People often throw the terms “quadcopters” and “drones” around when describing UAVs (Unmanned/Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles), but this can often lead to confusion amongst the uninitiated. Some believe quadcopters and drones to be one and the same, and thus use the terms interchangeably. However, there are some that find the opposite to be true and believe there are differences that set quadcopters and drones apart. In this article, we will determine which group is right. We will also break down the potential differences between a quadcopter vs drone, as well as how the terms should be used.
What is a Drone?
So what exactly is a drone? While most people tend to think of UAVs when talking about drones, the term can also be used to describe uncrewed vehicles that traverse on land (sometimes referred to as “uncrewed ground vehicles” or UGVs) or submerged in water (sometimes referred to as “uncrewed underwater vehicles” or UUVs). The word “drone” has basically evolved into an umbrella term within the English vernacular that is used to describe all manners of unmanned vehicles that do not have any human pilots, crew, or passengers on board.
What is a Quadcopter?
Quadcopter, on the other hand, is a much more specific qualifier compared to drones. The term quadcopter specifically describes an uncrewed rotary wing aircraft that can take flight using four rotors each consisting of a motor and propellers. Quadcopters are sometimes referred to as quadrotors as well. Unlike traditional fixed wing aircraft or helicopters which rely on engines and/or tail rotors to take flight, quadcopters have neither.
How To Use a Quadcopter vs Drone
There aren’t that many differences between how a quadcopter and a drone are operated, at least when we’re talking about uncrewed aerial vehicles. UGVs and UUVs obviously behave very differently from their aerial counterparts, but we will only be focusing on UAVs for the purposes of this article. The most notable differentiating factors that set quadcopters and other aerial drones (typically fixed-wing) apart are how they become airborne and their behavior and maneuverability once they’re in the air.
Unlike quadcopters which can take off and land vertically, smaller fixed wing aerial drones need to be launched by hand (a la paper airplanes) while larger fixed wing aerial drones require the use of a runway not dissimilar to traditional aircraft. Once airborne, quadcopters have the ability to hover in place whereas fixed wing aerial drones must be constantly moving. Quadcopters are also capable of much more precise aerial maneuvers while fixed wing aerial drones can only make much less precise flyby runs.
What’s the Difference Between a Drone and a Quadcopter?
Many of the most popular consumer grade drones currently available on the market, like the ones from DJI, Autel, and Parrot, all fall under the quadcopter category. This is a likely factor contributing to the confusion surrounding drones and quadcopters. In the simplest terms, although all unmanned quadcopters found on the market today can be classified as drones, all drones are not necessarily quadcopters.
Below is a comparison of the pros and cons of a quadcopter vs another aerial drone (usually fixed wing, but can include other types as well):