When Should You Replace / Upgrade Your Drone Propellers?

By the end of 2018, it is expected that the consumer drone market will grow to over $1 billion in sales. That number is not really a surprise since from farming to photography, the use of drones permeates a massive variety of industries. Not to mention, they are a great time to fly.

Whether you need to replace your propellers because they are damaged, or you’re just ready for an upgrade, the right propellers can enhance your drone game. From propellers to drone motor Xoar has the innovation to take your drone higher. You should replace your propellers with new (more enhanced) props if:

They’re damaged

Not only can having damaged props make flying noisier, but it can also increase the vibrations, which in turn can shorten the life of motor bearings due to a lack of balance. So, if you see any cracks, nicks, or deformations, it is time to replace your propellers. Never fly your drone if there are chunks or tips missing from your props.

You want it quieter

This can be particularly important if you fly in largely populated areas, as you’ll annoy fewer people with a quieter drone. The talented fellas over at Drone Gear reviewed Xoar’s beechwood drone propellers and found them to be almost 10 decibels quieter than their counterparts.

You need more agility

Updating your propellers can provide you with increased agility, if you upgrade to a stiffer material, your drone will be more responsive without added drift.

You fly in high altitude

If you want to take your drone to new heights, you should invest in stiffer propellers. The higher the altitude, the thinner the air, which means that to perform at the same ability as sea level, the thrust from the props must increase while in higher elevation. As such, performance degrades at approximately 3% per 1000 feet as you climb in altitude. Your drone has to work harder the higher it flies.

You want that new drone feeling again

Replacing your propellers can make it fly like it’s new again. If you’re upgrading from standard props to a more agile performance-based prop, you’ll see a drastic difference in performance.

About Xoar

Xoar has been helping hobbyists fly better for over 40 years. Their dedication to innovation and technology allow them to offer high-quality products that out-perform their competitors. Xoar specializes in designing and manufacturing Aerial Propellers for Industrial UAVs, Mid-Large Size UAV, Civil Aviation, Ultralight Aircraft, LSA, Commercial applications, and RC Airplane market. Crafted from quality materials, A finished Xoar prop offers a reduced noise level, increased agility, low air friction, and accurate performance in the air

Go higher with Xoar at www.xoarintl.com

The Many Ways Drones Are Becoming Invaluable for Scientific Research

05JanMarch 5, 2019 By Xoar Propeller

Anyone familiar with drones is no doubt aware of their military use and their burgeoning popularity among hobbyist unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pilots. While most are likely aware that they’re increasingly employed for commercial applications as well (cinematography, delivery, agriculture, etc.). However, less well-known is that drones are becoming an increasingly invaluable asset to scientific research. That value is proving to be an impressively prolific one, too.

In fact, drones are being taken advantage of by biologists (micro, marine, terrestrial, etc.), climatologists, geologists, ecologists, volcanologists, and meteorologists—so scientists in pretty much every branch of natural and life science are benefitting from the use of UAVs. Drones are demonstrating an ability to reach places with more agility, easier access, and (extremely important for virtually all scientific studies), far lower cost than other research media are capable. The following is a record of just a few of ways in which drones are emerging as a precious scientific aid, both above water and land.

Above Water

Drone technology is being deployed over bodies of water for a variety of reasons. Thermal imagery from above is revealing fascinating, and often daunting, data regarding the effect of climate change on coastal regions. It’s proven particularly beneficial in arctic and Antarctic ecosystems. Drone propellers, being safer to engage right over the surface of oceans, rivers, ponds, and lakes, allow UAVs to perform a more active role.

In a series of studies undertaken in the Arctic and tropical waters, drones have dropped pods the size of a soda can called “micro-drifters” that collect and analyze the atmosphere for temperature, pressure, and water vapor levels. Once in the water, a micro-drifter functions as a sort of micro-buoy capable of recording and transmitting data about salinity and temperature measurements at different depths back to the drone.

Biologists have also been using drones to collect a wealth of health and other biological information from the blowhole exhalations of whales. In fact, an analysis of just 19 whale blow samples revealed six new species of virus from five different families.

