What are the different types of drone on the market today ?

The popularity of drones has exploded in recent years, making them indispensable tools in many fields. From leisure drones to professional drones, they are now ubiquitous. 

The market offers a vast range of models, each designed to meet specific needs.

To navigate this constantly evolving technological universe, it's essential to understand the different types of drone available. Their characteristics and the applications for which they are best suited.

Hobby drones :

Whether you're a professional or not, you probably started out on one of these machines. Many professional drone pilots have developed their passion by starting out with a hobby drone.

These models are designed to be easy to use for users with a basic understanding of flying, while offering a rewarding experience that is accessible to all.    

Today, one of the most popular practices is FPV drones, which are equipped with a camera that transmits images in real time to goggles worn by the pilot, enabling total immersion and an immersive flying experience as if the user were on board. 

The FPV drone market offers a very wide range of models, from very compact 2.5-inch drones to professional 10‑inch drones. This diversity meets a wide range of needs, from simple indoor use to professional applications. 

There are also the so‑called classic drones, weighing less than 250g, which have gained in popularity because of their lightness and ease of use, with less stringent regulations applying to them, such as the Mavic mini from Dji.   

For the more experienced, there are much more advanced models weighing less than 900g and equipped with stabilised cameras, enabling high quality aerial shots to be taken, such as the Mavic series once again from Dji.

Semi‑professional drones: 

So‑called ‘semi‑pro’ drones represent an intermediate category between leisure drones and professional drones, designed to offer improved performance at a more affordable price.

In this way, they meet the needs of users who want more functionality, without having to invest in top‑of‑the‑range professional equipment.

Most of these drones are equipped with high‑resolution 4K cameras, ideal for amateur photography and video enthusiasts, and suitable for those who want to explore more advanced features such as technical missions, such as the Mavic range from Dji.

Professional drones: 

Professional drones are designed to meet specific needs in various sectors of activity, requiring much higher performance and great reliability. They are used by companies in a wide variety of fields, including audiovisual, agriculture and inspection.

The drones most commonly used in the professional sector today are audiovisual drones (such as the DJI Inspire 3), designed to capture very high quality images (4K/8K). They are used by professional film‑makers and videographers to obtain spectacular aerial views that would otherwise be very expensive to produce.

Drones are also being used in the agricultural sector for spreading and spraying, as recently developed by brands such as DJI with their Agras models, revolutionising and facilitating agricultural missions.

Professional drones are also being deployed in the field of inspections, particularly in ‘confined environments’, a fast‑growing area of particular interest to industries where access is often dangerous and difficult.

Specialised drones for these environments, such as the Stereo2 from Multinnov, are designed to navigate in confined spaces while offering the capacity to monitor and maintain, inspect and collect precise data to meet the needs of different business sectors such as petrochemicals, nuclear power, industry, etc.