DRONE DICTIONARY

The tiny powerhouses found on Whoops. 0802 is standard for 65mm indoor racers; 1103 is for heavier 2-inch outdoor 'Toothpicks'.

The number of battery cells in series. Higher S = higher voltage and power.

Full manual control where the drone does not self-level. Essential for FPV freestyle.

A single board combining the FC and ESC (common in Whoops and Toothpicks).

A mode that keeps the drone stable even at zero throttle while in the air.

Traditional video signal. Low resolution, but near-zero latency and very cheap.

An abandoned building or factory used as a playground for freestyle flying.

A voltage regulator that steps battery power down to 5V or 9V for other parts.

The most popular firmware used to configure and tune FPV flight performance.

A communication trick that lets the ESC talk back to the Flight Controller, telling it exactly how fast the motors are spinning in real-time.

The one-time process of connecting a specific RX to a specific TX.

The flight data logger used to diagnose vibration and tuning issues.

The modern open-source successor to BLHeli_S. It enables 48kHz/96kHz PWM frequencies (for smoother Whoop flight) and Bi-directional DShot.

Modern ESC firmwares that enable smooth flight, RPM filtering, and customizable PWM frequencies.

A fully pre-built drone that comes with a receiver installed. You only need to bind it to your existing radio controller and supply your own battery.

How fast a battery can safely dump its energy. Higher is usually better for racing.

European regulations that strictly limit VTX and radio transmission power (often capped at 25mW or 100mW) and require devices to check for clear channels before transmitting.

A ducted drone designed to carry a GoPro for smooth, cinematic indoor/outdoor footage.

A text-based console within Betaflight used to input specific commands, change advanced settings, or paste in complex configurations.

A highly reliable 900MHz long-range radio protocol created by Team BlackSheep (TBS). It was the gold standard before ELRS gained popularity.

The digital communication language used between the receiver and the flight controller. Though made by TBS, it is widely used as the communication standard for ELRS as well.

A terrifying event where the ESC loses track of the motor's position, causing the motor to suddenly stop spinning and the drone to tumble out of the sky.

A system that uses two antennas and picks the best signal for your video feed.

High-definition video systems that offer much clearer images than analog.

The digital communication language between the FC and the ESC.

A module inside FPV goggles that records your live video feed. It is essential for sharing flights and finding lost drones.

A feature that prevents your motors from stalling during aggressive maneuvers by maintaining a minimum RPM based on real-time feedback.

The open-source operating systems that run on modern FPV radio controllers.

High-performance open-source radio control link. The current industry standard for range and latency.

The hardware that controls motor speed. Often found in a '4-in-1' board layout.

The emergency routine a drone performs when it loses radio connection.

The 'brain' of the drone that processes sensor data and pilot inputs.

US regulatory body. In FPV, 'FCC mode' generally refers to unlocking the hardware to allow much higher transmission power limits for better range and penetration.

How wide the camera's viewing angle is. A wider FOV gives a better sense of speed and situational awareness, but can distort the edges of the image.

Commiting 100% to a trick or gap without hesitating.

The sensor that detects rotation. It is the most critical part of the flight controller.

An annoying, high-frequency vibration visible in your FPV feed or HD camera footage, usually caused by bent props, bad motors, or improper vibration dampening.

The theoretical increase in RPM for every 1V of electricity applied without a load. High KV (19k+) is for tiny Whoops; low KV (1700-1900) is for big 6S freestyle rigs.

The high-discharge batteries used to power FPV drones.

Flying the drone by looking directly at it from the ground with your own eyes, rather than flying through FPV goggles.

The most important stat for ELRS/Crossfire; it shows how many data packets are actually arriving.

Scripts run on your radio to change VTX channels or PID settings without a PC.

The smoke released when electronics short circuit. Once it's out, the part is dead.

The standard unit of measurement for transmission power. 25mW is typically used for racing and indoors, while 1000mW+ is used for long-range flying.

The grade of magnets inside the motor bell. N52 is the high-performance standard, offering the strongest magnetic field for maximum 'snap' and torque.

Overlay text in your goggles showing battery voltage, timers, and warnings.

Charging multiple batteries at once using a specialized board. Saves time, but requires caution.

The math loop used to stabilize the drone. Tuning PIDs makes the drone feel 'locked in'.

A pre-built drone that comes without a receiver. You must solder and install your own receiver to match your radio protocol.

A quick-release system for propellers that replaces the traditional nut. Fast, but requires specific POPO-compatible motor shafts.

The theoretical distance a propeller moves forward in one rotation. High pitch (e.g., 4.5) is like a high gear in a car—fast top speed but sluggish off the line.

Turbulence caused when a drone falls into its own dirty air, causing wobbles.

Settings that determine how fast the drone flips and rolls based on stick movement.

Circular polarization directions for antennas. Your drone and goggles must match.

Using Bi-Directional DShot data to surgically filter out motor noise. This is the 'secret sauce' that makes modern drones fly like they're on rails.

A measurement of how strong your radio signal is.

A complete starter package that includes the drone, radio controller, FPV goggles, and usually a battery and charger.

The part on the drone that listens to your radio transmitter (TX).

Antenna connector types. SMA is threaded (sturdy); U.FL is tiny (lightweight).

Communication protocols that allow your Flight Controller to talk to your VTX. This lets you change video channels and output power directly from your OSD or radio.

A radio receiver that is physically built right into the flight controller chip, most commonly found on older micro drones to save weight.

The metal or plastic pillars that hold the frame and flight stack together.

Expressed as four digits (e.g., 2207). The first two are the width, the last two are the height. Wider motors = more torque; taller motors = more top-end power.

The ratio of how much the drone weighs vs. how much force the motors generate. A good freestyle quad usually has a ratio of at least 5:1 or higher.

Ultralight micro drones without ducts, designed for high-performance outdoor flight.

A feature that reverses motors to flip a crashed drone back over from its back.

Serial ports on an FC used to plug in things like GPS, Receivers, or VTXs.

The temporary drop in battery voltage when you push the throttle hard.

Transmits the video signal from the camera to your goggles.

The walk you take to pick up your drone after a crash.

Micro-sized drones with ducted propellers for safe indoor flying.

The standard power connectors for drone batteries. XT60 is for 5-inch, XT30 for micros.