Above Land

It’s known that animal research is often influenced by the fact that observing the subjects can influence their behavior. Drones have been found to at least mitigate this. Scientists and citizen scientists alike have been able to observe populations of bears, flamingos, sea turtles, leopard seals, the earlier-mentioned whales, migratory seabirds, and many, many more, with drones. And apparently, they do so with significantly greater accuracy than more traditional means. This, along with the emergence of less intrusive drones, such as ones made to resemble small creatures like hummingbirds, means the observing can be done with even less stress to the studied populations.

In a practical application that could save farmers a good amount of money, drones have recently been used to identify diseased olive trees by temperature differentials, which allows the scientists to cull them before they show symptoms (which is long after they are contagious).

Additionally, a team in Costa Rica took advantage of the fact that a drone motor isn’t as at risk of having its engine clogged with ash to study the noxious, poisonous gasses being vented by volcanoes. On top of these examples, there are dozens of additional experiments being undertaken with drones, and seemingly, only more to come.

About XOAR

For more than 40 years, XOAR has been recognized as an industry-leading innovator for their contributions as well as the precision, quality, and efficiency of their drone technology. Their RC propellers, drone motors, and other UAV products employ cutting-edge technology and the finest material, most skillful engineering, and the highest standard of manufacturing. That expertise extends to industrial UAVs, propellers for LSA, civilian aviation, ultralight aircraft, commercial applications, RC airplanes, mid-to-large size UAVs (including octocopter parts and gear), and more. XOAR’s propellers have been long lauded for quietness during flight, their superior agility, impressively low air friction, and overall excellent performance while in flight.

Take your UAV to far greater heights for your drone hobby or drone business, at www.xoarintl.com

Tips for Cleaning and Maintaining Your Drone and Its Propellers

10DecMarch 5, 2019 By Xoar Propeller

The popularity of piloting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), drones, is growing increasingly popular for commercial, artistic, and exploratory purposes, and for the enjoyment of amateur hobbyists. As is the case with so many other pieces of mechanical equipment, the more devoted you are to the care and maintenance of your drone, the more consistently, efficiently, and dependably it will operate for you.

For the most part, the maintenance of a drone is pretty basic. They should be given a pre-flight check before use and a post-flight cleaning and examination. Doing so generally doesn’t take all that much time but proves to be an excellent investment of time. The following is an overview of basic drone cleaning and maintenance tips that don’t require any specialized technical knowledge of the drone motor or its function, but will keep your drone in the air longer and performing better when it’s up there. It will also almost certainly save you a good bit of money in the long run.

Pre-Flight Checklist

Begin by checking the drone itself. Ensure that you have all of the necessary equipment and that the home point is set.
If you’ve got a camera on your UAV, be sure the lens cap is removed and that the SD card is present.
Make sure the onboard compass is calibrated and that the appropriate flight mode is selected; check signal and satellite strength, if applicable.
Check the drone propellers. Be sure that they spin freely but are appropriately tightened.
Check that the batteries are properly fitted and that they are an appropriate temperature.

Do environmental checks too. Let anyone near you know that you’re going to be flying a drone, and be aware of all possible obstacles, including trees and power lines, etc. Definitely be sure that you are in a safe, legal flight zone. If you’re flying your drone in an area shared by commercial, private, or passenger aircraft, you’re not only risking considerable legal jeopardy, but more importantly, risking the lives of those in the aircraft. Fly your drone only where it’s appropriate and always exercise reasonable caution.

Post-Flight Maintenance

Perhaps the most important feature of post-flight drone maintenance is propeller care.

