Before you can begin flying, you’ll need to perform tests to check that the drone is behaving correctly. This extensive, non-specific drone care checklist is designed to uncover any potential problems with your systems that you may have missed. If you can identify a certain problem with how the drone is behaving, you can then begin the repair process and have your drone work in the most efficient way.
Run this checklist as part of a routine drone care or within 24 hours of an upcoming flight to identify whether repairs are needed and the unit is fit for operation.
1. Introduction
You will need to have done some kind of testing before flight. This checklist will guide you through a range of tests to highlight any issues you may not have been aware of, so that further troubleshooting or repairs can be performed.
Once you’ve finished this checklist you can understand your issues.
Let’s get started.
2. Record basic details
Record drone and operator details.
By noting down information about the operator performing the checklist, the specific drone unit, and contact information, you’ll save yourself time later on when you need to reference those details or forward the results of the checklist to anyone else.
- Technician name *
- Date of testing *
- Drone model name *
- Drone model number *
- Additional comments
- Repair technician email *
Equipment check:
3. Inspect all components for visible damage
Before you test the system itself, you should make sure all parts are in good condition.
Check each component for visual damage. If the part is damaged, it will cause the drone to behave incorrectly.
Use the sub-checklist below to check each part of the drone.
Remember to power down the drone fully before handling.
- Motors
- Propellers
- Chassis
- Gimbal
- Indicator lights
- Screws
- Landing frame
- Batteries
- Wiring
- Camera
Do any components need to be replaced or repaired?
4. Replace damaged components
If you identified a problem with the drone. The next thing you need to do is know what replacement(s) need to be performed.
Which components need to be replaced?
- Motors
- Propellers
- Chassis
- Gimbal
- Indicator lights
- Screws
- Landing frame
- Batteries
- Wiring
- Camera
- None
5. Check and charge all batteries
Make sure all batteries are sufficiently charged including drone, controller, additional control station units and any spares that you might have.
You shouldn’t overcharge your batteries; nor should you allow them to completely drain. Ideally, the charge should be kept within the range of 30 – 90%.
- Check drone batteries and charge them to 75% (if necessary)
- Check controller batteries and charge them to 75% (if necessary)
- Check additional component batteries and charge them to 75% (if necessary)
- Check spare batteries and charge them to 75% (if necessary)
Motors:
6. Test motors
Time to begin testing the drone.
Before we see how the propellers perform in-flight, we should test that the motors are working correctly.
Complete the sub-checklist below to see if your motors are all installed correctly and free of debris.
- Remove propellers
- Insert drone batteries
- Insert controller batteries
- Power on drone
- Power on controller
- Test motors are rotating in correct direction
Comment on anything unexpected during propeller testing
7. Test propellers
Before handling the drone, make sure the batteries are removed and the propellers are completely wound down.
- Remove drone and controller batteries
- Check and recharge drone and controller batteries to 75%
- Install propellers
- Check propellers are correctly oriented
- Check propellers are moving freely (by hand)
- Re-insert drone and controller batteries
- Power on drone and controller
- Perform test flight
Comment on anything unexpected during propeller testing
Camera:
8. Test gimbal
The gimbal allows the camera to rotate along the vertical and horizontal axis. Check it’s working correctly by performing basic control commands to move the camera along the X and Y axis.
Follow the sub-checklist below for the gimbal testing instructions.
- Remove drone and controller batteries
- Check and recharge drone and controller batteries to 75%
- Remove propellers
- Re-insert drone and controller batteries
- Place drone on a stable, flat surface
- Power on drone and controller
Now you’re ready to test if the gimbal is working correctly.
- Check that camera is properly installed
- Perform horizontal camera movement
- Perform vertical camera movement
Comment on anything unexpected during gimbal testing
9. Test Camera
You can test the camera by simply observing the quality of the video feed and assessing variables like image quality (in combination with capture conditions) and specific camera functions (such as night-vision).
The following sub-checklist will guide you through the process of testing that your camera is in working order.
- Remove drone and controller batteries
- Check and recharge drone and controller batteries to 75%
- Re-insert drone and controller batteries
- Place drone on a stable, flat surface
- Power on drone and controller
Here we can begin to gauge the camera functionality, after isolating common problem areas with the previous protocol.
Continue with the subtasks below.
- Clean camera lens
- Activate camera feed
- Assess camera image quality
- Test special functions (night vision, etc.)
Comment on anything unexpected during camera quality testing
Comment on anything unexpected during special functions testing
