How to Safely Fly your Drone in the Winter

Winter is upon us, and though the temperatures are low, there is still work to be done. And, drones are still a useful tool to save time and get better data than by other methods. Cold weather negatively impacts the performance of all drones, and some of the most popular drones out there, like the DJI Phantom 4 series, are only rated to perform in weather down to about 32°F (0°C). However, following a few best practices can keep you flying safely and gathering useful data throughout the whole winter season.

What does winter mean for drone surveys?

Key Takeaways: Flying in wintry conditions generally has little impact on the quality of the data, but cold weather does shorten flight time, and snow on the ground prevents planimetric feature marking.

Keeping your Batteries Warm

The problem with flying drones in the winter is that low temperatures reduce battery performance. If the battery gets too cold, it could fail mid-flight, even when it still claims to have 40% battery. And, if the battery fails mid-flight, there is nothing you can do to save it. But, there are two key things you can do to keep your batteries warm throughout a flight.

Keep your gear warm throughout the day. If you leave your drone in a car overnight before a mission, the batteries will get so cold that the drone may not even take off. You should keep the batteries indoors to warm them up to room temperature the day before a flight. Also, keep your batteries in a sealed case inside of your car during a mission to keep your spare batteries from getting too cold. This keeps their charge at appropriate levels and reduces the risk of unsafe voltage drops.
Shorten your flights, and land at 50% battery. Even in extremely cold conditions, batteries perform better with a higher charge. At lower voltages, especially in the 30% and below range, you run the risk of total power failure. If you’ve ever had your cell phone turn off when it gets too cold, only to turn back on once it warms back up, then you are familiar with this effect. If you shorten your flights and land with 50% or more battery life remaining, you can significantly lower the risk of mid-flight battery failure.

Data Quality Considerations

Flying in wintry conditions generally has little impact on the quality of the data, but there are a few things worth noting. For measuring topographic data in the snow, the drone can accurately map whatever it can see. That means that if there is a light dusting of snow on the ground, the topo data will be perfectly fine. However, if there are 6’ snow piles covering all the major features of a site, then the drone will only be able to map the top of the snow, not the features underneath. Furthermore, fresh snow can often obscure important features like paint striping and utilities, so if those are critical to a job, then it is best to wait until the snow has melted slightly.

The drone can accurately map whatever it can see.

Be Equipped with the Right Gear

Touchscreen gloves are a lifesaver in the winter.

Anyone who works outside in the winter knows that a good pair of gloves is critical. But, anyone who operates drones in the winter knows that you sometimes have to take your gloves off to operate a touchscreen. That is why a good pair of touchscreen gloves and touchscreen capable pens are a lifesaver in the cold weather.

As for the drone itself, even the Phantom 4 series, while rated at 32°F (0°C), can safely operate well below that. But, if you are regularly flying in below-freezing temperatures and want to ensure you can always use the drone, there are a few more rugged options out there. The DJI Matrice 200 series of drones, the DJI Inspire 2, and the senseFly eBee are all rated down to -4°F (-20°C), so they can handle much more extreme weather. However, the price tag on these drones is much higher than the Phantom 4.

Staying Safe

It can be challenging to get work done outside in cold weather and snow. Reducing time out in the field is critical, and drones excel at exactly this. Thankfully, despite the challenges that cold weather brings with electronics, good procedures, and safety practices will help keep you flying safely and successfully in nearly any conditions.

Questions? Contact us anytime at (949) 335-4323, or info@aerotas.com