equipment, as a rule, is quite limited (although, again, exceptions are possible); the same applies to carrying capacity.

- Racing. Devices originally created for drone racing. Such races require not only fast completion of the tracks, but also the ability to accurately fit into a given trajectory; Therefore, racing quadcopters differ not only in speed, but also in control accuracy. In addition, among such machines there may be modifications for complex aerobatics (freestyle, 3D) - in their characteristics the emphasis is even more shifted to accuracy and responsiveness. It should be borne in mind that most racing models are not only expensive, but also quite difficult to operate and are designed for experienced pilots; so it hardly makes sense to buy such a device for initial training or entertainment use.

— Racing mini-drone. A variation of the racing machines described above, characterized by reduced dimensions and having corresponding features. On the one hand, these features include ease of transportation and the ability to be used in confined spaces, on the other hand, relatively low load capacity and communication range.

— Selfie drone. Copters designed primarily for taking selfies. Among the main features of this technology are its small dimensions and the absence of a classic remote control: control is carried out either via a smartphone or using gestures through a special compact controller. This format of work eliminates the need to carry a bulky remote control and allows the operator to look natural in the frame - posing for a photo, rather than being distracted by controlling the drone. And some advanced models provide additional functions that make shooting even more convenient: face detection with autofocus and auto-centering, Follow Me mode (see “Flight Modes”), etc.

— Industrial/commercial. High-quality copters designed for professional use: photographing and video shooting from high altitudes in high resolution, “inspecting” industrial facilities and land plots, spraying fields, etc. In addition to their large dimensions, they are distinguished by a long range and flight altitude (and even and others are usually calculated in kilometers), high carrying capacity and extensive functionality. Thus, many models allow the installation of heavy advanced cameras (some are even initially designed for certain models of professional cameras), others have built-in “optics” with advanced capabilities (for example, with a high magnification factor or support for shooting in the IR range). The design usually includes a large abundance of sensors. And some models may have more specific functions - for example, detecting other aircraft nearby. Of course, such functionality is not cheap.

— Combat (battle kits). Drones designed to organize air battles. As a rule, they are sold in sets of two cars - so that the fight can be organized immediately, without purchasing anything additional; and most models allow you to organize group battles (at least “all against all”) - for this it is enough to buy several identical sets. The role of the “gun” in such a copter is usually played by an IR emitter, and hits are recorded using appropriate sensors. For control, a smartphone or other gadget is usually used, and the control application can provide very interesting and unusual functions - for example, statistics for each player with experience points received for battles, as well as special “skills” (temporary invulnerability, unusual maneuver, etc.) . p.), purchased for these points and activated by clicking on the corresponding icon in the application.

Maximum flight time of a quadcopter on one full battery charge. This indicator is quite approximate, since it is most often indicated for ideal conditions - in real use, the flight time may be less than stated. However, by this indicator it is quite possible to evaluate the general capabilities of the copter and compare it with other models - a longer declared flight time in practice usually means higher autonomy.

Note that for modern copters, a flight time of 20 minutes or more is considered a good indicator, and in the most “long-lasting” models it can exceed 40 minutes.

The type of camera installation that the quadcopter is equipped with.

- Built-in. A camera that is permanently installed on the vehicle and cannot be removed without disassembling the fuselage. This is the simplest option for tech who want to use a quadcopter for photo and video shooting or for flying with a first-person view (see “Real-time broadcast”); In addition, this camera design is considered more durable and reliable than a removable one. On the other hand, it does not make it possible to remove the camera to make the car lighter or replace it with another one that is more suitable in terms of characteristics.

- Removable. As the name suggests, such cameras are installed on detachable mounts. Thanks to this, the customer can remove or install the camera, depending on what is more important to him at the moment - the light weight of the car or the presence of an electronic “eye” on board. Note that in some models you can install not only a standard device, but also a third-party device.

- Absent. Drones that are not equipped with cameras at all fall into two main categories. The first does not involve the use of any cameras at all; As a rule, it includes inexpensive devices primarily for entertainment purposes, for which the “peephole” is just an expensive and unnecessary excess, which also increases the weight of the entire structure. The second type is models with...the ability to install a camera. It includes quite advanced copters - up to powerful professional machines capable of carrying a digital SLR. This option will be useful for tech who would like to independently select a camera to suit their needs. However, we note that the second type may have an auxiliary “eye” for live FPV broadcasts (see below); however, if such a “peephole” does not allow for taking photos/videos, it is not considered a full-fledged camera, and its presence is indicated only in additional notes. — Thermal imaging. A camera operating on the principle of a thermal imager - it detects infrared radiation from heated objects and forms a characteristic thermal image visible to the drone operator. Each color in this image corresponds to a specific temperature. A thermal imager equipped in a drone opens up possibilities not available to traditional optical cameras. Thus, it can be used to distinguish a person or animal against a camouflage background or in dense vegetation in an area. Thermal imaging cameras also “see” perfectly in complete darkness.

Quadcopters with a thermal imaging camera are by no means a cheap pleasure. They are used by rescuers, military, law enforcement, repairmen, hunters and fishermen. In particular, drones with a thermal imaging camera help find living people when clearing rubble, and are widely used to search for possible fires, gas leaks from pipelines, etc. In some situations, the performance of a thermal imager may be low - for example, it is not able to clearly identify an object if its temperature coincides with the background temperature (which makes it difficult to use in hot weather). In addition, the resolution and detail of the picture, even in advanced models, is quite modest. Thermal cameras in drones can be built-in or detachable.

