INSIDE A DRONE

Drones aren't just for the military any more. These flying marvels are now taking over our lives

- JACK PARSONS

Drones are everywhere, and whether you like them or not, you're only going to see more of them appear. These flying beauties are a commonplace hobby to undertake, and why not?

They're amazingly fun to fly, cheap enough for the average person to get involved with and, for the real enthusiast, there are kits available where you can build your own from scratch. Drones are so sophisticated nowadays that the technology used to power them has transformed over the past couple of years.

Things like cameras, accelerometers and GPS are now standard accessories, opening up a whole new level of interactivity and unlocking some pretty exciting features. Drones are also changing their spots, so while you'll still find large, heavy drones sometimes taking to the sky, don't be surprised to find the occasional microdrone flying overhead that could fit in the palm of your hand.

WHICH DRONE IS FOR YOU?

There's one for every occasion

SKY AUTONOMY

HOVERAIR X1

Not only can the HOVERAir X1 achieve lightning-quick speeds of 16 to 26 miles per hour in the sky, all models offer a complete autonomous flying experience. It requires no user input apart from turning on the drone itself.

4K VISION

DJI PHANTOM 3

The Phantom 3 comes with a builtin camera that's capable of recording 4K footage. The accompanying remote control gives the flyer complete control of every movement the Phantom 3 makes.

PALM FLYER

MICRO DRONE 3.0