Propellers should be cleaned after every flight. A good toothbrush or comparable small cleaning brush is great for propellers. As accompaniment to the toothbrush, some drone pilots swear by toothpaste as a cleaning medium. They brush the propellers free of any dirt or grime with the toothpaste and wipe it off with a lightly-moistened microfiber cloth, ensuring that the propellers are totally dry afterward. Others prefer isopropyl alcohol.
After the props are removed, clean the gears as well. Obviously you don’t want to get any toothpaste on any gears or any moving parts. Those can be cleaned with another (toothpaste-free) toothbrush or other small brush. Cans of compressed air can be helpful as well. Although be careful not to spray those too close to or too long at the gears. They can damage delicate mechanisms by freezing them.
Before returning the propellers to their housing, check them for any warping or hairline cracks, particularly near the hub. The easiest way to do this is to lightly bend them. If you note any cracks, warping or any other issues, throw the propellers away and get new ones. Investing in some new propellers, even the most expensive ones, is literally a very small price to pay when compared to a crashed drone that was worth many hundreds of dollars.

About XOAR

For over 40 years, XOAR has been recognized as an industry leader for their innovation and the fantastic quality, efficiency, and precision of their RC propellers and the rest of their UAV accessories. Their use of leading-edge technology and the best material, engineering, and manufacturing has further established that reputation. Their specialization includes propellers for LSA, ultralight aircraft, industrial UAVs, Civilian Aviation, commercial applications, mid-to-large size UAVs, RC Airplanes, and more. XOAR’s propellers are noted for their quietness in flight, superior agility, low air friction, and excellent performance overall in flight.

Soar to greater heights with your drone hobby or business, at www.xoarintl.com

The United States Federal Regulations Surrounding Drone Ownership

05AugMarch 5, 2019 By Xoar Propeller

Gone are the days of free, unrestricted drone flying in the U.S. Since 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been rolling out regulations and restrictions that maintain safety in the airspace above us. You must adhere to these restrictions whether you fly for fun or for your livelihood.

In addition to these restrictions, you should also respect your fellow flight enthusiasts and those around you. One way to do this is to spring for a quieter drone motor. It’s also a good practice to check the skies before you fly so you’re aware of any other drones already in the airspace.

If you fly for fun

Flying for recreation has a different set of guidelines than commercial drone flying. You will need to register your drone aircraft with the FAA. Registration costs $5 and is valid for a period of three years.

In addition to registering your drone, as a hobby flyer, you’ll have to keep your drone at or below 400 feet and in your line of sight. Your drone must weigh under 55 pounds unless certified by a community-based organization.

You will also have to adhere to temporary flight restrictions that occur during hazardous conditions such as a wildfire or chemical spill.

If you fly for work

Under the FAA’s Small Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) rule, you can register your drone for commercial and recreational use. If you use your drone for any commercial operations, you’ll want to choose this option. You will still have to register your drone with the FAA, and the cost to do that is still $5 per aircraft, which is valid for three years. However, unlike a hobbyist, you’ll need to label your unmanned aircraft with your registration number.

You’ll also need to acquire a remote pilot certification from the FAA, fly a drone under 55 pounds, and maintain a visual line-of-sight while flying. You also can’t fly in controlled airspace or near other aircraft or over people. Fly only during daylight at or below 400 feet.

Some of these rules, like visual line-of-sight and flying over people, can be waived by completing a special request with the FAA.

Registering your drone

In order to register, you’ll need to visit faadronezone.faa.gov, meet the following criteria, and have these materials:

Be at least 13 years of age (if the owner is younger have an adult register)
Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
Email address
Credit or debit card
Physical address and mailing address (if different from physical address)
Make and model of your unmanned aircraft

Where you can’t fly

In addition to temporary flight restrictions, there are also restrictions that limit any flying of drones in a no drone zone, and you must never fly near any emergency response efforts. Also never fly near other aircraft. If you’re flying within 5 miles of an airport, you must notify air traffic control.

Where you shouldn’t fly

Maintain a respect for others when you fly. Don’t be a nuisance who disrupts others. Follow the FAA guidelines, and you’ll be having fun with your drone for years to come.

B4UFLY Mobile App

Utilize the B4UFLY Mobile App for the latest, real-time information concerning airspace restrictions and other flying requirements targeted for your GPS location.

About XOAR

XOAR has been helping hobbyists fly better for over 40 years. Their dedication to innovation and technology allow them to offer high-quality products that out-perform their competitors. XOAR specializes in designing and manufacturing contemporary drone propellers for Industrial UAVs, Mid-Large Size UAV, Civil Aviation, Ultralight Aircraft, LSA, Commercial applications, and RC Airplane market. Crafted from quality materials, a finished XOAR prop offers a reduced noise level—especially when using a XOAR drone motor—as well as increased agility, low air friction, and accurate performance in the air.