Resolution of the matrix in the standard camera of the quadrocopter.

Theoretically, the higher the resolution, the sharper, more detailed image the camera can produce. However, in practice, the quality of the "picture" is highly dependent on a number of other technical features - the size of the matrix, image processing algorithms, optical properties, etc. Moreover, when increasing the resolution without increasing the size of the matrix, the image quality may drop, because. significantly increases the likelihood of noise and extraneous artifacts. And for shooting video, a large number of megapixels is not required at all: for example, to shoot Full HD (1920x1080) video, which is considered a very solid format for quadrocopters, a sensor of only 2.07 megapixels is enough.

Note that high resolution is often a sign of an advanced camera with high image quality. However, this quality is not determined by the number of megapixels, but by the characteristics of the camera and the special technologies used in it. Therefore, when choosing a quadcopter with a camera, you should look not so much at the resolution as at the class and price category of the model as a whole.

The maximum resolution and frame rate supported by the aircraft camera when shooting in HD (720p).

HD 720p is the first high-definition video standard. Notably inferior to Full HD and 4K formats in terms of performance, it nevertheless provides pretty good detail without significant demands on the camera and processing power. Therefore, HD support is found even in relatively inexpensive copters. And in high-end models, it can be provided as an addition to more advanced standards.

In drones, HD cameras typically use the classic 1280x720 resolution; other, more specific options are practically non-existent. As for the frame rate, the higher it is, the smoother the video turns out, the less movement is blurred in the frame. In general, values up to 24 fps can be called minimal, from 24 to 30 fps — medium, from 30 to 60 fps — high, and speeds over 60 fps are used mainly for slow motion HD.

The presence of a slot for memory cards in the design of the quadcopter.

Usually, this function is provided in models equipped with cameras (see “Camera type”), and the cards themselves are used primarily for recording captured photos and videos. However, in some models, other data can be stored on such media — GPS tracks, flight routes, flight programs, etc. Anyway, cards are convenient, first of all, by the ability to quickly transfer data between the device and other devices that have a card reader (in particular, laptops).

It is worth noting that different devices can be designed for different standards of memory cards, and the media themselves are usually not supplied in the kit. Therefore, before choosing a card, you should clarify according to official data which type will be optimal for your model.

The range of the drone is the maximum distance from the control device at which a stable connection is maintained and the device remains controlled. For models that allow operation both from the remote control and from a smartphone (see "Control"), this item indicates the maximum value — usually achieved when using the remote control.

When choosing according to this indicator, note that the range is indicated for perfect conditions — within line of sight, without obstacles in the signal path and interference on the air. In reality, the control range may be somewhat lower; and when using a smartphone, it will also depend on the characteristics of a particular gadget. As for specific figures, they can vary from several tens of metres in low-cost models to 5 km or more in high-end equipment. At the same time, it should be said that the greater the range of communication, the higher its reliability in general, the better the control works with an abundance of interference and obstacles. Therefore, a powerful transmitter can be useful not only for long distances, but also for difficult conditions.

The presence of an information display on the quadcopter control panel.

Note that this feature should not be confused with the FPV broadcast screen (see below). The information display is usually a simple segment display capable of displaying numbers, individual letters, and, on some models, a limited set of special icons. However, even such equipment significantly expands the capabilities of the remote control and allows the operator to receive a lot of additional information: battery charge, signal level, range, flight altitude, etc. At the same time, the auxiliary screen is inexpensive and can be used even in low-cost models. And in advanced drones, it may well complement the broadcast display: separating data into different screens contributes to ease of control.

The number and type of batteries used in the quadcopter control panel.

— AA. Replaceable batteries, colloquially known as "AA batteries". They are available not only in the form of disposable batteries, but also in the form of rechargeable batteries, are produced under various brands that differ in price and quality (which provides freedom of choice), and finding such elements on the market is usually not a problem. The power and capacity of AA elements are relatively small, but in most cases they are quite enough for normal operation of the transmitter for quite a long time. Usually, modern consoles require several of these batteries; in the most high consumption this number can reach 8.

— AAA. Also known as "pinky". In fact, a smaller version of popular AA elements (see above); has the same key features, but differs in more compact dimensions and, as a result, somewhat reduced power. This option is typical for low-cost class models, with a small range of the remote control.

— 3s. This marking does not describe the size of the battery, but its operating voltage and technology. It denotes a lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery (see "Battery type"), assembled from three cells with a standard voltage of 3.7 V each, and thereby delivering an operating voltage of 11.1 V. The advantages of such a power supply are high power and capacity, which allows you to use the remote control for a long time without recharging. At the same time, batteries of thi...s type can vary significantly in size and weight, and not every model marked 3s will be compatible with the remote control. In addition, finding a spare battery is more difficult than a set of cells of a standard size.

— Proprietary battery. Powered by an original battery that is not related to any of the options described above. Such batteries can be much more powerful than replacement cells, making them well suited even for remotes with high power consumption. Their main advantage is the difficulty with quick replacement: the design of the remote control is at best poorly suited for this, and at worst the battery is generally non-removable. Also, finding the right replacement battery can be a major hassle.