TASK: Flying the Airblock Drone

INTRODUCTION

The Airblock drone, developed by Makeblock, is a modular and programmable flying robot designed for educational purposes. Its magnetic, modular components allow for quick assembly into various configurations.. The drone is controlled via the Makeblock App.

PILOTING EXPERIENCE

With the help of a coordinator, I had the opportunity to fly the Airblock drone. The assembly process was very eady due to its magnetic modular design, enabling quick setup without the need for tools. Once assembled, we connected the drone to the Makeblock App by Bluetooth.
After getting the green light from the coordinator, I flew the drone and due to its lightweight property, it was easy to handle the drone controls. It is very important for the gradual descent of the drone during touchdown, otherwise the drone might get damaged.

CHARACTERISTICS OF AIRBLOCK DRONE

-The drone is made of the material, STYROFOAM, which is responsible for its lightweight property.
-Design: It consists of one master module in the middle and six power modules.\ -Power Modules: It consists of propellers. Out of the six power modules, three power modules have red color propellers and the other three have black propellers. The red and black propellers are connected alternatively. The essence of this is that the three same color propellers rotate in clockwise direction, whereas the other three rotate in anti-clockwise direction, providing stability for the drone flying. \

• The working of rotor is similar to the Boeing CH-47 Chinook, which uses two large, counter-rotating rotors, instead of one, which eliminates the need for a tail rotor and improves stability and control, especially when carrying heavy loads.

The app provides several modes to work with the Airblock drone.

TASK : REGULATIONS OF DGCA

1. DGCA: Directorate General of Civil Aviation, it is India's civil aviation regulator responsible for safety oversight, certification, and operational standards.
2. MoCA: Ministry of Civil Aviation, it formulates and implements national aviation policies, manages airport infrastructure, and promotes air transport in India.
3. ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization, a UN specialized agency developing global standards and policies for aviation safety, security, and environmental protection.
4. SARPs: Standards and Recommended Practices, which are technical specifications adopted by the ICAO to ensure a high degree of uniformity in aviation regulations and procedures.
5. QCI: Quality Council of India, it ensures quality standards for aviation and drone certification in India.
6. AIP: Aeronautical Information Publication, it is a detailed document providing critical aeronautical data, maps, and updates for flight operations and planning.
7. Stakeholders: AAI, DGCA, MoCA are a few stakeholders in the Indian Aviation industry.

Drone Sizes

Nano Drones: Up to 250 grams.
Micro Drones: 250 grams to 2 kilograms.
Small Drones: 2 to 25 kilograms.
Medium Drones: 25 to 150 kilograms.
Large Drones: Above 150 kilograms.

Airspace Zones for Drones

In India, drone airspace is divided into three zones:
Green Zone: Airspace up to 400 feet (120m) in uncontrolled airspace. No permissions needed.
Yellow Zone: Controlled airspace, usually 5-12 km around an airport. Permission required.
Red Zone: Prohibited airspace. No-fly areas

Drone Airspace Map for Bengaluru

References:

1. Digital Sky: for the Airspace Map.
2. The Drone Rules 2021