Go higher with XOAR at www.xoarintl.com

The VAMUdeS Team Crowned Champion of AUVSI SUAS 2018

18JunMarch 5, 2019 By Xoar Propeller

The 2018 SUAS Competition was held June 13th to June 16th, 2018. A total of 69 teams competed (35 domestic, 31 international), 63 submitted Technical Design papers, 51 presented Flight Readiness Reviews (FRR), 51 teams attended, and 47 were able to get airborne. A total of $70,700 was awarded to teams. This was the first year to have interop-only ODLC submission (no paper or USB drive).

The VAMUdeS team (Miniature Aerial Vehicle of the University of Sherbrooke) proudly sponsored by XOAR was crowned champion of the international competition AUVSI SUAS 2018. For a third consecutive year, a world premiere, VAMUdeS brings back the coveted trophy of the first position at the AUVSI-SUAS International Competition! With XOAR’s ultimate propulsion system, including XOAR Titan Brushless Drone Motors and XOAR PJP-T-L Carbon Fiber Precision Pair Drone Propellers, the VAMUdeS team flew fully autonomously and captured waypoints within a few feet, avoided obstacles in the shape of stationary cylinders and moving spheres, located roughly 1 m^2 targets in a search zone, most within 20 feet, and dropped a water bottle within 17 feet of a target location. The VAMUdeS team also won two awards, one of which being Best in Mission and the Cyber Security Award for fixing a bug in the automated scoring system.

XOAR congratulates the VAMUdeS team once again for an amazing performance and crowning champion of of the international competition AUVSI SUAS 2018.

Check out the VAMUdeS team on facebook.

About the Competition
The AUVSI SUAS Competition is designed to foster interest in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), stimulate interest in UAS technologies and careers, and to engage students in a challenging UAS mission. The competition requires students to design, integrate, report on, and demonstrate a UAS capable of autonomous flight and navigation, remote sensing via onboard payload sensors, and execution of a specific set of tasks. The competition has been held annually since 2002.

The competition is held at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station (NAS) Webster Field in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. This is the site of the UAS Test & Evaluation Directorate.

Autonomous Aerial Missions.
The competition focuses on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) performing autonomous missions. Many of the tasks require autonomy to be eligible, and others receive more points for autonomy.

Competition Components.
The competition has 3 major graded components: a Technical Journal Paper which describes the systems engineering approach and the UAS design, a Flight Readiness Review (FRR) where teams describe their mission readiness and what testing gives them confidence, and a Mission Demonstration where the team is evaluated on performance.

Mission Tasks. The competition has a series of tasks that should be completed by the UAS system built. The competition changes these tasks year-to-year to reflect the forefront of the UAS industry. The tasks are joined to form a simulated real-world mission. The 2017 competition mission is search-and-rescue of a lost hiker. Example tasks:

Interoperability. The UAS downloads mission details, uploads aircraft telemetry in real time, and uploads mission deliverables to an external judge-provided system.
Autonomous Flight. The UAS autonomously takes off, flies within boundaries, navigates a series of waypoints, and lands.

Obstacle Avoidance. The UAS autonomously avoids obstacles, which can be stationary or moving.
Object Detection, Classification, Localization. The UAS takes pictures of a search area, detect objects of interest, classifies its characteristics, and provides a GPS position.

Air Delivery. The UAS autonomously drops a payload object so that it lands undamaged at a provided GPS position.

Xoar Carbon Fiber Precision Pair for DJI Inspire 1

28MarFebruary 1, 2018 By Xoar Propeller

Eric and Alex from Drone Gear conduct professional video reviews on multi-rotor gears and accessories on their website DroneGear.tv and youtube Channel and this time there is no exception, Eric and Alex gave us a professional and honest review about our latest – Carbon Fiber Props for DJI Inspire 1. They shared their thoughts on our props and the difference between our and the stock DJI Inspire 1 props.

These 13 inches props were fitted on the Inspire 1 with DJI’s new X5 pro camera.

Check out the video below and many other reviews on their youtube channel – Drone Gear. Subscribe to their channel if you like them and show your support to the drone community!

If you are interested in getting our props for your DJI Inspire 1. Please click the follow links to get them on through our authorized reseller on ebay and Amazon.

Drone University USA & XOAR on TV & Radio

28JanMarch 5, 2019 By Xoar Propeller

Drone University USA was actively involved with TV, radio and newspaper interviews educating the general public on drone safety, the FAA, sUAS registration, the future of sUAS/drones in December 2015. They have done tremendous work to represent our industry in the future with accurate and straight forward facts to be reported to the public. Our partner Nick from Drone Cowboy is a part-time instructor was featured in the interviews with the media demoing flights with Xoar Props.

Click the links below to watch and read.

KTVU FOX 2- SF Bay Area

KCRA NBC 3- Sacramento, CA

KTXL FOX 40- Sacramento, CA

KOVR CBS 13- Sacramento, CA

KMAX Good Morning 31- Sacramento, CA

San Jose Mercury News

Chad Benson Radio Show

EHang184 – World’s First Human-size Autonomous Aerial Vehicle

08JanJanuary 18, 2016 By Xoar Propeller

World’s first electric human-size autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV), EHang184, was unveiled at CES 2016 at Las Vegas.

EHang184 is capable of carrying one passenger up to 220 pounds for up to 23 minutes at sea level with its 14.4-kWh battery pack, which takes four hours in triple mode or two hours in fast charge to a full charge. The whole vehicle weights 440 lb (200 kg), can carry up to 264 lb (120 kg), has a maximum speed of 62 mph (100 km/h) and can reach a maximum altitude of 11,480 ft (3,499 m).

It features a carbon fiber/epoxy composite body and an aerial aluminum alloy frame. Eight motors with eight carbon fiber propellers divided in four group of two, each pair mounted on the top and bottom of one of four foldable arms.

A 12-inch touchscreen tablet display is the main instrument in the cockpit which allows the passenger to select the flight destination. The drone has gull-wing doors and a trunk for small luggage.

Safety is key on EHang184 with its fail-safe system. Even with one propeller malfunctions, it can still land in the nearest possible area safely. EHang also claims a 24-7 flight control center monitors each flight and can intervene in emergency situations.

EHang184 is a great start to the future of autonomous aviation, but it will require the Government, FAA and the commercial manufacturers working together to set the future in the right direction.

Xoar PJP-T-L Carbon Fiber Multirotor Propeller Video

15JulFebruary 1, 2018 By Xoar Propeller

Be the first to check out Xoar’s latest video of the Precision Pair series – PJP-T-L Carbon Fiber Multicopter Propeller for low Kv motors. It offers a ultra thin hub with reduced weight to maximize efficiency of Low Kv Motors for your Multirotor Aerial Application and Multi-axial Platforms. Click the link to learn more about these new multicopter propellers.

Video created by Nick Swartzendruber @ Drone Cowboys. http://www.DroneCowboys.com

Malloy Aeronautics Hoverbike

23JunFebruary 1, 2018 By Xoar Propeller

Latest news on Malloy Aeronautics’s Hoverbike at Paris Air Show 2015, it is partnering with a Maryland-based defense company to develop a hoverbike for the US military. Working with Survice Engineering Co., the UK aeronautics company will set up shop in Maryland as part of “an ongoing research and development contract.” The duo will also work with the US Army Research Laboratory on the project that aims to create “a new class of Tactical Reconnaissance Vehicle (TRV).”

While developing for the military will play a big role in the future of the technology, Malloy was keen to emphasize that there’s still a lot of potential for the use of the tech in humanitarian applications. For example, multiple Hoverbikes could be loaded into troop carrier aircraft (the vehicle is designed to fold up for easier transport), dispatched to disaster zones and tasked with delivering vital supplies, or even autonomously removing people from danger.

Source: Malloy Aeronautics